Your tent is the most important piece of gear in your camping arsenal.

For those just starting out, setting up a tent can be confusing. It’s not easy to set it up right the first time around, but after the first time, it’s a piece of cake. I would highly suggest setting your tent up at home first, sort of like a practice run. Then, when you’re at camp, you’ll be able to pitch it in no time.

Here are a few pointers to help you in choosing the right tent.

What To Buy

Today, camping tents are very affordable and you can buy a high quality tent well within any budget. Still, making the right choice isn’t all that easy if you don’t know what to look for.

Go out and look at the different styles and brands. Many sporting goods stores have tents on display which may make your choice easier.

There are so many different types of tents, but it’s helpful to choose one that’s lightweight, durable and water proof. Most tents are made of nylon because it’s lightweight and dries quickly. I personally have always used a nylon camping tent.

Size matters. A 2 person tent will be too small for two people because there will be no place to store your camping gear. Here’s a good rule of thumb, add 2 to the number of people in the tent. If there are 2 people, get a 4 person tent, 4 people, six person tent, etc. This way, you won’t be cramped and you’ll have plenty of room to move around and store your gear.

Prep Your Campsite

One of the biggest mistakes people make is setting up their tent.

Here are a few pointers to pitching properly pitching your tent.

The first thing to consider is your tent’s location.
Always look for high ground. Don’t pitch your tent in a ravine or valley. Higher ground is drier ground!
Make sure that your tent is located at least 100 feet from the trail. This way, you’re out of the way of hikers. Plus, you’ll have lots more privacy, and you’ll also avoid widening the trail and disrupting the natural setting.
Pitch your tent only in designated areas. These areas are posted in most parks and on hiking trails. These are areas that also provide the most security.
Make sure you pitch your tent in the correct spot on your campsite. Ideally, it should be at least 100 feet from your campfire. Also, it should be located at least 100 feet from your food. If animals wander into your camp at night, they’ll be drawn to the food – not you. This gives you some added protection.
Choose a sunny area with dry, firm soil, if possible. Look for ground that’s soft enough to drive your tent stakes in. Sand doesn’t have enough stability. Note: never pitch a tent under a tree with dead limbs, they could fall and cause injury.
Clear the ground that your tent will be set up on. Make sure you remove stones, sticks and other debris.