Screen Tent: The Ultimate Guide

A screen tent will help you stay comfortable and dry on those summer days outdoors. Nothing is worse than going on a camping trip or lounging in your backyard on a sunny, summer day and getting eaten alive by mosquitoes and gnats. A screen house will keep the bugs off you and let you still enjoy the great outdoors.

When camping, it’s great to be able to sleep in a tent in the summer but still have as much of the walls open as possible. With a screen house tent, you can do just that. You can have the great outdoors with the protection of a tent around you.

What Kind of Screen Tent Should I Buy?

When shopping for a screen tent, there are a few things you need to look out for. These criteria may vary based on your individual preferences and what you’re going to be using your screen house tent for. Here are a couple things to look for:

• Size - This may be the single most important factor when looking for a screen house. If it will just be you and maybe a couple friends going camping next weekend, then you won’t need a very big one. However, if you have 5 kids and are planning on using this tent for the next few years, then you might want to look for a big tent.
• Sleeping Tent or Eating Tent - If you’ve done a lot of camping, you’ll know that many people set up a camping tent to sleep in and a screen tent near (or around) the picnic table for eating in. Eating in a screen house keeps the bugs and bees from bothering you while you eat. Which of these uses are you going to be using your tent for? If you’ll be sleeping in your screened in tent, then look for one that has roll-up flaps so you can close it up for privacy at night. Otherwise, you might just want a tent with simple screen walls.
• Durability - Be sure to check the durability of any tent you plan to purchase. If you’re going to be using this tent for multiple seasons, then you want one that will last.
• Set Up Time - We’ve all been there at some point – you get to your campsite, get the gear out of the car, you spread out the tent and are just getting ready to set it up when it starts raining. If you can’t get your tent up in time, you’re getting soaked! A screen house that is easy to set up will save you a lot of time and frustration at the campsite.

Where do I Buy a Screen Tent?

There are a couple places to buy your screen tent before you go camping. With so many models available today, it’s important to research what is out there. There are a couple places to do that:

• Local Outdoor Store - This is the ideal place to look for any camping equipment. You’ll be able to look at the real tent and decide if it looks like it will work for you. Most stores have staff members that are very friendly and helpful. Most of the time, they’ll even allow you to set up the tent in the store to see how it looks set up. If you’re planning on camping alone, or with only one other person, this is the perfect opportunity to see if setting up the tent is easy enough for one or two people.
• Online - While you won’t be able to touch the actual product, there’s a good chance you’ll get a better deal online. The selection online is much better than at your local outdoor store, giving you more options. With today’s emphasis on social information online, you’ll likely be able to read many reviews from people just like you before settling on a tent to order. Just double-check the online store’s return policy before ordering in case it doesn’t work out for you.

A screen tent is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors, while keeping a roof over your head and keeping the mosquitoes at bay!