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