Selecting the proper material to form the fabric of your tent, which is essentially the entirety of the tent without the frame, is ultimately an exercise in compromise.  Ideally you’d want a tough but flexible material that is resistant to all forms of weather and temperature changes, keeps out both the raging sun and the driving rain but still highly breathable, and compressible and light for easy transport.  You might as well throw in bulletproof and capable of repelling large animals, as well, since no one tent material will be able to provide most or all of these qualities in equal amounts.  The choice of what material to use depends on what aspect you decide to prioritize, and the trade-offs that you are willing to make to achieve those priorities.

The materials discussed below do not take into account special coating or treatment for various concerns except as otherwise discussed, such as with waterproofing, which is standard for many artificial tent fabrics.

Nylon

Advocates of nylon tent fabrics praise the material’s strength and durability, as nylon is capable of enduring the punishment that rugged terrain, or clumsy handling, can dish out.  The toughness of nylon translates into the tent sheets being thinner, and thus lighter and simpler to carry around.  The downsides of nylon, however, according to tentmakers, are that they are normally UV-transparent unless specially treated, which can lead to a bad sunburn even from inside the tent on a clear day; nylon is sensitive to and expands or contracts when the temperature changes significantly, which can warp an otherwise stable design; and lastly, nylon is not particularly breathable, due to a urethane coating that is typically used on nylon pack cloth to make it moisture-proof.

Polyester

Polyester is also a popular choice of tent fabric that shares many of the same qualities as nylon, but it is even more resistant to wear and tear, not being susceptible to stretching, and can last for many years without any dips in performance.  It may need to be specially coated to be water repellent if used for tent roofing.

Canvas

On a hot day, it’s hard to beat a cotton canvas tent for keeping you cool.  The material breathes very well, and the natural color of the canvas fabric reflects sunlight effectively.  Canvas is also easy to fix, being crafted with sturdy weaves that can be patched up without much hassle.  This material’s main disadvantage is its bulk and weight, particularly if the tent gets wet, as the fabric is more susceptible to moisture retention.  Also, while a weathered canvas tent can keep out low levels of precipitation, it won’t be very effective against extreme rain and snow, and is bound to get much heavier due to the moisture that has seeped in.

Kevlar

Generally not recommended unless you plan to camp in the middle of a war zone or in an area known for dangerous wildlife, if such tents are even in mainstream circulation.  Supposedly, some tents do come with a Kevlar outer layer to protect against aggressive wildlife, but the heaviness of the material makes it ill-suited for tent construction.

If you’ve ever gone to an outdoor equipment store or shopped online for a tent, you would discover an impressive range of tent shapes and designs to cater to your need for basic shelter on your next camping or hiking trip.  Whether domed, rectangular, pyramid or the traditional double A-frame, the style you choose is much more than a simple matter of taste or personal preference.  The tent that you choose should be able to accommodate the climate, terrain and other demands that you will force it to endure during your personal adventure.

Teepee Style

Perhaps the most basic tent design, reminiscent of the housing used by the Native Americans centuries ago, the teepee style tent is shaped like a cone or pyramid, with a single pole in the middle holding up the fabric and the sides securely posted to the ground.  It is the easiest to set up, and the center pole can actually double as a walking stick.  The tent has no floor, and as such, it is used often as a secondary tent for equipment and gear, and in other instances, it is utilized for showering or other bathroom activities.  Whether you use it for these purposes or as a regular sleeping facility, you should be aware that this tent is rather frail and will buckle under all but the mildest of weather conditions.

A-Frame/ Wedge

A classic tent design from the 1960’s, this standard tent is supported by sturdy end frames that form an “A”, with the canopy fabric held up by a single ridge pole between them.  The sharply sloping sides of the tent do not provide much space for maneuvering, much less head room, so the tent is almost exclusively used for sleeping purposes.  It fares better than the teepee tent against wind and rain, but not by a lot, and is susceptible to sagging in these situations.

Modified A-Frame

The feature that distinguishes this type of tent from its ancestor, the A-frame, is its curved pole along the ridgeline in the center, giving it the appearance of a hoop tent.  This version provides more head room and stability, without sacrificing the efficient rectangular floor space of the older A-frame, and in some models, one end is smaller than the other to save on fabric and make the overall tent lighter.

Dome

Shaped like the top half of a ball, the dome tent is the most common camping tent style today, utilizing a hexagonal pole arrangement that provides excellent stability and space.  Dome tents are easy to set up, and some have their tent poles built in for added convenience.  The tent also folds up easily for swift transport, though it may be heavier than other tent styles.  The dome tent is quite durable against rain, wind and snow, but in snowstorms or considerably heavy downpour, sections of fabric may collapse due to lack of adequate support.

Tunnel/Hoop

A prime choice of backpackers due to its lightweight design, the tunnel or hoop tent looks like the top half of a covered wagon from western films, sporting a tent fabric that is supported by a series of hoop-shaped poles, which form a tunnel.  This style is good for summer camping and mild weather, as it does not hold up well against wind and snow, although there are some variants of the tunnel tent that are specially reinforced to withstand harsher conditions.

Cabin Style Tents

These are one of the most popular family size tents design available today with some of the best brands providing some great cabin tents that offer easy access in and out, with plenty of ventilation for summer camping for the family.

These often have screened rooms to convert into a bedroom or to keep open to be used for a large room. The walls are near vertical, which is why they have become so popular, offering ample room to move around.

The cabin style family size tents are not be used for winter camping, but for summer camping for a large family, I rate them as no1.

Camping Hammock

A camping hammock is a choice for lightweight backpacking and it’s pitched by being attached and suspended by a tree. A quality hammock can also be used as a bivy sack when set up on the ground as a camping tent.

These have advantages and disadvantages with many having a personal preference for what works well for them when backpacking lightweight.

Tarp Tent

Tarp tents are the minimalist’s choice when searching for the best tents suitable for backpacking light.

These are a basic shelter to protect a user from the rain whilst keeping it light, with some users loving them and other backpackers wanting a more comfortable shelter that also keeps the bugs at bay.

Bivy/Bivouac

These are another basic shelter to be used for hiking/backpacking and popular for mountaineering or climbing trips. Your not likely to find these pitched next to family size tents in campgrounds.

Simply, a Bivy is something that sleeps a person with a sleeping bag and nothing more.