Everyone looks forward to having the best experience when camping. A sturdy and well-secured tent will assure you of the comfort and peace you deserve.
Yet, you might not understand how to get the best from this. Here are a few insights to help you in this pursuit.
How to Select a Windproof Tent
Choosing an excellent windproof tent helps improve your comfort during the camping period. While this process could be a little too daunting sometimes, observing the following elements could help realize the best in the long run.
1. Check the Material
The material used in making a campsite tent determines its durability, reliability, and comfort. It would be best to choose premium materials.
There are various materials from which to choose: cotton, canvas, nylon, and polyester. Canvas and cotton materials are excellent choices, thanks to their breathability, insulation, and weatherproof abilities.
Ensure that the chosen material can withstand severe weather.
2. Confirm the Tent Weight
Take the time to verify how heavy the tent is. While everyone looks forward to lightweight yet spacious tents, they can only get one.
Roomy tents tend to be a little heavier and vice versa. You’ll decide between the minimum and maximum weight.
Whichever you choose, ensure that it offers you enough room and is still relatively lightweight. Heavier tents can withstand strong winds.
3. Decide Between 4-Season and 3-Season Tents
3-Season tents are excellent choices for spring, fall, and summer, while the 4-season tent is ideal for all seasons. Mostly, the 3-season tent seems a little lightweight, yet it is more relaxed during hot weather.
The 4-season tent is heavy, pricy, comfortable, and able to withstand severe winds.
4. Check the Design
You’ll choose between a single-wall and a double-wall design. Double-wall designs are suitable for severe weather, including winds. Conversely, single-wall tents are lightweight and ideal for camping during less windy days.
How to Secure Your Tent During High Winds
Understanding how to secure the tent during high winds helps improve your safety and comfort. It is no easy task, and it requires you to consider the following tips.
1. Add More Weight
Most experts suggest that you weigh down your tent during high winds. This could be through using or storing any of your baggage, backpack, or gear in the tent.
Adding weight to your structure helps protect it against strong winds or getting carried away easily. Remember, this option works well if your tent is lightweight or single-walled.
2. Secure its Rainfly
A rainfly is a vital element of a tent, as it prevents rainwater from entering the tent. Yet, securing this feature helps prevent your tent from getting blown away by the winds.
Securing each Velcro on this rainfly will improve the tent’s stability. Typically, this rainfly comes with corner straps, which you’ll tighten from time to time.
3. Assemble the Poles
Poles play a significant role in boosting stability and adding support to the tent. Ensure that you install the poles per the instructions provided in the manual.
It will also be best for you to use the recommended poles to assure you of better results. You must also drive the poles right into the ground, ensuring that they are stable enough.
4. Stake It Down
Hammering the stakes into the ground, preferably at about 45 degrees, helps improve support and stability. Ensure that you start with the windward side, fastening each pole accordingly.
You can then attach the tent poles on the opposite side and ensure that you drive the stakes deep into the ground. Unless the stakes are strong enough, the tent might not be stable enough to withstand high winds.
5. Point the Tent in the Right Direction
Experts suggest that you point the tent towards the tent’s direction. This direction ensures that the tent is less susceptible to high winds. It will also make sure that the tent remains upright all through.
Besides, such will be the time to consider the location of the tent. Ensure that you choose a spot that does not face the wind. It will protect it from getting blown away.
You must also avoid erecting the tent under trees, as broken branches could fall on it and cause injuries.
6. Pitch the Tent Accordingly
Take the time to understand how to pitch your tent. The best move would be to consider whatever the manual states.
Usually, you will have to pitch it in a way that allows winds to go around and over it, protecting it from getting blown away.
Drive the poles deep into the ground, match them to the grommets, and attach the tent to them. Ensure that there are no spaces, as this minimizes susceptibility.
7. Use Guylines
When pitching your tent, you will use guylines to help improve stability. Guylines are strings that you attach to the rainfly and stake to the ground, enhancing protection against the high winds.
You will have to set up these guylines on all sides of the tent, ensuring maximum stability from all sides. These guylines need to be a relatively short distance away from the tent’s base, increasing strength yet reducing flapping.
8. Remove the Sidewalls
Removing the sidewalls from the tent will help improve its stability during high winds. This step helps reduce the amount of pressure exerted on the tent.
Besides, it ensures that the wind does not knock out the poles. Instead, it passes through the tent.
9. How About a Tarp
Adding a tarp over your entire tent is an excellent move in protecting it against the high winds. These tarps are not only windproof and waterproof but also robust.
As long as you go for an industrial-sized tarp, you will be sure of enhanced safety, stability, and support.
10. Use Anti-Sink Pole Plates
This move could be a little effort-draining for some people. Yet, its results remain unmatched. Using pole plates helps improve stability and safety, thanks to ensuring the poles remain under the ground.
You can also rely on them if you do not want to leave any marks on the ground.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, protecting your tent from blowing away helps avoid inconveniences and even injuries. The insights above help ensure that you cushion your tent against getting blown away. While it is not an exhaustive list, it assures you of the best methods to use.