What a tent's style tells you
The style of a tent is the way it is held up: poles crossing over the top, hoops in a row, one tall centre pole, air beams, a frame that opens itself, or a frame of triangles. The style decides how fast it goes up, how it copes with wind, how much of the floor you can stand on, and whether it can take a stove. How many people it sleeps is a separate choice, made in tents by size.
Every style in this department
- Dome tents: poles cross over the top, and most stand up before you peg them. See dome tents.
- Tunnel tents: hoops in a row, with a lot of room for their weight. See tunnel tents.
- Tipi tents: tall cones on one centre pole. See tipi tents.
- Pyramid tents: four or more sloping sides, often pitched on walking poles. See pyramid tents.
- Bell tents: round, with a low upright wall and a centre pole. See bell tents.
- Pop-up tents: spring open from the bag. See pop-up tents.
- Instant and automatic tents: a built-in frame, air beams or gas struts do the pitching. See instant and automatic tents.
- Inflatable air tents: air beams in place of poles. See inflatable air tents.
- Geodesic dome tents: a frame of triangles, mostly for glamping sites. See geodesic dome tents.
- Cabin tents: upright walls and room to stand. See cabin tents.
- Safari tents: big lodge tents for long stays. See safari tents.
- Bubble tents: see-through domes for sleeping under the stars. See bubble tents.
- Tents with awnings: shelters that fix to a car or caravan, and tents with a canopy of their own. See tents with awnings.
- Two and three room tents: bedrooms off a living area. See two and three room tents.
- Hot tents with a stove jack: a fire-resistant opening for a stove pipe. See hot tents.
How to choose between them
Start with how the tent travels. On your back, look at the light dome, tunnel and pyramid tents. In the car, every style is open to you, and the questions become how quickly you want it up and how much room you want inside. Pop-up, instant and air tents are the quickest to pitch. Cabin, bell and two-room tents give the most standing room. Tipis and hot tents are the ones that take a stove. Many tents fit more than one style, so a tipi with a stove jack is filed under tipi, pyramid and hot tents alike.
Questions people ask about tent styles
Which style is easiest to pitch?
Pop-up and instant tents open themselves, and air tents go up with a pump. A dome tent is the easiest of the pole tents, because it stands on its own while you peg it.
Which style is best in wind?
A dome or a geodesic dome, because the poles cross and share the load. A tunnel tent is steady too, pitched with its low end into the wind and every guy line pegged out.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that tent usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.
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