Above all, a tent should remain standing and keep its occupants dry. Good tents offer many integrated weather protection features, such as taped seams, weather-resistant fabric and an adequate rainfly.

All rainflies are not alike, so a careful evaluation should be made. A partial rainfly that covers the doors and windows, like an awning on a house, should be the minimum standard for protection. This protects the tent body very well in downward rains.

A full rainfly covers the entire tent and will often have a vestibule for extra storage of gear outside of the sleeping area. This feature will cost more, but is very helpful in extreme conditions such as cold weather, snowfall and heavy driving rain.

In addition to the rainfly, other weather-protection features to check for include:

• Taped & protected seams. Are the seams on the underside of the rainfly taped? Are the tent's interior seams inverted to hide the needle holes inside the tent, away from the elements?
• Waterproof floor. If there are seams on the tent floor, are they welded together to eliminate needle holes that could lead to leaking?
• Weather resistant fabric. Do the fabric, thread, webbing and zippers have special coating to increase their weather resistance?
• Zipper protection. The zippers on the doors are vulnerable areas; is there anything covering them or are they exposed to the elements?
• Strong frame. Are the poles sufficiently strong and flexible to withstand wind?
• Testing. Has the manufacturer tested the tent in rainy and windy conditions?
• Guarantee. Does the manufacturer guarantee that the tent will perform as expected?

Together these features help ensure that, no matter what Mother Nature throws their way, tent campers can emerge happy and dry, ready to enjoy the rest of the camping trip.