Every time the word camping is mentioned, camping gears such as tents automatically comes to mind.  Tents have turn out to be a crucial piece for open-air living to shelter us from the bugs and rain.  For centuries, wandering tribes from different corners of the world used tents to stay on lands they found to sustain their basic needs. 

One of these nomadic groups are the American Indians.  The Great Plains all over the United States were not at all times permanent grounds for the animals the Indians hunted to survive.  Being mobile was essential and Indian tents known as tipis provided their tribes shelter. 

Indian tipis were made from everyday materials the Indians used such as tree barks and skins of animals.  Indian tipi huts were easy to pack and unpack.  It was put together by ropes and poles and provided sufficient room for occupants to put other things in.  The best feature of an Indian tent is its sturdiness, ability to shield people from rain, and provide insulation by giving warmth during winters and cooling during summers.

Another famous form of tent is the yurt used by ancient and modern Mongolians.  Yurts are probably the most intricate of all kinds of tents because of their size and design.  In contrast to Indian tents, yurts are a lot bigger and can provide shelter to dozens of people together with their animals.  The infamous Mongol leader Temujin was born, grew up, lived and died in a yurt tent.

Modern tents of today come in several forms and sizes and most distinctively, made with added functionality.  A simple 1 man tent consists of poles, a fabric, stakes and guy lines.  The structure of this type of tent resembles a house’s roof. 

Tents sold in stores come in all sorts of features and uses.  Tents that can be carried on a person’s back are known as backpack tents.  Backpack tents are common among hikers who often hike on mountains and spend most of their time in the wilderness.  There are different kinds of backpacking tents.  Among them are one-person tents, dome tents, family tents and tarp shelters. 

One-person tents are prevalent among individual campers and hikers since they are light-weight and quick to assemble. 

Dome tents have a more modern look than traditional tents and they come with more bendy poles made of modern composite materials and their doorflaps are usually closed by zippers.  It could house 1-2 persons depending on its dimension.

Family tents are bigger and more popular to big sets of campers spending their nights outside.  Some have single skin and some have double skins.  Inner and outer skins can be made from natural and man-made fabrics such as cotton, nylon, and microfiber.  Much like the tipis made from hides of the Native Americans, modern tents made from these materials can also breathe.

The presence of tents is always likely for people who spend their time outdoors.  From ordinary campers to the military, tents will always be an important piece to achieve shelter, privacy, and portability.