Choosing the right tent for the occasion

Tents come in all shapes and sizes, from high-tech models to the multi-room cabin tents made for family camping. You might even find those older canvas multi-room tents may do in certain camping situations, but, for all practical purposes, if you are looking to purchase, you'll want a tent that is lighter and more portable than the old bulky ones.

Modern tents are usually dome- or oval-shaped, supported with shock cord poles, and are made out of double-wall polyester or rip stop nylon with dual-zippered doors, no-seeum screening and a rain fly. Here are some quality points to consider when choosing a tent.

Living space

• Choose a tent that's big enough for your purposes; one where everyone will have plenty of room to sleep comfortably and space to stow their gear. If you can, visit a sporting goods showroom where they usually have a variety of tents set up for you to check out.