Which type of tent is the right one for you?

People have been interested in tents ever since they first began wondering how to protect themselves from the elements, in winter, summer, autumn and spring. Ever since then, our needs have both grown and changed.

The evolution of the tent probably began with a cone-shaped construction of wooden poles with animal hides wrapped round it in order to provide shelter from the elements. During the last century, tents have developed so that now we have modern, light ridge tents, tunnel tents, dome tents, and also party tents and large tents of all possible shapes and sizes. These tents have revolutionized spending time in the great outdoors for both professionals and amateur outdoor-lovers.

Tentipi has created the latest revolution in tent design. Tentipi has designed tent kåtas made out of the best materials which modern civilization can offer. With patented features and masterly design, Tentipi has created a tent with a performance which almost seems too good to be true.

The recipe:

The ingenious basic design of a kåta has been fully taken advantage of.

Pioneering patented features have eliminated the defects that tent kåtas used to have.

Masterly design and reinforcements in the right places have resulted in a tent with no weak points.

When working on the design, our constructors have not focused on meeting today’s needs, but the needs of the future. Our ambition has been therefore to allow developments to break new ground.

Today there is a multitude of tent types to choose from. If you let yourself be influenced by the choice of tent that other people usually make, there is a big risk that you will miss the tent that actually suits your requirements the best. We are not claiming that Tentipi is always the best choice. But the unexpected performance of the tent kåta and its unique features mean that it should always be taken into consideration before buying any tent.

This guide uses Tentipi’s tent kåtas as its starting point because by doing so, we have raised expectations considerably concerning what a modern tent should be able to do. The guide is partial because our aim is to compare our relatively unknown tent models with those that are already established today. However, we do not try to hide deficiencies or gloss over facts because our credibility is one of our most valuable assets - something we are very careful of.

We hope that this guide will provide you with both questions and arguments which will help you to choose your tent, no matter if you favour us or go elsewhere.

Lightweight tent, Portable tent, Light tent, Mountain tent

When choosing a portable tent, people have been accustomed to choosing between portable or spacious, low weight or being able to have a heater. Now you don’t have to think like that any more. Our Safir Tentipi, Safir Light Tentipi, Kvarts Tentipi, Zirkon Light Tentipi and Topas Tentipi have been designed specifically so that they can be compared with – and surpass – those tents which are the best when it comes to low weight.

Tentipi’s single-pole tent kåta

General information

Our tent kåtas offer excellent possibilities for an open fire or a heater inside the kåta.

There is standing height in all of our kåtas.

Every kåta has space for more people to sit in a circle and socialize than just the designated number of sleeping places.

Every kåta can be used for so many more things than just hiking, e.g. for a garden party with real atmosphere or as spacious accommodation when on a motoring holiday.

The ventilation of the Safir Tentipi is in a league of its own. Three amply large fresh air intakes and a large opening at the top ensure proper air circulation.. The patented ventilation adjustment system makes it easy to regulate the ventilation. When the sun begins to warm up the tent in the mornings, you just open the cap at the top, without having to get out of your sleeping bag and then you can snooze on, with the tent considerably cooler.

We believe that a Tentipi single-pole kåta, especially the Safir Tentipi, is the very best choice of tent in the world, if you only want to buy one tent to meet all your needs. There is no need to compromise on any of your desires unless you have extreme requirements. Our single-pole kåtas are among the élite in a great number of requirement categories and are way up high in all the others. There are one or two specific details where we do have some limitations and these we describe openly below.

The more simple Kvarts Tentipi also functions exceedingly well since, in principle, it is equipped as well as any other mountain tent but it is not quite as good as a Safir Tentipi.

Hiking

When hiking, weight is crucial. When there is a group of three people, many choose to carry a bit more weight because the comfort of a tent kåta is so attractive. When it comes to mountain tents, people often say “we’ll use a three-man tent for the two of us” or “the three of us in a four-man tent”. With tent kåtas, the situation is different because they are most crowded when everyone is sleeping. But there really is room for six people in a Safir Tentipi 5 for sleeping expedition style for example. During the day when the tent is your living space, you can invite even more people in to enjoy socializing sitting in a circle. A group of four people usually take two tents, i.e. carry between 1.5 – 2 kg tent per person, while we offer weights from 2.2 kg per person for a three-man group, 1.65 kg per person for a four-man group and 1.1 kg for a six-man group. A sole hiker would probably find 6.6 kg too heavy to carry but because the kåta was originally designed to function without an inner-tent, it is possible to come down to only 2.5 kg in all. Then that person will have a lot of space all to himself! Read more about weight in "Specifications - single-pole kåtas".

Hiking in the mountains

When hiking in the mountains, you need low weight but also storm-resistance. What you must focus on with Tentipi’s single-pole kåtas is the anchorage. If the tent is properly anchored, it will endure storms. There have even been well-documented cases when the kåtas have survived hurricanes of 35 m/s without being damaged. In winds like that, only the most expensive tunnel tents or dome tents will survive. We admit that the most expensive tunnel tents are probably slightly better in this respect but the storm-resistance of our single-pole kåtas will be sufficient for most people.

Hiking in forest lands

When it comes to hiking in forest lands, we are quite simply the best in all categories. Here you have access to wood which means your accommodation can be really comfortable. Here you can also cut down on weight since the storm cords can be left at home and your central pole can be made on the spot, if you like.

Camping

Camping when out canoeing, cycling, or on a motorbike or motoring holiday. The Safir Tentipi or Kvarts Tentipi have plenty of space and allow people to get together in a circle round a fire which is wonderful when the rain is pattering on the tent canvas or cold winds are blowing around the tent. The tent kåta is really spacious but, naturally, if you don’t have to worry about weight, then a large family tent is even bigger. But then you won’t have the cosy atmosphere round the fire or the possibility to use your tent for other outdoor activities.

Garden party

Of course the kids will enjoy playing in an ordinary mountain tent if you put it up in the garden. But who would ever considering using their mountain tent for a garden party where they invite some good friends over for an enjoyable get-together? If you have a tent kåta, you will be able to have an open fire, to stand up and to sit in a cozy circle socializing – a great idea and a guaranteed success! We have sold many Topas 15 for use as party or function tents.

Expedition, extreme conditions

The explorers Titti and Mikael Strandberg, www.siberia.nu, chose Tentipi’s Safir Tentipi 7 cp for their one-year long scientific Siberia expedition through mosquito country and some of the coldest places on earth. This speaks for itself.

Tentipi’s Safir Tentipi is unbeatable if you have access to wood. This minimizes the size of pack you will have to carry with you on long expeditions and provides the expedition members with wonderfully generous heating.

You don’t need to go to the other side of the earth to appreciate that. This is one of the reasons why the kåta has developed on the northern hemisphere, where the winter can be very harsh, even in Scandinavia. 

Price

If you only look at what a kåta costs, you will find many tents which are cheaper.

The flexibility of Tentipi’s single-pole kåtas means that they can be used for so many things – not just to sleep in or to have as an emergency bivouac. You do in fact actually have a kind of living room in your backpack! The generous space is really a must on a motoring holiday and does not go amiss when out hiking either!

When you compare what you get for your money and if your requirements vary somewhat, then the Safir Tentipi or Kvarts Tentipi must be a very attractive alternative. If you have very differing requirements, you will definitely save money by not having to buy several different kinds of tents.

Tunnel tent

A tunnel tent of the very best quality is in principle the most storm-resistant tent construction. A tunnel tent which is correctly designed is easily put up, even in stormy weather. But if the tent is of less good quality, there is a risk that the poles or fastenings will break.

The inside volume is much greater than that of a ridge tent. That is why for the last couple of decades, the tunnel tent has been the combi-tent that many people have chosen for a motoring, canoeing, cycling or mountain hiking holiday.

Now Tentipi has set a completely new standard regarding what you can expect from a truly versatile, portable, low-weight tent. So you must really think about what your priorities are. If your tent must be truly versatile, then we recommend a Tentipi tent.

We must point out that a cheap tunnel tent is not at all storm-resistant and that one in the middle price range is not necessarily so either. As a rule, our kåtas survive better. One of our customers told us that all the tents around his kåta had blown away, while his kåta was the only tent remaining standing. The user-friendliness of a tunnel tent is also so-so. It is really crucial that you make the right choice when looking at the enormous range of alternatives on offer on the market. Why bother yourself with that when Tentipi has a superb solution?

However, there are some people who do have extreme demands for hurricane-resistance, for instance Arctic travelers. For these people, we do recommend they use a carefully chosen tunnel tent or dome tent.

Dome tent

In principle, a dome tent is even more storm-resistant than a tunnel tent but it is harder to put up in stormy conditions.

The unique advantage of a dome tent is that it is self-supporting, i.e. you can put it up without having to anchor it. So if you can only find a few anchorage points, it is easier to put up. Once you have put up a dome tent, it usually looks fine.

There are many different kinds of dome tents. One suspects that many varieties have been created mainly to appeal to the eye without any really useful features being added. But anyone interested in serious tenting is not taken in by appearance! You are after genuine design and the best possible material. Only the very best manufacturers provide that.

In other respects, the same reasoning applies as to the tunnel tent.

Ridge tent

Before the tunnel tent and dome tent became popular on the market, the ridge tent was the leading light-weight tent.

The main advantage of a ridge tent is its low weight. If made of the very best material and if all necessary reinforcements are in place, another advantage is that any broken poles can be easily replaced.

Its disadvantages include being somewhat more difficult to put up, not particularly storm-resistant and that there is not much space inside. It is not without good reason that the tunnel tent and dome tent have taken over as the leading tent models.

Know-alls like to point out that the tent poles are a tent’s weakest point. As always it’s a question of quality and good design. For instance, in our single-pole kåtas, the central pole used to be the weakest point but since we started to use hardened aluminium, that problem has been eliminated.

Pyramid tent

Some manufacturers have attempted to make a pyramid tent. Its main advantage is low weight in relation to size. It is somewhat crowded for those sleeping furthest out though there is plenty of height in the middle.

Those tents which have been produced so far are not particularly stable in wind. This is mainly because the tent is too square-shaped and thereby actually serves as a sail. This type of tent has not been a great success either.

Tentipi’s single-pole kåtas look similar in shape from a distance but must never be confused with a pyramid tent. The difference is enormous! For instance, we use eight gussets which give the tent kåta its circular shape so that the wind cannot get hold of it. The Safir Tentipi and Kvarts Tentipi have extremely strong tent peg catches which are also adjustable so as to work well on uneven ground. They are bigger so there is much more space inside and room for a fire. Despite that, their storm-resistance is much greater than that of the pyramid tents which we have seen on the market.

Cone-shaped tent

A kåta or a tee-pee is a cone-shaped tent.

There are other manufacturers apart from Tentipi but the quality varies enormously. If you want to make a comparison, study the following details carefully:

Number of gussets which is of great importance for storm-resistance.

Height in relation to width. If the construction is too tall, storm-resistance will be reduced.

Take note of the information we provide under "Tentipi’s single-pole kåtas" above.

The fabrics. Look at “Which fabric should you choose?” below, which gives concise guidelines.

Details in design. Study the components that brace up the tent and try to work out how tension and pressure will affect the material in windy weather, if you trip over cords or if you are generally careless. You will find a lot of useful facts to bear in mind under the heading “Crucial factors and details”.

Value for money. Don’t just look at the price! Usually, it’s how much use you get out of the tent that is the important thing. Sometimes it’s more costly to buy cheap products.

Base camp tent

Some models of tents have been used as a base camp tent, for instance patrol tents for scouts, military tents for hunting teams and youth groups and family tents for camping on smooth lawns. In recent years, the popular, large tunnel tents have also been launched on the market.

We are not going to discuss each group. What they all have in common is that they are quite clumsy and heavy, difficult to put up and function relatively badly in poor weather. But they are spacious inside which is the main reason why people choose this type of tent.

The military tent has been popular for autumn and winter use because it allows the use of a heater.

All these advantages are both combined in Tentipi’s single-pole kåtas. What is more all their disadvantages have been fully eliminated.

Which fabric should you choose?

When it comes to dampness, the level of comfort in your tent will depend on the design of the fabric, among other things. From a comfort point of view, basically the following varieties of fabrics are available on the market:

Safir 5-9, Kvarts 5-9, Topas 15
Type of fabric
   Fabrics impregnated with an agent that increases surface tension.
Characteristics
   You will recognize this kind of fabric by being able to breathe through it (with some difficulty!). You can carry water in the fabric without it leaking through.
Comment
   This is the traditional “old-fashioned” kind of tent fabric. The fabric “breathes” and therefore lets condensation out from inside the tent. If the impregnation is the best possible and if the fabric is looked after, this fabric is an excellent choice from the point of view of comfort. Its disadvantages are its weight and that is requires a certain amount of maintenance.
 
Zirkon Light 5-9, Safir Light 5-9
Type of fabric
   Coated fabrics.
Characteristics
   Plastic- or rubber-like. On one or both sides. (Tentipi uses fabric coated on both sides)
Comment
   Fabrics that are coated are basically as impenetrable as plastic bags, which of course is a good thing when it is raining. However, in winter, it is better to have a fabric which is impregnated with a surface tension raising agent which stops water from coming in without making the fabric totally air-tight. This means that damp can go straight out through the tent canvas (much more efficiently than e.g. modern ventilating fabrics). Impenetrable fabrics result in a damper indoor climate. You must also distinguish between different impregnations because some of them, e.g. "polyurethane impregnation”, make the fabric completely impenetrable so that damp cannot be let out. In that case, using cotton or another kind of natural material will not help. Some manufacturers use fabrics that are shiny on one side. This is only for the sake of appearance and has no bearing on warmth. Moreover, it makes the inside of the tent very dark. If the shiny side is turned outwards, it does stop some sunlight from warming the tent but the effect is marginal.
 
Not used by Tentipi
Type of fabric
   Fabrics impregnated with a sealing agent (e.g. polyurethane).
 They look like a traditional impregnated fabric but you cannot breathe through them.
Comment
   From the point of view of comfort, these fabrics must be likened to coated, impenetrable fabrics and must not be confused with ordinary impregnated fabrics. One disadvantage is that the fabric is considerably heavier than coated fabrics.

What about the thickness of the fabric?

The thickness of the fabric makes no noticeable difference from the point of view of warmth. With impregnated fabrics, thicker fabric can give better protection against rain. However, other factors are also involved because a high percentage of artificial fibers often reduces water-proofness. The impregnation can also be of varying quality.

Help choosing the right Tentipi model HERE.

Click HERE (new window) for a pdf catalogue and read more about Tentipi’s inlcuding tent fabrics and other useful information on durability, UV-resistance etc.