Tent Wrap-up

Well we've covered a lot of information over the pasts. You should feel empowered selecting your next camping tent. With the knowledge you have you should be able to pick out a tent that will serve you well and last you a long time into the future.

As you can imagine, I've done a little bit of research over the course of putting this e-book and website together. And one of the interesting things I've discovered through that research is that no matter who a company may be, they usually tend to make both great tents and not so great tents. Just because someone has a certain brand name tent doesn't mean that their tent is automatically good, it really depends on the model. Although most companies have both good and bad tents, there are a few companies that don't offer anything I'd be comfortable recommending at the moment.

Now that you know what to look for in a camping tent, I want to mention some tents worthy of your consideration. I list them on the website and not in this tutorial because these recommendations may change from time to time as new tents are released, or certain models are discontinued. Also, if for some reason a tent somehow becomes not worth mentioning, I can delete it easily. That way you get current and  updated recommendations... 

Camping Tent

Ok, so you're camping with your best friend Bob and using his camping tent. The problem is he picked up a "bargain" tent and you can see daylight through the uneven seams. He didn't bring any seam sealant and the weather forecast has called for heavy showers.

You just drove 400 miles to camp and you definitely don't want to head home because of a little rain, but getting thoroughly soaked doesn't sound appealing either. You know this could get miserable, but luckily you've known Bob for years and had the fore-thought to pack a few extra things... the first being the Acme Stop-a-snore nose strips, just in case. Hopefully your camp mates next door won't complain too loudly this time about camping so close to a human sawmill, but that's another story altogether... 

Even though Bob checks in at an imposing 6 feet 6 inches and 277 lbs. (126 kg) you know he's a sensitive guy. You can still vividly recall the last sappy greeting card commercial that made this otherwise musclebound man's man eyes water, and he said it was from chopping onions... the previous day. Sure Bob, Ok.


Being careful not to hurt his feelings you leap into action, and suggest that it would really be a bummer to get his brand new tent wet on its first outing. He looks at you strangely, and says smugly "Uh, isn't that what a tent is for?" Bob may snore, but he's no dummy.
Well it was worth a shot trying not to offend him, you think to yourself. "Yeah, good point Bob," you respond. You move to your hastily constructed fall back plan.
"Bob," you say. "I was thinking. I can see daylight through every one of those seams, and we're going to be getting some heavy rain here soon. I think we should do something so we don't get drenched." Bob looks at you and says, "What are you some kind of wimp, are you going to melt or somethin'?"
(Hey, don't look at me, he's your friend.

Well you tried to be polite right? "No Bob, I just thought that when that rain starts to stream down your face it might trigger a flashback to one of those tear-jerker greeting card commerci-".... Bob is out of his chair and after you quicker than you can say Hallmark, just as the first telltale drop hits him squarely on the cheek and proceeds to roll down his face and off his chin. This is enough to stop him mid-sprint, and he asks what you have in mind.

You pull out one of the tarps you brought with the grommet tie-down holes and some rope that you wisely thought to bring along. You tell Bob to help you tie it up between the trees just above the tent. You tilt the tarp at an angle so the rain can run off it onto the ground and down a slight grade behind the tent. This will keep the vertical rain from falling directly on the tent.

Since the rain is coming from the West you also place a tarp vertically between two other trees to shield his tent from any wind-driven rain that might try to blow in at an angle from the West.
Four hours later with the rain outside the tent pouring down around you, Bob mumbles a "Thanks," under his breath as he drifts off to sleep. Minutes later he's snoring like a dull rusty buzz saw cutting through a fence post full of nails. Ahhh, nature in all its peace and glory...

How could you have helped Bob avoid getting a bad tent in the first place? By forwarding him this tutorial of course. 
And the snoring... well, you're on your own.
Although tarps aren't the ideal solution, they can work in a pinch to help keep you drier.
Next, is your current tent too small? Do you need more room?

If you have a great tent you really like, but it seems to be getting a bit small lately due to more equipment, more friends, or a larger family, take a look at a screen house tent.

Screen house tents are great because they keep rain out and the bugs away. Move a picnic table inside and they are nice for playing games when it's raining or to keep the bugs at bay while you read. They're also very handy for keeping pesky houseflies away while you're eating dinner. The high roofs and large open screens provide plenty of room to stand up and move around too. The drawback is that they can take up a bit of space in your car, so if space is already at a premium in your car you might want to consider just getting a larger camping tent.

Tents Care

There are a few simple things you can do to help make your tent last as long as possible...

The first is to sweep it out at least after every use. If you wear your shoes inside the tent, have pets or high traffic you'll want to sweep it out more often. Dirt and mud are very abrasive and can over time wear holes through a tents floor. A few minutes now can save you a lot of money down the road. And of course the footprint goes a long way toward protecting the bottom of your tent from the dirt underneath.

If your tent is wet or even slightly damp make sure to let it completely air dry before you store it. Damp tents can mold or mildew quickly if they're stored wet. This will make your tent look and smelly funky. To dry your tent simply hang it over some drying racks in a room with a dehumidifier or lay it flat on the floor in a spare bedroom. After the top side has dried out, turn it over to let the bottom dry too.

Store your tent in a cool dry place, like an upstairs hallway closet or a storage closet (basements tend to be damp so are best avoided unless you have a dehumidifier).

Depending on the kind of tent you have, it's usually a good idea to seal your tents seams before your first trip, especially if the seams aren't taped. Once the sealant has dried per directions, spray the tent down to check for leaks. It's better to find them now then out in the middle of nowhere.
Zipper problems?

Is your zipper hard to pull open or does it catch at times? Rubbing a little wax or bar soap along the teeth can help to free it up so that it can slide easier.
If you have a zipper that pulls through and fails to mesh the teeth behind it, the slider may be worn. For a quick temporary fix try this...

Use an adjustable pair of pliers to *very gently* squeeze the slider from top to bottom (the pull tab attaches to the top) not side to side. Alternate squeezing on the left and right (again top to bottom), until the zipper works correctly. Be careful not to crush it because this will cause it to clamp down causing the zipper to lock-up completely. Sliders are pretty fragile, so take your time or they will tend to break apart easily, especially if you try to re-open one with a screwdriver. In case you're wondering, half zippers don't work very well either. 

As you probably already know it's always a good idea to bring an emergency patch kit with you so you have it if you need it. Patch kits are usually light and don't take up much room so they're easy to pack.