Archive for the ‘Tents’ Category
Our Annual Backpacking Adventure
My brother and I take a couple weeks off from work every summer and go backpacking through the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. We have a strong disdain for technology despite the fact that we both work for an IT company, so it’s a good opportunity to disconnect and reacquaint ourselves with nature. Since we carry our packs with us everywhere, we bring nothing but the essentials: backpacking tents, emergency rations, tools and a few other miscellaneous lightweight supplies.
It may seem irresponsible to head into the great outdoors with such minimal equipment, but my brother and I were both Eagle Scouts and spent time in the Marines, so we’re well versed in the ways of the wild. Much of our food comes from fishing, which is one of our favorite activities on these journeys. On particularly good days, we dry some of the fish to save for later when they may not be biting.
Effectively Setting Up Your Tent
If you’ve ever spent any time among tents, you know that every part and accessory must be functioning well in order for the tent to work its best. To that end, if you’ve lost or misplaced your stakes, it’s not that sound of an idea to use the tent. One strong breeze, after all, could take your Eureka family tent anywhere, including in the woods, off the trail, or even in the water.
You’ll also want to make sure your tent poles are exactly right. If even just one section is bent or unusable, it can severely impair the shape of your tent and your ability to properly set it up. In terms of effectively setting up your tent, improperly sized poles will be just as ineffective as damaged poles. Before you place your stakes, be sure that the ground is solid and that there are any hazards in the vicinity, such as perilous looking branches.
It’s in Our Blood
Camping is an activity many people who grow up in the Pacific Northwest grow to love. It’s like the outdoors and nature is in their blood. Sometimes being in the wilderness is just as comforting as being at home. But not everybody likes sleeping under the stars, especially with the unpredictable weather in this area.
Owning a good tent is a basic asset of a camper. There’s no reason to risk getting drenched! Campers also need waterproof tent covers, tent stakes and ground covers. And especially during the summertime, screen tents are indispensable tools for a respite from the droves of biting insects. Without these basic supplies a camping trip simply won’t be as enjoyable.
Setting Up Camp in Inclement Weather
Although it would be nice if every camping excursion were characterized by warm temperatures and low winds, the reality is somewhat different. Camping trips are often planned weeks in advance after much work is done to clear schedules and secure reliable transportation. By the time the big day arrives, backing out because of bad weather just isn’t an option. It’s therefore critical for campers to learn to adapt.
When pitching your Paha Que tents in inclement weather, spend as much time as you need to find a suitable location. There’s nothing worse than going through the process of setting up camp - pounding the stakes into the ground, erecting the fiberglass tent poles and so on - only to find that the elements are making the tent uninhabitable. Move your operation to the leeward side of a stand of trees or a rock outcropping; that way you’ll have protection from the wind and the prevailing rain direction.
A Hiker’s Checklist
Before setting off on a multiday hike, it’s best to make an inventory of equipment and supplies. That way, you can minimize the number of unfortunate surprises - “What? I forgot a Swiss army knife?” - along the way. A camp-worthy tent is one of the first items to check off your list. Allot some time before your journey to set up your tent in the backyard. This makes it easy to discover any missing tent poles or other similar problems.
If the time has come to check out new dome tents, make sure to prioritize a few key features. Waterproof floors are one of the most underrated benefits of top-class hiking tents, and they are essential in traditionally rainy areas. A tent’s thermal properties should be taken into account, as should the strength of its frame. Once you’ve made an informed choice of tent, you’ll be ready to head out into nature’s vast expanse.
What to Look For In a Camping Tent
For the novice camper, it might seem like any old tent will serve when you’re out on a camping trip, but this truly isn’t the case. Camping tents have a series of features and characteristics that make them uniquely suited to serve as outdoor tents. Rather than being made of thin fabric, a camping tent is sure to be made of a durable nylon. While this nylon can be extremely light, it is surprisingly resistant to tears, rips, and the kind of damage that can be incurred on tough, outdoor surfaces.
This special kind of tent should also feature a foot, which is an extra piece of nylon that fits snuggly on the bottom of the tent. Offering an extra layer of protection, it helps ensure against rips in the bottom of the tent. It should also feature mesh windows, allowing for ventilation and protection from many different kinds of potential insects. Lastly, your camping tent should always come equipped with a rain fly. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck outside in a downpour and having no way of keeping your tent dry!
Controlling the Mosquito Population
Aside from serving as food for certain predators, mosquitoes are the kinds of creatures that serve little purpose other than to cause discomfort. Mosquitoes can carry a host of harmful diseases, including West Nile Virus, leave itchy bite marks, and breed incessantly. Controlling the mosquito population has been the goal of many naturalists and environmentalists. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant pools of water including birdbaths, ponds, and even puddles. In order to control the mosquito population, people who have ponds especially should use natural mosquito control. This product kills mosquitoes with natural bacteria, safe for other living creatures.
Mosquitoes are one of the world’s most renowned pests, and keeping them out of your yard and out of proximity to your home benefits everyone. Of course, despite our best efforts, mosquitoes will inevitably continue to be a nuisance, which is why a Eureka screen house is still a sound investment.
Repair the Tear
A tiny tear in the fabric of one of your Eureka tents might not seem all that important at first, but these small issues have a way of compounding if they are ignored. In time, that tear will transform into a sizeable rip and eventually a gaping hole that will make your tent void in terms of insulation and protection from bugs. That doesn’t mean you need to rush out and buy a new tent tomorrow, however. Tent repair is often simple and practical.
Begin repairing a small tear by covering the affected spot with cloth repair tape. If you have a canvas tent you’ll want to use taffeta material. On the other hand, ripstop nylon should be used to patch a nylon tent. Then apply a seam sealer to both sides of the material. Larger tears could require sewing or at the very least some serious attention with repair tape.
Camping Is A Family Affair
If you grew up in a family that put a lot of value on the outdoors, there’s little doubt that some of your fondest childhood memories revolve around a campsite. Whether it’s sitting around the campfire eating S’mores or fishing at the local fishing hole, camping is a great way to teach children about self sufficiency as well as foster a general appreciation and love of the outdoors. If you have a family and they would be interested in the camping experience, consider purchasing a family tent. While many tents seem overly small and uncomfortable for a family, family tents are spacious and designed to accommodate a crowd.
With family tents, camping doesn’t have to be an abandonment of everything civilized. There’s plenty of room within these accommodations for some of the creature comforts of home. Just remember that camping spans an entire range of intensity. Sure, you can backpack into your campsite 13 miles with a 30 pound bag. But that’s not the only option. You can also drive up to your site and spend a quiet night or weekend with the family. Either way, you get some fresh air, some fond memories, and a better appreciation of just how good you have it at home.
Keep These Pointers In Mind
Along with sleeping bags, camping tents are standard equipment for campers. No camper would go out without a tent. So how do we care for our camping tents to ensure that they will last for long use? Here are some pointers to remember:
~ Practice setting up the tent properly.
~ Bring the correct stakes and use them.
~ Choose waterproofed camping tents.
~ Bring along extra tent parts such as zippers, duct tape, fabric, and other materials. This will help you make necessary repairs when needed.
~ Do not set up camping tents in direct sunlight.
~ Use ground cover.
~ Make sure that your tent is ventilated properly.
~ Clean and dry the tent thoroughly right after use.