Comparison Tramp Grot-B vs Terra Incognita Bravo 4

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.

— Hemisphere. Tents with a frame of two (sometimes more) crossed arches. The main advantage of such a case is good resistance to wind. On the other hand, the interior space of the hemispheres is relatively small.

— Half -shell. In cross section, the semi-barrel has the shape of a half circle (or more or less similar), and its frame consists of several semicircular arcs arranged in parallel. This provides a good internal volume, but the wind resistance of this type of hull is lower than that of hemispheres (which, however, is not critical in conditions of plains and low mountains, where there are no storm winds).

— Shatrovaya. In such a case, one rack is used, located in the middle, and the tent itself has the shape of a pyramid or cone. The advantage of tents is their high height, the disadvantage is the inconvenience due to the presence of a rack inside the living space and poor resistance to wind. This form is quite rare.

— Double. The upper part of such a body is a rib, from which two sides of the awning (slopes) diverge at an angle. To create this shape, two internal supports are usually used at the ends of the tent. This design provides additional water resistance, because. the awning is located at a large angle to the drops falling from above; at the same time, due to the inconvenience created by the...supports located inside, and a number of other features, such tents are very rare.

— Cube. A hull shape found only in fishing tents (see "Intended Use"). Almost all such models are intended for winter use and ice fishing. At the same time, some of them do not have a bottom or are equipped with a hole in the bottom, which allows you to install an awning directly above the hole; others are closed from all sides, including from below, and fishing is supposed to be through the opening. However, among the cubic tents there are also demi-season/summer models, including advanced solutions for carp fishing.

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.

This item refers to the total number of entrances to the tent. In most cases, their number also describes the possibility of entering the sleeping area. However, there are models with a large vestibule, in which the input is provided from different sides. Such abundant entry/exit options allow you to use the tent in various situations. For example, focusing on the position of the sun, it will be relevant to open the western or eastern side; landscape conditions will not interfere with the installation of the tent, since one of the exits will remain accessible in any case. Well, for a large company at a campsite, vacationers will not interfere with each other.

— External. The external frame is considered more convenient to set up, especially in the case of double-layer tents (see "Inner tent"), since both the inner tent and the outer awning are put on the frame at once. On the other hand, such a frame is more susceptible to the negative influence of natural conditions and does not allow the inner tent to be set up separately.

— Internal. The internal frame is somewhat more difficult to install than the external one; at the same time, it is less susceptible to the influence of unfavorable external conditions, and in double-layer tents (see "Inner tent") with an internal frame, it is usually possible to install only the inner tent, without an awning.

It should be noted that only tents in the shape of a hemisphere or half-barrel have a classic frame (see "Body shape"); in the case of gable tents, the characteristic "external/internal" refers primarily to the location of the supports, and the term "frame" is not applied at all to tent models.

— Inflatable. In such tents, the role of the frame is played by sealed hollow tubes made of flexible material (rubber or polymers), usually arched. When folded, they can be rolled up quite compactly, and when the tent is set up, they are inflated (usually with a special pump), acquiring the desired shape and sufficient rigidity to support the awning. The advantages of inflatable frames are their...light weight and ease of installation; they usually belong to quick-setup systems (see above for the latter). On the other hand, inflatable elements are very sensitive to damage: a small crack or hole, not critical for an element of a regular frame, disrupts the seal and makes the tent unusable.

— Pop-up. An automatic type of arc frame — it unfolds automatically when the tent is removed from the cover. This type of frame is often used in small budget tents, intended for those who prefer camping, nature trips and music festivals. Such tents are packed in a small round bag, which takes up a minimum of space in a car trunk or among the hand luggage of vacationers.

The number of poles provided in the frame of the tent. For hemispherical types (see "Shape") for 2-3 people, not intended for extreme conditions, 2 poles are considered quite sufficient; larger and/or reinforced models may have more poles. In the case of half-barrels, this amount is directly related to the length of 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.

— PU (polyurethane). A polyurethane (PU) coating is applied to the inside of the outer tent. The protective layer of polyurethane increases the moisture resistance of the tent, at the same time, the strength of the awning fabric also increases. The main advantage of polyurethane is the ability to reliably protect seam joints. However, polyurethane protection is not the most effective, besides, the presence increases the weight of the tent. The use of polyurethane protection alone is more typical for entry-level (low-cost) class tents. In good quality tents, PU coating is complemented by other types of protection, often polyurethane is used together with silicone (Si).

— Si (silicone). The outer tent fabric is impregnated with silicone (Si). Silicone significantly increases the moisture resistance of the tent. The fabric impregnated with silicone acquires elasticity, its strength characteristics increase. This type of protection is considered the most technologically advanced and functional. The tent itself is impregnated with silicone (from the outside), and sometimes a PU coating is additionally made from the inside for better water resistance. The main disadvantage is the inability to protect seam joints. For this reason, the seams in silicone impregnated tents are glued separately.