Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Bed tents: what features to look for?




HisayoA


I'm interested in getting a bed tent for my toddler. When selecting a bed tent for kids are there any particular features which make a big difference? Thanks for your help and suggestions.
Play tent to go on a childrens (twin size) bed, not for a crib.



Answer
Getting the right size tent for the bed, theme (if child has a favorite like mermaid), durability, and does it have a window, velcro or zipper on entrance, are all some of the features to keep in mind. When shopping online I also always read the product reviews.

camping TENTS??? (pic)?




Madison B


Can i get those cute little kids camping sets a like wal mart? Or where else?
ones like these:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mZEsbU36L._SL500_.jpg
or
http://www.bossgoo.com/photo/product4/775319/product-Kids-Camping-3pcs-Set.jpg
and also: it doesnt have to be all cutsey, just like a smaller sizze.
thanks in advance



Additional Details
also, are they like SUPER small? cause its for my 13 year old, she said she wanted a tiny, cozy and content one like that. (x

ALSO: cause i am pretty sure i have seen them in the wal mart stores but they are not online so i was a little worried.
thanks guys.



Answer
These kinds of items like in the picture, including anything with a cartoon character on it, are more of a toy than a serious piece of camping gear. They probably are not weatherproof for one, and I bet they aren't very durable.

But you can get "real" tents that are kid sized for different amounts of money. Here is a youth tent from TexSport

http://www.amazon.com/Texsport-Brookwood-Youth-Dome-Tent/dp/B001C0GWUE/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1269683114&sr=1-14

You can also get an authentic bivy shelter or a backpacker's or bicycler's tent. These are all small, lightweight, and minimalist design so they are easy to carry. They are used by adults with almost no room to spare, but for a child, they would still be pretty cozy, and they are meant for real camping. Note that the term bivy is used to describe both a sleeping bag cover, which you don't really want for this, and a narrow tent. Here is a search result page for those.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dsporting&field-keywords=bivy&x=0&y=0

You also may have some luck with a beach type shelter, including some pop up cabana type things which tend to have a small footprint, since they are used by people in a sitting position. These are meant for real use, but not necessarily camping. Many are meant for shade, but may not be waterproof or durable enough for any sort of campsite other than sand.

Just make sure whatever you get is meant for real use as a camping piece, that is has all the right working parts just like a grownup's, and is meant to be used outdoors instead of being set up in the playroom, etc.

EDIT: Your 13 year old will not fit in any play tent I have ever seen unless she is super small. Even if she did, she is bound to hit a growth spurt any day now. Go with a backpacking tent or a bivy shelter! It will be plenty cozy...this is past the age of toy tents in my opinion. If she is showing interest in camping, get her some real gear and teach her how to do it right!




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