Since the main purpose of a tent is to provide protection, it is critical that you buy the appropriate tent for your camping trip.  A great all around tent is one called a "four season tent".  This type of tent can stand up to the winter cold and the summer heat.  You will also need to figure out what size of tent you need.  Tents are usually labeled as "two-person" or "four-person".  However, if you've ever actually looked at these tents, you will see that it may be a hard squeeze.  Therefore, determine the size of your camping party and pick a tent that allows you each to have a comfortable amount of space.

When choosing a tent, avoid just eyeballing the size.  It is a good idea to actually try to fit everyone in the tent before you purchase it.  We all have different personal space comfort levels and yours may be far different from the sales person at the camping store.  Also take into account that you might have sleeping bags, cots, or air mattresses in the tent.  Allot room for these items to ensure that you will have adequate space.

Tents come in various heights and geometric shapes.  How tall are you?  This will play a role in the shape of tent that best suits your needs.  Do you want to be able to stand up in the tent or can you deal with hunching over or sitting down while you are in the tent.  Just remember that extremely large tents may have great headroom, but may be more difficult to carry, setup, and take down.  Prioritize which comfort aspects are most important to you.

Seek out tents that are made of double coated nylon.  Nylon is waterproof and will keep you dry when the rainy weather comes your way.  Also, thicker tent fabrics made of nylon tend to be of higher quality.  Verify that the seams are covered with nylon tape as this will improve the strength of the tent.  Also, double check that the screen windows allow adequate ventilation of air through the tent.  Don't forget to try all the feature of the tent such as zippers, windows, and setup prior to purchasing a tent.  Consider this time your tent "test drive".

When you first bring your new tent out camping it is important to understand the proper way to setup your campsite.  Search for any trees that can provide you added shelter against weather elements.  Avoid setting up camp next to trees that have dead branches because you don't want to be awakened by a dead branch that falls on your tent.  Also seek out a campsite that is near water. 

Finding the right tent for your camping needs takes a little legwork, but is well worth it.  If you don't find the right tent than you may miserable in a crammed tent or your tent is so big that you have trouble setting up your campsite.  Hop online to investigate the various tents available and then make sure you know how to pitch the tent before you set out on your camping trip.