Camping Tents
The key to having a safe and happy camping adventure is to make sure you are well prepared by having the correct equipment. Whilst on a camping holiday in France or a camping adventure on a mountain you need to be prepared for rapidly changing climates and weather conditions. Your camping kit must be up to the job of coping with the conditions to ensure a smooth relaxing trip. On this page we offer some very sound advise on selecting one of the most important parts of your camping equipment – the camping tent.
Camping tents are for sale in all different shapes, sizes, and styles ranging from single person camping tents designed to be lightweight and easy to fit in a backpackers rucksack, to massive family sized camping tents for Holidays in France. Every camping tent has its own advantages and disadvantages and it is up to you to choose the correct tent for your requirements. Please read on to view our advise on selecting a camping tent.
The Different Styles of Tents Available Today
There are many different kinds of camping tents and other tents available today. This article will help you understand what the different camping tents are and also give you an idea what other types of tents are available from beach tents to festival tents. Tons of different tents. Lets define what each really are.
The dictionary defines a tent as a portable shelter usually of canvas or other cloth stretched over poles or supports and fastened to the ground with pegs and ropes. That definition covers a wide variety of structures in many sizes, shapes and styles. Whether youre looking for family shelter on a camping trip, a pavilion for a wedding or a beach canopy, theres a tent to suit your needs.
When choosing a tent for camping, youll need to consider how it will be used, how it will be carried, how many people will be sleeping in it, and how easy it will be to set up. The following descriptions of broad styles of tents should help you decide what kind of tent is best for your camping trip.
FRAME TENTS – Frame tents are generally regarded as an older style of tent. They use aluminum or steel poles to form a frame over which the tent cloth, usually canvas, is draped. The newer styles are often made of cotton or a synthetic fabric with fiberglass frames. Frame tents can be elaborately designed and offer a great deal of room and structure inside. The biggest disadvantage is that they are often difficult to erect.
Camping Frame Tent
DOME TENTS – Dome tents are among the most popular styles. Dome construction is used in tents as simple as childrens bed tents. They generally consist of a fabric tent and flexible fiberglass or plastic tent poles that slip through sleeves in the fabric. The poles are shaped by the fabric and give the tent its rigidity. Theyre easy to set up and collapse, lightweight, and often offer a great deal of head room and comfort. Their major disadvantage is that they may be unstable in high winds.
Camping Dome Tent
GEODESIC TENTS – Geodesic tents are a variation of dome tents, modified for improved stability. They are framed and set up the same way, but the framing poles cross and interconnect at various points for strength and stability. The advantages are the same as those offered by dome tents, though they may be a bit more difficult to set up.
Camping Geodesic Tent
EXPEDITION TENTS – Also known as touring tents, these tents generally combine a ridge and dome tent into one. They are ideal settling in tents, and often include a large porch area for shade and shelter. They will often have windows as well. Expedition tents are roomy and comfortable, and designed to allow easy standing inside.
Camping Expedition Tents
FAMILY TENTS – family tents are composite tents that usually include sleeping compartments on either side of a central living area. The main tent area may be either ridge construction or dome construction. The side areas allow privacy for sleeping.
Camping Family Tent
FESTIVAL TENTS – For special occasions like a wedding or large party, festival tents can provide shelter from the weather for guests. Generally, they are rented by the day for the event, and are often assembled by the rental company. Theyre available in a wide variety of colors and styles to fit any event and most budgets.
Camping Festival Tent
BEACH TENTS – Beach tents come in almost as many varieties as tents themselves. Most are lightweight, of ripstop nylon and fiberglass pole construction. The newest are pop-up tents that store flat and open out in seconds to a full size shelter from the sun and weather.
Camping Beach Tents
TOURING TENTS
There are many tents that come under this category – chalet, extended/high ridge, extended dome, to name a few of the most popular, which are usually made from nylon or polyester with steel, alloy or glass reinforced plastic poles. Some extended/high ridge tents or dome tents have large porches, which are handy for shelter or cooking in, they may also have windows. These are popular tents for weekend breaks, family holidays etc.
Camping Touring Tent
RIDGE TENTS
Ridge Tents are triangular in shape, they have a horizontal pole running along the top of the tent, supported by two vertical or A shaped poles at each end. They are usually made from canvas and have wooden poles. They are sturdy tents with plenty of headroom that should be pitched end onto the wind.
Camping Ridge Tents
MODIFIED DOME TENTS
Same as the dome tent with a few variations: addition of more poles plus cross-section rods, as well as tapered ends. Advantages: better able to withstand harsh weather and mounting wind levels.
Camping Dome Tent
PYRAMID TENT
In essence this is little more than a waterproof tarp staked to the ground and draped over a central pole. Advantages: easy to set up. Disadvantages: its sheer simplicity does not accomadate for the presence of bugs and other crawlies.
Camping Pyramid Tent
TUNNEL TENT
As the name suggests this type of tent is designed in the shape of a tunnel. Usually the front has the most ceiling height (just enough to sit up) and tapers towards the rear. This tent type incorporates a single or dual pole design with the longer pole upfront. Advantages: Very lightweight. Disadvantages: Design type tends towards being cramped
Camping Tunnel Tent
HOW TO PUT UP A CAMPING TENT
How to put up a camping tent is always a question that ends up being asked at the worst time. Sure today’s camping tents are generally very easy to set up. With most people buying lightweight and efficient dome tents the agravation for setting up a tent is virtually eliminated.
Cabin tents are still a bit challenging to set up but for the most part camping tents have gotten much easier to set up than in years past. This guide will help you answer how to put up a camping tent.
I can’t possibly know exactly how to set up a camping tent for every model out there. But what I do know is that all camping tent come with instructions. Most have them sewn in to the fabric. The best advice is to simply read the instructions. Many people mistakenly believe they can get to the campsite and just throw the tent up. But what happens if traffic makes you late and you end up setting up the tent in the dark? if you are not familiar with the pieces it can be a little more challenging.
What I always do and tell people when a new tent is purchased, is to simply set it up at home. Lay it out in your backyard and put the tent together. Familiarize yourself with all the pieces. Install the rainfly. Check out the inside and make sure you understand about the storage.
The biggest problem most people have is forcing the poles into sleeves. This can cause rips in the fabric if you are not careful. Additionally if the instructions say to slighly bend the poles, well, bend them slightly. The poles are very flexible but you don’t want snap the tips or something because you’ve put too much torque into jamming them into the guides.
Then take the camping tent down. Make sure you can break the tent down without ripping the fabric. The camping tent is very tight when set up. As you are breaking it down you’ll note that it takes a bit of muscle to remove the poles from the corner guides. Carefully slide the poles through the sleeves. Ensure you know how to properly fold and store it.
Setting up a tent is not magic. Once you have practiced, you will know how to put up a camping tent.
CAMPING AND TENT TIPS
Nice camping tent check list of what to consider when you are pitching your tent, what to look for when purchasing a camping tent and how to properly care for your tent. These tips will help you when you consider using and buying your camping tent.
LOCATION
Avoid camping in low places–Air flow gets stagnant and typically moisture settles more. Also, if it rains whilst your tent is up, theres a greater chance of water collecting when youre camped in a low lying area. Lastly, position your tent so that your head is uphill wherever you camp (seeing as most locations are rarely ever flat).
Ventilation–Its better to face the tail of your tent into prevailing winds. This will maximize air flow. Scrutinize the area–Check the area for sharp objects that may damage your tent before setting up camp.
Set Up– Once your tent is set up, if you notice wrinkles running from one corner to the next (interior), this means that youve pulled the tent too tightly in that direction. Reposition the stakes until the floor evens out.
Looking Good–Last but certainly not least: If youve never set up your tent before, its best to practice at home until you can do it in your sleep (bit of an exaggeration…but you know what I mean). This will save you any embarrassment later on in the Real World.
TENT CARE
Keep it dry– Never store your tent when its wet or damp! Consequences of forgetting this cardinal rule is mildew damage and tent stink. So, dry it after use (but not in direct sunshine).
Reduce condensation build up–Sometimes condensation may become a real issue, especially in certain types of tents. One of the ways to combat this, is to spray the outside of your tent with a product like ReviveX which beads up water so it rolls off the tents surface (think of water rolling off a ducks back). Ground Cloth–Use one. It will protect your tent bottom from protruding objects.
Sweep out your tent–accumulated dirt between your sleeping bag and the floor will gradually erode the tent floor. Sunshine–Dont leave your tent in the sun for prolonged periods–ultra-violet rays damage the tent fabric and its waterproofing capabilities. If you can, set up in the shade.
Seams–Seal them all. In this particular case, water is not your friend. Keep it out!
Transporting your tent–Constantly folding your tent the same way will eventually cause creases that will compromise its weatherproofing and ultimately crack the fabric itself. Solution? Stuff it for transportation.
Packaging of your tent–The keyword here is “carefully” (assuming you have any concern about its lifespan). Poles dent, break, chip and cords stretch. Also bear in mind that poles and stakes can tear and poke holes in the tent fabric.
