Fellow adventurer, are you a stuffer?
Deuce, what I do with my feelings is really none of your business.
Sorry about that! I was talking about tents, not feelings.
Oh. In that case stuffer all the way!
Me too. The first thing I do when I get a new tent is remove everything from the bag and…well actually the first thing I do when I get a new tent is giggle like a six year old on Christmas morning. After that though I remove everything from the bag and check it carefully for correctness and completeness (why yes, I have received tents with the wrong poles or no poles) then erect it at Arkansas Adventure Guide HQ to check for structural integrity and ensure there are no flaws in the fabric. I might also lie inside and make river noises while pretending I’m on a gravel bar, but you don’t need to know everything. Then, I take that tent, and that fly and those poles someone at the factory meticulously rolled into a tight, symmetrical bundle and stuff it without remorse down into the bag! We’ll talk more about that in a moment, but I have to say – it’s oddly satisfying.
Recently we took advantage of an unseasonably pleasant winter weekend to do a little float camping. We had a first rate trip, but as is often the case when we returned I hadn’t the time or the inclination to put away the gear. Instead I spread it out in the gear room to -ahem- dry for a few days. I see you judging me, but be honest – you’ve done the same. You know you have.
Okay, so much for self-awareness. We’re here to talk about tents, although at this point you may be wondering how much there is to say really. I mean, it’s a tent. You get it out. You set it up. You put it away. Right? Not so fast, fellow adventurer! There’s a little more to it than that, at least if you want your tent to last more than a year, so let’s talk about – Tents 101.
Pitching
Pitching a tent isn’t difficult. The instructions, which often aren’t even necessary thanks to advances in design and manufacturing, are usually sewn to the bag. There are some things to consider though when it comes to getting the most from your tent.
Site
Choose a well-drained site (more on that in a moment). If you camp near water be prepared for condensation on the walls and ceiling of your tent. Carefully consider what’s on the ground that will be beneath your tent with regard to what will be on your tent floor. For example, if you pitch your tent on gravel sleeping on a cot will place considerable stress on the tent floor and will likely cause holes, while sleeping on a pad won’t.
Water
Perhaps the most important purpose of a tent is to keep us dry.
Well yeah, Deuce. Tents are waterproof, right?
Yes they are (hopefully), but only to a certain point. There’s a fancy term called hydrostatic head that is used to measure how much moisture your tent can be subjected to before it begins admitting some of it. Fortunately there are some things an adventurer can do to stack the deck in the tent’s favor. Probably the most consequential among them is proper site selection. Whenever possible avoid pitching your tent over a depression that could become a puddle in the event of a deluge. No tent pitched over standing water will maintain a dry floor indefinitely, especially when said floor is subjected to the weight of people, gear and adventure dogs that press it into said puddle.
Wind
If you’re expecting (or experiencing) wind pitch your tent with the sloped sides windward. This way your tent will shed the wind rather than being buffeted by it which is what will happen if you pitch it broadside. Of course whenever possible choose a site with natural wind breaks (like trees and boulders, or a Sasquatch if you can convince him to be still).
This wouldn’t have happened had there been a Sasquatch handy.
Packing
All righty then, speaking of putting your tent away; we already agreed we’re stuffers! My personal opinion is there’s no benefit to rolling your tent. Other adventurers who don’t have enough to worry about might take exception, and who am I say they’re wrong? Hike your own hike. When it comes time to pack the tent though there are things that matter. Always keep the poles in their own bag in order to protect the tent from their pokey parts (technical term). If you’re a stuffer put the pole bag in then stuff the tent alongside, starting with the fly since you’ll need the tent first. When you’re all done your bagged tent should resemble a well-made sausage with no lumps. Be sure the poles aren’t pressing against the tent bag as this could cause the fabric to rip.
That’s a tent sausage behind the adventure dog.
Storing
Heat
True or false – your tent came in a bag and that’s all the storage you need. You can just keep it anywhere. False! I mean, you can certainly leave your tent in the bag. However, if you store it in the garage, an outdoor shed, attic or anywhere without climate control you risk delamination.
Delamination? Yeah, I sure don’t want that! Wait, what’s delamination?
Imagine your first fall camping trip after a long hot summer of air conditioning and baseball. You arrive at camp, kindle a nice fire then pull your tent from its bag and spread it across the tent pad only to find peeling seam tape and a sticky fly. Later if it rains you may also find that the fly, the tent or both leak despite there being no holes in either. Polyurethane is what makes your tent waterproof, and when delamination occurs it loses its, uh, stickyness (I don’t know whether that’s a word, but you get the point), possibly along with the glue that was used to adhere floor seams, zipper tabs and other pretty important stuff to the tent. How does one avoid delamination? The truth is, all tents have a shelf life and it’s just a matter of time til yours dies, but simply storing it in your house or apartment (or your mother in law’s house or apartment) will prevent heat-induced delamination. When it comes to storage about the only thing to avoid other than extreme heat is moisture, which brings me to my next point.
Moisture
Getting your tent wet? No problem! Storing your tent wet? Problem – that is unless you don’t mind mildew, because your tent will be covered with it the next time you pull it out if you put it away wet. Fellow adventurers, don’t do that. Leave your tent pitched until it’s dry, or if that’s not an option pitch it again or spread it out to dry as soon as possible. I’ve often found waiting until everything else is done to strike the tent means we have a dry tent, but when that’s not the case I’ve found shaking it like a terrier with a chipmunk then pitching it immediately upon arrival at the next campsite or spreading it to dry when we return to Arkansas Adventure Guide HQ is sufficient. Whatever you do, just promise ol’ Deuce you won’t put it away wet, okay?
No Iz, we have to go back to Arkansas Adventure Guide HQ first.
That’s it! These few pointers are all you need to get the most from your tent, but there’s always more to learn. Check out our article on different kinds of tents and their uses here, and I will…
See you out there!
Deuce
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