DE
Back to the article

A4 checklist with all illustrated steps. Tick the boxes on paper as you go.

FeatherSticks · Gear

Choosing a Tent: Types, Waterproofing, Weight and What Really Matters

A tent is not a number on a label. Here is what actually keeps you dry.

Quick facts

Typical weight
1–2 kg solo, 1.5–3 kg for two
Best default
Double-wall 3-season dome or tunnel
Key checks
Seams, ventilation, wind stability
Price class
Budget, mid-range, premium (no prices here)

What you need

  • Tent with fly, inner, poles and pegs
  • Groundsheet slightly smaller than the floor
  • Extra pegs for the ground you expect
  • Pole repair sleeve and a few metres of cord
  • Seam sealer and tent repair patches
  • Large, breathable storage sack
  • Small cloth for wiping condensation
  • Carbon-monoxide alarm if you use a stove in a hot tent

Step by step

  1. Match the type to your trip

    1 Match the type to your trip

    Dome for all-round use, tunnel for space per weight, pyramid or pole shelters for light packing, hot tents for winter base camps.

  2. Read the waterproofing numbers

    2 Read the waterproofing numbers

    Fly about 1,500–3,000 mm and floor about 3,000–5,000 mm are typical, but seams and pitching matter more than the figure.

  3. Check weight and packed size

    3 Check weight and packed size

    Solo tents typically weigh 1–2 kg, two-person tents 1.5–3 kg. Compare per person, not just the total.

  4. Think season and wind

    4 Think season and wind

    Three-season tents suit spring to autumn; pitch the low, stiff end into the wind and use every guyline.

  5. Plan ventilation

    5 Plan ventilation

    A double wall with vents high and a gap low lets moist air leave and keeps condensation off your bag.

  6. Dry it, store it loose

    6 Dry it, store it loose

    Dry the tent fully after every trip and store it loosely in a large sack to protect coatings and seams.

Common mistakes

  • Buying on a single number such as hydrostatic head while ignoring seams, ventilation and pitch.
  • Choosing a tent for the exact number of people with no room for gear.
  • Pitching a tunnel tent broadside to the wind or leaving guylines unused.
  • Using a stove or open flame inside a closed tent: fire and carbon-monoxide risk.
  • Storing a damp tent, or compressing it for months, which ruins coatings.
  • Pitching in a hollow where water and cold air collect.
  • Ignoring second-hand warning signs such as sticky coatings or peeling seam tape.