Let’s face it:
Folks have very totally different priorities in the case of tenting.
What I contemplate to be the best tenting journey, is likely to be a complete nightmare to you or another person.
However everybody can have a good time tenting, in the event that they plan the correct of journey. And, step one is deciding which sort or varieties of tenting you’re all in favour of.
This text covers 13 various kinds of tenting. I’ve divided them into 4 classes:
- Forms of tenting based mostly on the type of shelter used
- Forms of tenting based mostly in your campsite location
- Forms of tenting based mostly round a selected exercise
- Forms of tenting based mostly on environmental circumstances like terrain and climate
From hammock tenting, to RV tenting, to glamping – there’s one thing for everybody.
Learn on to see which of those tenting types tickles your fancy essentially the most.
Sorts By Shelter
Let’s begin with the varieties of tenting which are based mostly on the type of tenting shelter used.
Once you consider tenting, sleeping in a tent might be your first affiliation. Nonetheless, tents aren’t the one possibility you’ve bought in the case of shelter.
It’s also possible to sleep in a hammock, or in a tent in your SUV rooftop or truck mattress, or in an RV.
Right here’s some primary information about every of those tenting types and what they provide:
Tent Tenting
Should you’re all about holding it traditional, you may not discover another sort of tenting shelter tempting sufficient to interchange conventional tent tenting.
Whether or not it’s a brief trip or a long run tenting journey, tent tenting is by far the most well-liked sort of tenting there’s. And the oldest, too. In reality, individuals have been sleeping in tents for tens of 1000’s of years.
So, why is tent tenting nonetheless the most well-liked sort of tenting even right now when there are such a lot of new improvements in tenting which have since hit the scene?
It’s fairly easy:
In relation to selection – you possibly can’t beat tents.
They arrive in all styles and sizes. And, they’re suited to a large number of various functions – from informal household tenting to full blown expeditions at excessive altitudes in harsh climate circumstances.
These days, there are such a lot of various kinds of tents in the marketplace that everybody can simply discover one to go well with their wants. Whether or not you’re a solo backpacker or a household of 12, or something in between, there’s positive to be a tent on the market that’s simply best for you.
Hammock Tenting
One sort of tenting that’s changing into more and more widespread is hammock tenting. And for good motive, too.
Hammocks are insanely snug. This may not be your preliminary impression after the primary few nights of sleeping in a single. However, as soon as you determine find out how to do it proper, you’ll sleep higher than you do in your mattress again house.
Don’t imagine me?
Research have proven that sleeping in a hammock promotes deeper sleep and stress level aid. Plus, it does a greater job at defending you from bugs than a tent does, because you’re not on the bottom.
Aside from a great night time’s sleep, hammocks additionally offer you a wider vary of choices in the case of campsite choice. They give you the potential of organising camp in locations the place the vegetation on the bottom is simply too thick for a tent.
Whereas hammock tenting doesn’t require a flat floor like tent tenting, it does require discovering someplace to tie your hammock up.
Don’t fear, although – there are loads of methods you are able to do this even when there aren’t any timber round. Boulders, posts, your automotive and hammock stands are only a few of the issues you should use you cling your hammock up
Overlanding
Do you drive an SUV or a pickup truck?
If the reply is sure, you’re most likely acquainted with overlanding.
It’s mainly like off-trail mountain climbing, besides you’re driving as a substitute of strolling.
However your automotive isn’t simply your essential mode of transportation. It’s additionally your bed room.
How do you remodel your car into your sleeping quarters for the night time?
Straightforward!
All you need to do is connect a rooftop tent or hatchback tent to your SUV, or a truck mattress tent to your pickup truck.
This allows you to sleep wherever you possibly can park your automotive, which is tremendous handy as a result of it means you don’t need to plan your tenting spots out exactly. You may type of simply wing it and see the place you find yourself on the finish of the day.
RV Tenting
Morro Strand State Seaside new campsites images have simply been added. Try the 25 RV hookup campsites, in addition to all the remaining!https://t.co/vfxs66GGUz pic.twitter.com/6wbv6PRGSJ
— CampsitePhotos.com (@CampsitePhotos) March 6, 2019
One other sort of tenting that includes sleeping in your car is RV tenting.
This one’s for campers who wish to go street tripping in a legit transportable house. I’m speaking creature comforts like operating water, electrical energy, and a kitchen.
Should you’re staying at a campsite that accommodates RVs, you’ll be capable of hook your car as much as all of the facilities. With water, electrical and sewer services, you’ll be capable of cook dinner, bathe and use the bathroom all from the privateness of your very personal RV.
Nonetheless, if you wish to enterprise out to some distant areas along with your RV, you even have the choice of staying out within the wild.
RV tenting outdoors of established campgrounds is known as boondocking. You may also hear it known as “dry tenting” or “dispersed tenting”. It’s an ideal possibility for RV campers who wish to get away from the crowds and do their very own factor.
That mentioned, you don’t need to exit within the wild to go boondocking. It may be completed in developed areas as nicely. You’re allowed to park your RV and spend the night time in sure parking heaps, comparable to Walmart’s.
In fact, for those who’re boondocking, you received’t have any water or sewer services accessible. So, you’ll have to make use of bottled water and do your corporation outdoors. Following Go away No Hint rules, after all.
You’ll nonetheless have electrical energy, due to the backup generator in your RV. Which means you’ll nonetheless be capable of use the fridge, cook dinner, flip the lights on and so forth.
Sorts By Campsite Location
Subsequent, let’s check out some varieties of tenting which are based mostly in your campsite location.
The place you propose to go roughly dictates the way you’ll must get there. Some locations can solely be reached by foot. Then again, with some locations it makes extra sense to drive.
How does that relate to the kind of tenting journey you’re occurring?
Let me break it down for you:
- Should you’re driving to your campsite, it’s a automotive tenting journey.
- Should you’re carrying your gear from one campsite to a different by foot, it’s a backpacking journey.
- Should you’re tenting away from developed campgrounds within the backcountry, it’s a wild tenting journey, no matter whether or not you arrive by foot or automotive.
Right here’s a little bit bit extra about every of a majority of these tenting:
Automotive Tenting
Should you plan on tenting at campsites, and locations within the wild which are pretty near established roads, you’ve bought the choice of going automotive tenting.
This mainly includes packing all your gear into your automotive, and organising camp someplace close to your automotive so that you don’t have to hold all of the gear too far.
Not having to fret about weight if you’re packing means you possibly can pack all your favourite issues from house. Nice information for individuals who like taking their whole homes with them once they go tenting!
Significantly although, you possibly can arrange a house away from house with all the things you want. This makes automotive tenting an ideal alternative for individuals who plan on tenting on the similar campsite for a number of days in a row.
Whereas automotive tenting is widespread amongst all varieties of campers, it’s significantly widespread for household tenting journeys. The intention of the sport is rest and relaxation, quite than intense bodily exercise.
Backpacking
Now, in case your tenting journey is centered round mountain climbing from one place to a different and tenting alongside the way in which, you’re occurring a backpacking journey.
Backpacking is de facto the one method to get off the crushed path and immerse your self in nature utterly. On foot, you’ve gotten the liberty to go deep into nature, the place automobiles can’t go as a result of there aren’t any roads.
The areas you’ll uncover shall be extremely rewarding, however it comes at a worth:
You’ll be carrying your campsite round with you in all places you go in your again.
So, for those who’re a primary time backpacker, the principle piece of recommendation you need to tackle board is to maintain your load as mild as potential.
Solely take what you completely want. No further stuff is price being uncomfortable all day lengthy whilst you’re mountain climbing.
You’ve bought conventional backpacking, light-weight backpacking and ultralight backpacking.
In case your load weighs 30 lbs. or much less, you’re a standard backpacker. If it’s beneath 20 lbs., you’re a light-weight backpacker. And, if it’s beneath 10 lbs., you’re an ultralight backpacker.
In fact, how mild you handle to maintain your load may even depend upon how lengthy your journey goes to be, and how much assets you’ve gotten alongside the way in which.
Wild Tenting
Whether or not you’re backpacking or automotive tenting, anytime you arrange camp someplace that isn’t a chosen campsite, you’re on a wild tenting journey.
Wild tenting has at all times been far more interesting to me than staying at campgrounds. There are such a lot of superb locations the place you possibly can arrange camp distant from the hustle and bustle of civilization. And, don’t fear, it’s completely authorized in most locations within the US.
Discovering a spot that’s all yours in an attractive location and attending to stay there for a short time is the right method to reconnect with Mom Earth.
Be ready, although – You’re going to want to suppose a number of issues by means of forward of time.
Issues like going to the bathroom and showering aren’t going to be as simple as they’d be at a campground. To be sure to deal with these issues in a approach that doesn’t hurt your environment, get acquainted with the Go away No Hint rules.
You additionally must be sure to take sufficient meals. You wouldn’t wish to run out of meals in the course of the forest with no outlets round for miles. I strongly suggest planning all of your meals out prematurely, and taking some again up meals as nicely, simply in case.
Sorts By Exercise
Some varieties of tenting are based mostly on a sure exercise. In these circumstances, the exercise is the principle focus of the journey, and all the opposite logistics fall into place round it.
The exercise will be something from biking or kayaking, to an excessive survivalist journey or perhaps a luxurious pamper fest.
Survivalist Tenting
Sensible overnighter within the bushcraft shelter ⛺️ pic.twitter.com/mrQy6sycaR
— William Macdonald 🏴🇺🇦 (@macdonald241) October 2, 2022
Why not begin with survivalist tenting?
This tenting model is intriguing. However, I’ll let you know instantly – it undoubtedly isn’t for everybody.
Survivalist tenting entails being dropped off in a distant location with nothing however a minimal survival equipment. Inside you’ve bought issues like a restricted provide of meals and water, a primary help equipment, a flashlight, a radio and a whistle.
There are 2 varieties of survival tenting journeys: base camp and stroll out.
With base camp survivalist tenting, you’re dropped off at a location in the course of nowhere. Your mission is to remain there, create a base camp, and survive till somebody comes and picks you up at a date you agreed on.
Stroll out survivalism is much more difficult. It includes being taken to a distant location and having to search out your individual approach again with nothing however your survival equipment.
Warning: as thrilling as they could sound, needless to say each sorts of survivalist tenting journeys will be extraordinarily harmful.
Glamping
Daybreak at Yurt #1 in Goblin Valley State Park.
by way of @IntrepidXJ #adventr #glamping #goblinvalley #utah #tenting pic.twitter.com/rzRZW6zPBu
— Wilderness Instances (@TimesWilderness) March 1, 2022
And, now for one thing utterly totally different!
On the other finish of the spectrum to survivalist tenting, you’ve bought glamping.
Glamping is mainly the right answer for anybody who desires to spend time in nature, however doesn’t wish to have to surrender any creature comforts.
As an alternative of roughing it and sleeping on the chilly, arduous floor, you get lovely lodging with a snug mattress and loads of different extras, too. Some glamping huts even characteristic a sizzling tub.
Clearly, residing it up within the lap of luxurious whilst you’re tenting doesn’t come low-cost. Whether or not you’re renting a glamping shelter or placing your individual arrange collectively – it’ll undoubtedly be a far pricier enterprise than your common tenting journey. Heck, you possibly can nonetheless glamp on a finances, you simply need to get a bit inventive!
Kayak Or Canoe Tenting
“The late afternoon mild was trying good within the canyon this night.” – @IntrepidXJ#LabyrinthCanyon #GreenRiver #KayakCamping #campsunset pic.twitter.com/MROx4gQFla
— Wilderness Instances (@TimesWilderness) July 20, 2022
I don’t find out about you, however something that concerned being on the water grabs my consideration instantly. So, as you possibly can think about, kayak and canoe tenting is one thing I bought actually enthusiastic about after I found it.
It’s mainly like backpacking, within the sense that you just’re on the transfer, carrying your tenting gear with you as you go.
However, get this:
Canoe tenting spares you of the principle burden you’re confronted with when backpacking – the burden. Fairly than carrying all of your stuff in your again, you retailer it in your canoe.
That’s not the one distinction, although.
Once you’re backpacking on foot, you possibly can transfer between excessive and low altitudes. Alongside the way in which, you’ll get views from shifting views, permitting you to see your environment from all angles.
With canoe tenting, you don’t have as a lot variation, since you’re at all times on the water. That being mentioned, the views you’ll absorb on a canoe tenting journey are definitely no much less spectacular than the views you get whereas mountain climbing.
The principle downside of canoe tenting for my part is that it may be troublesome to maintain your issues utterly dry all through the length of the journey.
Nonetheless, there are many issues you are able to do to guard your gear. As an illustration, double bagging it, placing it in dry luggage, waterproofing it and storing it within the waterproof hatch. Which, by the way in which, is much from waterproof – so don’t ever depend on that alone.
Bicycle Tenting
Bicycle tenting is one other enjoyable different to backpacking.
You pack your gear in luggage that you may connect to your bike, and cycle from one location to a different, organising camp at varied factors alongside the way in which.
That is fantastic in locations with bike trails, or bike pleasant terrain basically. Sadly, that’s not at all times the case, and there are loads of areas which are unimaginable to experience your bike by means of – each within the wild and in developed areas.
Sorts By Atmosphere
Lastly, you’ve bought the varieties of tenting which are particular to sure environmental circumstances.
This might imply sure climate circumstances, as is the case with winter tenting. Or, it could possibly be climate circumstances together with a selected sort of terrain, as is the case with seashore tenting.
Winter Tenting
Winter tenting is, for sure, far much less widespread than tenting within the summertime. Sleeping outdoors whereas it’s snowing isn’t one thing that lots of people get enthusiastic about.
Nonetheless, a number of the most breathtaking landscapes on this planet are locations the place it’s at all times chilly. So, if that’s one thing you wish to expertise, you is likely to be tempted to courageous the chilly and enterprise off on a winter tenting journey.
And anyway, for those who’ve bought the fitting gear, you’ll be simply wonderful. You’ll want a great 4 season tent to start with, plus a winter sleeping bag and sleeping pad, and heat garments.
You would possibly even wish to equip your self with a tent heater, if you wish to make further positive you keep good and toasty heat.
Obtain: Winter Tenting Guidelines (w/ Printable PDF)
Seaside Tenting
What higher place to arrange camp than on the seashore?
The cool sea breeze blowing in your face at night time.
The sound of the waves crashing on the shoreline lulling you to sleep.
The gorgeous, crystal clear water simply steps away out of your mattress.
Sleeping on the seashore is a fairly unbeatable tenting expertise.
Crucial factor to concentrate to if you’re seashore tenting is that you’ve sufficient safety from the solar.
Should you don’t have a particular seashore tent designed particularly for seashore tenting, ensure that your tent offers sufficient safety from the solar’s UV rays.
And, after all, if there’s any pure shade close by, make good use of it!
Over To You
So, what do you say?
Did any of those take your fancy?
I’m positive there needs to be at the least one which bought you at the least a little bit bit excited.
Nicely, go on then. What are you ready for?
Seize the gear you want and provides it a shot!
To search out one of the best gear for the kind of tenting you’re all in favour of, try our gear evaluations and shopping for guides.
