by Michael Hodgson

Four season tents are fast becoming the Sport Utility Vehicles of the outdoor industry. Why? Since today's four season tents are almost as light and easy to use as yesterday's more general purpose three-season shelters, it makes sense to purchase a more durable shelter, even if your camping needs stray from the extreme.

If you are a heavy three-season, occasional four-season user who desires wind and weather protection all year round, then the newer design of fours season tent might be for you.

What features are found in this "new-design" of all-season / four season tent?

Typically, in two-layer models (featuring a tent body covered by a rainfly), the designers turn to ventilated panels or windows that can be secured shut to prevent spindrift from getting inside a tent, more rigid pole structures, d ual entrances with vestibules to increase ventilation flow-through, etc.

Single-walled tents also rely on ventilation versatility, two points of access, vestibules and more, but have to fight the consumer perception that condensation will be a problem in cold-weather, doors-closed-down-tight use.

Four-season tents are also being offered in more sizes, including one-person, personal shelter sizes, for adventurers who prefer to sleep alone.

While three-season tents have a definite place in the market, four-season tents offer more versatility for all seasons. These features include hooped vestibule rainflys and multiple ventilation points which are often excluded or compromised by three-season models in an effort to save weight and cost.

Just as four-season compromise has managed to blend into all-season versatility, some manufacturers are finding the need to offer a "fifth season" shelter designed for hard-core, mountaineering / extreme weather use with no compromises, no shaved corners-call it the expedition tent and companies such as Sierra Designs, vauDe, North Face, Marmot and Quest make a point of differentiation.

Like their four-season cousins, the expedition tents offer versatile features, but they also turn to larger diameter aluminum poles (most often Easton), lower profiles, increased and more judicious use of guy points, and stronger, more wind-resistant fabrications. All of these additions translate into higher consumer costs, but also far greater weight to strength ratios and structures that really can hold up in 100 mph winds.

© 1999 Michael Hodgson; All Rights Reserved