How to Choose the Right Military Tent for Summer?
Last time, I talked to you about sleeping bags for this summer: today, we're going to talk about hiking tents! Whether for military or civilian use, there are certain things to know before choosing your tent. Lovers of nights under the stars, move along, we're going to talk about pieces of fabric and metal stakes! I'm going to give you 5 tips to avoid, among other things, freezing at night or getting attacked by killer mosquitoes:
1- Weight and Bulk
Weight and bulk will be decisive criteria when it comes to choosing your military tent for a multi-day hike/march. Especially since the tent will probably be the heaviest equipment on you. Naturally, the lighter the tent, the more you will compromise on comfort and vice versa. The weight reduction will come at the expense of overall volume and material resistance. If you are not alone, there is always the possibility of taking a heavier tent, distributed among the bags of each user. Whether you are alone or with others, we estimate the ideal weight of a tent, for minimal comfort, to be around 1 kg per person.
2- Comfort and Habitability
Comfort is obviously a very important factor to consider. Even if you want to prioritize lightness, you should never neglect the resistance of your tent to the elements or the quality of your sleep inside. Tunnel tents are, for example, a very good choice to protect you from the wind. They offer excellent habitability, and the vertical walls provide optimal living comfort inside. Dome and geodesic tents have lower habitability but remain interesting, especially since they are most often self-supporting and, above all, lighter!
In summer, your main enemies in certain regions will undoubtedly be the wind and the hot summer rains. For this, we recommend tents whose waterproofing is 100% guaranteed during this season. This resistance is calculated by an index called Schmerbers, indicated in mm. This index generally varies from 1500 for light fabrics to 6000 mm for the most resistant fabrics. Example: a tent with a value of 5000 Schmerbers, that is to say, 5000 mm, will resist 5 cm of water!
3- Seasonality Index
There are three types of indices:
- 2 seasons: spring/summer
- 3 seasons: spring/summer/autumn
- 4 seasons: all year round, at all altitudes (difficult conditions such as wind and snow, significant temperature variations...)
The choice of the index will therefore depend on the regularity throughout the year when you will use the tent.
4- Technical Characteristics
There are many variants of tents and as many characteristics that can define them. We will mainly remember:
- With or without a double roof?
- The choice of fabric and seams
- Ventilation (not to be neglected because CO2 poisoning is real if the air is not properly renewed)
- The color (very important if you are in a situation where you want to be camouflaged)
- The quality and weight of the poles/stakes
Therefore, you must be very careful to choose your tent according to the use you will make of it, while taking these technical specificities into account. Once all these parameters are taken into account, choosing your tent should be no problem. And if you are not sure, do not hesitate to ask an expert for advice or to go directly to see the product in the store.
5- Our Selection for Summer!
- The Tunnel Recon Camo Tent from Mil-Tec
Ideal tent for moderate use (training, airsoft, small hikes) in mild conditions with an unbeatable quality/price ratio! This is a compact individual shelter with a side opening (with mosquito net) that offers a large sleeping compartment and storage space for your equipment. It is made of 190T camouflaged polyester fabric with coating and sealed seams, and the reinforced floor fabric is 210D Oxford polyester with polyurethane coating.
- The Ionosphere Tent from Snugpack
The Ionosphere will appeal to a very wide audience, both military (special forces, precision shooters) and civilian (hunters, ornithologists, etc.). This individual tent will be ideal for observation and sniping and can be used in all seasons. It will perfectly protect you from the elements thanks to its 210t polyester Rip-Stop fabric with PU coating. The internal part is made of 190t Nylon with polyester mesh and has an ultra-fine 50D polyester mosquito net. Waterproofing: 5000 mm water column.
- The Tunnel Observer Tent from Carinthia
This high-end tent, with a height of 60 cm, is entirely made of Gore-Tex fabric treated against infrared. Waterproof and breathable, it protects from wind, rain, and evacuates condensation. The front opening allows for 180° observation and can be completely closed. The side opening allows easy and discreet access. Both openings are equipped with mosquito nets and are perfectly waterproof. Ideal for observation missions in operation!
Feel free to share your tent experiences in the comments! Good reviews make good advice!