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Camping
Tips:
Backpack
Tent Tips - Pitching and Caring For Your Tent
Your tent is one of the main
parts of your hiking or camping trip. Without a tent, you leave
yourself exposed to the elements at night. Yet, it is not always
easy to set up the tent correctly the first time you head out.
In fact, it’s wise to do a test run at home, before you
leave for your trip to insure that you know how to do it. If not,
how do you think you will do after you have hiked for six to eight
hours?
Therefore, there are a few
points that you should know about tents to insure that you buy
the right one, in the right manner and then set them up correctly
to insure you get the most out of them.
What To Buy
The positive side about tents
today is you can buy a high quality tent without having to mortgage
your home. Yet, that doesn’t mean making the right choice
is easy.
Without telling you that one
brand is better than another, go out and take a look at your options.
There are many different types of tents, but it’s helpful
to choose one that is lightweight, durable and water proof. Nylon
is probably the best material for tents, as it has all these qualities
in addition drying quickly.
Getting the right size is essential
too. A tent that is too big is a waste of backpack space (and
backpack weight!). One that is too small won’t give the
right amount of protection nor keep you comfortable for sleeping.
Instead of looking at brand names, buy quality instead.
Prep Your Campsite
One of the largest mistakes
that people make is setting up their tent. Sure, after hiking
there you’re tired and probably just want to lie down and
sleep. Yet, this is a big mistake.
The good news is that you just
need to remember a few important points to pitching your tent.
Before you know, you’re on your way to a comfortable nights
sleep without worry.
The first thing for you to
consider is your tent’s set up location.
-
When you look for the
right place to put up your tent, look for high ground. Don’t
pitch your tent in a valley or near a ravine. Higher ground
gives you a drier ground.
-
Make sure that your
tent is at least 100 feet from the trail. This keeps you out
of the way of hikers. You’ll have more privacy, and you’ll
avoid widening the trail and disrupting the natural setting.
-
Look for designated
areas to pitch your tent. Most hiking trails and parks will
have these posted for you. These areas provide the most security.
Some even have other amenities. Instead of disturbing the wilderness,
plan your hike to these designated areas.
-
Make sure when you
set up your tent, you set it up in the right spot on your campsite.
It should be at least 100 feet from your campfire for your protection.
In addition, you should keep it at least 100 feet away from
your food. If animals come to your camp at night, they will
be drawn to the food - not you. This gives you added protection
from wild animals.
-
Look for a sunny area
that has firm and dry (if possible) soil. You must look for
ground that you drive and keep your tent stake in. Sand doesn’t
provide enough stability. Plus never pitch a tent beneath a
tree with dead limbs. These limbs could fall and cause injury.
-
Finally, make sure
you put your tent up only after you’ve cleared the ground
under it. Be sure you remove stones or other debris. Clean up
the ground for your comfort.
Pitch Your Tent
Now that your campsite is ready,
it’s time to pitch your tent. It’s essential that
you’ve practiced this beforehand. Follow the directions
give by the tent maker.
There are a few things that
you do want to keep in mind when pitching your tent though. For
example, you want to have your tent facing the east (with the
door facing east). Storms rarely come in from the east, and that
helps to keep the wind from blowing down your tent. This will
help keep your tent stable from both wind and the rain. Firmly
drive your tent stake into solid ground. Push down on the stakes
all of the way in.
When putting your tent up,
make sure that you securely tie the tent down tight without taking
shortcuts.
This will make the difference
in the quality of your night’s sleep.
Also, take a ground cloth and
lay this down outside the tent between the tent floor and ground.
It will help to protect the tent bottom from minor protrusions
and punctures.
Don’t Make These Mistakes
When you pitch your tent, you
can still make mistakes that could wreck your evening. Here are
some pitfalls to avoid.
-
Remember to keep your
tent closed. If your tent has a bug screen, keep that sealed
tight too.
-
Don’t crowd your
tent with people. This is not only uncomfortable, it’s
unsafe too. Follow the manufacturer’s directions.
-
Never put food into
your tent. Food attracts wild animals. You won’t want
to wake up in the middle of the night with a wild animal tearing
at your tent to get at the food next to you.
-
Don’t sleep up
against the side of the tent. This allows moisture to accumulate
in the tent, making it uncomfortable and cold for you.
-
Allow the tent to dry
before rolling and packing it away. Moisture leads to potentially
unhealthy mildew inside your tent. Lay the tent flat in the
sun to allow it to fully dry in the morning.
-
When cleaning your
tent, use only a mild soap. Harsh detergents might ruin the
waterproofing. Follow any manufacturer’s directions in
regards to cleaning your tent properly.
-
Periodically take your
tent out of the bag and let it breathe so it does not get dry
rot, always check your tent for holes before use, and make sure
no critters have made a home inside.
-
Insure that nothing
sharp is positioned in your pack to puncture your tent. Keep
it rolled up tight to ensure it’s protected. Consider
it a long term investment worth caring for.
Pitching your tent isn’t
rocket science; however, it takes times to care for it properly.
If you want to ensure well being and comfort on your trip - especially
at night - get to know these tips.
Contributed
By Sandy
Baker
To find out how to be better prepared for your camping trip from
start to finish, get your expert camping tips from "The
Complete Beginner's
Guide To Getting Started With Comfortable Tent Camping In 12 Easy
Steps"
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