Why should you try and choose the correct tent instead of just grabbing the cheapest? The wrong tent can make you miserable on your camping trip. There’s no reason to have your tent fail due to wind, rain, or snow. There is also no reason to have to suffer from the results. Picking the right tent will make your camping trip much more enjoyable and dry.
First of all, you need to consider what size tent you need. Larger tents have more room for you and your stuff but the larger the tent the heavier it will be and the more likely it will be to be blown down in the wind or get smashed by snow. You need to plan on about 2 people per 3-person tent. The tents never actually fit the amount of people that they say they do. It’s a ratio of about 1 ½ to 2 person tent. The tent should have a low profile as well as being fairly small. Tents that stick up into the air a lot will get hit by the wind a lot. I've seen many tents get flattened by the wind and have had poles snap under the strain. Any tent taller than about four feet will be very vulnerable in the wind. Vestibules will help give you more room inside the tent by letting you leave your backpacks and stuff outside yet still out of the weather. They do make it harder to get in and out of the tent though. One big bonus of a vestibule is that if the weather is bad you can set up your stove under the vestibule and cook out of the weather. Remember to never use your stove inside your tent, the confined space will soon fill with carbon dioxide and poison you. Only use stoves in good ventilation. A gear loft will also help give you more space inside the tent as well. Gear lofts are little mesh pieces that get hooked up at the top of the tent to hold small pieces of equipment. They aren’t very good for heavy things but are a great place to put glasses, cameras, and flashlights and stuff like that. Read Also: Backpacking for Beginners Shape is very important in choosing a tent as well. The common square-bottomed tent with a domed top is one of the worst tent shapes you can get. It is nice and easy to set-up since it usually only needs two poles, but this shape catches the wind horribly. There are a couple of good versions of this shape though. One version is that typical shape but a lot lower. This prevents a lot of the wind problems. Another version of the typical dome that’s okay is the low rectangle. This is the tent I prefer is this type. If angled so that the wind hits the narrow end this shape will hold up well to it. This also only uses a few poles so it’s easier to erect but is very stable. Round domes are very good in the wind and are really strong under snow loads and in big rain storms. They do have a lot of angles though and so won’t fit a lot of people for the amount of space. If you do have a lot of gear though, the extra corners can be handy to stash the stuff in. Really long, low tents are great if only one or sometimes two people are going to be sleeping inside. The wind hardly bothers them at all and they usually have very effective rain flies as well as being small enough to actually get warm from body heat, but they are tight on space and if you’re claustrophobic they aren’t for you. After deciding the size and shape of the tent it is time to decide what other features you should have. To keep, dry your tent should absolutely have a bathtub floor. This means the tent will have a thicker, waterproof layer on the floor and going up the side for a few inches. Since water may pool around the base of the tent and tent fabric isn’t really waterproof since it needs to breathe, water could normally get inside. The bathtub floor is a better barrier against the water leaking in. Another way to keep dry is to have a good rainfly. This is probably the most important part of the tent for your comfort. A small rainfly won’t keep much rain off. All that rain will wash down the side of your tent and anything you have pressed against the side of the tent will allow water to seep in. Unless you want to sleep bundled in a ball to prevent bumping into the walls and letting water seep in you should get the biggest rainfly you have available. A rainfly that reaches the ground is what you should look for to stay dry. The only reason you shouldn’t have a ground length fly is to lower the amount of weight you carry if you backpack or if you don’t mind getting wet. Since backpackers try to lower the amount of weight they carry frequently they get tents that don’t have many or any poles. These tents are called tie down tents and need to be pulled tight and tacked down so they stay upright. This can be hard to do when you’re camping on rock or something else difficult to pound a stake into. Regular freestanding tents are easier to deal with but are much heavier. Also Read: Cold Weather Camping Many camping trips are ruined because of rain. So, to prevent getting wet inside your tent you should have a good rainfly, but also a tent with a lot of mesh panels. Why would mesh panels keep you drier? Because a lot of the moisture that ends up inside the tent is actually condensation which then drips on your face in the middle of the night. Mesh panels across the ceiling and in some cases down the sides of the tent will allow the water vapor you breathe out to escape the tent and not build up on the ceiling. Plus on clear nights you can remove the rainfly and see the stars, which is part of the reason you’re camping, right? The final thing you need to check when choosing a tent is how the tent poles are attached. For ease of setup, clips holding the tent to the poles are the best, but sleeves prevent the tent from moving around as much. Since any poles you use for the tent will have to be fed through the sleeves and out the other side, sleeves are a huge hassle. Tents with a mix of clips and sleeves are the best choice for a combination of being easy to use and sturdy. If unable to find the tent you want with both clips and sleeves, look for a tent with just clips, it will be far simpler to set up and deal with. Tips & Warnings When buying your tent check to make sure there is a good rainfly included and not just offered at an extra price. Also, look into getting a footprint or ground cloth that matches your tent so when you set it up you stay drier. Here's a quick guide to the best way to waterproof a tent
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Backpacking is a popular pastime for avid nature lovers and adventurers. Wilderness terrain can serve as a proving ground for those seeking to challenge their bodies and minds. Although enthusiasm for backpacking is an important asset, being properly prepared is fundamental to backpacking success. Commit yourself to learning basic backpacking skills to ensure your safe ascension to more challenging adventures.
Assess your equipment prior to a backpacking trip. This is especially true if your equipment is new. Assess each piece of equipment for tears, rips, and worn areas. Try on each piece of clothing to ensure it can perform its intended function. For example, wet weather gear that’s full of holes won’t provide rain protection. Walk in your hiking boots to ensure proper fit and to check for pressure points. Get your body into backpacking shape. Plan an exercise routine that includes aerobic and weight-lifting exercise. This will help prepare you for the uneven terrain and adverse weather conditions associated with backpacking trips. Gradually increase the amount of weight in your backpack as you take a hike along practice trails. Avoid common injuries like rolled ankles and shin splints by taking the time to prepare for each backpacking trip. Train and adventure with experienced backpackers. Benefit from the experience of your peers as you prepare your body and mind for backpacking. Listen to stories about backpacking mishaps to learn from their mistakes. Work your way up to their level by paying attention to their routines. Join a backpacking club to stick to a regular training schedule. Read Also: How to Choose a Camping Tent How to Keep Food Frozen During Camping Develop your land navigation skills. Learn to use a map and compass effectively for extra backpacking security. This will help in case you become separated from your backpacking group. Practice reading different maps to get used to commonly used symbols. Complete real-world land navigation to solidify your experience. Learn proper first-aid techniques. Take CPR and first aid courses to ensure you’re prepared for emergencies. These classes are offered by organizations like the Red Cross. Discover the correct way to pack and store a first-aid kit. Read a variety of backpacking books to take advantage of the wealth of useful information. If you're looking for a sturdy waterproof backpack, here is the list of best waterproof backpacks Camping is not only for the warm weather. Cold weather camping is available in many state and federal parks. It is an entirely different experience. If you are considering cold weather camping, there is a lot of preparation that needs to be done and special equipment to be bought.
Types Many of the state and federal parks are open for cold weather camping and you can choose to camp in a tent or cabin, depending on what each park has available and allows. Some trailer parks may be open in the cold weather, but they will have rules about how your vehicle will need to be outfitted. Some of them do have cabins available. Also Read: How to Choose a Camping Tent Equipment For tent camping, you need to bring a knife and hatchet for cutting firewood. You can make a fire directly on snow that is not deep, but if it is, you need to bring a metal screen to make the fire on. Bring duct tape. Something is sure to break. Bring food that is light weight and high in energy. A wood burning camp stove and pots with lids are a must as are matches and a good first aid kit. Bring loose fitting clothing that can be worn in layers. It is just as dangerous to get hot and sweaty as it is to get too cold. If you choose to rent a cabin, you may need to bring linen and be able to gather your own firewood. Or bring it with you. You also need to have a tent that is made for winter. Features Choose a campground that is protected from high winds. Stay out of low lying areas because they are the coldest. Try to get one with a southern exposure to get the most sunshine and try to be near a source of water. The trails will be open for snowshoeing and snowmobiling as well a cross country skiing and there will be far fewer campers than in the summer. Considerations If you are not an experienced camper, or going to be with one, consider renting a cabin. They will be near the trails and you can will have more time to use them instead of spending time taking care of the campsite. Also, call the park about a week before you plan to go and check the conditions. If the weather is too severe, the park or some of the trails may be closed. Warnings Be sure to let someone know where your group will be and when you expect to come home. Make arrangements to contact them at that time. Cell phones will not work in many of the wilderness areas. If the person hears from you, they know all is well. If not, they should contact the park ranges and let them know. The chances of something serious happening is slim but it is always wise to take precautions anyway. Read Also: Backpacking for Beginners Camping is a chance to grow closer to nature while on a trip that the entire family can enjoy. Before rushing into the wild open wander however, you must fully prepare for the time you will be outdoors. This often times means bringing tents, jackets, some fire making material and keeping your frozen food cold during your time camping. Frozen food can present an obstacle for the inexperienced camper if preparation is not high on the list of priorities. Without proper preparation to keep frozen foods cold, quick spoiling, hunger, or even worse, food poisoning can be experienced during your camping trip.
Buy at least two coolers, one of which is the most effective for the money you can spend. Coolers are not all made equally and using a cooler with a thicker wall and more insulation will allow heat to stay out more effectively while cool air stays trapped inside. The other cooler can be significantly cheaper as it will have another use to be further explained later. Read Also: How to Choose a Camping Tent Use the cheaper and less effective cooler for drinks. The reason this cooler is for drinks is because it will probably be opened frequently allowing lots of the cool air to escape on a regular basis. The other more effective cooler is to be used for food that is frozen or needs to remain chilled. Being that it will be less likely to be opened it will maintain its cold temperature for a longer span of time and with better insulation this will be further extended. Chill the food cooler before you leave for your camping trip. Up to a day before you go, the inner walls of your cooler will need to be kept cold before you pack it with your frozen goods. You may do this one of two ways. First you may fill the cooler with ice cubes intermittently to keep it cold, or if you have a deep freezer with the space, simply open the cooler and place it inside while open to cool the inner walls. Make or buy block ice instead of using ice cubes when packing your frozen food. Using larger blocks of ice will cause the ice to melt more slowly. If you can not find block ice for sale you may make some ahead of time by freezing water in plastic containers such as old juice containers or gallon milk cartons. This is a much more effective way of utilizing ice. Be sure if you make block ice that you make enough for the entire trip as you may not be close to a store when camping. Drain excess water from the cooler as ice melts. Every 4 hours or so, you should drain all the excess water from the food cooler to avoid accelerated melting. All food that is placed in this cooler should be frozen before you place it inside or at least chilled if not able to freeze. Keeping your cooler in a shady area away from direct sunlight will also help to keep ice inside from melting quicker. Replace the ice blocks as necessary. Read: Backpacking for Beginners |
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