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You might be searching the internet looking for a shiny new camping tent. Maybe its for an upcoming trip you’ve planned. Just as you go to find out which tent is the best one, you stumble across a couple of different terms. Tent, camping tent, yurt, bell tent yurt, yurt bell tent and even more comparisons such as “Yurt vs Tent”.
There are just so many similar terms but what now? What do they all mean? What is a yurt tent? What on earth is the difference between a bell tent and a yurt!?
We get it.
The camping world can be a little TOO confusing… Let us help you by explaining some of the key differences between a bell tent and a yurt so that you can better plan your next camping trip.
Yurt vs Tent – The biggest difference between a yurt and a tent:
Whilst yurts and tents share similarities, such as their wooden frames, yurts are larger and more structurally sturdier than a regular tent due to their lattice wall and fortified compression ring, making them more durable in heavy winds. Tents, on the other hand, can be put up and packed down more quickly than yurts.
History of the Yurt vs Tent
What is a yurt tent?
A Yurt is a tent-like structure that comes from Central Asia, also known as a Ger tent or a Mongolian tent. It was used by travelling nomads and was often carried by animals to set up during the nights along their travels.
Yurts have been a very distinctive part of life in Central Asia in the past 3,000 years. The first original yurt-like tents can be traced back to around 600BC. They are an old structure of tents.
Where are yurts from?
Yurts originated from nomadic communities around central Asia, with a high concentration of users in Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan. Other notable countries include Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
What is a bell tent?
Bell tents on the other hand were used by European militaries and can be dated back until 800AD. They were also used in the Crimean War between the years 1853-1856 by the British Army. Bell tents are a relatively newer model of tents in comparison to Yurts.
A similar version of the Bell Tent was created by Henry Hopkins Sibley, who studied the Native American tipi and then later patented his own version in 1858.
Bell tents tend to be quite large in size with a cone shape and have a central pole holding them up. They are quite beautiful in their design and are durable enough to house a family comfortably. The perfect choice if you are planning a family glamping trip away:
These should not be confused with Teepee tents or Tipi tents, which also have a cone shaped design but are instead a little smaller and are more budget friendly. Perfect if you are looking for an alternative to the typical camping tent:
Get your cosy Teepee tent here!
what is a yurt made out of?
Yurts were typically created using wood or A traditional yurt is made of a circular wooden frame in a lattice pattern held together at the top by a wooden ring. The frame is covered by two to three layers of wool felt from sheep and an outer layer of a treated waterproof canvas.
Words can only partially describe the outside and inside of a yurt so here are some pictures to give you a better idea:
Yurt Roofs
There are different ways in which the roof of a Yurt can be constructed to create a pattern However, they all share some key similarities:
Traditional Yurt roof
Modern Yurt roof
The roofs are created using a number of support beams aligned in a straight pattern around a whole in the roof. The hole allows for air to flow in and out of the Yurt.
Yurt layout
The way a Yurt has been laid out and the construction of a yurt has changed over the years. Here is a side by side comparison of a traditional yurt layout and a modern yurt layout:
Traditional Yurt layout
Modern Yurt layout
As time has gone on, the inside of a yurt has become more sleek and spacious allowing for new ways of building. The traditional nomadic style of the Mongolians required less fixed pieces and needed to be light enough to carry. Floors were often covered with a patchwork of carpets. Modern Yurts tend to be fixed and therefore allows modern construction such as laminated floor and large heavy wooden doors.
Yurt Walls
Yurt walls were created in a manner that allowed them to endure the harsh weather without breaking or being damaged.
The lattice patterns structure allowed items to hang off to dry
The wooden beam were strong enough to support heavy loads without breaking
Bell tents have a structure that varies greatly from yurts. They utilise a single central metal pole to hold the tent up instead of many wooden poles for support. They are also reinforced using guy ropes connected around the tops of the walls.
Pegs are also attached to the ground keeping the tent stable. After being put up, it leaves a circular floor plan on the inside. From the outside, the shape of the tent resembles a bell, which is where the name comes from.
Size difference: Yurt vs Tent
Yurts are much larger than bell tents and house more people inside because they are built for large families. They have a capacity of between 2 and 12 people and start from 5 metres+ wide and up to 2 metres high.
If there aren’t many of you that decide to stay in the tent together, bell tents might be a better bet. They can start from a size of only 3 metres wide, which is just enough to fit a double-sized airbed. However, if you are a large group, it might be a good idea to choose amongst some of the best large camping tents on the market.
More about tents
Hopefully, you are much more clued up about the differences between a Yurt vs Tent. If you are looking for more information on the best type of tent for you, follow our blog for more information. Check out our Pinterest account for more cool pictures.
