Handy Tent Guide

Hints and tips for Tents

With the countries financial issues this year more and more people are expected to stay in England rather than head abroad. This could mean that you take the family on a camping holiday to one of the hundreds of Campsites over the United Kingdom, or maybe you're just a first time festival goer and you've just realized you have to come to grips with your tent now that you've spent all that money on a ticket.

So below you'll find some helpful hints for pitching and caring for your tent.


Before Your Trip

• It is advised to have a few practice's pitching your tent if you haven't before. This will allow you to familiarize you with the tent and to check if the tent has come with any major defects or has any pieces missing.

When Pitching

• If the tent pole jams when being threaded into it's sleeve it is likely one of the metal joints will have snagged on the material, check for where it is caught and release it.
• If the zips on the tent become difficult to close then move the tent pegs to ease the strain of the fabric.
• In warm temperatures the fly sheet will tighten, loosen the guy lines to prevent over-stressing the material.

Condensation

• Condensation is commonly mistaken for a leak in the tent but this is not the case.
• To minimise condensation roll up all storm flaps unless needed.
• Shake or wipe any moisture from the fly sheet, don't worry this will not impair the waterproofing.

Pole Care and Repair

• Start from the centre when folding poles, this will prevent excess strain and bending.
• If your shockcord fails it is possibble to still pitch. Replacement shockcords are available from most stores.
• Replacement pole sections for most tents areavailable from most GO Outdoors stores.

And possibly the worst bit about any camping trip is the prospect of getting the tent back in the small bag it came in. Well for most tents if you follow these simply rules you should be able to do just that.

• Fold the inner & outer into a long thin shape the width of the tent bag
• Roll the tent around the poles to help out the air
• The tent should now fit snuggly inside the bag

If you are staying in Britian or heading for a festival this year then don't forget GO Outdoors stocks a variety of different tents for different occasions. Pop up tents, Back packing tents, Family tents are all available online and in store.

Thanks

Brandon