Camping Lovers Guide

Whether hiking or camping, camping tents are essential. They provide shelter from the weather and insects and can turn a trip out in the wild into a moderately comfortable stay. They're designed for thousands of situations from large, several person tents with heavy, strong materials to small, one-man tents with lightweight, collapsible materials. Getting the right one is key to making the most of your trip and it should always be the first thing on your checklist after food.

Tent Parts

The main material that makes up the tent is always waterproof. For double-skin tents, this is the outer layer, while the inner layer is mesh. The waterproof layer provides protection against rain and other liquids, but will allow condensation to leave the tent to prevent it building up inside. While not perfect, this can be improved with ventilation.

Outside the tent, there is an area where activities not suitable for the interior can be carried out, such as cooking. It's a sheltered area with no ground covering, but can be used for equipment storage as well. They can be detachable, but are often part of the tent itself as well.

While double-skin tents are waterproof all around, single-skin tents require a groundsheet to prevent water seeping in through the bottom. Double-skin tents can have this additional insurance too. The groundsheet can be put up in a number of ways to provide maximum efficiency and prevent it becoming more trouble than it's worth.

The poles provide structure for the tent and allow it to keep its shape. They come in many different forms depending on the tents purpose. Large tents will likely have heavyweight, rigid poles, while small tents will have lightweight, collapsible poles.

Pegs and stakes make sure that the tent is held in position and sometimes in shape, if the tent has guide lines. These pegs can be made from wood, metal and plastic, but all must be driven deep into the ground for the best results. If not used correctly, there can be serious consequences.

Looking for more info on the essential parts of camping tents ? Get the low down in our complete camping tents guide.

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