Camping 101: choosing a tent

Website design By BotEap.comFamily tents come in many shapes and sizes. The one that suits your needs may not be the right one for someone else. That is why such a large variety is produced for the outdoor enthusiast market.

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    Shape your store options
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Website design By BotEap.comTents come in four basic shapes: A-frame, umbrella, geodesic or “dome,” and wall. The A-frame is in the traditional old-style “puppy” tent shape, but can also be quite large. The umbrella is a commonly used family tent, with plenty of standing room, including large windows and a rain cover. The geodesic dome has many variations, with various combinations of connected triangles. The wall tent is like an A-frame tent, but is usually much larger and has vertical side walls, and is most commonly used in military applications and Scout camping (they are usually set up on permanent covers).

Website design By BotEap.comSquare floor shaped tents are more efficient in arranging sleeping quarters and equipment. If you decide to purchase a round or oval floor tent, you should plan for additional floor space to compensate for the less efficient design.

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    Size does matter
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Website design By BotEap.comThe tents are marketed for two people, four people, six people, etc. At best, this describes most people you can fit into the tent to sleep, with no storage for any of your personal items. This sizing is fine for light-packing backpackers, but it doesn’t make sense for the average camper.

Website design By BotEap.comWhy be horned shoes in your store? Figure on using the tent at half its rated capacity and you should have enough room for two adults and most of your gear. Each person must have a minimum of 24 square feet of floor space; enough space for your mat, sleeping bag and gear. If you’re packing for a long trip, you may want to increase the square footage based on how much gear you’ll be bringing.

Don’t forget to buy a tent that is wide/long enough for you to stretch out when you sleep…a ​​6′ tall bed will be too narrow in a 6′ wide tent; leave yourself at least 1 foot of space for your feet. You will need a minimum of 30″ of space in the tent for each sleeping bag for sleeping only.

Website design By BotEap.comAdding ‘dry’ storage for your gear and enough room to get out of your tent without stepping on your tent mate will result in a more enjoyable outdoor experience. With this in mind, an 8′ x 8′ tent would work well as a 2-person family tent. This gives each camper 32 square feet to spread out their gear and sleeping area. BUT, a 10′ x 10′ tent is much more suitable for two adults (seems like overkill, huh?). This size of tent will have enough room for air mattresses, cots or cushions AND you will still have enough room to stand up when changing clothes.

Website design By BotEap.comBe careful when buying a tent larger than 10′ x 10′. First, finding a suitable place to launch such a large item will be a challenge. You need as level a place as possible. Second, big tents are extremely heavy and bulky to transport. Finally, it might be better to have several smaller tents so that everyone doesn’t share the same area to sleep, change, and lounge.

Website design By BotEap.comThe maximum height is very important for your comfort. For most trips, try to have a tent that is tall enough to stand up in. Plan for the tallest people in your group. A maximum height of six or seven feet is needed for adults, and a maximum height of four feet is adequate for children. Remember, the tent slopes down at a sharp angle, so the actual place you can stand will be small. Larger spaces will be provided in tents with higher peaks.

Website design By BotEap.comChildren can comfortably fit in smaller tents. Once they’re old enough, around seven or eight years old, they’ll probably want to sleep in a separate tent anyway. Parents will appreciate the privacy provided by this arrangement as well. A five-by-seven-foot tent is suitable for youngsters. Teenagers should be considered adults when pitching a tent.

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    Support your local store – Poles
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Website design By BotEap.comThe poles included with most tents available today are made from aluminum or fiberglass. The best quality tents often come with specially made aluminum poles, with a high degree of flexibility. Fiberglass poles are included in most tents for everyday camping. The posts are usually attached to each other with an elastic cord. This speeds up the setup process (important when doing it in the rain!). Poles, when mishandled, can bend or break, which is why many tent manufacturers provide repair kits for you to take on the trip.

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    Seams for me is important
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Website design By BotEap.comSeams should be reinforced with nylon tape and double stitched. Tape is sewn into each seam, reinforcing the seam and adding to the waterproofing. All waterproof seams on the fly and the floor (or tub) are usually waterproofed at the factory with a seam sealant. Please set up the tent in your yard before the first use of the tent to test the erection process. You can also take this opportunity to go to your local sporting goods store to purchase seam sealant and waterproofing spray. It’s always a good idea to do this to ensure a dry ride. Be sure to let the tent dry before repacking it.

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    Cloth
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Website design By BotEap.comAlmost all modern tents are now made of nylon. Coated nylon is used for waterproofing. Nylon mesh is used for the interior walls and equipment pockets. Invisible mesh is used for window screens. The best tents use thicker fabrics and ripstop fabrics.

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    Hears!!! close it!!
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Website design By BotEap.comMake sure when you go out to buy your tent… try the zippers. They should open and close easily and should not catch on the fabric of the tent. Zippers must be rust resistant.

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    Hot flashes and colds and “Why is my tent shaking?”
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Website design By BotEap.comWeather variations will place many demands on your store.

Website design By BotEap.comWindy conditions will require strong posts, stakes and anchor ropes. Dome tents work extremely in windy conditions. Their rounded design reduces the effect of the wind, and their arrangement of poles provides them with great resistance.

Website design By BotEap.comRain causes two problems to arise. Keeping you and your gear dry comes first and foremost. Second, you need enough space for everyone in the tent to be comfortable if you need to ‘weather the storm’.

Website design By BotEap.comThe floor should be constructed of waterproof coated nylon that covers the floor and raises the sides approximately six inches, creating the tub. There should be a minimal amount of seam (the more you have, the more chance of leaks). It will keep out any water that runs down and under the tent.

Website design By BotEap.comMake sure your tent has a waterproof rain tarp made of coated nylon. The fly should wrap around the tent and reach the sides, leaving only a few inches of space between itself and the ground. This should block rain, even in windy conditions. The fly should extend far enough over the door, so that the rain doesn’t get in when you open the door to go in or out. Some stores even come with a lobby that allows for this.

Website design By BotEap.comSunlight and its accompanying heat create a great need for shade and airflow. The rain fly will provide shade. Screened windows on opposite sides of the tent, or a screened window opposite a screened door, will allow air to flow through the tent.

Website design By BotEap.comLong excursions in cold weather require a special heavy-duty 4-season tent. Unless you plan to do winter camping, you can use a “three season” tent that has the features listed above. The biggest features will be a rainfly that fully covers the top and sides to keep snow and other precipitation at bay, and an inner layer made from an open mesh fabric to allow water vapor to breathe out of the jacket. store. In colder climates, water vapor inside the tent from humid outside air and the exhaled breath of the occupants will condense on the inside surface of the tent. This can be avoided by allowing air to flow through the tent or by passing through the mesh fabric.

Website design By BotEap.comThe size of the tent is also a consideration for cool weather camping. A smaller tent will stay much warmer than a larger tent with your body heat.

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    you get what you pay for
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Website design By BotEap.comTypically, more expensive tents are made with stronger fabrics, poles, and stitching. They are built to withstand stronger winds and more violent rain. A good store, well cared for, can last for many years.

Website design By BotEap.comRemember that not everyone will need this amount of durability. The milder the climate you camp in and the closer you camp to home, the best solution will probably be a less expensive tent.

Website design By BotEap.comIf you’re just starting your camping trip and don’t know if you’ll enjoy it, you may want to start with a less expensive setup. Your first trips will probably be when the weather is warmer, and you probably won’t venture out into the wild until you gain some experience and decide if you like camping or not. Remember, you can always upgrade your equipment later.

Website design By BotEap.comFor more information, you can visit us at Birdseye Outdoor Supply where you can get more tips to help you with your camping needs.

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