Popular Mechanics - USA (2020-09 & 2020-10)

Outdoor Stuff

11

BEST VALUE

COLEMAN SKYDOME 2$60

Packed weight: 7 lb. 10 oz. Floor space: 35 sq. ft.

Peak height: 4 ft. Doors: 1

Weekend warriors racing sundown to set camp

on Fridays after work will appreciate how quickly

they can pitch the new Skydome. This car-camp-

ing tent was easy to construct because of the

attached main support poles (though that pre-

sented a challenge when it was time to pack up).

All we had to do was connect the segments, slide

the ends into their opposite corners, and secure

the tent body to the poles with snap-on clips,

which we prefer over the more traditional pole

sleeves. And thanks to the 1,000-denier poly-

ethylene floor, we didn’t have to fuss with laying

down a tarp. The oval door felt a little low, but it’s

very wide and almost completely unzips, which

lent enough room to get ourselves and our gear

in and out. Because the walls are steeper than

a classic dome, the interior has a comfortable

amount of headroom. The mesh paneling on the

walls, which prevented the Skydome from feel-

ing stuffy, are a nice touch. But because the fly

doesn’t have vents, we did notice some conden-

sation on the inside of the door come morning.

DOME

One of the strongest

shapes, a dome—a

common configura-

tion for car camping and

backpacking tents—

stays upright via the

compression of the

fixed poles pushing

upward. Two main poles

cross each other to

erect and support the

rounded, evenly slop-

ing walls.

PROS

• Simple structure and
  small fly make it easy
  to pitch
  CONS


• Usually not tall enough
  to stand inside


• Models with smaller
  flies don’t provide much
  weather protection

TUNNEL

Benefiting from some

of the same compres-

sion force of domes,

the arched poles of tun-

nel tents create a roomy

interior. However, since

the poles are lined up,

not crossing to vary the

angles of support, it’s

crucial to use guylines

and stake out the walls.

PROS

• Lots of space


• Tall enough to walk
  inside
  CONS


• Large design is
  suitable mainly for expe-
  ditions and trips where
  weight isn’t an issue


• Presents a tall profile
  for high winds to slam
  against

GEODESIC

A modified dome, this

shape instead has sev-

eral overlapping poles

that create a series of

triangles. When pres-

sure is applied on a

side of one of these tri-

angles, the structure

evenly distributes it to

the other two sides—

and the other triangles

they’re connected to.

That helps reinforce and

strengthen the tent.

PROS

• Hardy construction for
  expedition camping


• Excellent resistance to
  strong gusts
  CONS


• Complex structure
  takes time to set up


• Pricey and heavy

A-FRAME

This classic shape is now

mostly used in back-

packing tents. Steep

walls increase aerody-

namics when wind is

blowing directly at the

front or back of the tent,

but broad, tall sides form

a larger profile. The

absence of flat portions

of roof means A-frames

can shed precipitation.

PROS

• Compact, lightweight
  design that’s packable
  and easy to carry


• Quick pitching, thanks
  to simple architecture
  CONS


• Steep walls cramp
  livability


• Not as strong as tents
  with more poles

THE TYPES

OF TENTS

Having a pre-
ferred shape or
style in mind
can help you
narrow down
the options.
Some tents
are budget-
friendly and
more suitable
for established
campgrounds,
while others
offer more
living space
and weather
protection.

AL

YS

E^ M

AR

KE

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ILL

US

TR

AT

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66 September/October 2020