Sleeping to the mountain sounds while snuggling with your precious den of children and a lovely inamorata has few rivals for time well spent. Some summer nights I'd much rather go without the shelter and toss a bag on good ol' terra firma plus nature's own pine needles, but those opportunities are so few when camping as a family. So a tent it is. But which tent is the best for family camping? It's a harder question to answer than you might think. Space for adult hanky-panky? Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes. So, I think I've found them. Here are 14 sweet basecamp family tents you might want to consider for your tribe, each with several important elements that aim for comfortable family camping. Alas, some have standing room, built-in shade awnings, privacy areas, speedy pitch, one-person set up . . . Still, the tents you'll find here house between 4 and 14 people. All tents come in several sizes. So if one catches your eye but seems too big or small, your size is available. I do include data on square footage, maximum interior height, and price to help guide your hunt, but I just didn't include every size available for every family tent — this list would be endless.

Weight is not much of a consideration here because we're talking about basecamping, but some of these would work for backpacking. There are four undeniable facts about family tents: Good people of the internet, knock yourself out. Gallery follows of some of the best family camping tents: Wyoming Trail 4 by Big Agnes Capacity: 4 personTent area: 65 sf (32.5 each side)Vestibule area: 49 sfMax height: 72" inside the vestibulePrice: $499 Eventually, and when the kids get old enough, you come to a crossroads even if you are into attachment parenting. Children grow up and want their own space. Perhaps you'd like to keep the magic of your marriage kindled with some private snuggle time? Big Agnes has a solution in the Wyoming Trail 4 family camping tent. A slightly improved take on the "privacy screen" that large cabin tents incorporate, the Wyoming Trail 4 is more like two tents that share poles, making set up as painless as possible while improving some privacy. In fact, a review by Outside Magazine's Raising Rippers reveals it: "It went up on the first try, which is saying a lot for a tent this size.

For starters, there are only four poles . . . ruined backpack dayzThe poles attach with clips, not sleeves, which makes set-up even speedier. nike ultimatum gear backpack for saleIt took two of us to sling the rain fly on, which attaches easily with buckles to the base of the tent." swissgear scansmart laptop backpack weight The tent comes with the fly that creates the covered vestibule in the middle, and there's a door on both sides of the shared vestibule so you can prop up either side (or both) for a shady retreat. Big Agnes earned an Editor's Choice Award from Backpacker Magazine for the exceptionally comfy Q-Core insulated sleeping pad, which should speak to the fact that this tent comes from a serious player.

Info / Buy >>> Rock and Ice #237 How to Choose a Climbing Tent WEIGHT  Many climbers never leave the roadside camping areas, simply pitching their tents in a Park Service campground and heading off to the crag to recreate. In this case, weight is not a real concern. Choose a sturdy, roomy tent for your base camp/barista. If your aspirations include long approaches or mountain slogs, then weight is an issue. Determine what you need in regards to the other categories and then choose the lightest shelter that fulfills those needs. Above all, be honest with yourself—don’t over or underestimate your needs. View tent weight with an eye of suspicion. One tent's weight might include stakes, guylines and a ground tarp, while another model's weight might be for the stripped down version. No one is being dishonest here, rather since there is no industry standard for measuring weight, companies are left to devise their individual systems. DIMENSIONS  This is probably the most important factor to consider when choosing a shelter.

Most climbers don’t need a super-light, super-tight, state-of-the-art tent. Consider your primary objectives. If you mainly car camp, get a roomy tent. If you hit the trail for long approaches or sometimes tackle objectives that require packing a tent, then consider a trimmer, svelte model that will conserve weight. If you’re a mountaineer bent on alpine-style ascents of mega-peaks in Alaska, South America and/or Asia, then pick a light, compact model you can pitch on narrow platforms carved out of ridges or slopes. In all cases, check the head clearance. Some tents are not as suitable for tall people. Shorter shelters might stand up better to whistling alpine winds, but there is nothing more torturous than waiting out a multi-day storm in a shelter in which you can’t sit up. VESTIBULE  The vestibule, basically an extension of the rainfly or a floorless extension of the tent itself, acts as a combination mud-room and kitchen. Multi-person tents should have correspondingly larger vestibules.

3 or 4 SEASON  A four-season tent should be beefy enough to shed high winds and stand up under loads of snow. If you plan on camping in winter in the mountains, purchase a substantial four-season shelter. Conversely, hot climates require a more breathable tent, fitted generously with mosquito netting, both to keep the bugs out and to allow ventilation. Watch out for tents that are overly gauzy and insubstantial, however, and make sure your shelter is waterproof. Many warm areas—Mexico, Thailand, India, Southern U.S.—also sport summer and spring deluges that can soak the ground and blow through puny seams. SINGLE WALL  The main benefit of single wall tents is the simplicity of design. These tents are easier and faster to set up, aren’t as noisy in the wind, and are generally lighter than double wall tents. They are also bomber and make great winter shelters. On the downside, these puppies are more expensive than many double wall designs, and typically don’t breathe as well.