Comparison Terra Incognita Canyon 3 Alu vs Terra Incognita Zeta 2

Classic tourist tents are divided into three main types: expedition tents, trekking tents and camping tents. In addition, you can find tents for beach, for fishing(including carp tents) and for showers/toilets, umbrella-type models, as well as types of awnings: hiking tents and awning-tents. Here is a more detailed description of each of these types:

— Expedition. The most advanced type of camping tents. Expeditionary models can be used in any season, including winter, they are highly durable, reliable and provide maximum protection from cold, snow, wind, etc., while such properties are often combined with extremely low weight. As the name suggests, such tents are designed mainly for long expeditions, winter hikes, high-mountain ascents and other similar applications. But buying such a model for relatively simple tasks hardly makes sense: expeditionary equipment is expensive.

— Trekking. Tents designed primarily for ease of use on long hiking and cycling trips. Accordingly, the key features of such models are fairly high reliability and resistance to adverse conditions (although less than that of expedition equipment), a rela...tively low level of comfort, as well as light weight, in most models not exceeding 6 kg. Heavier tents are usually classified as trekking tents if they have the simplest design, and the weight is determined primarily by their large capacity and/or increased reliability of the materials. In general, this type should be considered if the equipment is planned to be carried frequently and for a long time "on you"; camping tents are better suited for permanent stays in one place (see below).

— Camping. Tents designed primarily for comfort during a permanent stay in one place. They differ from trekking models by more extensive additional features (although the specific set of such features may differ from product to product), seasonality (most are not designed for winter), and generally greater weight. Thus, camping tents are usually tech weighing more than 6 kg; lighter models can also be included in this category if they have the characteristic features of camping equipment: additional functions designed to increase the level of comfort, and/or relatively simple materials not designed for particularly adverse conditions. In general, tents of this type are perfect for overnight picnics, outdoor festivals, etc.

— Fishing tent. Products for winter ice fishing; they are designed for one, maximum two people in a sitting position and most often either have no bottom at all, or have special openings in the bottom so that the structure can be installed directly over the ice hole.

— Carp tent. Models designed primarily for carp fishing enthusiasts. Such fishing (especially at competitions) can last for days without breaks, and special equipment is used for it — including the so-called carp folding beds, which are a special type of tourist furniture. In light of this, awnings for carp fishing are large in size, allowing you to easily install one or even several folding beds inside. And in terms of design, most of these products are closer not to awnings, but to full-fledged tourist tents: they can be used not only as awnings, but also as full-fledged closed shelters, including for overnight stays.

— For shower/toilet. Tents designed exclusively for equipping camp showers or toilets; they are not designed for other purposes. They are usually vertical structures without a bottom — a kind of cabin for one person. The height of such a cabin is usually selected so that an adult can stand inside without any particular difficulty (in some models the height exceeds 2 m).

— Beach tent. Tents designed to provide protection from the sun on beaches, during picnics, etc. Most of these products are structures open on one or more sides, and are designed for sitting or lying down. There are also models equipped with a valve that allows you to completely close the interior; this can be useful, for example, for changing clothes on the beach, or for protection from short-term rain. However, even such models are designed mainly for use in the open form - and the valve, when unzipped, is placed in front of the input and plays the role of an addition to the tent's own bottom.

— Car. In the vast majority of cases, tents are installed on the roof of a vehicle. They provide car tourists with sleeping places on a kind of elevation, which guarantees the almost complete absence of any creeping creatures during the night. Car tents are attached to the roof rails or crossbars of the luggage rack on the roof of the car, the input to them is usually realized with the help of an attached ladder. There are models exactly the entire plane of the roof of the vehicle and examples of car tents of increased "squareness" with a rigid floor frame. There are also tents that are attached to the trunk of a car or the front door of a van, forming the so-called vestibule space. In the "vestibule" you can leave things or put a table, but you are supposed to sleep directly in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, folding the back row of seats. Car tents give the freedom to choose a place to spend the night, be it a clearing on the edge of a forest, a flat area in a mountainous area or a parking lot near a supermarket.

— Umbrella tent. Tents, the design of which resembles an umbrella of increased size. When unfolded, such a tent consists of a dome with a special frame built into it, and a canopy hanging from the edges of the dome; the layout of the “umbrellas” may vary. So, in some models, the dome is located on a fairly high vertical support leg, and in the standard position, the height of the canopy on all sides is the same. In terms of application, such models are closest to awnings (see above), and by tucking in the canopy, you can turn the product into a classic beach umbrella. In others, the dome is installed at an angle and rests on the ground with one edge, covering part of the space on the sides, and the remaining space is covered by the canopy; such designs are more like traditional tents. Be that as it may, the main advantage of umbrella tents is the ease of installation and folding: such operations are not much more difficult than handling a regular umbrella, and even a beginner can handle them without much difficulty. On the other hand, such products are quite bulky when assembled, and the complexity of the design affects the cost and overall reliability. Therefore, such models are not produced in large numbers these days.

— Awning-tent. Among awning-tents, there are two main varieties. The first is an enlarged and lightweight analogue of more traditional tourist tents. The height of such a product, as a rule, allows you to stand in it, the bottom in the structure may be completely absent, the walls are single-layer, and most of their area is usually occupied by "windows" made of mosquito netting (although in some models it is possible to close these windows with external "curtains" made of thick material). Such an awning can be useful, for example, for short trips to nature, or as an overnight stay in warm summer weather.
Another type of awnings can be conventionally called "utility". Such structures are intended primarily for organizing a particular work space: retail outlets, exhibition and propaganda stands, field cafes and canteens, administrative areas at mass events, medical centers, etc. Among such awnings, there are quite large structures that can accommodate 10-20 people, or even more; such models, as a rule, have solid walls with inserts-"windows" made of transparent material. In turn, relatively small products for utility purposes have rather symbolic walls - they are made of mesh material, if necessary, closed with a zipper, and in some models they are completely absent.

— Camping awning. The simplest type of awning — a product in the form of a piece of dense material, usually rectangular or close to it in shape. Many camping awnings are designed to be secured between trees, poles or other improvised supports. Such installation can be quite difficult, but the awning itself is extremely light, compact and easy to transport. More advanced models are also produced, equipped with their own supports and stretchers and suitable for installation directly on the ground. In any case, camping awnings themselves are intended primarily to protect from the sun and, to a much lesser extent, from rain. In addition, such products can be used as additional protection for tents — in pouring rain, an awning can be a real salvation, especially if the tent itself is single-layer and not particularly moisture-resistant.

The number of places for which the tent is designed.

In general, double and triple models are the most popular nowadays — they represent a good compromise between spaciousness and comfort on the one hand and weight, price and ease of transportation on the other. Somewhat less common are four-man tents, although they are also quite popular. The smallest one- man products are mainly either trekking tents or fishing tents (mainly for winter use, see "Purpose"). And in the largest structures, the capacity can reach 5 people or even more.

In general, this parameter is most important for traditional tourist tents (expeditionary, trekking, camping), as well as for fishing tents of "carp" specialization (see "Destination"). In the first case, the number of places is indicated by the number of adults of average build who can comfortably sleep inside — provided there are no bulky things in the tent. So when choosing, you should take into account the physique of users, as well as the presence of backpacks or other luggage, which may require space inside. At the same time, some models officially allow accommodation for 1 person more than originally provided; however, this significantly affects comfort and may require the location of the "jack".

In turn, in t...ents for fishing, the maximum number of carp folding beds, for which the product is designed, is taken into account. At the same time, it is assumed that such folding beds can be used both for recreation and for fishing.

As for other types of tents, the number of places for them is rarely indicated. So, in separate tents-tents, the same rules apply as in ordinary tents — the number of beds is taken into account. In beach tents, a two-person design may be indicated if the product is guaranteed to comfortably accommodate two people. Models for a shower / toilet are, by definition, single-seated, for them there is simply no need to clarify this point; and for camping tents, the very concept of “number of seats” is not relevant.

Seasons in which the use of a tent is allowed.

There are three main seasonality options: winter, spring / autumn and summer. At the same time, the design features necessary for comfortable use of the tent in different seasons are as follows:

— In winter, the tent should effectively protect against snow and wind, and its materials and fittings should normally endure a long stay in the cold. Thermal insulation is also desirable, but in general this is a secondary factor — the main insulation is provided primarily by clothing, a sleeping bag and a bed.
— In the off-season — in spring and autumn — protection from rain, which can be accompanied by strong winds, is of particular importance.
— For comfortable use in the summer heat, good ventilation is required, ideally with insect protection, such as mosquito nets.

As you can see, these requirements generally do not contradict each other and may well be combined in one product. Thus, there are very few tents on the market designed strictly for one season — two- or even all-season options are much more common. For example, even among beach tents (see "Purpose") there are models for which the possibility of using in the off-season is claimed — for this, the design provides for a dense awning, or even the ability to completely close the tent. Almost any model from the "spring-autumn" series...additionally has a summer specialization; and most models suitable for winter actually allow year-round use.

In conclusion, we recall that tents with the same seasonality and purpose can at the same time differ significantly in characteristics and design features.

The total weight of the tent is including the frame and other accessories.

This parameter depends primarily on the purpose (see above), and after that — on seasonality, capacity, and additional functions. For example, in trekking and expedition models, the weight usually does not exceed 5 – 7.5 kg, and the lightest of these products can weigh 2 – 3 kg or even less, while being full-fledged tents for 2 people or even more. However, for a trekking tent, such a small weight with a capacity of more than 2 people usually means that this model is designed exclusively for the summer. For most camping tents, the weight starts at 6 kg, although among them there are also quite light products — by 4 – 5 kg, 3 – 4 kg, or even less (in such cases, light weight can also mean a purely summer specialization). And the most capacious and/or multifunctional models can have a weight of 10 – 15 kg, 15 – 20 kg and even more; in this weight category, you can mainly find tents, camping tents for many people and fishing tents for carp fishing (see "Destination").

When choosing a tent according to this indicator, it is worth considering that it does not always make sense to chase the maximum weight reduction. Yes, the...light tent is the most convenient to carry; on the other hand, weight reduction inevitably affects one or several other characteristics at once. So, most often, lighter models are either more expensive or smaller in size and less roomy and functional than their heavier counterparts. And sometimes weight reduction also negatively affects the security (including moisture resistance) and the overall reliability of the product. Therefore, it makes sense to specifically look for the lightest tent possible in cases where weight reduction is of key importance; a typical example is long trips, in which all the equipment has to be carried “on oneself” for a long time. And even in such cases, it is worth remembering other important characteristics. For example, for use in late autumn, when frosts are likely, it is better to choose a heavier tent with winter seasonality than a light model that is not designed for winter conditions.

The length of the vestibule provided in the tent.

See above for more details on the vestibule. As for its dimensions, the length of the vestibule is measured along the same side along which the length of the entire tent is measured; and the width of this compartment usually corresponds to the overall width of the tent, and it does not need to be specified separately in the specifications. At the same time, we note that due to such measurement rules, the length of the vestibule is often less than its width; this is quite normal in this case.

The specific ratio between the dimensions of this compartment in different tents may be different. However, in general, a longer vestibule is usually larger and more capacious than a shorter one. When choosing, it should be taken into account that a large and spacious additional compartment increases overall comfort, but it significantly affects the price and weight of the tent (not to mention its overall dimensions). So when choosing for this parameter, it is worth considering the real conditions and features of the operation of the tent. We only note that in order to organize additional beds, it is worth paying attention to vestibules with a length of at least 150 cm — usually, they can accommodate additional places at least across, and often along the tent.

Both the rigidity of the frame and the reliability and durability of the tent itself depend on the thickness of the arcs. Usually, the larger and more capacious the tent, the thicker the arches are needed for the frame. Arcs made of plastic and fibreglass most often have a thickness of 7 to 13 mm, while steel and aluminium — from 5 to 16 mm. With an increase in the section of the arcs, the weight of the tent in the folded state also increases.

The material from which the frame of the tent (arc) is made. The main requirements for arcs are strength, resistance to deformation (elasticity) and low weight. Modern tents use several materials with different ratios of these parameters.

— Aluminium. A fairly common material: it has good strength characteristics and low weight, but it is relatively inexpensive. At the same time, aluminium is prone to deformation under long-term stress (although this is usually not critical even when parking for several days).

— Fibreglass. Composite material based on a combination of fibreglass and plastic. The main advantage of fibreglass is resistance to deformation: even under prolonged loads, the arcs do not lose their shape. In addition, this material is cheap and light in weight (although somewhat heavier than aluminium). The disadvantage of fibreglass is its sensitivity to low temperatures, which limits its use in winter conditions and at high mountains. However, most people use tents in the warm season, and therefore fibreglass has recently gained considerable popularity.

— Steel. Steel is the most durable of the described materials, in addition, it holds loads well, almost without deforming. At the same time, steel arcs have a significant weight, and therefore they are rarely used in tents.

— Durapol. A composite material that has appe...ared relatively recently and is positioned as a more advanced alternative to fibreglass. Durapol has a "puff" design: the outer layer is made of special polymer resins, metal foil is located under it, a synthetic mesh is located under it, and, finally, a layer of fibreglass. According to the creators, arcs made of this material are more durable and resistant to fracture than fibreglass, better tolerate low and high temperatures, as well as ultraviolet radiation, are less susceptible to residual deformations and have less weight.

An indicator that reflects the ability of the tent awning to withstand moisture without getting wet. It is expressed in millimetres of water column — the height of the water column that the awning can withstand (the area of impact is out of the question, because the load per unit area under water depends only on the height of the water column and is not related to the area of \u200b\u200bits base). The significant figures indicated in the characteristics (for example, 4000 mm of water column, i.e. 4 metres) are due to the fact that raindrops can have a significant speed and, when they hit the tent, create a load at the point of impact comparable to the pressure on depth of several metres.

In general, the higher the waterproof rating, the better the awning will cope with the effects of rain and snow. Indicators up to 3000 mm w.c. Art. are considered sufficient for places where it rains rarely, awnings for 3000 – 7000 mm of water. Art. allow you not to be afraid of intense downpours, and in expeditionary (see "Destination") tents designed for extreme conditions, this figure can reach 10,000 mm of water. Art. and even more. However, more water-resistant fabrics, usually, have a significant weight, so in each individual case it makes sense to choose the option that is optimal in terms of durability and weight.

— Polyester. Synthetic material with good durability and waterproof performance. In addition, it is resistant to adverse effects (does not lose strength when wet, exposed to acidic and alkaline environments, temperature changes).

— Nylon. In general, the characteristics of nylon are somewhat lower than those of polyester: it tends to stretch when wet and is generally less resistant to adverse effects. At the same time, given that most owners use tents in relatively simple conditions, these points are not critical; in addition, some manufacturers use a special treatment to improve the durability of nylon.

— Polyethylene. This material is mainly used in inexpensive models of camping tents (see "Purpose") — this is primarily due to its significant weight. For other characteristics, it does not have key differences from other materials.

— Polyamide. The general name for a class of fabrics, which includes, in particular, nylon and nylon. Some manufacturers use this term for marketing purposes: "polyamide" sounds more solid than "nylon", although these materials practically do not differ in characteristics and are used in the same way — mainly in inexpensive models.