OT - best tent for beach camping

[fivikse]

Not disney related, but I thought you guys might have a suggestion!

My daughters' girl scout troop in camping on the Texas Gulf coast next month. We need a tent anyway, but I don't want to break the bank. We will use it infrequently. What is a good family tent for use on the beach?

Thanks!

 

[MotherRunner]

Where? We camped at Mustang Island. So fun. We have a Coleman 10 person with a screened front. It was about $150. We had tons of wind and rain that weekend and it did great.

 

[peg110]

I think the concerns might be less about the tent and more about how to secure it. You probably want a tent that can stand on it's own as opposed to one that needs stakes to hold it up, as opposed to stakes to hold it in place. Stakes in the sand need to be either a special type (not typically that would come with a tent), or need to be buried deep, as the top of the sand is generally loose enough that the standard tent stakes will pull out easily.

Most nylon ripstop tents will probably work okay. Just keep in mind that moisture can wick through tents where ever it gets touched. So a rainfly is usually desired as well.

 

[fivikse]

Thank you both! I think mustang island (near port a).

I'm not in charge .

How do I know if a tent is freestanding vs needs to be staked?

 

[peg110]

Free standing tents will typically have the poles that have the elastic cord in them.

As you unfold them, the elastic helps pull then together. You then push the pole through a sleeve or loops in the tent and "Flex" the pole.

While this image is a "Smaller" version, it's the same concept.

Tents that require staking will typically have Rope (or cord) leads tied to the tent (or you can tie them to the tent/poles) then add a pole, that is typically in sections, to hold up the tent. The Pole holds up the tent and the cord/rope pulls tension on the pole to allow it to stand up. The rope/cord goes from the tent to the ground stake (or tree or other stable hooking) to hold the tent up. Similar to below:

Particularly in this one the AWNING won't stand up without the ropes and poles.

The free standing tents may also (and probably will) have ropes and stakes as well to help better keep it's form as well as keeping it from blowing away in the wind. (Not typically a problem, if you are IN the tent though). Also for the Rain flies. There will be ropes to hold it taunt However most of those, if the fail and the stakes come out, you still have a standing tent. Unlike this one right above, if the ropes or stakes fail, the tent falls down.

 

[fivikse]

Thank you for the detailed explanation!