Manufacturers usually use "number of sleep" method to describe the floor size of their tents. In most cases, campers feel like the tent cannot sleep as many as described. It is mainly because of the camping gears and bags you want to store inside the tents. Described "number of sleep" usually indicates the maximum number of adults who sleep in a tent without gears and bags in. You¡¯d better use your own discretion to judge size of a tent measured in foot or inch.

First, deduct a foot each direction from the floor dimensions manufacturers claim. Let's take an example of a 7' x 7' square dome tent. This is the size measured outside of the tent. Because of stitches, that will be average 2" short each direction if you measure inside the tent. Another thing you have to remember is that the tent wall does not go up vertically from the floor. It's a simple math that the tent dimensions of your toe level when you lay back is smaller than those of ground level. So, it is safe to say that the inner dimensions of the tent at your toe level is a little bigger than 6' x 6'. If you are 6 feet tall or less, the tent fits you lengthwise. But if you are exactly 6' tall, you may feel that the tent wall touches your feet. Don't forget that you are 3"~4" taller with hiker boots on. And your feet tend to stretch downward when you lay back.

Cabin tent wall goes up almost vertical. You can deduct half a foot each direction from the manufacturers' floor dimensions.

Second, shoulder width of an average American is about 2 feet. That is why manufacturers say that a 7' x 7' sleeps 3 persons. (I've never seen an exception for this claim) But this is a shoulder-to-shoulder measure. You don¡¯t want to sleep that way. The wisest way to measure the shoulder width is to use your sleeping bag size. The regular size of a sleeping bag sold in the market is 33" x 75". That is a little less than 3 feet. So, I can comfortably say a 7' x 7' square dome tent is good for 2 adults.

Third, consider the amount of gears and bags to store in a tent. Gears and bags are usually pushed back to corners of a tent. When a bag touches tent fabric, it may cause water soaking in. You may find your bags wet in the morning. My experience says that a 7' x 7' square dome tent is good for 2 adults with minimal bags in. A 8' x 8' square dome tent, which is usually claimed for 3~4 person, is for 2 adults with reasonable amount of bags in. A 7' x 9' rectangular dome tent is for 3 adults with minimal bags in. (Sorry, TentsOnSale.com uses the same size description criteria to avoid confusion.)

Summary:

- Usable inner size of a tent is 6"~12" shorter each direction than the claimed size.
- Use your sleeping bag size (regular 33" x 72") to calculate number of sleeps.
- Consider extra space for gears and bags.

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Weight and carry size are another critical factors to choose a tent. The tent industry splits the tents into two categories by shape of tents, dome tents and cabin tents. This table will show you a brief comparison of the two.

There are crossovers between the two tent categories. Dome tents are getting bigger. TentsOnSale.com uses vaulted ceiling structure to make dome tents bigger in inner cube. (Model F4010) Several cabin tents have rain flys. However, the table above shows typical difference of the two tents.

If you go backpacking, it should definitely be a dome tent. Be sure that, for backpacking purpose, your choice of dome tent is less than 25" in carry size and not heavier than 10 lbs. If a big family drives a car to a campground, a cabin tent would be a better choice. A family dome tent is a choice for campers who want to take advantage of both types. But dome tents have structural limitation in standing height. If it is a big dome tent in the market, you can stand up in the middle of the tent. But do not expect that you can walk in the tent. In 99% of dome tents in the market, you need to bend down to walk one step or two away from the middle of the tent. Recently, the market introduced so-called cabin-dome tents, using steel up-right poles and flexible fiberglass poles for roof. Manufacturers say that they are a hybridization of dome tents and cabin tents. They are relatively easier to set up than typical cabin tents. But the fact is that the cabin-dome tents are basically cabin tents. If they pay same bucks as 100% steel pole cabin tents do, you can choose cabin-dome tents. But they are not worth extra dollars.

Summary:

- A dome tent is good for backpacking.
- A cabin tent is heavy but a choice for family who want roomier camping.
- A cabin-dome tent is not worthy extra dollars.

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If you are a serious camper, going up to high elevations all the year round, you have to have a 4-season tent. A 4-season tent usually means a tent made with heavy urethane coated (more than 1,500mm water-proof) fabric, light weight flexible aluminum poles, full cover fly down-to ground, etc., etc., etc. And remember that a serious 4-season tent costs 5~10 times more than a 3-season tent of a same floor size. Do you really need to pay that much? Answer the following questions to see if you need a 4-season tent?

- Would you go camping only when temperature is over 50º?
- Would your camping trips be less than a week?
- Would you bring heavy jackets/sleeping bags for camping?

If you answer them all yes, you don't need a 4-season tent. Weekend campers never need 4-season tents. 99% of scout troops never need 4-season tents. Family campers never need 4-season tents. Save that budget for other equipment.

Rain protection is a major concern of campers. Campers would think that the tent industry standard of 450mm water-proof is not enough for heavy rain. Some campers find a compromise and purchase a 4-season-alike tent of 800mm or 1,000mm water-proof. That is the last thing I would recommend. You can buy some mental comfort for extra $30~$100. (TentsOnSale.com uses 600mm coated fabric for the customer's mental comfort) You never buy difference in water protection. Water never comes in through tent fabric. If it leaks, it is through seams. Or it comes through window openings or underneath rain fly. If your tent seams leak, apply a bottle of seam sealer. It will cost $3 or $4. Do you know that an umbrella uses 100mm~200mm coated fabric? It does not leak not because of heavy-coated fabric, but because of tight stitches.

Summary:

- 95% of campers don't need 4-season tents. Don¡¯t believe salesman's pitch.
- 3-season tents are good enough for weekend/family campers and scout troops.
- 4-season-alike tents give you only mental comfort for extra $30~$100.

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It becomes important more and more. Unfortunately, for the past 10 years, I have heard about more than 10 deaths associated with misuse of fuel burning devices in tents. I believe that we could have saved some of them if we have had well ventilated tents. (This does not imply that you can use fuel-burning devices inside your tents. I am always against that careless practice.) Ventilation is always #1 priority when I design new tents.

Ventilation is also important for comfortable camping. Afternoon sun heats up airs inside tents. You might have experienced that. You never get in the tents even long after sun sets if they are not ventilated.

Find a tent with cross ventilation windows. The windows should face with each other for cross ventilation. If you find a tent with extra two windows for additional five bucks, that should be your purchase. There are lots of tents in the market with added roof ventilation. Added roof ventilation tents may be a little colder at night. A little temperature down? Put on heavy jackets or use sleeping bags. Safety always comes first.

Summary:

- Ventilation is important not only for comfort but also for safety.
- Find a tent with cross ventilation.
- Roof ventilation is another value without additional cost.

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Manufacturers are adopting hundreds of extra features to draw customer's attention. Of course, they give you more convenience. But, in most cases, manufacturers use those tools to dilute their high costs and take some money off your pockets. (Nobody can blame this history-long practice. Car dealers don't make money until you add options.) Use your common sense to judge those features. I saw a 7' x 7' 3-man dome tent with two doors. The tent was tagged $10 more than a tent without the second door. Why do we need an extra door for the small tent? Do you know that this extra door costs only a buck or two?

Here are some lists of factory costs for extra features. Reconsider if you really need those features. If you do, pay the right prices for the extra options.

Feature	Factory cost*	Remark
Shock-corded pole	$5 ~ $10 / tent	Almost must
Extra door	$1 ~ $3 / door	No need for small tents
Extra window	$2 ~ $4 / window	Optimum two windows for one room
Higher fabric coating	$5 ~ $20 / tent	From 450mm to 1,000mm
Zippered carry bag	$2 ~ $4 / tent	Oxford fabric with handle

* Additional cost for up-grade from standard spec.

Summary:

- Like car dealers, manufacturers add extra features to dilute high prices.

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