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CARE
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A
tent that is properly cared for can offer years of service.
One OutdoorPlaces.Com editor has a tent that is eleven years
old and still in use (albeit is pretty heavy now compared to a state
of the art 21st century model).
Proper care of a tent is simple:
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As
soon as you get your tent home waterproof all seams with a seam
sealer recommended by the manufacturer.
I know, I know, the tent says it’s waterproof and that all
the seals have been treated and sealed.
Trust us, seal them, if you don’t even a $1,000 tent will
leak.
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Practice
setting up your tent. Learning to setup your tent should not be done at the
campsite with the sun going down.
Improper setup can cause tents to sag, broken poles, cut guy
lines and ripped tents. Know
how to set it up.
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Don’t
pack your tent wet. If
your tent does get wet and you have to break camp, set it us as soon
as you can and let it dry out.
Just like a sleeping bag, let your tent hang out after each
trip. If your tent does
mildew, wash it gently with warm water.
For serious cases we recommend contacting the manufacturer.
Don’t use detergent or chemicals as this can ruin the tent
or neutralize it’s waterproofing.
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A
wise person once told me not to touch the inside of your tent.
The oils on your skin are slightly corrosive by nature and
can effect the waterproofing of your tent.
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The
greatest invention of man is not sliced bread it is duct tape.
Duct tape can be used for a number of field repairs.
Duct tape can be used to patch a small hole on a rainfly or
tent. Duct tape can hold a zipper closed if the zipper breaks.
A splintered fiberglass pole can be mended by wrapping the
splintered section. A
pole with a broken shock cord can also be taped together.
If you are backpacking carrying six to twelve feet of duct
tape with you for this and other field repairs.
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Make
sure your tent is ventilated. On a cold night it is tempting to close up all of the windows
and flaps of a tent tight but this can cause another problem.
As you sleep you sweat and breathe out about a cup of fluid.
Four people in a tent can release almost a quart of fluid.
When the inside of the tent becomes warmer than the outside
air, this moisture can start to condensate on the inside of your
tent and make things pretty wet inside by morning.
Make sure you have some ventilation point(s) open in your
tent to help reduce condensation.
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Use
a ground cloth. A
ground cloth is simply a basic low cost tarp.
There is great debate on using an innie (in the tent) or an
outie (under the tent). We
recommend putting your ground cloth under your tent.
This helps keep your tent clean and prevents that rock or
root you missed from ripping through the floor of your tent.
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Stake
down your tent. We have
discussed freestanding tents earlier and although freestanding tents
don’t require you to stake them down, the weather can.
A strong enough wind can move a tent, even with occupants in
it! If you are setting
up your tent on a windy day, put your pack and gear in the tent to
help hold it down.
When
buying a tent there are a number of options you need to consider.
However equipped with this information you are now more educated
on the right tent to get for your needs.
There really is no right or wrong answer.
If the tent you get keeps you comfortable and dry, is within your
budget, and doesn’t get blown away in the conditions you are camping
in you have made a good choice.
If
you have more questions, you can always contact us and one of our
editors will gladly try to answer your questions.
As we try to remain agnostic, we may not be able to answer
questions on the lines of brand X versus brand Y.
Ready to buy a tent? Than
visit our GearPro tent store at the Outdoor eStore. 
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Policy
