Backpack Tent Tips - Pitching and Caring For Your Tent

By Sandy Baker

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
From www.beginnercampingtips.com

Posted by Administrator on August 14, 2009 at 10:02 AM under

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