Tales of the Tent (Picking up the right type of tent)

Tales of the Tent (Picking up the right type of tent)
Copyright 2006 Niche Empire

The very important and most basic backpacking gear is your tent. The proper use of a tent can be heavenly but the improper usage and ignorance of maximizing your tent can be a one way ticket to hell.

Let us first look at the different types of tent. The following information isn't intended to be an exhaustive survey of all types of tents in existence. It is, however, a review of the types of tents that have been proven to be the most successful and popular within the backcountry community.

*     Dome:
-     Basic dome shape
-     Have ample headroom, maximizes “living space” and the ability to sit upright
-     Have only two poles that leave an unsupported tent material.
-     For moderate weather conditions only

*     Modified Dome:
-     More poles, including cross sections and tapered tent ends for better wind resistance
-     Can withstand nasty weather

*     Hoop / Tunnel:
-     Tunnel shape with a higher section in front, just high enough to provide the only place in the tent where you can barely sit up
-     With one or two pole design with longer pole in front
-     Must have stakes to create and maintain structural integrity.
-     Lightweight but does not have a lot of room to move around with.

*     Pyramid / Teepee:
-     A waterproof sheet or tarp draped over a center pole and staked out.
-     Popular for snow camping
-     Provides a roof which you can dig and design your living quarters
-     During summer, beware of bugs.

*     Freestanding:
-     The most convenient tent design to work with.
-     It is easier to set up, since it is self-supporting--once the poles are inserted, it stands on its own without tent pegs.
-     After set up, it can easily be moved around to the ideal piece of ground. It can be turned upside down and lifted overhead to shake out dirt, turned upside down or hung from a tree (or ceiling) for ease of drying.
-     However, it is always prudent to stake out these tents since they could easily be relocated by a strong breeze. In addition, on double walled "free-standing" tents, the fly may need to be staked out, as well.

*     Single-Wall Construction:
-     These tents are made with one layer of waterproofed / breathable material. They forego the use of a tent fly.

-     They also, typically, require less zippers, stakes, webbings, and tie-out cord, and as a result, are significantly lighter than double-walled tents, and are easier to set up.

-     Ventilation is a critical factor here, because these tents are more prone to condensation. Whereas the double walled tents have an inner canopy made of thin, uncoated nylon, which breathes very well, and air space/air movement between the fly and canopy provide excellent breath ability and ventilation, the thicker, waterproof-coated material of the single-wall tent does not breathe as well, thus condensation results.

-     Extra care must be taken to ensure that these tents have good ventilating features like lower vents in back to draw in cold air and high vents in front to release warm air.

-     Also, it is important to pitch the end of the tent into the wind to enable increased ventilation. It is helpful to leave wet, steamy gear outside or under the vestibule so it won't create water vapor inside the canopy. Heavy breathers are more inclined to see condensation.

*     Double-Wall Construction:

-     The inner wall is uncoated, breathable nylon (solid or mesh) and the outside wall is coated, waterproofed, non-breathable nylon. The inner wall allows for excellent water vapor transfer out of the tent chamber and the outer wall provides excellent rain and wind protection. The air space between inner and outer layer also provides a bit of insulation, to keep the tent warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Some tips regarding backpacking tents:

1.     When you fold a tent the same way over and over, this waterproofing can crack along the creases. By stuffing the tent and fly, they are never folded the same way twice and creases do not form.

2.     Always put your tent near the top of your pack is for easy access. The first thing most people do when they get into camp is put up the tent. With the tent being at the top of your pack, you save time from having to unload the rest of your pack just to get to the tent. This may not seem like much of a time saver, but if it is raining, having the tent near the top of your pack is a Godsend.

3.     A practical note here, related to colors: for general purpose, three season use, choose tents with light colors (light blue, green, yellow) for increased light inside your tent--particularly nice when you're hunkered down in a storm--and also to reflect sunlight so that your tent stays cooler in warm weather.
Darker colors absorb sunlight and heat, as well as make it darker inside the tent.

So unless you’re a student of Hogwarts School of Magic (watch the Harry Potter – Goblet of Fire and see the tent they used during the Quid ditch World Cup…) stick to this type of tents and it pays to have a little research before buying or getting one.