Tents - How To Choose & Care For (courtesy of A Campers Dream.com)
March 25, 2004 -- First and foremost - Do not choose a tent by price! Choose it by what you're going to use it for and the features that it has. Decide what is most important to you, weight, sturdiness, ventilation, space, versatility, storage areas, amount of windows, general tent shape and height, number of doors, color of its canopy, etc.
Be sure to choose a tent that's big enough for your purposes, one where everyone will have plenty of room to sleep comfortably and space to stow your gear, especially if you're planning an extended outing. Our tent sizes (see at www.acampersdream.com) refer to the maximum number of adults that can be sheltered without gear. To keep equipment dry and accessible, you may want to purchase an over-sized tent. A rectangular tent offers the most floor space for sleeping and lounging while a more hexagonal design offers room to store gear and clothing next to a sleeper.
Get some vinyl sheeting to put on the ground underneath your tent; it will help keep out moisture and protect the tent's floor from sharp rocks or twigs. Don't set it up on muddy ground.
Do not wear your boots inside or let your pets walk around inside (because of their sharp nails). Sand, dirt and other abrasives will scratch the waterproof coating, clog up the zippers, and encourage mildew growth.
Whenever possible, set up your tent in the shade and use the fly, even in dry weather. It's like a sun shade for your tent.
Try not to use poles at full length; use one segment at a time. Putting a drop of lubricant on the joints will help them slide together easily. And, try not to chip the poles. They have an anodized coating on them to keep them from corroding.
Pack your tent as unsoiled as possible. Dirt and debris will abrade the fabric and it will be easy for mildew to grow - yuck! It's easiest to get any gunk cleaned off when the tent is still pitched. If there is anything you can't clean off at the campsite, when you get home be sure and clean it off with mild soap and water and let it dry thoroughly before you put it back in the bag.
This article courtesy of http://www.forjourney.com.
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