When deciding on the tent that is right for you and your family's needs and wants there are a few things to keep in mind. When I buy new equipment of any kind I like to go through the same thought process. One is how often am I going to use it, how often will I be upgrading to new and or better. How long will it before I am at a disadvantage with my existing equipment and how long it will last before it wears out.

Next I think about what it is I am going to buy in this case a tent

*How much money can I spend or want to spend

*How is it going to be used?

*How large or small should it be?

*How easy or hard is it to set up

*How is the tent going to be used?

*How many seasons will it be used

*Should you buy a name brand?

you can buy tents with many features and characteristics ranging from a one person tent to a huge cabin with framed walls and ceiling. Camping will be a lot more enjoyable if you pick a tent that is right for you. If there is one or two of you you may not a five room tent with a screened porch. On the other hand if there are five people including three kids a five room tent may not be big enough.

How much money should I spend?

Well what you spend is up to you but you should have all the information you need to make that decision. On the bottom end of tents you can spend as little as $20 but you will get exactly that a $20 tent. I think you should spend no less than $100 to get a good tent. Just because they call it a tent and the box says tent does not mean it is a good one. The tent will probably leak like a sieve. A good tent should have a rain fly and if you buy one with out you can't add one because the tent will be coated and will not breathe. In order for a tent to breathe properly it should be water proof with a rain fly and vent on the top. If the tent does not breathe the moister from your body will collect on the inside and will look like it is leaking. Another ting is the tent pools if you buy to cheap of a tent they will probably break or if you should happen to loose you chances are you will not be able to replace it.

On the high end you will now want to think of the extras the perks of camping thing like a screened in porch, two doors, more room, and several rooms. You need to make sure what you are getting is worth it don't pay for things you don't have to. You will want to think of the polls, you will pay extra for aluminum polls but they are lighter, fiber glass polls cost less but are heavier. Fiber glass polls are easier to fix then aluminum polls.

How much am I going to use the tent?

Deciding how much you will use your tent is important, if you will use it once or twice a year you might not want to spend a lot. But if you will use it every weekend and two whole weeks out of the year you will probable want to get the best tent you can with every thing you want in it.

How big of a tent to get?

A roll of thumb is 15 sq. Per person. This will give you room for a sleeping pad and bag plus room for personal items. You will want to leave your pack out side under a tarp or pack cover, taking an external pack in a tent is a sure way to put a hole in the floor. A vestibule is a good thing to get on your tent, a vestibule is an extra room attached to your rain flies that you can story things in or even cook under in the elements. You might want to consider 20 to25 sq. per person this will give enough room to be comfortable on that rainy day.

How easy is it to set up?

The best thing to do is ask how easy it to set up is.

How are you going to use the tent?

You need to consider how you are going to use your tent. Are you going to be backpacking if so you will want to look for something that so light weight? If you are camping by car you can then spread out more making sure you have room. If you go once a year for a weak oar two you may want to look at size and comfort.

How many seasons am I going to tent in?

If you think you will tent in all four seasons you will want to look for a tent with polls, a sky light for extra lighting, a removable vestibule and usually mesh zipper and zipper windows. This are made for prolonged expose to sever winter conditions, high winds, and heavy snow fall and cold temperatures.

Name brand or not:

Do you need to buy a name brand tent and what is the difference? Well you don't need to buy a name brand tent but the difference is the quality, buying a name is helping make a decision. I like the quality of Coleman, Coleman you can be assured that your tent is a quality tent, and Coleman has been making tents a long time so you don't have to wonder can I buy a poll if I loose it or my rain fly ripped can I replace it. I think it is smart to buy what you now works. If you will use your tent once or twice years I don't think it will matter what you buy just get what you want.