Zelte

Tents: Trekking, Expedition & Camping

Your tent is your home outdoors – it has to be light, weatherproof and quick to pitch. At VerticalExtreme you'll find tents for every undertaking, from an ultralight solo trekking tent to a roomy family tent.

Designs: Dome (geodesic) tents are free-standing and quick to reposition; tunnel tents offer lots of space for little weight but need good guying. For minimalists there are tarps and light pop-up tents for spontaneous nights out.

Use & season: Light three-season tents are the all-rounder for trekking and camping; storm-stable four-season and expedition tents stand up to wind, snow and altitude. Treat capacity ratings realistically – a two-person tent gets tight for a couple with gear.

Material & water column: A flysheet is considered waterproof from around 1,500 mm water column, the floor should be markedly higher. Nylon is lighter and pricier (stretches when wet), polyester is more dimensionally stable and UV-resistant.

Care, pitching & accessories – making your tent last

A good tent lasts for years – if you treat it right. The most common mistake is packing it away damp or dirty, which promotes coating breakdown and mould. After every trip, pitch or unfold your tent at home until it is completely dry, then store it loosely and airy rather than tightly compressed in its sack for months.

When water stops beading off and forms a film instead, re-proof the flysheet. If individual seams start to leak, use a seam sealer suited to the fabric – a liquid sealer for silicone-coated material, since tape will not bond there. A small repair kit with patches and a spare pole sleeve belongs on every longer trip. The right pegs matter most for the ground: V- and Y-profile pegs are robust all-rounders, while sand and snow call for wide sand pegs and stony ground for sturdy steel pegs. A footprint protects the tent floor from abrasion and moisture and noticeably extends its life. Brands such as MSR, Vaude and Tatonka offer matching accessories for their models.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people should a tent fit?
Plan realistically: capacity ratings are often tight. If you want room for gear and movement, pick one person more than stated.

Tunnel or dome tent?
Dome tents are free-standing and flexible to pitch. Tunnel tents offer more space for less weight but must be guyed out to stand stably.

How much water column should a tent have?
A flysheet counts as waterproof from around 1,500 mm. For the floor, higher values (about 3,000 to 10,000 mm) make sense because of ground pressure.

Nylon or polyester?
Nylon is lighter and packs smaller but stretches when wet. Polyester is more stable and UV-resistant – good for longer pitches in the sun.

How do I care for and re-proof my tent correctly?
Clean it only with lukewarm water and a soft cloth, never in a washing machine, and always let it dry fully before storing. Re-proof the flysheet once water no longer beads off, and seal any leaking seams with a sealer matched to the fabric.

Do I need a footprint or groundsheet?
It is not mandatory but highly recommended: a footprint protects the often thin tent floor from sharp stones and abrasion and keeps it clean. Ideally it is cut slightly smaller than the floor so no rainwater collects underneath.

What is a tent vestibule (apsis)?
The vestibule is the covered space between the flysheet and the inner tent. It gives you weather-protected storage for your backpack and shoes and a sheltered spot to cook in bad weather – depending on the model there are one or two vestibules.