Will you be camping during summer only (in which case a 3-season tent is sufficient) or will you be camping during winter, in which case you need a 4-season or expedition tent? If you intend to go mountaineering--winter camping under extreme conditions--go straight to the expedition tents.

How many people will be sharing the tent? Tents are rated in terms of "people capacity": 2-person, 3-person and so on. But the tent ratings usually assume a snug fit, so if you need more personal space, size up by "person."

Which is more important: tent capacity, price, or weight? In general, you can find a tent that excels with at least 1 or 2 of these factors, but not all 3 at once.

If reducing size and weight are your highest priorities, consider single-walled tents.

Does the tent need to be freestanding? In other words, are you willing to stake it down every time you set it up (non-freestanding) or must it be able to stand on its own, stake-free (freestanding)? This is usually only a consideration for 1- or 2-person tents; the larger tent designs are almost always freestanding, although you still need to stake freestanding tents down in high winds and other wet weather.

2Set a maximum budget for yourself and stick to it. There's no point in even considering something you can't afford to buy, although you can sometimes find excellent cut-rate deals from retailers like , /outlet and .If you need a high-quality tent on a limited budget, check online and print classified listings for used tents.