Post by Admin on Sept 15, 2008 19:00:47 GMT 10
From: Rabbits2732 (Original Message) Sent: 31/12/2005 10:20 AM
Tents
Tents have many advantages over tarps and sleeping under the stars but they also have many drawbacks. As always it comes down to personal preference and how much comfort you want or how much discomfort you are willing to withstand on a camping trip.
Strictly speaking a large piece of plastic or a tarp and some rope is all that it takes to provide a basic shelter. And whether people opt for a roomy dome tent or a simple tarp they choose what best suits their needs and their pocket.
Tents can range in price from $10 at a garage sale to well over $1000 for all the bells and whistles and they are the most practical way for campers to stay warm, dry and insect free.
Features to look for
What shape tent you buy is just one of the many factors to consider but probably the most important consideration is what do you intend to use it for and how many people will be staying in it. A large cabin tent that takes a while to put up and take down is pretty useless for touring and a lightweight touring tent is not very practical for extended stays. Tents these days are mostly dome tents or cabin and A frame styles. Touring tents are generally square with a centre pole for quick and easy erection or come with an internal frame that simply folds out. Other factors to consider are size, weight, ventilation, tent materials, tent poles, workmanship, waterproofing and colour.
Size
The most important thing is roominess. Are you tall? Is there enough room to stretch out fully? Do you intend to spend a lot of time in your tent? Do you plan to cook and eat in the tent? Tent manufacturers tend to overestimate the number of people their tents can accommodate. If a tent claims to hold 2 people it usually means just that with little room for much else. Two people will be a tight fit and one person will fit with plenty of room for clothes, food etc. Also consider how easy/difficult it is to put up and take down your tent as you may have to do it in the dark, wind or rain.
Weight and Size
When you are making your tent wish list, consider the weight of the tent and how much room it will take up in your vehicle. In particular consider the number and weight of the poles especially if you intend using a tarp.
Ventilation
A few years ago a family of 6 died in their tent at Mt Barney. Their tent had virtually no ventilation and they tried to keep warm with a gas heater inside the tent. On cold, windy nights you will need a tent that will keep the wind out and on hot muggy nights you won’t want to be stifled in a poorly ventilated tent. Tents these days offer plenty of no-see-um mesh for cross ventilation as well as protection from insects.
Well-ventilated tents also have fewer problems with condensation build-up inside the tent than tents that are sealed up tight. “Four-season” tents generally have little ventilation so it’s better to choose a “three-season” tent.
Tent Fabric
Most tents are made of strong, lightweight nylon taffeta or rip stop nylon whilst bigger tents are made of coated polyester or cotton canvas which weighs quite a bit more. The floors and flys are usually coated with polyurethane or other moisture-repellent substance. Although the body of a tent is often left untreated to increase the transfer of respiration and perspiration through the tent’s walls, it is quite common to wake up in a damp and dripping tent. Moisture can also gather under air beds but not stretchers as they are raised above the ground. Larger tents don’t usually have this problem because of the greater air circulation. Light weight tents are susceptible to burn holes from camp fire sparks and abrasion from poles. Canvas generally does not have this problem.
Caring for Canvas
Prevention is always better than cure and this is particularly true when it comes to the care of canvas tents and annexes. Good quality canvas will last a lifetime if it is well cared for, however many people put canvas away without properly drying it which results in mildew.
A simple way to protect canvas from bird and tree droppings is to not camp under trees. An even more effective way is to erect a tarpaulin over the roof as this also helps keep it cool and waterproof. Bird droppings are easily removed by gently rubbing the soiled area with a soft brush such as an old toothbrush when completely dry. Then give the canvas a cool rinse and let it dry thoroughly. DO NOT scrub canvas when wet.
If the canvas is particularly dirty choose a hot sunny day and simply spray it with water. Do not use a high pressure washer, detergents, cleaning chemicals or hot water as these will adversely affect the in-built water repellent. For stubborn stains a mild soap such as lux or sunlight may be used but be sure to thoroughly rinse out all the soap. When completely dry spray the affected area with a good water repellent. It is a good idea to also spray all stitching and seams as this will not only keep out water but will help prevent dirt becoming embedded.
Mildew is a killer of tents as it feeds on the material which weakens it and destroys the water proofing. If the mildew is detected early enough it can be removed with a mild mixture of warm water and a non-chlorine bleach. Other mixtures which are claimed to be effective are lemon juice and water, baking soda and water and vinegar and water.
Tent Poles
Poles have evolved from unyielding aluminium or steel to shock-corded fiberglass poles, except for larger tents which still use rigid poles. These new poles allow the user to simply snap them into place rather than have to piece them together which can cause problems if they are not colour coded or numbered. Fiberglass is cheaper and does not require pre-bending or any special attachments. It also packs into a much smaller and lighter size. However it is affected by weather and can break into splinters and must be replaced. Aluminum and steel is far more durable but takes up more room and is heavier.
Workmanship
Although any tent may be adequate for your needs you may want to consider how long you want your tent to last. Good workmanship should mean a long lasting tent. A well made tent should have lap-felled seams (like the seams on jeans) which provide extra strength because they are actually four layers of interlocking fabric joined by a double row of stitching. On uncoated nylon tents check for taped seams . Finally make sure that all stress points are reinforced either with extra stitching or bar tacking. Tug at the material to make sure the load is equally distributed across the reinforcement to reduce premature wear.
Waterproofing
There is nothing more miserable than sleeping in a wet tent. The better the material, the more water-resistant and the more likely you are to sleep dry. Most tents will let in some water so in heavy rain it is wise to use a large tarp to provide extra cover as well as shade. Remember to have a good fall on the tarp and enough poles, ropes and springs to keep it taut otherwise it will fill up with water and collapse your tent.
It is also important to seal the tent’s seams where the needle holes will allow water to enter. Buy some sealer or wax leak and treat all the seams fairly often. It is also wise to put a sheet of plastic under your tent to help keep out water. There is some opinion that this not a good idea as water can settle between the floor and the plastic and when walked on this can cause abrasion and wear. This may or may not be so but it does keep the bottom of your tent clean. Nylon tents tend to dry fairly quickly whilst canvas does not.
Colour
While colour is a personal preference there are reasons why you may choose one colour over another. Bright colours may be great for search and rescue but hardly appropriate in a natural outdoors setting. The fabric colour also affects the quality of light inside your tent. If your tent is pale green or blue it will filter bright sunlight but on wet or overcast days the light inside could be depressing. These colours blend in well with the bush. In contrast bright yellows and oranges are great in foul weather because they produce a brighter light inside. A light colour tends also to be cooler. However these days there is a trend towards more inconspicuous and environmentally pleasing colours which please the eye both inside and outside.
Enjoy your camping!
Tents
Tents have many advantages over tarps and sleeping under the stars but they also have many drawbacks. As always it comes down to personal preference and how much comfort you want or how much discomfort you are willing to withstand on a camping trip.
Strictly speaking a large piece of plastic or a tarp and some rope is all that it takes to provide a basic shelter. And whether people opt for a roomy dome tent or a simple tarp they choose what best suits their needs and their pocket.
Tents can range in price from $10 at a garage sale to well over $1000 for all the bells and whistles and they are the most practical way for campers to stay warm, dry and insect free.
Features to look for
What shape tent you buy is just one of the many factors to consider but probably the most important consideration is what do you intend to use it for and how many people will be staying in it. A large cabin tent that takes a while to put up and take down is pretty useless for touring and a lightweight touring tent is not very practical for extended stays. Tents these days are mostly dome tents or cabin and A frame styles. Touring tents are generally square with a centre pole for quick and easy erection or come with an internal frame that simply folds out. Other factors to consider are size, weight, ventilation, tent materials, tent poles, workmanship, waterproofing and colour.
Size
The most important thing is roominess. Are you tall? Is there enough room to stretch out fully? Do you intend to spend a lot of time in your tent? Do you plan to cook and eat in the tent? Tent manufacturers tend to overestimate the number of people their tents can accommodate. If a tent claims to hold 2 people it usually means just that with little room for much else. Two people will be a tight fit and one person will fit with plenty of room for clothes, food etc. Also consider how easy/difficult it is to put up and take down your tent as you may have to do it in the dark, wind or rain.
Weight and Size
When you are making your tent wish list, consider the weight of the tent and how much room it will take up in your vehicle. In particular consider the number and weight of the poles especially if you intend using a tarp.
Ventilation
A few years ago a family of 6 died in their tent at Mt Barney. Their tent had virtually no ventilation and they tried to keep warm with a gas heater inside the tent. On cold, windy nights you will need a tent that will keep the wind out and on hot muggy nights you won’t want to be stifled in a poorly ventilated tent. Tents these days offer plenty of no-see-um mesh for cross ventilation as well as protection from insects.
Well-ventilated tents also have fewer problems with condensation build-up inside the tent than tents that are sealed up tight. “Four-season” tents generally have little ventilation so it’s better to choose a “three-season” tent.
Tent Fabric
Most tents are made of strong, lightweight nylon taffeta or rip stop nylon whilst bigger tents are made of coated polyester or cotton canvas which weighs quite a bit more. The floors and flys are usually coated with polyurethane or other moisture-repellent substance. Although the body of a tent is often left untreated to increase the transfer of respiration and perspiration through the tent’s walls, it is quite common to wake up in a damp and dripping tent. Moisture can also gather under air beds but not stretchers as they are raised above the ground. Larger tents don’t usually have this problem because of the greater air circulation. Light weight tents are susceptible to burn holes from camp fire sparks and abrasion from poles. Canvas generally does not have this problem.
Caring for Canvas
Prevention is always better than cure and this is particularly true when it comes to the care of canvas tents and annexes. Good quality canvas will last a lifetime if it is well cared for, however many people put canvas away without properly drying it which results in mildew.
A simple way to protect canvas from bird and tree droppings is to not camp under trees. An even more effective way is to erect a tarpaulin over the roof as this also helps keep it cool and waterproof. Bird droppings are easily removed by gently rubbing the soiled area with a soft brush such as an old toothbrush when completely dry. Then give the canvas a cool rinse and let it dry thoroughly. DO NOT scrub canvas when wet.
If the canvas is particularly dirty choose a hot sunny day and simply spray it with water. Do not use a high pressure washer, detergents, cleaning chemicals or hot water as these will adversely affect the in-built water repellent. For stubborn stains a mild soap such as lux or sunlight may be used but be sure to thoroughly rinse out all the soap. When completely dry spray the affected area with a good water repellent. It is a good idea to also spray all stitching and seams as this will not only keep out water but will help prevent dirt becoming embedded.
Mildew is a killer of tents as it feeds on the material which weakens it and destroys the water proofing. If the mildew is detected early enough it can be removed with a mild mixture of warm water and a non-chlorine bleach. Other mixtures which are claimed to be effective are lemon juice and water, baking soda and water and vinegar and water.
Tent Poles
Poles have evolved from unyielding aluminium or steel to shock-corded fiberglass poles, except for larger tents which still use rigid poles. These new poles allow the user to simply snap them into place rather than have to piece them together which can cause problems if they are not colour coded or numbered. Fiberglass is cheaper and does not require pre-bending or any special attachments. It also packs into a much smaller and lighter size. However it is affected by weather and can break into splinters and must be replaced. Aluminum and steel is far more durable but takes up more room and is heavier.
Workmanship
Although any tent may be adequate for your needs you may want to consider how long you want your tent to last. Good workmanship should mean a long lasting tent. A well made tent should have lap-felled seams (like the seams on jeans) which provide extra strength because they are actually four layers of interlocking fabric joined by a double row of stitching. On uncoated nylon tents check for taped seams . Finally make sure that all stress points are reinforced either with extra stitching or bar tacking. Tug at the material to make sure the load is equally distributed across the reinforcement to reduce premature wear.
Waterproofing
There is nothing more miserable than sleeping in a wet tent. The better the material, the more water-resistant and the more likely you are to sleep dry. Most tents will let in some water so in heavy rain it is wise to use a large tarp to provide extra cover as well as shade. Remember to have a good fall on the tarp and enough poles, ropes and springs to keep it taut otherwise it will fill up with water and collapse your tent.
It is also important to seal the tent’s seams where the needle holes will allow water to enter. Buy some sealer or wax leak and treat all the seams fairly often. It is also wise to put a sheet of plastic under your tent to help keep out water. There is some opinion that this not a good idea as water can settle between the floor and the plastic and when walked on this can cause abrasion and wear. This may or may not be so but it does keep the bottom of your tent clean. Nylon tents tend to dry fairly quickly whilst canvas does not.
Colour
While colour is a personal preference there are reasons why you may choose one colour over another. Bright colours may be great for search and rescue but hardly appropriate in a natural outdoors setting. The fabric colour also affects the quality of light inside your tent. If your tent is pale green or blue it will filter bright sunlight but on wet or overcast days the light inside could be depressing. These colours blend in well with the bush. In contrast bright yellows and oranges are great in foul weather because they produce a brighter light inside. A light colour tends also to be cooler. However these days there is a trend towards more inconspicuous and environmentally pleasing colours which please the eye both inside and outside.
Enjoy your camping!