Introduction
Quick Navigation
Some love camping but prefer not to rough it completely. That means those people enjoy taking time away from civilization and hiking and mountain biking, but at the same time, do not want to sleep in a tent. They want something that is more home-like than that. There are options for those who feel that way which is why many campers prefer to sleep in yurt tents instead of traditional ones. Therefore, they can enjoy all of the perks that come with camping, along with the adventures that it provides them, without having to rough it completely. Let’s now talk about yurt tents, what they are, and if they are worth it!
What Is A Yurt Tent?
Those who don’t like to entirely rough it through camping, such as having to pitch a tent that can collapse from rain and heavy winds, can escape the wilderness instead by staying in a cabin or can go in their RV. However, yurt tents have become quite popular, and the best way to describe this tent is that it fits somewhere between a traditional tent and a resort type of cabin. Therefore, a yurt is a mobile home, and ancient nomadic tribes used them to get around. These tents are circular and contain one room that fits several people.
The interior has lattice walls consisting of wood in a criss-cross pattern. Poles are attached to a center ring, known as the crown that holds the roof. You will see in a yurt tent that there is a living space, beds, as well as a wood or coal-burning stove for cooking or heating. As you can see, yurt tents offer more comfort and modern living than traditional tents, which is why many people prefer these tents. Therefore, you can stay in a yurt tent in the wilderness as you enjoy your mountain biking and hiking trip without having to worry about the tent collapsing on you. Now, let’s go a little further in explaining how a yurt is different from a traditional tent and how it is different from home.
How Does A Yurt Tent Differ From A Traditional Tent?
Like a traditional tent, you can put up and take down a yurt within several hours as they consist of easy materials to transport. You can easily collapse their frames which consist of light wood, felt, hides, waterproof canvas, or metals. Therefore, when transporting the yurt, they are not any different from transporting a tent. However, the main difference between a yurt and a traditional tent is that yurts are more structurally stable than tents. The lattice walls feature rafters strengthened by the compression ring in the middle of the roof. A traditional tent has stakes and poles supporting it.
However, strong winds and heavy rains can still ruin a traditional tent, whereas a yurt can withstand harsh weather. The other significant difference between conventional tents and yurts is that tents do not have genuine windows or doors, just flaps that you zip open or closed. On the other hand, yurts have doorframes and windows, like what you would have in an actual home. Therefore, as you can see, yurts are more like modern tents, providing more comfort and stability than a traditional tent or even a cabin.
Yurts used to be more similar to traditional tents as they were once homes for Mongolian nomadic tribes. However, like anything else, the evolution of yurts made them a lot like modern homes and less like traditional tents. Yet, they are different from houses. So, let’s talk more about that now.
How Is A Yurt Different From A House?
The main difference between a yurt and a house is that houses usually have several rooms and several floors, whereas yurts have only one circular-shaped room, and that is it. In addition, homes come with facilities such as bathrooms and laundry rooms. You can always add bathrooms to a yurt, and you can always put a washer and dryer in a yurt too. People who enjoy minimalist living can even live year-round in yurts, whether they often go on mountain biking trips around the area. Another advantage of yurts is that they can be more environmentally friendly than RVs or campers. Now, let’s talk about whether or not yurts are worth it.
Are Yurts Worth It?
Whether or not yurts are worth it is up to you and your preferences. For example, suppose you enjoy camping and mountain biking without having to worry about dealing with potential hypothermia from your tent’s lack of proper insulation, or it collapses in bad weather. In that case, the yurt is worth it. On the other hand, if you do not like the idea of having to go out in the woods at night to go to the bathroom or accumulating dirty clothing, then the yurt is for you too. The yurt provides much better insulation and comfort and is more stable. Additionally, you can put a washer and dryer for laundry and attach a bathroom to it. Therefore, you do not have to rough it with a yurt.
However, at the same time, yurts are a lot more costly than traditional tents. That is not a surprise considering you will get so much more from your yurt than a tent. Even the least expensive yurt costs more than an upgraded tent. Therefore, you have to weigh the pros and cons of the cost of your yurt. If you dislike the idea of roughing it, then spending the extra money on a yurt may be worth it to you. But, again, it all boils down to personal preferences and what you want to get out of your camping experiences.
Conclusion
If you want to go on a mountain biking‘ or hiking trip, but don’t like the idea of having to entirely rough it in a tent, then you can always camp in a yurt. Yurts are modernized tents consisting of one circular room with proper insulation, lattice walls, and structural supports to keep it stable and warm (or cool) regardless of the weather outside. Some would say that camping in a yurt, as opposed to a tent, is known as glamping which is glamourous camping. However, whether or not a yurt is worth it to you is based on personal preference. If you like roughing it and don’t have the budget for a yurt, then to you, it will not be.
