You may not think that setting up your tent is all that important, but I can tell you form first hand experience that I've had more then one camping trip ruined by not setting up my tent the right way.

Here are some tips for setting up your tent for a more enjoyable camping experience.

Location, Location, Location:

One of the first things you need to take a look at before you set up your tent is the location where you will be setting up. Just because a campground has a spot designated for your tent doesn't mean that it is the best place to set up.

I have woken up in the middle of the night more than once with water in my tent after setting up in the campgrounds designated spot.

If at all possible, set up in a spot where the ground slopes away from the back of the tent. This will allow water to run off away form your tent should it happen to rain.

Tarps Are Your Friend:

Be sure to place a tarp on the ground before setting up your tent. Having a tarp under your tent will prevent ground moisture from seeping up through the bottom of the tent and getting your sleeping bag and other camping gear wet.

Most tent come with a rain fly, but if there should be a period of heavy or prolonged rain, even the best of rain flies will not hold back the water. This is why I always put a tarp over my tent when I set up.

The best way to do this is to use a tarp that is about 4 or 5 feet larger than your tent so it extends beyond the foot print of your tent. This will protect your tent better and also allow you to place some chairs outside the tent.

If at all possible, use rope or twine and tie the tarp off to any trees that are around your tent and be sure that one of the back corners of the tarp is lower then the other three corners so if it rains, the water will run off away from your tent.

Use these tips for setting up your tent for a better camping experience.

Happy Camping :-)

By: Mark Neustedt
Mark Neustedt is the webmaster of ForeverCamping.com and uses his blog to provide campers with Camping Reviews and other helpful camping information.

Spending time together with the family is often an important aspect of camping trips, but if the wrong size tent is purchased, there may be more family togetherness than anyone desires.The number of campers that can fit in a tent is usually marked clearly on the tent, but it can become confusing. A two-person tent is designed to comfortably hold two campers, but this "comfort level" does not include two campers plus all of the camping items.

Usually, the camping supplies and extra gear will need to remain outside if the two campers want to be comfortable within the two-person tent. With this in mind, traveling light is an option but choosing a slightly larger tent is probably a better option if you prefer not to store all of you camping supplies outside.

The type of camping tent you want also depends on the grounds at the campsite at which you plan to camp. Many of the newer style tents come with a floor that provides a bug barrier to guard against any small critters on the ground when the tent is first set up. Tents without any such floor can always us an air mattress or put down a makeshift floor with a nylon or plastic tarp. Cots are also a great option for those desiring to camp off the floor. This also keeps sleeping campers off the immediate ground in the event any inclement weather comes their way.

Tents, of course, come in many different sizes. Some can hold an entire family while some even offer divisions to create a multi-room tent and offer some privacy to campers. Multi-room tents are great options for parents who may want a little privacy from the younger campers, or a private area to change clothing when other private spaces are not available.

It goes without saying that the easier a tent is to set up the better! Spending the first day at the campsite setting up can take away from some of the fun of camping in general. Most tents are fairly simple to set up, but some can be surprisingly complicated. Most tents include instructions but, as any camper knows, the instructions are usually lost by the second trip so be sure the tent is a simple model to set up.

By: Peter I. Wilson
Being particularly passionate about Denia tourism and attractions in Denia, Peter Wilson is authoring different long articles on this specific subject. You might come across his contributions on Denia and attractions in Denia at http://www.alicante-spain.com.

Purchasing a family camping tent can be a very frustrating experience if you don't know which style meets your needs. I have previously written an article with steps to take in selecting family camping tents, but I would like to expand upon my advice and explain the different styles. There are many styles of tents to choose from, but for the purpose of selecting a family camping tent I will cover the most popular and the easiest to find. Three of the most common styles of tents I will discuss are, dome tents, cabin tents, and A-frame tents.

Dome tents are by far the most common tent you will find when shopping for your camping tent. Dome tents are typically held up by two poles crossed in the form of an X bent to reach and attach to all four corners on the ground. These have more head room than most styles, but do have an inward slope on the sides making the center the tallest point. Dome tents are great for windy conditions because of their frame strength and are also great for shedding snow. A great example of a dome tent is the Coleman Sundome. The Coleman Sundome tent is an affordable way to go for your weekend camper on a budget.

Cabin tents are typically much larger tents, have a more complex frame, and have vertical walls for more space. Cabin tents are intended for car camping or large family camping when weight is not a concern. They are great for larger families or extended camping trips where more space would be nice. They are heavier because of the extra fabric and more difficult to assemble, but are great when space is needed. An example of a popular cabin tent is the Eureka Copper Canyon.

A-frame tents are a simple design commonly used by Boy Scouts. A-frame tents use two poles on each end in an A shape held together by a ridge pole. These tents don't have as much space because of the aggressive slope of the walls, but they do save a lot of weight and space when in the bag. These are typically used for backpacking tents where space and weight is important. These tents are not as wind resistant, but are great for mild weather camping. A great example of a popular A-frame tent is the Eureka Timberline.

I personally recommend Coleman Tents and Eureka Tents if you are on a budget and looking for discount camping tents. Both Coleman tents and Eureka tents offer all the styles I mentioned for a family camping tent. They offer large family camping tents such as the Eureka Pine Lodge , Eureka Copper Canyon, and the Coleman Sundome. If you are looking for a little lighter weight, and more flexible family camping tent you might consider the Eureka Timberline.

By: Chris Graham
Chris Graham is an editor for CGCamping.com, a website that offers family camping tents, and other discounted camping tents.

Many camping enthusiasts enjoy the comfort of canvas tents while they are out in the wilderness. The only thing that is certain about nature is that nothing is certain. Canvas tents are durable and can withstand rain and wind much better than standard tents. They are generally well constructed using quality materials and are simple to set up. This is especially beneficial to the most common purposes for canvas tents, which is shelter for hunting and fishing trips.

Canvas tents offer sturdy walls, floor and roofing. They are usually accompanied by metal bars to secure the tent on site. In this instance, you will definitely get what you pay for. Canvas tents offer heavy duty zippers and high walls and ceilings. They are designed for the most comfort in camping by offering wilderness buffs an opportunity to stand up, walk around, stretch out or even sit down in a chair and relax. The high ceilings provide additional comfort to campers while also providing extra headroom. This comes in very handy, especially for the taller individual.

When shopping for canvas tents, it's a good idea to decide on a budget before you start browsing. If you know how much money you can spend, then you will be better prepared to make a decision and will be less likely to overspend. After all, you will need to save some money for the additional camping supplies that you will want to take along for the trip. It's always a good idea to work out a reasonable budget anytime before you make a substantial investment. When shopping around, keep in mind that canvas tents are more expensive than other models and can be priced at several hundred dollars each. For a model with more features, they can cost as much as $1,000.00 or slightly more.

There are a few bonus features to look for in canvas tents, including the presence of a back door to allow more air to circulate during the warm summer months and a tent bag for convenient storage and transportation. If possible, purchase a white canvas tent because the white color reflects light inside much better than colored tents. Before making a final decision, you may want to consider the weight factor. Larger tents are much heavier and can be more difficult to set up but, if that's what you need, then go for it. If a smaller lightweight tent will work for you, then consider that option as well.

Canvas tents are more expensive, but they are a true investment. A quality product, with proper care and maintenance, should last for up to 20 years or more. Now, that's a lot of camping.

By: Vincent Abrugar
Vincent Abrugar is the webmaster of http://www.canvasinfo.com an information website about canvas tents.

Featured by Resources For Attorneys, a Legal and Lifestyle Resources directory for attorneys, lawyers and the general internet public.

When buying a tent. You need to decide on your budget, do you want to spend $20, $100, $500 or more. Tents can cost from $20 to around $900. You don't have to spend your total budget but it is good to know what you can afford so you have options.

Now that you know about what you want to spend you need to decide on the size of the tent you will need. The type of camping you will be doing will be a factor in the size of tent you will need. If you are going to be backpacking or canoeing the biggest consideration is; will it fit in my backpack or the space I have in the canoe. If you are going be car camping you will want to get a tent big enough to comfortably. The guide in tents is a two man tent will fit two sleeping bags and that is all, there will be no room for any thing else. So if you will not want any supplies in your tent buy a tent for the number of people that will be sleeping in it. I recommend that you buy a tent two people bigger than the number of people in your group that way you will have room to keep other things you will want to have in your tent, and also have wiggle room.

If you are camping with kids I suggest that you look at a multiple room tent, they offer a greater level of privacy. You can get a two or three room tent, and bigger.There are different types a two room tents, one has a divider that has a zipper to separate the rooms. Another has one big room and a screened in room attached, you can use this one to change wet or dry clothes before entering the sleeping area. Three room tents are the same, you can buy them with three internal rooms or two internal rooms and a screened room for changing before you enter, or use the screened room for storing supplies.

Other tent features to look for.

*Tent poles: Most tent poles are collapsible and made of aluminum or carbon fiber.Carbon fiber is more fragile and may be more likely to break, if this happens you can replace them.On the other hand aluminum is lighter. You might look for poles that are color coordinated, this will aid in set up.

*Tent color: Colors to look for are white, yellow or beige. These colors will let the most sun light in

*Floor: A one piece and water proof floor is important.

*Rain covers and flood seams: Rain covers are called a rainfly and they cover your tent to protect it from rain, it is the tents umbrella. It is important that it comes well down the sides and has adequate anchors. You will need to check the seams to see if they are waterproofed, if you can pull on the sides of the seams and see light they will leak.

*Walls: If you get a tent with steep walls this will increase usable interior room and shed precipitation better.

*Windows and Doors: Look for windows and doors with zippers to close them; this will help battering down the hatch when the weather turns rough.

*Bugs: Look for tents that use noseeum meshing; this is the best material for keeping our flying friends out.

*Inside the tent: Look for storage pockets and gear loops inside this will make life in a tent a lot more enjoyable.

*Keeping cool: Look for a tent with an adequate roof vent, tents can become very warm in the sun and no roof vent, or to small will not keep you cool.

*Guy lines: Look for tents and rainflys that have loops half way down the walls so you can tie guy lines to them and anchor to the ground; it is very hard to sleep in a tent that the walls are flapping all night.

*Fastening your tent: Look for loops at each corner of the tent; they should be big enough to accommodate the biggest tent stakes. I suggest that you use steel tent stakes.

*Zippers: A heavy duty zipper is always the best, especially with kids because the zipper may go up and down a hundred times a day.

Final tips look for a tent with a ground cloth (footprint), this will protect the floor from sticks rocks etc. it also helps keep the water out. You can use a plain tarp if you want to, but make sure to tuck the corners under the tent, you don't want water to run off the tent and collect on the foot pint and run under the tent.

It is not a good idea to store or eat food in your tent; this will only attract unwanted critters to and in your tent. It is best to eat at the picnic table if there is one, and to store your food in your car. It is ok to eat in the screened in room attached to your tent but be sure to clean up right after you are done.

Last but not least after shopping and buying your tent what ever you get have fun and enjoy the outdoors. This is what we are all about at Campingduds.com I hope this information is helpful a little bit.

By: Thomas Olson
Campingduds.com is a great site to compare tents and look for all the things you need for your camping trip.

Featured by the camping directory from the lifestyle section at Resources For Attorneys.