Lightweight Tents
- Easy to carry protection from the elements
- 2,3,4 seasons
Lightweight tents come in a number of shapes, sizes, and materials. Choosing the right one comes down to your needs. Do you need a one man or two man tent? What shape will fit with your destination? Will it be used in a dry, hot climate or a cold wet climate? What color should it be? Here are some basics to consider.
The size factor is the easiest to determine > how many people will be sleeping in the tent? I personally like to use a tent that is one person bigger just for that little extra space. The added comfort offsets the small amount of added weight.
Popular shapes for lightweight tents will usually have two flexible poles to hold them up. A-frame tents are what everyone associates with scouts or guides and have been called pup tents. 
Two legged poles like an upside down v at each end hold the tent in an a-frame shape.
Hoop tents are lightweight and will usually use 1-3 hoops providing a lot of strength to the structure. These work very well in open windy areas.
Wedge tents are very popular for hiking using two intersecting hoops and less material making them lightweight for easier transport but very strong.
The season/s you will be using your tent also has to be considered when choosing what functions it needs to perform. A two season tent is generally good for spring through fall but not for extreme weather conditions. Three season tents are a little less lightweight but will carry you through from early spring until late fall. Four season tents will get you through the weather year round.
Colors also vary but generally bright yellows or oranges are used for visibility in snowy conditions while lighter colors are used to offset UV rays in bright sunny conditions.
Nylon is generally used now in lightweight tent construction. This can be single or double walled. Single walled tents have no fly attached so must be able to withstand the elements and remain breathable at the same time. Double wall includes the fly for waterproofing. This is necessary in rainy or very humid conditions. Water resistance is measured in PSI. A good waterproof rating would be anything above 75. A number of different laminates are used for breathability and waterproofing. Gore-Tex is a popular laminate used for this purpose. Check the stitching of the tent, a double stitch will make it much more durable without making the tent less lightweight.
