How much do tents weigh?
When searching or buying a tent, it is essential that you have a good understanding of this matter. After all, the weight of the tent can actually affect your overall experience on your trip. And depending on the kind of outdoor adventure that you want to do, you may either want a light or heavy tent.
Of course, there are a number of factors that influence the tent's weight, such as its shape, size, and materials used on it. Therefore, there's no such thing as a standard or average when it comes to how heavy or light a tent should be.
If so, how is the weight of a tent determined?
As I've said earlier, the weight of a tent is influenced by different factors. Technically speaking, the things that add to the tent's weight are the following: the tent fabric or canopy, poles, and rainfly. These are the common parts of a tent, especially if we are talking about backpacking and hiking tents. It is safe to say that their combination is the sum of the entire weight.
Some tents have extra components, such as guy lines, footprints, stakes, and carry bags or sacks. These things are optional, though, and you may not be required to bring them on each of your outdoor trips. But if you decide to do so, expect that they can add to the weight that you'll carry.
There are two common terms being used when assessing the weight of the tent: trail weight and packed weight. Each of these terminologies refers to two different things. But overall, they still imply the exact weight of the tent.
For the ultra-lightweight tent category, you might see the term fastfly weight. The latter indicates the weight of the footprint, poles, and rainfly. In short, there's no canopy or tent body here.
To answer this question, we should check how tents today are being constructed today.
The fabric is the tent's body or canopy. It is one of the primary layers that separate from the environment that you are in. It also protects from the elements, as well as the ever-changing temperatures and annoying (and potentially harmful) critters.
In the past, manufacturers used cotton canvas as the primary tent fabric. But this one is heavy and prone to water retention, which means that if it gets soaked, it becomes heavier. Innovations led to the creation of synthetic materials such as nylon and polyester. These two are the standard choice for tent manufacturers because of their strength, water resistance, and streamlined weight.
Between the two, nylon is the lighter and stronger one. But it is mostly used in pricier tents. Meanwhile, polyester excels in durability and versatility.
The poles serve as the frame of the tent. Basically, a tent's structure is dependent on the arrangement or architecture of the poles. Some tents minimize their weight by reducing the number of poles used on them. It is not surprising that a lot of backpacking and mountaineering tents out there feature two-pole assemblies.
Therefore, the more poles there are, the heavier the tents become. At the same time, one should know that poles constitute a significant chunk of a tent's weight.
Traditionally, tents use steel poles because of their sturdiness and rigidity. But their main problem is their weight. Steel is extremely heavy and is not an ideal choice if you are making weight-sensitive outdoor applications. There are still tents using steel poles these days, but they are mostly found in leisure and family categories.
Today, most backpacking, hiking, and mountaineering tents either have fiberglass and aluminum poles. Fiberglass poles are lightweight and compact since they can be folded and collapsed. But at the same time, they are prone to breakages, as they are not the flexible type. Hence, they are not that suitable for 4-season applications.
Meanwhile, aluminum poles are strong, durable, and can handle windy conditions without splitting into two. They are commonly found on 4-season tents because of the said characteristics. However, keep in mind that they add to the expensiveness of a tent.
In comparison to 3-season tents, they have more poles and sturdier fabrics. Most of them have rounded architecture, which reduces the possibility of snow accumulation on flat roofs. They have a limited number of mesh panels. Meanwhile, their rainflies are close to the ground. This obstructs ventilation, making them feel hot and damp even in mild weather. A 4-season tent, on the other hand, provides a safe haven when the winds pick up.
This one is entirely understandable. If you have a small tent, then you shouldn't expect that it would weigh heavier than a big tent. Having a one- or two-person tent will give you convenience in the weight department.
Of course, a bigger tent means that more materials are used in its construction. That's a simple analysis that we can all agree upon.
But is this proof that small tents are better than bigger tents? That's something that you need to decide. You see, each of us has different preferences and needs. For solo campers, a two-person tent is already plentiful. But for large groups such as families, even a 6-person tent may not be enough. Hence, there's a need for you to assess your current requirements.
You should acquire something more sturdy if you want to spend a week on the route in a densely rocky or woody destination. If you plan on hiking for a week in desert locations with scorching temperatures, then ultralight models will suffice.
Understanding the dynamics of a tent will let you have a grasp or idea of its weight. By just knowing its seasonality or capacity, you can determine whether or not the tent is a burden on your trip. Keep in mind that no weight is wrong when it comes to tents. You just have to assess your needs and requirements.
That's it for now. If you have other inquiries, feel free to ask me in the comment section below.
