Tents and Shelters

Tents & Shelters FAQs

How do I choose between a camping tent and a camping shelter?

The choice comes down to how much protection you need and how you plan to use the space. A tent provides a fully enclosed, weatherproof sleeping area with a sewn-in groundsheet, making it the right pick for overnight stays where rain, wind, and insects are a concern. A shelter or tarp, by contrast, has an open or semi-open structure that prioritises ventilation and versatility. It works well as a communal cooking and living area at a campsite, or as a lightweight overhead cover for day trips. For families who need a dedicated sleeping space plus a sheltered area for meals and gear, pairing both types makes practical sense. Those building out a full campsite setup should look at the camping tents category, where pole-frame, inflatable, and pop-up models cover group sizes from two to eight people with varying levels of stand-up headroom and room division. Expert advice: check the packed volume as well as the weight. A family tunnel tent may weigh 10 kg but pack into a bag that fits a car boot easily, while a trekking tent at 2.7 kg must compress small enough to fit in a 70 L rucksack.

What is a camping shelter or tarp, and when should I use one?

A camping shelter covers a broad category that includes tarps, awnings, and semi-open canopy structures. Unlike a tent, these have no floor and no enclosed walls, which means they set up quickly, pack flat, and allow airflow on warm days. A tarp rigged between two trees or trekking poles gives a solo camper a lightweight rain cover for under 500 g, whereas a large canopy shelter with side panels creates a wind-protected communal space for a group. The technical advantage over a tent in fair weather is condensation control. With open sides, moisture from breathing and cooking escapes freely rather than collecting on inner walls. Beyond traditional tent setups, the camping shelters, tarps and awnings range covers everything from compact solo tarps to large, freestanding event canopies.

What makes a roof tent different from a ground tent?

A roof tent mounts directly onto a vehicle's approved roof bars and unfolds above the car, lifting you off the ground entirely. The main practical benefits are speed and versatility, since you can stop and sleep anywhere the vehicle can park legally. Because the sleeping platform is rigid and elevated, there is no need to clear or level the ground, and the mattress stays permanently fitted inside the folded unit. The trade-off versus a ground tent is total system weight. Roof tents typically weigh between 40 kg and 55 kg, which affects a vehicle's fuel economy and roof load rating. For those who want a vehicle-mounted sleep system without the commitment of a full roof tent, the roof tents range lists the load and bar-spacing requirements for each model so you can confirm compatibility with your car before buying.

How do I choose the right trekking tent for multiple day trips?

For longer trekking, weight and packed size are the two non-negotiable factors. A trekking tent carried in a rucksack should weigh no more than 2.5 kg for a solo camper, or around 3.5 kg shared between two people in a two-person model. Beyond weight, look at the hydrostatic head (HH) rating: a flysheet rated at 2,000 mm HH and a groundsheet rated at 3,000 mm HH will handle sustained heavy rain without seepage through either surface. Forclaz's MT900, for example, uses a 20-denier polyester flysheet with a polyurethane and silicone coating, with heat-sealed taped seams. These taped seams are critical because the fabric's HH rating alone does not account for needle holes at stitching points, which are the most common entry point for water. The trekking tents range lists packed weight, person capacity, and season rating for each model, making it straightforward to shortlist by your route's conditions.

What do tent waterproofing ratings actually mean?

A tent's waterproof rating is measured using a hydrostatic head (HH) test, which calculates how tall a column of water (in millimetres) the fabric can support before water passes through. A flysheet rated at 2,000 mm HH means the fabric withstands a 2 m column of water, sufficient for heavy, sustained rain. The groundsheet is held to a higher standard, typically 3,000 mm or above, because it bears direct contact pressure from body weight and ground moisture. It is worth noting that HH ratings apply to the fabric panels only; seams must be separately taped or sealed to match that protection level. Quechua and Forclaz tents are additionally tested in a laboratory rain chamber at 200 litres per square metre per hour, similar to a tropical downpour, to validate the complete assembled shelter. If your tent or poles ever need replacement parts after heavy use, the tent spare parts and accessories range stocks replacement poles, pegs, guy ropes, and repair kits by model compatibility.