Types of Tents

Your tent will usually be the most expensive piece of equipment you buy for a camping trip and there are plenty to choose between. With there being so much choice it can be hard to choose the right kind of tent for your trip. It helps to know what these different types of tents are, so that you can choose the best tent for the situation. There are usually two main purposes for tents within Scouting; firstly, there is the traditional standing Troop camp which normally uses the large, heavyweight patrol tents which sleep up to six people and, secondly, lightweight one, two or three person tents ideal for smaller camps and expeditions where the tents need to be carried in or on rucsacs.

There are seven main types and shapes of tent:

Patrol tent - This type of tent is is used mainly for group camping such as scout trips because they are hard wearing so can last a scout group many years, they can also sleep large numbers at once. It does not have a sew-in groundsheet so a separate one must be used. Patrol tents can sleep large numbers of people and because they are so large it usually takes at least three people to erect the tent. Technically it could be considered as a ridge tent as it has a horizontal pole going across the top of the tent.

Ridge tents - This tent, as mentioned above, is any tent which has a horizontal pole going across the top. The upright poles that support it may be a single upright pole, or two sloping poles (also known as an 'A' frame tent). Normally the back of the tent is lower than the entrance end this is so you can access the tent easily and can move easily in and out of the tent. Most ridge tents are made of light weight nylon materials because they can be folded down very small and the lighter they are the more appealing to backpackers they will be.

Bell Tent - This has a single upright pole in the centre of the tent, and is then guyed out from it. There are very few lightweight bell tents available, most are made from heavy duty canvas. They generally don't have the groundsheet sewn into the tent but there are some that have the option of a groundsheet that zips onto the walls of the tent making it easy to put on and take off if the weather changes.

Tunnel tent - It is made up of two or more hoops along its length, giving the appearance of a fabric tunnel. These hoops are of equal size, and usually this tent does not have a set front end. This is a lightweight tent with a large working area inside which combines with the sleeping area usually.

Hoop tent - This is a cross between the tunnel and the ridge tent with a single hoop at the entrance and an upright pole at the far end. Having no ridge pole means that the tent takes up less space, but it is less rigid. The advantage is that these tents can offer less resistance to the wind, and have a better access area to get in and out of. The hoop tent is usually a small tent and is used for lightweight camping and expedition work, and would normally sleep from one to three people.

Dome tent - These kind of tents are becoming increasingly popular as they can be spacious but also very light weight at the same time this makes them ideal for backpacking trips. They come in all kinds of styles and designs making it possible for festival goers to choose a tent that is individual and easy to pick from the crowds of tents.

Frame tent - This tent is considered to be a larger, 'family tent' and, not surprisingly, is used by families for camping holidays. As the name suggests, it is comprised of a basic frame which is built first and then covered with the canvas. They are fairly bulky when packed away, but when erected take on the appearance of a small chalet, with an inner sleeping area that is at the back, a large area in the front for cooking and relaxing, unlike all other tents where this is very minimal. Due to this size and shape, it can often provide a small Patrol with a self-contained unit at camp.