Is a 4 Season Tent a Necessary Camping Expense?

If you and your family generally go camping during the gentle summer months, there is no need to buy a 4 season tent.  The summer months can bring heavy downpours, but if you are using sleeping pads, a tarp and common sense to keep things dry, 4 season tents will not make much difference in comfort.   To stay dry, the important thing is to avoid setting your tent up at the bottom of a hill, to make sure the rain fly is secure, and to take advantage of natural cover. Nonetheless, a four season tent can be a nice thing to have for extreme conditions.  If you have the money to spend on one, it is a luxury that can really improve your camping experience.

The Difference Between 4 Season Tents and Regular Tents

The main thing that sets 4 season tents apart from other tents is the fact that they are "tighter," and have  heavier outer walls. By the "tighter" aspect, you will notice that when it is zipped up, there is no space anywhere for the elements to get in.   4 season tents are often more stable so that they can resist extremely heavy storms and winds.

Obviously, you can use your 4 season tent regardless of pleasant or unpleasant weather conditions. Many styles of 4 season tents come with the ability to unzip the outer fly so that you can keep cool on summer days, while still braving near-arctic temperatures in the winter.

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There are different styles of 4 season tents.  The more extreme the conditions for which it was designed, the more specialized a 4 season tent will be. For example, some mountaineering 4 season tents are not designed for warm summer nights because the ventilation panels are small, making for stuffy, hot nights during warm summer months.  The heavier, stronger material that they are constructed with result in a heavier burden to tout  during your normal camping trip.

Quality 4 season tents can be expensive, running upwards of $500.  The typical 1-2 person summer tent available at the local discount store might be $30 or so.  Before investing in a tent, it is important to consider why you are purchasing a tent and what you will use it for.  If it's for occasional family camping or fishing trips during the summer vacation months, you may not need to invest in an expensive tent.  However, if you are a serious sports person who will be headed to the mountains or dealing with extreme weather, 4 season tents  will definitely be something to consider.

"Is a 4 Season Tent a Necessary Camping Expense?" contributed by Jim Westerland