December the 21th, and today it will be about tent. What really is the difference between a three and a four season tent? And due to that what should I chose? First of all you need to figure out if you are going out for Winter tours or not. Ok, you say -but if I don’t know if I am going for a winter tour in the future then? I probably will help you out with that question as well today…So what will be the difference between a Winter (four season) tent and a three season tent? First of all will be the weight. Of course a more cozy and easterly tent will weight more and also cost more. So number one will be the weight. The second will be the braces, how they are placed and their load carrying and capacity stiffness. On a Winter tent the braces is normally not crossed and they run in channels on the outside of the outer tent itself. But on a three season it will normally be in the tent and don’t have the stiffness neither the load carrying. This will result in two things; the weight of snow landing on the tent will push the tent down, also the wind stability can be reduced. So the third will be the number and placement of ventilation. In the spring-summer and autumn you will have a good breathing of air trough the tent, this for reducing moister and so on. In the winter the situation will be reversed. You want the air to be stable so you don’t loose heat, But at the same time reduce as much of the moister you will generate through your breath. So in the winter tent you have other solution for this. And due to this a winter tent always have the sides so you can connect them easy with the ground surface. They can also have a storm mat on which you can lay snow etc. for a isolation and anchoring layer. The fourth, will be the apse, this one is often big enough for cooking and prepare you clothing etc. In winter this will be appreciated. So how do I chose now then? Well, as I started with what do you need? Are you going for a lot of winter tours, the first choice would be a four season tent. If not a three season tent will be good enough.

(Here is the difference between a three and four season tent. The ground isolation, The placement of the braces. The kind of ventilation that is used and also the apse)

Here you can see that this tent do not got the braces outside, and no ground contact in the same way and also a small apsis.  But you say, you have not answer the question if I not sure about the winter tenting what do I chose then? Well, my suggestion then will be a 3+ season tent. So here you got an suggestion.

This can be used during Winter, but not for serious use the forth season…Big Agnes Copper Spur HV2 Expedition – The General Prepper

If you want to reduce the weight for a four season tent think if you need a two or three persons tent. With a two persons tent you will reduce the weight a lot…

Blame It On The Mistletoe (youtube.com)

See ya soon…