FLY
Most tents are double walled, meaning they include an inner and fly. The fly protects against wind and rain and will usually be made from waterproofed and seam-sealed nylon or polyester, the latter being more UV resistant. Flies with vents are preferable for wet and humid conditions. Single wall tents save weight by doing away with the fly, though they are still waterproof.
PITCHING
Most three-season tents are designed to be freestanding so once the poles are in, the tent will support itself and hold shape, which is useful if it's pitched where pegs can't be used, e.g. with the inner only inside a shelter. Multi-pitch tents allow the inner or fly to be pitched alone.
POLES
Poles provide the tent's structure and wind resistance, with tunnel configurations generally being the strongest. Consideration should be given to how well the poles support the tent fabric, how many there are and their thickness.
WEIGHT
The weights shown in this feature are for the ‘packed weight’
