Camping 101: Big Tent Roominess

While much of our country is in a weather season generally too cold for most tent camping, it's never too early to think about roomier tents for either larger groups or simply for a couple of campers to move around in more comfortably -- especially over a long stay.

As a former backpacker, the smallest and lightest tent was always my first choice. Being a 6-foot, 7-inch, 300-pound camper added quite a challenge to that selection process! So, for several dozen years I've satisfied my solo camping needs to two-person tents with barely enough room in which to sit with proper posture. Moving about was restricted to crawling on my knees or butt-scooting from one end of the tent to the other; standing was out of the question and I did become quite proficient at putting my pants on while rolling on my back.

A few weeks ago I decided it was time to re-visit the idea of a big tent; huge by comparison to the Moss dome I've used for 30 years (and still love!). The new nylon cabin I checked out (Mountainsmith's Conifer 5) had a vestibule larger than that trusty dome model! I actually walked into the tent and, albeit stooped shouldered, I was able to stand up in the middle at last, the towering master of my fabric domain!

Those two sizable attributes, coupled with its design and form, exemplifies what to look for in a tent in which you intend to lodge three-to-five campers or simply want to comfy up in style for an extended stay at a campsite.

I wanted a tent in which I could set up my camp cot. That meant a more vertical wall rather than sloping sides, which means more usable floor space and closer-to-the-sides positioning of a raised cot. This frees up the rest of the room for other luxuries, which for me means a small, foldable camp table and a throne-sized camp chair. Hunched over, sitting cross-legged in a pup tent during an extended downpour is not good-time camping! A large tent provides a comfortable shelter for reading, working on gear, or simply hanging out during a cloud burst.

The vestibule was big enough to set up a decent kitchen/cooking workspace using even a full-sized camp stove (safety concerns notwithstanding). Tossing a ground cloth down, a large vestibule can also become a convenient second bedroom for guests or spirited young campers.

Such spacious shelters are certainly not lightweights. Figure hefting at least 12-to-15 pounds of tent/fly/poles/stakes from car to campsite. A vented tent fly and spacious, screened tent flaps -- at both ends -- make ventilation and in/out traffic a breeze. Check for quality of construction, too. How well are loops and seams sewn? Does there seem to be adequate reinforcement in common areas of tension and high traffic/wear-and-tear?

A big tent has a big footprint so you're going to need a lot more level, comfortable ground on which to make your roost. If extended camping in a cushy-friendly tent is your thing, these nylon cabins may be just what you are looking for.