Understanding the different parts of a tent and how they work together is important in many regards. You’ll have better knowledge when you are ready to buy your first tent and what to do with it afterwards!

Types A single skin tent consists of one layer of waterproof fabric. Single skin tents may also come with a rain fly or flysheet that is above the tent roof. This fly does not extend down the sides of the tent. Double skin tents consist of an outer tent that encompasses the inner tent. This second layer usually provides some insulation. The inner tent does not need to be waterproof as it has protection from the outer tent. Flysheets and outer tents should never be touching the inner tent due to transfer of water.

Stakes Stakes and pegs anchor the tent to the ground. Some pegs fasten the bottom edge of the fabric to the ground while others attach to guy ropes and pull the tent out to give it form. Guy rope pegs should be inserted into the ground at a right angle to the rope, not straight down vertically. Often times a mallet is handy to drive the stakes into hard ground.

Poles Poles hold the tent up providing structural support. There are rigid poles such as those made from metal and semirigid poles which are made of fiberglass or metal alloys. The poles are likely collapsible in size to make for easier storage and transport.

Air vents Air vents reduce the effects of condensation which occurs when people breathe out. Vents help the water vapour created from our breath escape from the tent. A well ventilated tent will help keep the tent dry come morning time.

Groundsheet A groundsheet provides a waterproof barrier between the ground and the tent floor so you don’t wake up with a wet sleeping bag. Groundsheets are often sewn into the tent but are sometimes separate.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 20th, 2007 at 4:41 pm and is filed under tents. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.