| A 'tent' is a shelter, consisting of | | | | round. One or more inner tents provide |
| sheets of fabric or other material | | | | sleeping areas. The outer tent may be |
| draped over or attached to a frame of | | | | just a little larger than the inner |
| poles and/or ropes. Some tent styles are | | | | tent, or it may be a lot larger and |
| free-standing, while others are attached | | | | provide a covered living area separate |
| to the ground using guy ropes tied to | | | | from the sleeping area(s). An inner tent |
| stakes (pegs). Tents were first used as | | | | need not be waterproof. |
| portable homes by nomadic peoples, but | | | | When a flysheet or outer tent is used, |
| today, their main application is for | | | | it is important that there be no contact |
| recreational camping. Modern tents are | | | | with the inner tent it is protecting; |
| usually made of fire-retardant material. | | | | this keeps the inner dry even if the |
| Tents range in size from those barely | | | | outer is wet. Expedition tents often |
| large enough for one person to sleep in | | | | have extra poles to help ensure that |
| up to huge (circus) tents capable of | | | | wind does not blow the two layers into |
| seating thousands of people. The bulk of | | | | contact. The double layer may provide |
| this article is concerned with | | | | some insulation. |
| recreational camping using tents capable | | | | A groundsheet is used to provide a |
| of sleeping from 1 up to about 10 | | | | waterproof barrier between the ground |
| people. Larger tents are discussed in a | | | | and a sleeping bag. With double skin |
| separate section below. | | | | tents, the inner tents normally have a |
| Tents for recreational camping are | | | | sewn-in groundsheet, but a separate flat |
| generally transportable by car. | | | | groundsheet may be provided for any |
| Depending on tent size and the | | | | living area. With single skin tents, the |
| experience of the person or people | | | | groundsheet may be sewn in or separate. |
| involved, such tents can usually be | | | | Normal practice with sewn-in |
| assembled (pitched) in between 5 and 25 | | | | groundsheets is for the groundsheet to |
| minutes; disassembly (striking) takes a | | | | extend some 15 cm (6 in) up the lower |
| similar length of time (some very | | | | part of the walls (sometimes called a |
| specialised tents have spring-loaded | | | | bath-tub arrangement); this copes with a |
| poles and can be 'pitched' in 2 seconds, | | | | situation where water seeps under the |
| but take somewhat longer to strike). | | | | side walls of the tent. Separate |
| Smaller tents may be sufficiently light | | | | groundsheets allow loadsharing when |
| that they can be carried for long | | | | backpacking, and may make it easier to |
| distances on a person's back, or on a | | | | pitch and strike a tent, but they |
| touring bicycle, a boat, or even a pack | | | | provide less protection against insects |
| animal. | | | | etc. getting into the sleeping area; |
| Tent fabric may be made of many | | | | also, if any part of a separate |
| materials including cotton (canvas), | | | | groundsheet protudes from under the side |
| nylon, and polyester. Cotton absorbs | | | | walls, then it provides a ready path for |
| water, so it can become very heavy when | | | | moisture to flow into the tent. |
| wet, but the associated swelling tends | | | | The poles provide structural support. |
| to block any minute holes so that wet | | | | They may be collapsible for easier |
| cotton may be more waterproof than dry | | | | transport and storage. Some designs use |
| cotton. Nylon and polyester are much | | | | rigid poles, typically made of metal, or |
| lighter than cotton and do not absorb | | | | sometimes wood. Other designs use |
| much water; with suitable coatings they | | | | semirigid poles, typically made of |
| can be very waterproof, but they tend to | | | | fiberglass, or sometimes of special |
| deteriorate over time due to a slow | | | | metal alloys. |
| chemical breakdown caused by | | | | Stakes or pegs may be used to fasten the |
| ultra-violet light. Since stitching | | | | tent to the ground. Some are attached to |
| makes tiny holes in a fabric, it is | | | | guy ropes that pull outward on the poles |
| important that any seams are sealed or | | | | and/or fabric to help shape the tent or |
| taped to block up these holes. | | | | give it additional stability. Others are |
| Rain resistance is measured as a | | | | used to anchor the bottom edge of the |
| hydrostatic head in millimetres or you | | | | fabric to the ground. Pegs may be made |
| could say,mm. This indicates the | | | | of wood, plastic, or metal. A mallet may |
| pressure of water needed to penetrate a | | | | be needed to drive thicker pegs into the |
| fabric. Heavy or wind-driven rain has a | | | | ground. Skewer metal pegs consisting |
| higher pressure than light rain. | | | | essentially of a length of thick wire |
| Standing on a groundsheet increases the | | | | with a hook on one end can usually be |
| pressure on any water underneath. Fabric | | | | inserted by hand, except if the ground |
| with a hydrostatic head of 1000 mm or | | | | is very hard, but may not be as strong |
| less is best regarded as shower | | | | as more substantial pegs. Pegs used for |
| resistant, with 1500 mm being usually | | | | guy ropes should not be driven |
| suitable for summer camping. Tents for | | | | vertically into the ground; instead for |
| year round use generally have at least | | | | maximum strength they should be driven |
| 2000 mm; expedition tents intended for | | | | in at an angle so that the peg is at |
| extreme conditions are often rated at | | | | right angles to the guy rope attached to |
| 3000 mm. Where quoted, groundsheets may | | | | it. Lighter free standing tents may need |
| be 5000 mm or more. | | | | some guy ropes and pegs to prevent them |
| Many tent manufacturers indicate | | | | from being blown away. |
| capacity by such phrases as "3 berth" or | | | | Multiple air vents should be provided to |
| "2 person". These numbers indicate how | | | | help reduce the effects of condensation. |
| many people the manufacturer thinks can | | | | When people breathe, they expel quite a |
| be crammed snugly into a tent, with just | | | | lot of water vapour. If the outside of |
| sleeping bags. These numbers do not | | | | the tent is colder than the inside (the |
| allow for any personal belongings such | | | | usual case), then this vapour will |
| as, luggage, inflatable mattresses, camp | | | | condense on the inside of the tent, on |
| beds, cots, etc. Experience indicates | | | | any clothing lying about, on the outside |
| that camping may be more comfortable if | | | | of a sleeping bag, etc. so that |
| the actual number of campers is 1 or | | | | everything is damp in the morning. Hence |
| even 2 less than the manufacturer's | | | | it is important to have plenty of |
| suggestion. | | | | ventilation to help dispel the vapour |
| Tents can be improvised using waterproof | | | | and get it outside the tent, even if |
| fabric, string, and sticks. This allows | | | | this lets in cold air and makes the tent |
| them to be easily built and moved. | | | | feel a little cooler. Many inner tents |
| There are three basic types of tents | | | | are made of some 'breathable' material |
| (but each type may appear in many | | | | so that water vapour can more easily |
| different styles): | | | | pass through it. |
| Single skin (USA: single wall). Only one | | | | An optional tent footprint or |
| waterproof layer of fabric is used, | | | | groundsheet protector may be used. This |
| comprising at least roof and walls. | | | | is a separate flat groundsheet which |
| Single skin with flysheet. A flysheet or | | | | goes underneath the main groundsheet, |
| rain fly is suspended over and clear of | | | | and is slightly smaller than that |
| the roof of the tent; it often overlaps | | | | groundsheet. The intention is to protect |
| the tent roof slightly, but does not | | | | the main groundsheet, especially when |
| extend down the sides or ends of the | | | | camping on rough terrain, since it is |
| tent. | | | | much cheaper to replace a separate |
| Double skin (USA: double wall). The | | | | footprint groundsheet than it is to |
| outer tent is like a flysheet, but | | | | replace a sewn-in groundsheet. |
| extends right down to the ground all | | | | |