Why You Should Camp and Not Glamp
The rise of Tentrr and other glamping options is a great entry point to the outdoors. But they miss some critical benefits of roughing it.
Hipcamp, Tentrr, and Dyrt all pitch themselves as some version of private, comfortable, and stylish camping. Think: AirBNB of outdoor spaces. Sites range from a bare spot on someone’s parcel of land to full-on glamping, with large canvas tents pitched over hardwood floors and including queen-size beds with fresh linens, solar showers, ample drinking water, wood stoves, and an eco-friendly camp toilet. Glamping has boomed in popularity and is projected to grow about 15 percent every year; it makes up about 90 percent of Tentrr’s bookings, according to the Washington Post.
And while glamping seems an ideal way to experience the outdoors with all of the conveniences of a Marriott, it misses the rewards of roughing it.
I recently spent more than a month in the Arctic backcountry, carrying everything I needed on my back to survive. The land was uncomfortable and unforgiving and presented me with way too many challenges. But by truly roughing it, I learned something about myself, came back healthier than I’ve ever been, and had a changed perspective on life.
