A realistic assessment of what situations the tent(s) will be used in. If you buy something that's "more tent" than you need, you'll be unnecessarily lightening your wallet while weighing down your backpack.

A range of prices that you can afford. The most expensive tent isn't necessarily the best, and the cheapest isn't necessarily a bargain.

If you can visit 2 or 3 stores, allocate at least 5 to 40 minutes per store, depending on their selection. (Mail-order catalogs like REI and Campmor are a good source of information).

2torial #0500: Learn2 Choose the Right Tent Choosing the wrong tent can make your life miserable. Especially in the wilderness (where few of us are at home anymore) the wrong equipment can kill you...or at least send you packing down the road to a cheap motel. So take a few minutes to learn to buy a tent. You'll thank yourself many times on cold or rainy nights to come. This 2torial discusses the different aspects of tent materials and design: as you read through it, consider what your own needs are and compare them to the options provided. Following this discussion are four scenarios which describe how design and material choices translate to the outdoors experience. By the end, you should have a clear understanding of how to fulfill your wilderness shelter needs. Step 1