How to Set Up a Tent

Tents have been used for accommodation since thousands of years. It has been used by explorers, adventurers, for refugee camps and also during emergencies. Tents are considered the most basic and important camping equipment. They are also used by kids as a playhouse. Tents of different shapes and patterns are available and can be made up of different materials like natural or synthetic. Before choosing a camping tent make sure that it serves your purpose in respect to size, durability etc. It will also be useful to get a tent made of waterproof material. It is extremely essential for you to know how to build a tent before heading for a camping trip.

Things Required for Pitching Tents

Most of the items required to pitch a tent should come along with the tent itself, when you buy it. If not, then you will need to buy a few things essential for building tents. Obviously, you will require a tent, besides which you will also need a ground cover, stakes, rods or snow pegs, and a hammer or mallet to drive the stakes in.

Useful Tips

• Try to pitch a tent in broad daylight if you are an amateur. Practice pitching tents at home before leaving for camping trips.
• Before planning a camping trip, find out the weather conditions in that place. This will help you because a tent is built in a different way in different weather conditions.
• You must avoid setting up tents under trees as sometimes twigs falling from the trees can be troublesome. Similarly, do not pitch a tent in valley as water collection can cause a problem.

How To Pitch A Tent

• If you find flat ground, it will be easier for you to set up a tent. Flat ground is also comfortable to sleep at night. In case of snowy regions, you should try to find even land.
• You should clear all debris, dried leaves and twigs from the surface and make it as smooth and even as possible. Take into consideration the direction of inclination or slope before building a tent.
• Place the ground cover on the surface where you need to build the tent. Some people may think that ground cover can be used optionally. On the contrary, it will protect the surface from water and help to keep the space waterproof.
• Unpack the tent from your bag, and if you are camping in an area with heavy wind, put some weight on the tent to prevent it from being blown away. Bricks or stones can be used for this purpose if you do not have any heavy objects with you.
• Now take the stakes or rods and fasten each pole with the tent clip or key. You need to pull the tent taut but be careful not pull it so hard that it tears. Hammer these stacks or rods into the ground. Now put the tent rod in the center of the tent.
• The stakes should be checked whether they are fixed into the ground. The tent will lean or even fall if the stakes are loosely held in the ground. If you are camping in snowy areas, you may get special snow pegs that can be used in snow. A rain fly can be used to prevent the tent from flying away.

Once you get to know the basic method of setting up a tent, try pitching tents in different locations with different weather conditions. Practicing for a couple of times will be helpful and soon you will be able to pitch a tent perfectly and that too in a shorter time. Benefits of camping can be best experienced when one is well versed in all basic camping skills, and setting up tents is considered to be an important skill one needs to learn to truly enjoy a camping trip.