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jacquie
I just bought a summer tent and I was wondering if I could use it in winter. I live in Australia, so our winters aren't that cold or wet. I will use it mostly in summer but I was thinking of using it in Broken Hill in July.
Tent I bought: http://www.kathmandu.com.au/Tents_&_Shelters/Family_Camping_/87057/Retreat_30_Tent.html
Thoughts?
Answer
The difference between 3-season (summer) and 4-season (winter) tents is the amount of ventilation and fly coverage for retaining heat and blocking wind.
A 4-season tent strives to be as sealed as possible, with little ventilation to keep your body heat in and cold wind out. This is usually enhanced by a full-coverage fly, sometimes called a double-wall design, to trap a static layer of air between the inner tent wall and the fly, for insulation. 4-season tents are also usually designed to be more stable in high winds. The costs for this is increased weight/bulk and increased build-up of humidity, the latter often leading to condensation.
A 3-season tent focuses more on basic rain and wind protection while providing good ventilation for comfort. While you can zip-up the windows and doors there are usually large, open vent areas on the top of the tent, and the fly usually only covers the vents and shields the windows; it does not extend all the way to the ground.
I find that, except in extreme cold and wind, a 3-season tent with decent fly coverage is sufficient for most winter camping. My opinion is that a tent is shelter from the weather (wind, rain, snow) and bugs for sleeping, not for warmth or daytime activities. More important are the rating of your sleeping system (bag, pad, liner) and the clothing you wear to sleep (cap, socks, gloves, loose but insulating clothing). I've slept in 20*F (-7*C) temperatures with a light breeze in my 3-season tent (Eureka Backcountry 2) and was warm and comfortable. The tent you bought appears to have even better fly coverage, so I'd expect it to perform just as well or better.
Edit: If the coldest temperature you can expect will be 5*C (41*F), then you are well within the range of a normal 3-season tent without any additional insulation. Be careful using a tarp over a tent as most are not breathable, and if tightly sealed, could lead to oxygen depletion and CO poisoning.
The difference between 3-season (summer) and 4-season (winter) tents is the amount of ventilation and fly coverage for retaining heat and blocking wind.
A 4-season tent strives to be as sealed as possible, with little ventilation to keep your body heat in and cold wind out. This is usually enhanced by a full-coverage fly, sometimes called a double-wall design, to trap a static layer of air between the inner tent wall and the fly, for insulation. 4-season tents are also usually designed to be more stable in high winds. The costs for this is increased weight/bulk and increased build-up of humidity, the latter often leading to condensation.
A 3-season tent focuses more on basic rain and wind protection while providing good ventilation for comfort. While you can zip-up the windows and doors there are usually large, open vent areas on the top of the tent, and the fly usually only covers the vents and shields the windows; it does not extend all the way to the ground.
I find that, except in extreme cold and wind, a 3-season tent with decent fly coverage is sufficient for most winter camping. My opinion is that a tent is shelter from the weather (wind, rain, snow) and bugs for sleeping, not for warmth or daytime activities. More important are the rating of your sleeping system (bag, pad, liner) and the clothing you wear to sleep (cap, socks, gloves, loose but insulating clothing). I've slept in 20*F (-7*C) temperatures with a light breeze in my 3-season tent (Eureka Backcountry 2) and was warm and comfortable. The tent you bought appears to have even better fly coverage, so I'd expect it to perform just as well or better.
Edit: If the coldest temperature you can expect will be 5*C (41*F), then you are well within the range of a normal 3-season tent without any additional insulation. Be careful using a tarp over a tent as most are not breathable, and if tightly sealed, could lead to oxygen depletion and CO poisoning.
cheap and quality family tent?
my family wanna go camping in several days in Georgia National Park,we need a camping tent and some cooking supplies.pls kindly recommend cheap and quality ones.thx 4 ur kindness.
Answer
As long as the weather is fair you can make almost any tent work for you. The Coleman Instant Tent 6 or 8 person models are preferred by many because they are easy to set-up and take down, but run in the $150-200 range. The Coleman Sundome Chris recommends is a good, low-priced tent, but is not as spacious or easy to setup as the Instant Tent, thought it would probably do better in the rain. Choose the one that makes the most sense based on your family size, allowing extra capacity so you can keep your clothing inside without being cramped.
You can use blankets from home or buy sleeping bags to make your bed. If choosing sleeping bags, pick a model that is rated at least 20*F lower than the coldest temperature you expect to encounter. You can always unzip the bag if it gets too warm, or sleep on top. Again, Coleman makes some decent fair-weather sleeping bags, also look at Kelty and Slumberjack. Expect to pay $50 and up for a decent sleeping bag, typically the more money you spend the smaller the bag will be when packed away.
Whether you use blankets or a sleeping bag you will want to have some padding underneath you. Some use cots, which cost around $100 each. Some are ok with foam pads, costing from $8 to $50. Then there's self-inflating mattresses, $50-150, which use expandable foam and air for padding and insulation. Finally you can use regular blow-up air mattresses, which range from $20 to over $100 and are available in single, double, queen and king sizes. In colder weather, foam and self-inflating mattresses are the best choice, as cots and air mattresses provide no insulation value.
In terms of cooking, a two-burner Coleman propane stove costs around $50, and disposable 16oz propane canisters cost between $2.50 and $3.50, each will last about 2 days. You can bring pots, pans and cooking utensils from home. You might need to bring one or two folding tables (1 to cook at, the other to eat at, about $45 each) and folding chairs ($15 to 75 each, depending on model). And a battery-operated lantern ($40-75). Use disposable plates, bowls and eating utensils to save money and time cleaning. You will also need coolers to keep your food and beverages cold. The Coleman Xtreme coolers are the best available for the money, and I recommend you get two: one for food and the other for beverages.
Don't forget some trash bags, napkins, paper towels, dish soap and hand soap. And a collapsible trash can is convenient. Also, a first aid kit is a good idea.
All this stuff is available at most WalMart stores.
As long as the weather is fair you can make almost any tent work for you. The Coleman Instant Tent 6 or 8 person models are preferred by many because they are easy to set-up and take down, but run in the $150-200 range. The Coleman Sundome Chris recommends is a good, low-priced tent, but is not as spacious or easy to setup as the Instant Tent, thought it would probably do better in the rain. Choose the one that makes the most sense based on your family size, allowing extra capacity so you can keep your clothing inside without being cramped.
You can use blankets from home or buy sleeping bags to make your bed. If choosing sleeping bags, pick a model that is rated at least 20*F lower than the coldest temperature you expect to encounter. You can always unzip the bag if it gets too warm, or sleep on top. Again, Coleman makes some decent fair-weather sleeping bags, also look at Kelty and Slumberjack. Expect to pay $50 and up for a decent sleeping bag, typically the more money you spend the smaller the bag will be when packed away.
Whether you use blankets or a sleeping bag you will want to have some padding underneath you. Some use cots, which cost around $100 each. Some are ok with foam pads, costing from $8 to $50. Then there's self-inflating mattresses, $50-150, which use expandable foam and air for padding and insulation. Finally you can use regular blow-up air mattresses, which range from $20 to over $100 and are available in single, double, queen and king sizes. In colder weather, foam and self-inflating mattresses are the best choice, as cots and air mattresses provide no insulation value.
In terms of cooking, a two-burner Coleman propane stove costs around $50, and disposable 16oz propane canisters cost between $2.50 and $3.50, each will last about 2 days. You can bring pots, pans and cooking utensils from home. You might need to bring one or two folding tables (1 to cook at, the other to eat at, about $45 each) and folding chairs ($15 to 75 each, depending on model). And a battery-operated lantern ($40-75). Use disposable plates, bowls and eating utensils to save money and time cleaning. You will also need coolers to keep your food and beverages cold. The Coleman Xtreme coolers are the best available for the money, and I recommend you get two: one for food and the other for beverages.
Don't forget some trash bags, napkins, paper towels, dish soap and hand soap. And a collapsible trash can is convenient. Also, a first aid kit is a good idea.
All this stuff is available at most WalMart stores.
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Title Post: Can you use a summer tent in winter?
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Rating: 100% based on 9998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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