The cheapest option for buying a tent is the dome. That's because they're incredibly simple and you can get them just about anywhere. You can even get one with your favorite cartoon design at the local supermarket. Some are made of very cheap material.
The dome tent is favored by a lot of overland travelers because they're very easy to set up. When choosing cheap dome tents, remember to make sure that the seams are sealed and that it comes with a groundsheet and the proper equipment.
Another good tip when buying dome tents is to think about how far you're going to need to go in case the tent fails. If you're in the backcountry you might not want to go for cheap dome tents.
Tunnel tents are a really interesting alternative. Many people go for them because they pack up really small. The poles tend to be shorter and they're very quick to set up. But you need to be careful about how and where you pitch the tunnel tent because they're not the sturdiest of tents and a little bit of wind can result in a very noisy and a very uncomfortable night.
One of the things that will impact how much money you will spend on your tent is the tent accessories. You want to be careful that it comes with a decent groundsheet, a decent footprint which will protect the underside of your tent.
Most tents come with quite flimsy tent pegs which is fine you're going to soft ground but for harder ground, you would need something like an aluminum v-type tent peg which are very tough.
Another important thing to consider is the pack size especially if the tent is going to have a ride on your bike. Dome tents with quick erect systems may be quick to set up but they result in a bigger pack size and they don't gain any stability advantage over the tunnel tent. This type of dome tent also requires extra guy lines in any kind of weather. That's why you may want to consider a more complex and stable dome tent, something like a geodesic dome which is quite solid on the ground.
Pack size and tent size don't always go together. A dome tent may pack small but a larger tunnel tent may pack even smaller. The weight of the tent should be considered as well for safety on bikes.
Space inside the tent is something that you might also want to consider. Both dome and tunnel tents have a place where you can store your gear and separate wet gear from the sleeping area. Some tunnel tents have access on both the front and the side of tent. This allows you to store your wet gear on the front while you still have easy access to the sleeping area on the side.
Jonsky Sicuna is a writer for Hiking-Camping-World.com. He invites you to check out some great dome tents. You might also want to learn more about dome tents.
Tags: camping, leisure, outdoors, recreation, camping tent, dome tents, dome tent, tunnel, geodesic