Backpacking Tents

Essential Backpacking Tents Tips

The Challenge of the Outdoors

Being in the outdoors for a few days is an exhilarating experience. You will be closer to nature as you walk through different forests that offer a rare glimpse of the beauty of nature. Hikers would often stay in the outdoors for days and just enjoy their interaction with nature. They learn a lot about nature which will help them be more conscious of its situation and will go to great heights to preserve them.

The appreciation of nature could only be achieved when the backpacker would be traveling as light as possible. Hikers would often walk for days in the woods and forests on foot and if they are traveling with a heavy pack, they will shorten their days of travel or would be very exhausted to enjoy the surroundings.

That is why one of the best rules in backpacking tent is to go very light. It’s often a challenge to go light since there are a lot of things you need to pack to survive for a day or two without any help. The backpacking tent is an essential component but that doesn’t mean it will take up a lot of space and would have a very heavy weight.

The Right Backpacking Tent

The first requirement for a good backpacking tent is to be as lightweight as possible. There are a lot of backpacking tents that could be purchased in your local outdoor shop or online but more often than not, a backpacking tent would be a little bit heavy. Be sure to lift the tent and imagine it carrying it along with additional things to your trip.

Another factor you should consider is its color. This is not for aesthetic reasons but for insulation. If you’re going out for the summer, it’s recommended to have a light colored backpacking tent so that it won’t absorb heat. On the other hand, if you’re in a cold area, better have a dark colored tent as this could easily absorb heat and would help keep the heat in your tent.

Legroom should also be considered. There is often a misconception that a backpacking tent should have enough height to let you move without sitting down. The important space you need to consider is on the tents’ size wherein you can lie down without slouching. Sleeping in a smaller tent would be uncomfortable and you’ll end up tired the next day.

Ease of set-up and packing is also an important aspect as you’ll never know when do your really need your tent. If it suddenly rains, not only you need a good place to hide from the rain but you also have to build your tent as much as possible if you don’t find a good hiding place.

An often missed feature is the seam or finish of the connecting cloth. There are brands that are very particular of their seam and you should also inspect their seam. If they are properly woven or connected, you will be protected from rain. If there is a single hole in your tent, your will feel uncomfortable when it rains and they are often seeping on the seam of the tent.

Backpacking Tent vs. Bivy Sacks

A well known alternative to a backpacking tent is bivy sacks. In gist, bivy sacks are your sleeping bags that could be used even without the tent. They could also be lightweight which means you should be able to travel light with a bivy sack. You don’t need to set up the bivy sack as you just unfold them and within a minute or two you can be comfortably sleep in your bivy sack.

There are of course disadvantages for a bivy sack. Among them is that you don’t have enough protection from rain since your head will be sticking out. Another disadvantage is the space since you can’t really move when you slip into a bivy sack. Privacy is also an issue since you can’t easily change in the bevy sack. Temperature control could also be a problem. A bivy sack will only presuppose that you are uncomfortable at night with a cold temperature. In cases of a warm temperate area, you don’t have an option but to be sweaty through the night.

Proper Pitching

Even though you have great backpacking tent; it wouldn’t matter if you don’t know how to properly pitch your tent.

You should always look for a spot where you can properly tent. The land should not only be flat, but also dry. Anything beyond that is highly discouraged as your tent could easily break down in soft land and you’re body will not rest easy if you are in an uneven land.

When you’re trying to set up your backpacking tent, the lower end of the tent should be facing the wind. If you end up with a higher end of the tent, it could easily break down because of the strong wind. But as much as possible, position your tent in places where you could be protected from the wind. On the other hand, never pitch your tent in trees that in danger of falling. If there are strong winds, stay away from very tall tress as they are usually the ones who could fall down.

Caring for Your Backpacking Tent

While traveling, it is important to take care of your backpacking tent. More often than not, you won’t have a spare tent with you so it’s essential to really take care of them.

A very smart and simple idea in caring for your backpacking tent while traveling is never to fold them. Roll your backpack for proper caring. Folding them is easier but it will create creases which will destroy the backpacking tent. Rolling them will never have any creases and unpacking them is relatively faster. Your poles and stakes should not be kept together with your backpacking tent. It might pierce through your tent and destroy your tent.

Your backpacking tent is a very important component for your outdoor travel. Select the right type of backpacking tent and care for it to get you protected and comfortable for the rest of your outdoor trip.