Choosing the Proper Tent Size for You Family Can Be Difficult, But With a Few Guidelines It’s Easy!

Choosing the proper size tent for your family can be extremely difficult. When the manufacturer says it’s a 3 person tent, they are not taking into consideration that people like to move around and have gear with them.

With that being said, here is how to figure out what size tent you are going to need. If you are hiking with a buddy then a 2 person tent is going to be perfect since it’s lighter and chances are you will be leaving your gear outside the tent and only using the tent for sleep. This size for hiking is also beneficial for warmth if you are hiking in cold climates than the use of body heat to sleep can be a life saver.

If you are choosing a tent for a family of 3 or more, than there are things that you need to take into consideration when choosing your tent. First how many people will be sleeping in the tent, second the ages of the children in the tent and third what else are you bringing.

Now let’s break it down. Why consider how many people: well that one is simple, you need space for all the people who wish to sleep. It is not healthy or safe to put more than recommended into a tent. The ages of the children are important because you need to think about them getting older. A small child will not need as much space as a teenager. This brings us to the third point – what are you bringing with you that needs to be in the tent with you at night? If you have a small child you will need a crib and bags that contain anything you might night while in the tent. An older child will want toys and sleep friends and don’t forget you need to have clothes and blankets.

So a good rule of thumb is to have 1 1/2 spaces per person as long as the people are children or average size adults. This will allow you to have room to move and have things you may need in your tent and it will give you the room to change in the tent. So a family of 3 should at minimum, buy a tent for 5 and a family of 4 should buy a tent for 6 and so on …

Final tip, and it does not have to do with tent size. Always secure your cooler and food away from your tent so that you do not end up with animals in your tent. Put coolers in the car so that animals do not smell the food, or if you are hiking, tie it up into a tree away from the tent.