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Back packing or camping choosing the right tent can make all the difference between a a good and bad trip, the general rule with tents is the more you pay the better the tent  but you should also pay attention to the features offered and whether you require them or not. There is no point in paying for and ultimately carrying features of little or no use. The right tent for the job? Choosing which of the many different designs and sizes of tents from the many available is a difficult task. To start narrowing down the options, we suggest listing your particular requirements. T Weight: Solo use then you’re really looking for a tent weighing 1-2.5kg Shared weights ranging from 1.75 to 5 kilos At the lower weight range, tent space will be at a maximum for two campers. If your tent will be transported in a car  then weight isn’t so important. When backpacking regularly every gram counts, so an ultralight tent is vital. The size of the porch is important too. In winter it needs to be big enough to store all your spare gear and have room for cooking too. How easy to pitch the tent? For base camp use, this isn’t much of an issue but racing or backpacking your usually tired and want to get shelter as quickly as possible. But the main issue is practice makes perfect erect the tent in your garden a few times before you head out, this de bugging allows you to weed out any bugs or potentially missing items.. Tent Choice Back packing or adventure racing the pros choice is Terra Nova, popular models include the Terra Nova Laser or the ultimate in light weight back packing Terra Nova Photon manufacturers design their tents to the highest standards. These are high quality, high performance tents with a guarantee of quality workmanship and materials. Tent Design Many and varied! Ridge or hoop tents, tunnel tents or geodesic tents, or a dome tent? Choice is very personal depending on your priorities for weight and space. A variety of factors contribute to the performance of the tent in tough conditions: How aerodynamic the tent is; the number and positioning of guy points; the number and configuration of the tent poles. Geodesic tent: This design is the strongest and so is often used as an expedition tent. It uses intersecting tent poles to produce a strong self-supporting structure with great internal volume. The interlocking tent poles easily handle snow load and since there is very little unsupported fabric, the tent has minimum ’sail area’ to catch the wind. Tunnel tents: Sometimes preferred to dome tents as they offer a larger usable space for the foot print. Dome tents: Often lightweight tents they often use just two poles (or three including a porch pole)  They use a simple tent pole structure, which is easily erected, making it a popular tent as a backpacking tent. Tent Materials Tent materials have dramatically improved over the past few years getting lighter and stronger. Ground sheet use Ripstop nylon that is reinforced with a fibrous mesh to prevent tearing. Both flysheets and groundsheets are coated to make them completely waterproof. A variety of coatings are used with silicone elastomer, as used enables even lighter weight nylon to be used without sacrificing any of its strength. All these coatings are non breathable so ventilation is an essential part of any design. Take note of all these points and your tent choice will be easy. So see you in the great out doors and stay safe.