Comparison Ranger EXP 3-mann Bivvy RA 6608 vs Ranger EXP 3-mann Bivvy Ranger

The number of places for which the tent is designed.

In general, double and triple models are the most popular nowadays — they represent a good compromise between spaciousness and comfort on the one hand and weight, price and ease of transportation on the other. Somewhat less common are four-man tents, although they are also quite popular. The smallest one- man products are mainly either trekking tents or fishing tents (mainly for winter use, see "Purpose"). And in the largest structures, the capacity can reach 5 people or even more.

In general, this parameter is most important for traditional tourist tents (expeditionary, trekking, camping), as well as for fishing tents of "carp" specialization (see "Destination"). In the first case, the number of places is indicated by the number of adults of average build who can comfortably sleep inside — provided there are no bulky things in the tent. So when choosing, you should take into account the physique of users, as well as the presence of backpacks or other luggage, which may require space inside. At the same time, some models officially allow accommodation for 1 person more than originally provided; however, this significantly affects comfort and may require the location of the "jack".
...r> In turn, in tents for fishing, the maximum number of carp folding beds, for which the product is designed, is taken into account. At the same time, it is assumed that such folding beds can be used both for recreation and for fishing.

As for other types of tents, the number of places for them is rarely indicated. So, in separate tents-tents, the same rules apply as in ordinary tents — the number of beds is taken into account. In beach tents, a two-person design may be indicated if the product is guaranteed to comfortably accommodate two people. Models for a shower / toilet are, by definition, single-seated, for them there is simply no need to clarify this point; and for camping tents, the very concept of “number of seats” is not relevant.

The total weight of the tent is including the frame and other accessories.

This parameter depends primarily on the purpose (see above), and after that — on seasonality, capacity, and additional functions. For example, in trekking and expedition models, the weight usually does not exceed 5 – 7.5 kg, and the lightest of these products can weigh 2 – 3 kg or even less, while being full-fledged tents for 2 people or even more. However, for a trekking tent, such a small weight with a capacity of more than 2 people usually means that this model is designed exclusively for the summer. For most camping tents, the weight starts at 6 kg, although among them there are also quite light products — by 4 – 5 kg, 3 – 4 kg, or even less (in such cases, light weight can also mean a purely summer specialization). And the most capacious and/or multifunctional models can have a weight of 10 – 15 kg, 15 – 20 kg and even more; in this weight category, you can mainly find tents, camping tents for many people and fishing tents for carp fishing (see "Destination").

When choosing a tent according to this indicator, it is worth considering that it does not always make sense to chase the maximum we...ight reduction. Yes, the light tent is the most convenient to carry; on the other hand, weight reduction inevitably affects one or several other characteristics at once. So, most often, lighter models are either more expensive or smaller in size and less roomy and functional than their heavier counterparts. And sometimes weight reduction also negatively affects the security (including moisture resistance) and the overall reliability of the product. Therefore, it makes sense to specifically look for the lightest tent possible in cases where weight reduction is of key importance; a typical example is long trips, in which all the equipment has to be carried “on oneself” for a long time. And even in such cases, it is worth remembering other important characteristics. For example, for use in late autumn, when frosts are likely, it is better to choose a heavier tent with winter seasonality than a light model that is not designed for winter conditions.

A canopy is mainly used for camping tents, much less often for trekking tents, as well as separate tents and fishing tents (see "Purpose")

The canopy is a kind of "roof" over the entrance to the tent. In most models, the role of such a “roof” is played by the same part of the canopy that is used to tightly close the entrance: to turn it into a canopy, this part must be raised to a horizontal position and two complete supports should be installed under the free edge. The main function of the canopy is additional protection from the sun and rain while the entrance to the tent is open; but its design and features of application may be different. So, this feature is most popular in camping tents (see "Purpose"); in such models, the height of the canopy may exceed the height of an adult. In turn, in trekking models, the canopy is often supplemented with fabric “walls” on the sides, which significantly improves protection from rain and other precipitation. In turn, fishing tents with this element of equipment are carp fishing models, and the canopy is installed directly at the time of fishing.

The number of separate sleeping quarters provided in the design of the tent. Note that for models with 1 bedroom, this parameter in our catalog may not be specified at all, but with a larger number of bedrooms, it must be indicated.

In this case, only the main compartments, originally intended for overnight stays and best isolated from the environment, are considered sleeping quarters. Vestibules (see above) are not taken into account in the calculation, even if the size of the vestibule allows organizing an additional bed (s) in it.

Most modern tents have one sleeping area — this allows you to minimize the size and weight, and in most cases does not cause any particular inconvenience. However, there are models that have more "bedrooms"; in some cases, it can reach 4. At the same time, we emphasize that we can talk about separate sleeping areas only when each such zone is separated from the others by a vestibule or at least a solid non-removable wall. But a removable partition (see "Bedroom with a partition") in this case does not turn one sleeping compartment into two (although it does provide some degree of insulation).

Anyway, having several sleeping areas will be useful if people living in a tent need to be separated for one reason or another. For example, inside you can separate the "male" and "female" parts, in order to avoid ambiguous situations — or vice versa, provide married couples with their...own sleeping quarters. There are other options for using tents for more than 1 bedroom — for example, one compartment can be allocated for storage for bulky equipment, or a first-aid post with a separate closed room for examinations and manipulations can be organized.

The number of bedroom entrances provided in tent design.

It is worth clarifying that if there are several bedrooms in the structure (see "Sleeping areas"), then in this case it is not the total number of entrances that is taken into account, but the number of entrances per bedroom. For example, if the tent has 2 sleeping areas, each with 1 input, then the characteristics will indicate 1 input to the bedroom.

In other words, if the design states 2 entrances to the bedroom, this means that each bedroom has two exits (regardless of the total number of bedrooms). Such a design is convenient primarily because you can leave the sleeping slot in the most convenient way, if necessary, without disturbing your sleeping neighbors. On the other hand, a design with one input provides a higher degree of thermal and moisture insulation; such tents are better suited for particularly unfavorable conditions.

Number of windowsprovided by the design of the tent. Windows provide the penetration of natural light and relieve you of the need to use additional sources of lighting during daylight hours; in addition, when properly positioned, they allow you to inspect the area without leaving the tent.

Both the rigidity of the frame and the reliability and durability of the tent itself depend on the thickness of the arcs. Usually, the larger and more capacious the tent, the thicker the arches are needed for the frame. Arcs made of plastic and fibreglass most often have a thickness of 7 to 13 mm, while steel and aluminium — from 5 to 16 mm. With an increase in the section of the arcs, the weight of the tent in the folded state also increases.

— Nylon. Synthetic material with good water resistance and average characteristics in terms of strength and resistance to negative influences: quite main function light weather conditions, however, when wet, it loses some strength (tends to stretch), and is also sensitive to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. As a result, it is used relatively rarely.

— Polyester. It also refers to synthetic materials, it is considered a slightly more advanced option than nylon: it withstands wetting and heating well, is less sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, and as a result, it has greater durability. At the moment it is the most popular material for awnings.

— Polyamide. The general name for some varieties of synthetic fabrics, including, in particular, nylon and nylon described above. The properties of polyamides are similar to nylon: on the one hand, low cost, resistance to moisture and abrasion, as well as strength, on the other hand, a tendency to stretch when wet and loss of strength when exposed to UV radiation

— Polycotton. A material that combines cotton with synthetic fibers (usually polyester), usually in a ratio of 1:2 (synthetic-cotton). This combination provides durability, resistance to adverse conditions, polycotton resists moisture well and at the same time “breathes”. It's also better than pure synthetics at keeping you cool on a hot day and warm on a cold day. At the same time, this material is quite heavy and expensive, which is...why it is rarely used and only in camping tents (see "Purpose").

— Polyurethane. Typically, this refers to a polyurethane coating applied to a synthetic polyester or nylon backing. The main function of such a coating is to improve the water resistance of the awning (see below). However, the specific values of water resistance in different models can vary markedly. The base material (and, accordingly, the main features of the awning) usually depends on the price category of the tent.

— Polyethylene. Polyethylene is absolutely waterproof, but it also does not let air through. As a result, this material is found exclusively in tents (see "Destination").

— Texit membrane. A variety of high-quality membrane fabrics, combining, on the one hand, high water resistance values (10,000 mm Hg and above), on the other hand, the ability to "breathe" and let water vapor through, which contributes to thermoregulation and maintaining a comfortable climate in the tent. However, this material is expensive, and therefore it is used only in high-end expeditionary equipment.

— Cotton. Natural cotton, usually, with nylon or polyester rip-stop threads, as well as additional water-repellent impregnation. This material is durable, reliable and at the same time passes air well and provides convenient thermoregulation, keeping cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather. Its disadvantages are the high cost and rather large weight, which limits the use of cotton for advanced models of camping tents.