| Pyramid tents - These were actually the very | | | | center area more, sometimes a cross pole, |
| first tent design. They use one straight pole in the | | | | connecting A frames, making the tent |
| middle of the tent to create a pyramid shaped | | | | freestanding. These are noteworthy |
| tent. In actual practice they are often designed to | | | | improvements in strength, but still often heavier |
| use trekking poles, having no tent poles of their | | | | than other options. |
| own. This design permits your trekking poles to | | | | Hoop or Waypoint tents - These often have two |
| function as dual purpose items, cutting down your | | | | hoop shaped poles that hold the body of the tent |
| total weight. If you don't hike with trekking poles, | | | | up, and using stakes they keep the structure |
| you can always construct your own poles from | | | | taught and standing. The disadvantage of these |
| any material you like. These tents often offer a | | | | tents is their non-freestanding nature makes them |
| lightweight benefit, butare relatively inefficient in | | | | difficult to pitch occasionally. It also gives up some |
| terms of usable space. | | | | stability in behalf of weight savings |
| Avian tents - These are essentially a tarp tent, | | | | Wedge tents - Utilizing two hoop shaped poles |
| having two or more vertical poles. They make a | | | | that connect at the top, they form a wedge |
| slightly more rectangular shape than a pyramid | | | | shape, with a near point at the top. These tents |
| tent. They also often work with trekking poles, | | | | are a good balance of strength and weight |
| however both the avian and the pyramid tent set | | | | savings. They are free standing, making them |
| ups are generally only intended for light weather | | | | easy to move and pitch. They will also function |
| conditions, they have no floor and not much | | | | without stakes. |
| structure. | | | | Dome tents - These tents have crossing poles, or |
| A-frame tents - Like those ancient army tents | | | | a hubed pole system to create a dome shape. |
| that grandpa had, they have two poles at each | | | | They offer the best use of space and the most |
| end of the tent forming an A shape, which are | | | | resilient design. They are most commonly four |
| attached to the ground via stakes, making a long | | | | season tents and can protect you from the |
| triangular shelter, these can be very tough | | | | harshest conditions, however they are also often |
| structures, but they are often heavy because of | | | | the heaviest, they use lots of poles and take lots |
| their inefficient use of poles and the need for high | | | | of time to set up. |
| tensile strength material, since it forms the top | | | | If you are looking to choose a tent, you must |
| edge of the tent's structure. | | | | decide just what you are going to use it for. |
| Modified A frames - These tents make use of a | | | | Choosing between the trade offs of each design |
| third pole, sometimes a hoop to open up the | | | | is the art of deciding about your gear. |