Buying a tent for snow camping
It looks like a straightforward decision but you can get it so wrong in the middle of the night if the wind picks up. Snow Safety Australia’s Adam West is here to help you figure out what features to look out for.
- How many seasons are you covering with this type of tent?
“A four season tent, it’s light and will keep you warm and dry. This will be the cheapest accommodation in the snowy mountains and will last 10 years if you look after it properly”
- Is ventilation a factor?
“None of the real 4 season tents have mesh on the inner, so ventilation is good if you can get it”.
Is a one person or two person tent size better?
“I generally add 1 person to the rating. This often gives you more space to store gear from the harsh elements. I use a 2 man tent with at least 1 vestibule to cook in”.
Are there any tent peg issues?
“No plastic bags, please people. They tend to be left in the snowpack when people don’t want to dig them out. We use long snow pickets 40+cm long”.
Any particular approach to take for snow storms?
“Bunker down and hope you have large vestibules”.
How many walls should you look for in a tent?
“Personally I’ve migrated to single wall tents, this is a divisive subject in Australia due to moisture issues. I have found they are lighter and easier to put up in a storm (choose wisely!) Dual wall tents are the standard in Australia due to our warmer temps and higher moistures while camping though”.
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