Car camping glossary
- R-value
- A sleeping pad's resistance to heat flow. Higher is warmer. Since 2020 most brands test to ASTM F3340, so values compare across brands. See the R-value chart.
- Rainfly
- The waterproof outer layer that goes over a tent's mesh body.
- Footprint
- A ground sheet cut slightly smaller than the tent floor to protect it from abrasion and moisture.
- Vestibule
- Covered floor outside the tent door under the rainfly, for boots and gear.
- Peak height
- The tallest point inside a tent. About 6 ft 4 in lets most adults stand.
- Person rating
- The number of standard sleeping pads a tent floor fits edge to edge, roughly 16 sq ft each. See tent capacity ratings explained.
- Instant tent
- A tent with poles pre-attached to the body, so it unfolds and locks up in a minute or two.
- Rotomolded cooler
- A cooler molded in one seamless piece with thick insulated walls, such as YETI, RTIC and similar brands. Holds ice far longer than basic coolers.
- Ice ratio
- Ice to contents by volume. About 2:1 for trips of four days or more.
- BTU
- British thermal unit, the energy measure for stoves. A 1 lb propane cylinder holds about 21,600 BTU.
- Duty cycle
- The share of time a compressor fridge actually runs. Rises with outside heat.
- Thermoelectric cooler
- A plug-in cooler that runs continuously and only cools about 35 to 40F below the outside air.
- SUV tent
- A tent with a sleeve that wraps around an open SUV or hatchback tailgate, joining the car to the tent.
- Cargo volume
- A vehicle's rated cargo space in cubic feet. Real camping loads use about 75 percent of it.
Researched guidance, not professional advice. Figures are published specifications or clearly labelled conventions; check your own gear's manual and your campground's rules.