What is a Yurt Tent?
Different types of tents each have their own features, advantages and disadvantages. Yurt tents are fairly under represented and have their own set of pros and cons.
Yurt tents are used primarily by nomadic groups, and are used as a temporary shelter. They have a robust exterior, often consisting of skins and felt, which allows them to withstand harsh weather for extended periods of time.
Structure of a Yurt Tent
The structure of a yurt tent differs from a conventional tent. As they’re built to provide prolonged shelter, a yurt tent needs to be built of durable materials and usually take an extended period of time to assemble due to the weight and complexity of the design.
Typically, a yurt tent will consist of a lattice wooden structure, made with either wood or bamboo, ceiling rafters for support, a wheel at the center of the ceiling used as a crown, and a door frame. Support beams may also be used for bigger yurts, but most yurts are self-supported.
Yurts are large, functional structures which often contain amenities such as beds, seating areas and a cooking area, often in the center of the structure beneath the wheel.
Yurts vs Tents
The largest difference between yurts and tents is the materials which are used to make them. Structurally, both yurts and tents are made up of a series of poles for support and shape, but the materials used differ greatly.
Tents are manufactured in mass and the materials often reflect that. Most tents are made using polyester, with plastic or aluminium poles. Tents also usually have guylines, which anchor the tent to the ground. Yurts, on the other hand, do away with guylines due to the integrity and weight of the structure.
Tents are also often significantly smaller than yurts, although some exceptions may apply, such as bell tents, which are most comparable to yurts in regards to structure and size.
Yurts are also designed to be lived in for much longer than tents, meaning they are often much more durable than them, larger and are built with enough space to house basic amenities.
Pros and Cons of Yurt Tents
Yurts are gaining in popularity as an alternative to traditional tents. Due to their setup, size and aesthetics, yurts are now more commonly being used on glamping holidays. There are lots of things to consider before deciding whether to invest in a yurt, however.
Pros of Yurt Tents
Durability
Yurt tents can last a lifetime if maintained correctly, as only the door frame and door need replacing to maintain its quality of life. As yurt tents are used as semi-permanent homes, they are made to last with high-quality materials that are unlikely to erode.
Yurt tents can handle harsh weather conditions due to their size and structure. Like other tents, yurts can also be insulated to protect the occupants from becoming too cold or too warm. Yurts are also substantially more waterproof than regular tents, even though there are multiple ways to waterproof a tent.
Size
Yurt tents are notably larger than some of the larger tents on the market. As a result, they’re great for glamping or living inside for long time periods. Yurts are often large enough to contain a full sized bed, seating area and also a cooking area. They can be kitted out with a collection of amenities to provide more comfort than a traditional tent can offer. The size of yurts also allows them to regulate their temperature more effectively, meaning that they are more suited for year-round stays than some tents are (even if your tent is a four season one).
Comfortable
Being as large as they are, yurts can sometimes even include plumbing, electricity and heating systems. This can make them a much more comfortable alternative to a tent and much easier to stay and sleep inside.
Cons of Yurt Tents
Weight
Due to the size and materials used to build yurt tents, their weight is palpable. As a result, these tents can’t be carried by a single person for very long, and would usually require a group of people to carry and assemble them. This makes the logistics of moving yurt tents very hard.
Set Up Time
Yurts aren’t like traditional tents and aren’t made to be assembled, disassembled and moved around in a matter of days. In fact, given the size and complexity of a yurt tent’s structure, it could take days (or even weeks) to assemble one.
Expenses
Given their long-lasting nature and materials, yurts can be particularly expensive to own and invest in. Yurts can cost on average of $5,000 to an eye-watering $45,000, depending on size, materials, integrity and location. That doesn’t take into account any planning permission or land that needs to be owned to be built on either! However, yurts are available to rent in plenty of glamping sites across the country.
