When it comes to the different camping, one of the most important details about this experience is the camping tent. When an individual is ready to go on a camping excursion, the first and main thought that will pop into their head is the tent that they are going to take along with them on the trip.
There are several different types of camping tents that are available to you, and they can all be used for different types of reasons when it comes to camping.
Having a trustworthy tent is a way for a camper to know that they have a safe place to sleep and that they are protected from animals, weather, and anything else that can be experienced outdoors.
Air Tents Vs Pole Tents
The main topic that is on every campers mind is which type of tent do they need to bring along with them on the trip. There are two main types of tents that can be taken on camping trips that are the most popular, and these are pole tents and inflatable tents. The best thing to do when you are trying to figure out which tent to bring, is to determine what type of camping adventure you are going on, where your adventure is going to take place, what type of weather conditions will there be while you are there, and any other part of the camping trip that may take place.
There are also many pros and cons to consider as well, when you are looking for a tent, and to make sure that you know all of the necessary information that is required when you are looking for a tent.
Pole Tent
Pole tents can be considered as a bit more of a hassle and work when you are trying to set one up. You have to thread the poles into the tent and string out the guy lines to be able to keep it standing upright. However, pole tents are much easier to carry and support when you are hiking to your camping destination, and they can be easily distributed between two bags to carry them. If there is going to be any type of weather conditions that could place you inside of your tent for a while, a pole tent can become easily damaged if a storm was to hit.
The poles, in this type of tent, could potentially bend and become damaged if the wind was strong enough to do so.
If you decide on going with a traditional pole tent, you can get a bigger sized tent of your desire, however, the bigger the tent, the more individuals will be needed to pitch it. Even though any type of tent can be expensive, especially depending on the size of the tent you are looking to purchase, pole tents are the less expensive type of tent to purchase.
There are several things to take into consideration when it comes to deciding on which type of tent is the best choice to make between a pole and an inflatable tent. There are a number of pros and cons that you can look over in pole tents, and could give you the final answer that you are looking for.
The pros and cons of a pole tent include:
Pros
- Easier to carry
- Fits in carrying bags
- Bigger sizes to choose from
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Can be a hassle to set up
- Can damage easily in storms or windy weather
- It takes more people to set it up the bigger the tent is
Best Poled Family Tents
If you are looking for a family pole tent then these are with checking out.
- Coleman Cortes Octagon 8 Tent
- Coleman Unisex CO Bering 4 Tent
- Trail 4 Man Family Tunnel Tent With Awning Camping Festival Waterproof 3000mm HH
Inflatable Tents
If you are looking into an inflatable tent, there is a lot of information that can be found about these types of tents. They are just one single unit, and technically all that you would have to do is take it out of the vehicle you are driving, hook up an air pump to it, and then your tent is ready to go. It is a solid standing structure, and the set up is so incredibly easy, it is like you aren’t even putting in any effort to set up your camping tent. It doesn’t require much expertise to set up an inflatable tent, and there isn’t any need for anymore than just one individual to set it up.
The benefits of this type of tent clearly lie with an inflatable tent. Even though this seems like the ideal tent, it is important to keep in mind that, since this tent is all combined into one package, it makes it heavier.
Therefore, it will be a bit more difficult to carry this piece of equipment if you are hiking to your camping spot. When it comes to weather, inflatable tents do have some structure if they are pegged down the proper way, however, they will still bend and flex in the strong wind. If you are looking to find the biggest tent that you can get your hands on, then the inflatable tents might not be for you.
They do come in a variety of sizes, but due to the structure of their build, they can not reach the size capacity of a pole tent. So, if you are satisfied with the inflatable tent that you can find, then it is perfect to take on a camping trip. The technology for inflatable tents is new, which means that these tents run higher in the price range.
There are several pros and cons to purchasing an inflatable tent, just like there are pros and cons to the pole tents. It is important to make sure that you take everything into consideration before purchasing a tent. The pros and cons of an inflatable tent include:
Pros
- Incredibly easy set up
- Does not require any expertise to set it up
- Only requires one person to set up the tent
- Can withstand heavy winds
- New technologies adapted in
Cons
- Doesn’t come in extremely large sizes
- Expensive
Air Tents Vs Pole Tents FAQ
We round up a few common questions regarding the differences and also which are better on certain areas.
Which are the bigger tents?
Pole tents are bigger in size, while also bigger they are also easier to transport, carry and can sleep more people. This is due to the simple fact that inflatable tents are just one large unit, so when deflated it has to be rolled up and packed away as one large inflatable unit. On the other side a pole tent can be split up and packed away into different bags making it easier to carry and lighter as it is spread over different bags.
Which is more stable?
This really comes down to conditions, both are great tents and stable in their own way. When it comes to windy conditions inflatable tents have the upper hand as they can flex and move with the wind, where pole tents are more rigid and if the wind is strong won’t allow much flex or movement which could cause the pole to snap for instance.
Which is easier to carry?
If you want a large 6-8 person tent then a pole tent wins hands down. If you are looking at a 2 person tent then there isn’t much between it. Inflatable tents come as one unit no matter the size, so the bigger the tent the heavier it will be the thought to carry. Pole tents can be split up and the weight could be split between more than one bag, where as air tents are a single unit and will fill just one carry bag.
What if I get a puncture?
As with most inflatables you can quickly and easily repair the puncture yourself using a repair kit. Inflatable products are also becoming structure, more durable and robust meaning that it is harder to get a puncture, although not impossible, if you do they are easy to repair.
Which is better?
In conclusion, when it comes to finding the perfect tent for your camping adventures, it is prudent that you make sure and do plenty of research on the type of tent that is going to be the perfect one for the excursion that you are going on. You need to be sure that the tent you are going to use is going to be able to withstand the weathers that you may have to deal with, that it is easy for you to travel with, that you are able to set it up properly, and that you are going to be comfortable using.
Inflatable and pole tents are both incredibly popular tent styles to use and to choose from, and the only way to decide which is the best style for you to choose, is to make sure and weight the pros and cons, make sure that it is in the price range that you can afford, and that you are going to be comfortable with the protection that it has to offer and is suitable for how you intend to use it.
About the author: Chris loves the outdoors and has developed a love of gadgets and inflatable toys, from kayaking and paddle boarding to relaxing in his hot tub at home. The founder of WhichInflatable and has been the editor for 7 years.
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