den said:
Wow great response. Thanks everyone. :You_Rock_
This is just the sort of information I was looking for. Keep em coming.
Can someone expand on the types of designs that are available, not for D of E but in general?
Thanks again
Den
yeh sure
large frame tent
heavy strong easy the sort of thing you get put up with caravans. The wont hold up to lots of strong winds due to the high flat sides. Thes are out of fashion due to more mordern designs
A frame
the classic design for smaller tents. The
Vango force ten is the mosst famous of this style. Again it's a heavy system but this gives a very strong tent. Has two poles at each end with a ridge running along the length of the tent. Simple to put up. The force ten can be pitched inner or outer tent first. They tend to have sloping sides so don't always make the best tents when they are small. A short person can just about stand in a larger model of the force ten
ridge tent
similar shape to the A frame tent (which also has a ridge pole) They tend to have one pole at each end of the tend and one running along the length of it. This means that it save a bit of weight over the A frame but looses out in strength. It also means you get a pole in the middle of the doorway which causes problems. I don't know of any tents made that use this system now though.
tunnel tent
This are just like the poly tunnels you see at garden centers. tend to have three poles which run parrallel, though some small ones only have two poles and there are big family ones with four. Allows a nice light weight tent and they seem strong enough for most peoples needs. Steeper sides then the ridge pole design so feel big inside. They often have two poles for the bedrrom section and then have a thrid pole which supports a porch area where you can store your kit. This is good for coooking under in wet conditions.
vango gamma
wedged tunnel
These have two poles in them with one large hoop and one small one. Give you less space then a standard tunnel tent and don't tend to have much of a porch so no space to cook under. They are stronger and will stand up to some really harsh weather though as they are often low to the ground and have lots of guys to hold them down.
thisis a good exaple of it's type
Dome tent
The mordern stardard tent. Two longish poles cross run diagonaly acoss the tent and cross over in the middle. Fairly light weigh and gives lots of space. Like tunnel tents they often have steep sides which gives a fair anout of space inside the tent. A lot have a third pole for a porch which gives space for cooking such as
this one
geogostic dome
I doubt I spelt that right
These are basicaly a cross between a dome and a tunnel. They use four poles and tent to be used on more expensive tents. A very strong design. They weigh a lot though. I think Vango do a cheep tent which uses this pole structer though and it would be well worth looking at for D of E.
This is the inner tent of a vango Hurricane
semi geogostic dome
Odd one this. They use three poles and not surprisingly are somewhere between a normal dome and a geogostic dome tent. The
Vango hydra is a good example. The picture is of the inner tent. This is quite common where you want an all weather backpacking tent but they tend to be quite expensive