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My boss let me borrow a 10x10 tent for my camping trip this weekend. I have no idea how big/tall it is. I was just wondering how many people will fit in it with a full size blow up bed.
Answer
Tents are advertised as two man, four man, six man and so on. However, at best this is the maximum number of persons you can cram into the tent for sleeping in close company with no personal gear. This rating method might make sense for backpackers who are traveling light, but it is terrible for all others.
Why be cramped? Divide the advertised rating by two, and you will have the real capacity of the tent. Therefore, most four man tents are really only comfortable for two adults, or perhaps two adults and two very small children.
You should plan a minimum of 30 square feet of floor space per person. Make this even higher for longer camping trips, unless reducing weight is important.
Actual length and width are also very important. If you are six feet tall, you will need a space of at least seven feet in order to stretch out and not be crammed against the tent sides. You will need at least two and one half feet in width just for sleeping. This equals only 17.5 square feet. A "two man" tent might be advertised which measures five by seven feet.
Adding space for clothing, and a space to stand up without walking on your tentmate, will result in a more livable situation. Think more like eight by eight feet as a basic two man family camping tent. This gives you 32 square feet per person. Still not overly generous.
A ten by ten foot tent is ideal for two adults. You will have enough space for cots or a double air mattress, plus space to stand up when changing clothes.
Kids can fit comfortably in smaller tents. Once they are old enough, about seven or eight, they will probably want to sleep in a separate tent anyway. Parents will appreciate the privacy provided by this arrangement too. A five by seven foot tent is adequate for young kind. Teenagers should be considered as adults when fitting a tent.
Be cautious about tents that are larger than ten by ten. You will find three problems. First, it will be much more difficult to find a smooth and level spot large enough to set up the tent on. You need a spot as level as possible. Second, big tents can get heavy. This is not a problem for your car, but think about how much work it might be for you in loading and unloading the car. Finally, do you really want everyone to sleep, and dress, in the same tent. Privacy becomes an issue with the bigger tents.
The peak inside height is very important to you comfort. For most trips, try to have a tent that is tall enough to stand in. Plan for the taller persons in your group. A six or seven foot peak height is necessary for adults, and a four foot peak is about right for kids. Remember, the tent slopes downward at a sharp angle, so the actual spot where you can stand up will be small. Larger spaces will be provided in tents with taller peaks.
Tents are advertised as two man, four man, six man and so on. However, at best this is the maximum number of persons you can cram into the tent for sleeping in close company with no personal gear. This rating method might make sense for backpackers who are traveling light, but it is terrible for all others.
Why be cramped? Divide the advertised rating by two, and you will have the real capacity of the tent. Therefore, most four man tents are really only comfortable for two adults, or perhaps two adults and two very small children.
You should plan a minimum of 30 square feet of floor space per person. Make this even higher for longer camping trips, unless reducing weight is important.
Actual length and width are also very important. If you are six feet tall, you will need a space of at least seven feet in order to stretch out and not be crammed against the tent sides. You will need at least two and one half feet in width just for sleeping. This equals only 17.5 square feet. A "two man" tent might be advertised which measures five by seven feet.
Adding space for clothing, and a space to stand up without walking on your tentmate, will result in a more livable situation. Think more like eight by eight feet as a basic two man family camping tent. This gives you 32 square feet per person. Still not overly generous.
A ten by ten foot tent is ideal for two adults. You will have enough space for cots or a double air mattress, plus space to stand up when changing clothes.
Kids can fit comfortably in smaller tents. Once they are old enough, about seven or eight, they will probably want to sleep in a separate tent anyway. Parents will appreciate the privacy provided by this arrangement too. A five by seven foot tent is adequate for young kind. Teenagers should be considered as adults when fitting a tent.
Be cautious about tents that are larger than ten by ten. You will find three problems. First, it will be much more difficult to find a smooth and level spot large enough to set up the tent on. You need a spot as level as possible. Second, big tents can get heavy. This is not a problem for your car, but think about how much work it might be for you in loading and unloading the car. Finally, do you really want everyone to sleep, and dress, in the same tent. Privacy becomes an issue with the bigger tents.
The peak inside height is very important to you comfort. For most trips, try to have a tent that is tall enough to stand in. Plan for the taller persons in your group. A six or seven foot peak height is necessary for adults, and a four foot peak is about right for kids. Remember, the tent slopes downward at a sharp angle, so the actual spot where you can stand up will be small. Larger spaces will be provided in tents with taller peaks.
Is tent camping a good family vacation?
Q. My family really wants to try it. What should I bring other than a positive attitude? What would I cook for meals for my kids?
Answer
It depends on the family. If your into the outdoors yeah it can be a great time. But it's not for everybody. A few friends and I took their daughters camping 3 of them had a fun time. But the other was upset because she couldn't get cellphone signal or that she was going to miss out what was happening at their local mall.
What to cook is hard to say. You know your kids better than us. We don't know if their finicky eaters so I would suggest cook their favorite food & they should be happy. To get some cooking ideas check out this Boy Scouts site.
http://www.scoutorama.com/recipe/index.cfm
As for things to bring your list can very. You will have your tent, sleeping bags, air matresses, latterns, cooking gear, etc. But there are always the little things you might forget. To save time I keep all of my gear in rubbermade totes. I have a few for different things.
One is my cooking/kitchen items. This will contain my utensils, pans, coffee pot, paper plates, etc.
Another tote is my tent stuff. This contains my groundcloth, tent air mattresses & stakes.
The final tote is what I call my general tote. This has the other items like matches, bug spray, first aid kit, extra rope, batteries, rain gear, etc.
One thing I would suggest is bring something for everybody to do. One thing I carry with is a 7 in 1 magnetic travel game set. It's small and takes up hardly any space. Another thing that is real popular at the campsites I go to is called ladderball. It a game you make out of PVC tubing, golf balls and rope. Here's a link on how to play and make the game.
http://www.ladderball.org/
Have a great time enjoy the great outdoors.
It depends on the family. If your into the outdoors yeah it can be a great time. But it's not for everybody. A few friends and I took their daughters camping 3 of them had a fun time. But the other was upset because she couldn't get cellphone signal or that she was going to miss out what was happening at their local mall.
What to cook is hard to say. You know your kids better than us. We don't know if their finicky eaters so I would suggest cook their favorite food & they should be happy. To get some cooking ideas check out this Boy Scouts site.
http://www.scoutorama.com/recipe/index.cfm
As for things to bring your list can very. You will have your tent, sleeping bags, air matresses, latterns, cooking gear, etc. But there are always the little things you might forget. To save time I keep all of my gear in rubbermade totes. I have a few for different things.
One is my cooking/kitchen items. This will contain my utensils, pans, coffee pot, paper plates, etc.
Another tote is my tent stuff. This contains my groundcloth, tent air mattresses & stakes.
The final tote is what I call my general tote. This has the other items like matches, bug spray, first aid kit, extra rope, batteries, rain gear, etc.
One thing I would suggest is bring something for everybody to do. One thing I carry with is a 7 in 1 magnetic travel game set. It's small and takes up hardly any space. Another thing that is real popular at the campsites I go to is called ladderball. It a game you make out of PVC tubing, golf balls and rope. Here's a link on how to play and make the game.
http://www.ladderball.org/
Have a great time enjoy the great outdoors.
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