Posted ByEugeneCamping is an exciting activity that allows us to explore nature and spend quality time with our loved ones. But in order for your camping trip to be a success, you need to set up your tent quickly and easily. Here at knownothingnomads.com, we’ve compiled 10 tips that will help you do just that.
1. Choose the Right Spot
Before you even begin putting up the tent, make sure you choose the right spot! Look for flat ground free of rocks or sticks and away from water sources as well as animal trails. This can save you some headaches down the line during setup.
2. Unpack The Pieces Carefully
When unpacking the pieces of your tent, take extra care not to tear anything or lose any parts in the process! Make sure all pieces are accounted for before continuing on with setup so avoid frustration later on.
3. Follow Instructions Carefully
Each type of tent has its own instructions which should be followed carefully for best results when setting it up! Don’t try to guess where everything goes – read through each step first and have someone else double-check if needed for accuracy.
4. Stake Out The Corners First
Once all pieces have been laid out correctly, start by staking out each corner with stakes provided in the kit (or buy them separately). This will provide a base structure onto which you can add poles and other components of your new home away from home more easily!
5. Adding poles to secure the structure
Adding the poles is one of the most important steps in securing the structure of your awning, so make sure they are placed correctly according to the instructions in your manual or online guide! Once these are firmly in place, you can move on to attaching rainflys or other accessories such as mosquito nets, depending on the type of shelter system you originally purchased (e.g. dome tents vs. cabin tents).
6. Create an entrance and exit for easy access
Once the poles have been properly and securely inserted into their designated places, create an entrance by unzipping the zips or using the Velcro fasteners now fitted to many modern tents – this will also serve as an easy exit when leaving the campsite without having to crawl over items inside (which could be dangerous!). Remember, it’s always best practice when leaving not only your campsite but any outdoor area – leave no trace!
7. If necessary, secure the tent to the ground with anchors or guy lines Many tents are supplied with anchors which allow the user to further secure the tent against windy conditions or heavy rain by tying guy lines around corners/stakes etc. These extra measures provide maximum security and ensure that nothing blows away in gusts of wind – particularly useful when camping near lakeshores where the wind can be quite strong! Be careful though, not every anchor point will work effectively depending on the type of ground you are camping on, so use your judgement here too!
8. Sealing and investing
Although some tents are already waterproofed, investing in a good rainfly will ensure complete protection from external elements such as rain and snow – as well as providing extra insulation, as air gaps between layers of fabric can cause cold draughts in colder temperatures at night (not ideal when trying to sleep!). In addition, taped seams around the perimeter also help to seal off these air leaks – a great way to keep warm and dry inside, while still being able to enjoy the outdoors without worrying about wet weather ruining your plans!
9. Stow your camping gear
Now comes the fun part: packing everything neatly into your new home away from home! Put mats and bedding first, followed by clothes, storage bags and finally food supplies last – keeping separate compartments organised will help you find items much quicker when you need them, rather than digging through the mess you’ve made beforehand… Bonus points if there’s room left for some decorative items like fairy lights, string plants, hanging pieces, artwork etcetera! Who said campsites weren’t chic?
10. Test before you go
Test the whole structure before heading out into the wild blue yonder 😉 Take a few minutes to walk around the entire perimeter and check the posts, stakes, anchors, guy lines, doors, windows, seals, seams – everything seems secure? All done? Congratulations, now ready to explore the wide open spaces of the world
Following the above advice should help you get your camping tent set up quickly and easily next time you venture outdoors – adventure awaits! Bon voyage friends Happy Travels