Camping tents are heavier, and larger than backpacking tents. You would probably want to have a camping tent if you are driving up to a campsite and unloading it right there from your vehicle without carrying it a great distance. The camping tent is mostly used by families and they are designed for several days of staying in them for you and your family. Camping tents come in several different sizes and designs depending on what your family would need. They are larger, and you probably would be able to stand up inside the tent. Usually you set this up and come back to the tent and campsite nightly while you do other activities during the day.
Backpacking tents are usually small, maybe a one person or a two person tent. They are lightweight, and easy to carry over a distance. Most backpacking tents are designed to be set up and taken down quickly as many use this as staying one night at one place then moving on to the next place.
With the backpacking tent you can have poles that break down into shorter pieces and will fit in the backpack with the tent. The tents are usually made of nylon that will be lighter than canvas as it is carried in the backpack or rucksack. Usually you can’t stand up inside a backpacking tent; it’s basically designed just to sleep in. There may not be a large door to get into the tent, and it’s designed to be lightweight and save space in your backpack.
With camping tents you would be able to have an inflatable mattress and not sleep in the sleeping bag on the ground, where as the backpacking tent would be strictly sleeping bag on the ground. The camping tents may have the bottom sewed on so that bugs and animals won’t be able to penetrate the tent at night, the backpacking tent usually won’t have that.
When deciding on a backpacking or a camping tent, consider what you will use it for mostly. You won’t want to purchase a tent and then not use it because it’s the wrong type. Do your homework, before you purchase your next tent.
