How to Choose a Tent for Your Event
If you plan on renting a tent or tents for an upcoming event it’s a good idea to get up to speed so you’ll know what you can expect unless of course you like surprises. Tent rentals are a must for outdoor events, not only do they offer protection from wind, rain, or even too much sun, their size announces your event from afar and often helps to create a celebratory mood. So rental tents are handy but here’s what you should know.
Frame Tents
40' x 60' Frame Tent
40' x 60' Frame Tent
These are a popular choice of rental tents. What is meant by a frame tent? It’s a tent that has an aluminum or steel frame built into the roof. Clean lines, neat and simple design, this is how one would describe the newest generation of Frame Tents. With no centre poles the structure offers unobstructed views. Perfect for an evening of entertainment or when room is at a premium.
They commonly have a hip style roofline meaning the peak is tapered and does not continue along the full length of the tent. Less common is a gable style with the peak running at the same height throughout the full length of the structure.
Special Features
Heavy gage aluminum or steel frame
No centre poles
May be weighted or staked down
Sizes
Frame tents are available at 10′ wide, 15′, 20′, 30′, 40′, 50′ and the length can be 10′, 15′, 20′ increasing by 10′ increments to 300′.
Colours & Construction
White tops and walls are most common (striped, coloured or clear vinyl to a lesser extent)
Premium blackout vinyl - cooler and more comfortable (some manufactures offer lighter semitransparent vinyl)
Wall Height is 8′ – 10′
Peak Height is 10′ – 20′ depending upon the width of the structure.
Anchoring Methods
There is added versatility with a frame tent as you have an option of staking or weighting the tent. This feature allows frame tents to be used on rooftops and in situations where surface and underground obstructions prevent staking.
Pole Tents
40' x 150' Pole Tent
40' x 150' Pole Tent
Majestic and regal, pole tents add real luxury to the look of your event with dramatic peaks and valleys as the vinyl is stretched tightly over towering tent poles creating impressive rooflines. The main characteristic defining a pole tent is that there is a centre pole or poles.
Special Features
Higher more dramatic rooflines
Lofty interiors
Ideal for any scale event
Particularly good in high winds
Pole tents rentals not as common
Steep tops reduces snow buildup making them a better choice as winter tents (up to 40′ wide)
Sizes
Available in – 30′, 40′, 60′, 80′, 100′ wide and the length can be 30′, 40′, 60′, increasing by 10′ increments up to 300′.
Colours & Construction
Pole Tent Interior
They’re found most often with white tops and walls however some manufacturers produce striped, coloured or clear tops.
Premium blackout vinyl - cooler and more comfortable (some manufactures offer lighter semitransparent vinyl)
Wall Height is 8′ – 9′
Peak Height is 12′ – 29′ depending upon the width of the structure
Anchoring Methods
Pole tents are tension structures a require staking at all times. 30″ or 36″ stakes are used and can be driven into grass, gravel, sand and asphalt surfaces. It should be noted that underground utilities and obstructions may prevent the safe installation of these tents
Tensile Tents
20' x 20' Tensile Tent
20' x 20' Tensile Tent
This is a hybrid tent combining the best of both a frame and pole tents into one creating an elegant high peaked roof with a structure that can be weighted or staked and has no obstructing centre poles. The centre pole is suspended by cross cables overhead.
Special Features
Heavy gage aluminum frame
Centre pole(s) are suspended overhead
May be weighted or staked down
Sizes
Available in – 10′x10′, 10′x15′, 10′x20′, 15′x20′, 20′x20′, 20′x30′,
Triangular and hexagonal tents are also available in limited sizes.
Absolute carries 20′x20′ Triangular and 34′x40′ Hexagonal Tents.
Colours & Construction
Tensile Tent Interior
White tops and walls are most common (striped, coloured or clear vinyl to a lesser extent)
Premium blackout vinyl - cooler and more comfortable (some manufactures offer lighter semitransparent vinyl)
Wall Height is 8′ – 10′
Peak Height is 10′ – 20′ depending upon the width of the structure.
Anchoring Methods
The same anchoring can be used as a on a frame tent with the option of staking or weighting the tent. This feature allows tensile tents to be used on rooftops and in situations where surface and underground obstructions prevent staking.
Clear Span Tents
Clear Span Tent
Clear Span Tent
These structures are next best thing to a building with heavy duty aluminum or steel beam perimeter frames. These heavy beam frames support sturdy ceiling structure that spans the width creating a clear open area, hence their name “clear span” For large scale special events and particularly upscale corporate events, the Clear Span tent is the best temporary structure available.
Special Features
Ideal for any scale event
Particularly good in high winds
Inspiring ceiling heights
Clean rooflines
Unobstructed interior sightlines
Requires no tent straps creating a clean looking exterior
Sizes
Available in – 20′ wide, 30′, 40′, 50′, 66′, 132′, & 164′ and are available in 15′ lengths and is unlimited.
Colours & Construction
Clear Span Tent Interior
White tops and walls are most common (striped, coloured or clear vinyl to a lesser extent)
Premium blackout vinyl in white or black tops
Clear tops are also available
Other options include – Glass doors, Clear Walls
Wall height is 10′ – 20′
Peak height is 12′ – 56′ depending upon the width of the structure
Anchoring Methods
Clear Span tents may be staked or weighted, however a substantial amount of weight is necessary requiring concrete as opposed to water barrels used on frame and tensile tents.
Pop Up Tents
Pop Up Tent
Pop Ups are the only tents that a tent company will offer you without professional installation. These tents take only a few minutes for first time users and as the name infers they simply pop up and into use. The frame comes fully assembled and only needs to be spread out, install a top and you are in business. They are a very popular choice for festivals and exhibitions and can be fastened together creating long lines.
Special Features
Frame comes fully assembled
No centre poles
Sizes
Pop ups are generally available in 5′x5′ (change tents), 10′x10′ and 10′x20′
Colours & Construction
Popups come in many colours however white is the most common choice as it is cooler, clean and more comfortable. Lighter nylon is used most often for top and walls. Walls are installed separately with the option of using any number necessary.
Anchoring Methods
These tents may be weighted or staked into the ground.
Tent Accessories (All Tents)
Power, lighting, climate control options
Centre & perimeter pole drapery, ceiling liners and custom drapery
Flooring Systems
Event Deck - Modular floors
Custom wood sub-floor
Variable height flooring system
Isle walkway
Carpet & vinyl floor coverings
Side Walls (Frame and Pole Tents)
White Walls
Clear Walls
Mesh Walls
French window Walls
Side Walls (Clear Span Tents)
White Walls
Clear Walls
French window Walls
Glass Wall Panels
Additional Options:
Entrance Marquees
Covered Walkways
Isle Walkway
Performance Stages
Elevated Tents
Double Decker
Platform Tents
Sky Boxes
Covered Grandstands
Glass Railings
Rain Gutters
Our Tent Rental Professionals can assist you with and questions or to place an order. There are so many options for party tents or wedding tents, you are limited only by your imagination.
Stay Tuned For (Segment 2) – Tent Installation Rules and Regulations
Please be sure to check back with us regularly for our Party and Tent Rental Information series.
Also, you won’t want to miss some of our own events being profiled here in our Special Events Inspiration series.
Depending on the season we could have trucks lining up at the back door all day for months on end! Spring and summer are our busiest seasons, especially when it comes to special events and tenting. Some days I get so swamped that by the time I look at the clock it’s almost time to go home. I swear, for the first six months of working here the beeping sound of a truck backing up would haunt me. I heard that sound EVERYWHERE, even when I was at home half asleep on the couch. However, like with anything, you get used to it. I’ve gotten used to my nails looking nasty, wearing steel toed shoes, popping up a 10×10 pop up tent in under a minute and a half and singeing my hair (just a little) when testing the 72” BBQ. All in all it’s a really great place to work. I’ve seen what’s really involved in making TV commercials, heard all kinds of crazy stories from movie sets, and seen some of the most beautiful weddings.
