Tents

1948 Scout Handbook

A big part of camping is sleeping in a tent.  This a great part of the outdoors program in Scouting and there is a lot more that goes into a tent than most Scouts are aware of.  First off, tents are designed for different styles of camping.  If you are camping at a site where you can drive up to it, then a larger more durable tent is going to be preferred as they are more comfortable and last longer than tents designed to be lightweight.  If on the other hand you need to pack all of your gear in on your back several miles from the trail head, then weight and compactability will become more important factors in tent selection.  And if you are going on a long distance thru-hike, then shaving off ounces/grams from your total load will mean much more than having a roomy sleeping area.

Note: regardless of the tent you select, tents must be unpacked, dried and cleaned after each use!!!

Site/Car Camping Tents

Acceptable entry level camping tents can be purchased at big box stores, to include Costco.  Look for tents with a "tub".  The more durable bottoms are resistant to punctures and leaks.  Some of these are easy to deploy but are packaged in larger bags that will not fit in a backpack.  This is fine, since these types of tents are often too heavy to use for backpacking anyways and will be loaded in a back of the family van.  Some economy tents will leak with heavy rain due to design (toupee or nonexistent rain-fly) or overall quality of build.  This may be OK for car camping where Scouts will learn how to take care of their gear, learn the value of quality gear and will have extra clothing and tarps to kept them from being too miserable.


If you don't have a durable Site/Car camping tent, you can use one designed for backpacking or likely borrow one from your troop.



As new Scouts get into camping, you can upgrade to a higher quality tent as needed.

We list many Car Camping Tent options at Car Camping Tents

Big Agnes Fishhook UL2 Tent

Backpacking Tents

These tents are designed to be packed away and carried inside your backpack.  The primary goal is to determine the lightest tent you can afford for a given environment.  Light weight often comes with a price.  It requires more engineering and the market for light weight makes these tents generally more expensive than car camping tents.



We list Backpacking Tent options at Backpacking Tents 

Hyperlite UltaMid 4

Ultralight Shelters

Ultralight hiking isn't for most people and should only be attempted by experienced hikers, ideally under the supervision of experienced ultralight hikers.  The philosophy is to pack only what you need to survive.  This narrows safety margins and can be dangerous to those who are inexperienced.  It also trades creature comforts for lighter loads, which isn't a good compromise for many.

The first thing to consider when selecting an ultralight tent is determining if you actually need a tent.  Often a tarp or floorless tent will be sufficient.  This requires a little knowhow and the ability/flexibility to choose campsites. 


We list Ultralight Shelter options at Ultralight Shelters

Tent Brands

There are many reputable Name Brands in the tent world.  Beware of no-name brands found on Amazon.  Some of these can be great finds and are very affordable.  Others won't survive a storm when you most need it.

We list and discuss the most widely used Tent Brands at Tent Brands