Thoughts on Military Surplus Tents: What to Consider?
Military tents vs. Commercial surplus tents
Military tents and surplus tents are growing in popularity, in part, due to the fact that the numbers of people camping has increased. Regarding the popularity of camping and exploring the great outdoors, a study conducted by the University of Michigan Survey Research Center revealed that more than eight million American households owned a recreational vehicle. Average RV owners are in their late 40s and earn median annual salaries of $68,000.
These smart campers expect durability, convenience, comfort and space from their surplus tents or their military tents. True lovers of the outdoors, they don't want to spend all of their time indoors, not even inside a RV that's loaded with modern conveniences like microwaves, refrigerators and wide screen televisions. Singer Conor Oberst may have put it best when he said that, I never camped as a kid, but I really got into camping and sleeping outdoors. I've also done some amazing river floats in New Mexico and Idaho. It's peaceful and awesome.
A major part of enjoying an outdoor camping experience is choosing the right tent. Among the most reliable camping tents are military tents and surplus tents. Both tents have pros and cons, including how they are constructed, materials they are made with and how accessible they are on traditional outdoor sports markets. Notable pros and cons, details campers should consider before they head away from home, include:
Weight of the tents (Some surplus tents are lightweight, made with aircraft aluminum tubes. Constructed with flexible engineered plastics, these surplus tents are designed with built-in poles. They can be lighter than traditional military tents.)
Ability to extend military tents and surplus tents (Unlike surplus tents, military tents can be extended by more than 64 feet by simply adding three to four extensions to the main frame of the tents.)
Shapes of military tents and surplus tents (Larger military tents like Army tents are built with square dome tops, round tops and diamond shapes. Both Army and surplus tents come in cabin features. However, in traditional retail markets, campers might find larger numbers of surplus cabin tents.)
Visibility (This is an area where surplus tents may have an advantage over Army tents. Unlike Army tents, surplus tents are designed with plastic openings. These openings tend to serve as entrances, requiring that they simply be zipped closed, shutting out elements like rain, dirt and wind.)
Depending on where military or surplus tents are purchased, pricing can vary. People who regularly camp with large groups, are encouraged to conduct price searches online to give themselves the chance of getting the best price deals on a large number of durable and flexible tents. Other pros and cons to look for when shopping for tents are:
Whether tents are weatherproof
If tents are designed to hold up under extreme survival situations (This is when military tents can trump surplus tents.)
Time it takes to install tents
Whether tents are self-standing
Ability to keep insects out of tents
Consider the numbers of people who will sleep in a tent before making a final decision. Also, factor in the types and sizes of equipment (i.e. lanterns, mobile televisions, stereos) that will be stored in tents. Should campers expect to get in lots of hiking while they are out, they should target lightweight tents, whether they opt for lightweight Army tents or lightweight surplus tents.
