Due to their light-weight and trouble-free setup,
dome tents are a
mainstay of backpackers.
Dome tents are self-supporting, and do not need
to be staked down in order to be compiled. They can even be completely
set up inside or on concrete. However, after one has set up a
dome tents,
it should be staked down to prevent a strong wind from blowing away the
tent. The dome tent has the ideal shape for adverse weather
conditions-it's sloping profile is aerodynamic, and sheds wind and rain
better than any other design. The outer edges of a dome tent, where the
walls angle into the floor, are ideal for storage.
The early
dome tent design consisted of a freestanding
dome with a
hexagonal base. Though this design didn't offer much greater floor space
than the previously used other
tents, the
dome tents shape was easier to
assemble and provided more headroom. Contemporary
dome tents are
rectangular or square domes and use only two pole sections to support
them. Though this design may not have quite the strength of a hexagonal
dome, it has greater usable floor space for a similar sized tent because
of the parallel walls.
There are also some other kind of
dome tents, which are similar to
hexagonal
dome tents in the layout of the floor, but they have one or
more additional pole sections that cross the tent around the sides and
at angles. Some tents are designed so that the rainfly extends out well
over the windows and doors of the
tent, allowing them to remain open
during a rainstorm for continual cross-ventilation.
Dome tents are the best selling, most popular type of
Dome tents. There are
two basic kinds of
dome tents, the
single room dome tent, which
generally sleeps between two and eight people in a single dome-shaped
enclosure, and the
family dome tents, which has several rooms and
practically elevated peaks. A design attribute found almost exclusively
in
dome tents is the "rainfly," which is an additional piece
of fabric, separate from the tent that forms a water-resistant cover.
The dome shape has other comfort features as well:
- The interior can be divided into "rooms."
- It has more capacity than a flat-sided one and is, more spacious.
- The shape is more heat efficient because the heat circulates more
evenly and less fuel is needed.
- The covers of the Domes are easily cleaned with a damp cloth.
What types of dome tents should one consider?
The
family dome tent is great for families and other groups who would
enjoy having a bit of privacy. The best ones have heavy-duty taffeta
walls and clear view windows in addition to mesh windows. A single room
dome tent is better for smaller groups who don't mind sleeping together
in the same shared space. Single room domes come in a variety of shapes,
including square, hexagonal and octagonal. Different shapes allow for
varying configurations of sleeping space and storage space.
Who Should Avoid a Dome Tent?
If one is going for trecking and need something very light that will
fit in a backpack, a dome tent may be overkill. on the other hand, if
one decides to go for car camping, and want something with lots of
stand-up room, one may find a cabin tent more to your liking than a
dome
tent.
