You are in the great outdoors, hiking and enjoying it.
But when it comes to pitching the tent, everything goes into chaos. It ruins the mood and the whole experience you are trying to enjoy.
Isn’t it? Well, for a person who is new to camp tenting or doesn’t go hiking often, it will happen if you take your new tent outdoors without even practicing to learn to set it up before leaving.
Therefore, it is an incredible idea to practice pitching a tent and know what you have to do.
Otherwise, the perfect camping trip will be a not-so-pleasing outing for you and your family.
To ensure your camping trip is the best, here are a few tips you should know.
Tip 1: Practice setting up your tent at home
Don’t fall into lines’ easy-to set up’ or ‘It only takes five minutes.’ Perhaps for a professional.
However, if you are new to camping and pitching your lightweight hiking tent, don’t go camping without practice.
Nothing is more horrifying than practicing your tent-pitching skills for the first time on the trail with sunlight receding.
Thus, try setting up the tent in your backyard or living room a few times. It will educate you about where everything goes and how much time it takes.
Moreover, it will speed up the tent-setting process when out camping.
Tip 2: Check the tent for any issues
Before you leave the house, make sure the tent doesn’t have any issues. Re-check everything to ensure there are no tears and no essential tools are missing.
Checking your tent before you leave for camping is important. It will assure you that everything is in order.
If you have purchased a new tent, lay it out in the garden to see if everything is in order or not. Also, any tools you may need to set up the tent should be in the same bag as the tent.
Though they come with all the gear, you might want to carry extra tools just in case.
Tip 3: Never try to pitch the tent alone
Pitching a tent requires time, patience, and effort.
If you try to do it alone, either you will not succeed, or it will take the better part of the day to set up the tent. So, unless you go on a solo trip, never try to set up a tent alone.
If there are more people to help, let them so that you can start enjoying the camping sooner.
Tip 4: Get a tent with zip-out panels, necessary for rains
A great tip for camping in the rain is to use a zip-out panel tent. Why?
They are easier to set up in the rain than tents with permeable mesh. A zip-out panel tent will ensure that the inside area is dry, and you can remove the panels after installing the rain fly.
Having panels makes the tent heavy, which can be an issue for backpackers as it’s heavy.
Tip 5: Ensure the spot you pick is perfect
If you have to set up a tent in the rain, you should follow a few rules when finding a good spot. The first thing is to select a spot that will keep you from getting wet.
For instance, an overhang or a boulder are perfect places to pitch the tent as they are on the lee side of the natural windbreak. In simple terms, find shelter away from the oncoming wind.
The next rule is to find a location that is on higher ground.
You don’t want to set up the tent in low-lying areas, canyon floors, washes, and depressions. They can pose safety issues.
The last rule is to never pitch your tent at the bottom of any slope where water can gather.
The same is true near rivers or streams. During the rain, these areas can flood fast. Thus, staying away from such locations is the best option.
Use these tips to set up a tent like a pro on your next camping trip. Follow these tips, and you can set up any tent with a few differences.
With this, you are ready to enjoy a weekend of fun and thrills in nature.