There are really many different types of tents geared for different purposes. There are some questions you need to ask before purchasing a tent. Will the tent be used overnight in warmer climates or week long trips in the mountain country? What’s the transportation situation to the places you will be traveling to? Do you need a tent that’s water resistant? How difficult is a tent to set up or take down. Is the tent resistant to flames?
There are plenty of tent styles that will free stand while other tents will need to be attached to the ground by pegs and help by guy ropes. Poles that hold the tent up can be rigid, semi-rigid or even made of inflatable material. Free standing tends don’t use any poles or guy ropes. The real question is what sort of tent is best for you?
In general, camping tents will range from small tents designed to hold a single person to large tends that will hold 10 or more. There are some tends that are designed to be carried long distances, a sort of ultralight “backpack” tent. Tents are typically classified by the capacity of the people who can fit inside. Remember that the classifications don’t take any other items you may put inside like your backpacks, food supplies, etc. It’s a good rule of thumb to allow for another person or two of capacity when making your decision.
As originally stated – a tent that’s well suited to an overnight trip in a warm or mild climate won’t do well for a long stay in a cold, mountainous area. Manufactures label their tends in terms of seasons. A one-season tent can be used during the summer and can withstand a very light ran. A three-season tend is for hardier uses and must be capable of withstanding heavy rain or a light snowfall. A four-season tent is capable of withstanding the most extreme weather conditions. An expedition tent is for mountain conditions and can be used for heavy snow, strong winds, and heavy rainfall.
So always take where you go and what climate conditions you are likely to face when you buy a tent. Most tents these days are made from flame-retardant material so as so survive exposure to the campfire, but you will still need to be careful.