Camping trips are fun. They take you deep into the heart of nature and let you sync with the wholesome vibes of our planet. Needless to say, a Camping trip is incomplete without custom tents. You need your tent to protect you from everything from the sun’s heat and showers to cold drafts. Nights spent out in the open with just a tent for shelter leave you with an experience of a lifetime.  

Suppose it’s your first camping trip. How would you go about pitching your tent? Fret not. Follow this step by step guide to acquire the skills you need to pitch a pop up tent effortlessly.     

1. Choose The Right Spot

Before you can set about pitching your tent in the wilderness there are a couple of things you need to heed. It’s essential to pitch your tent in the right spot. Look for solid ground. Avoid boggy ground inside a forest or sandy areas in arid landscapes. Muddy soil or loose sand is detrimental to the stability of your tent and can cause it to topple at the drop of a hat. 

Out in the forest, choose clearings between clusters of trees. And watch out for extruding tree branches before you pitch your tent. They can do serious damage to your tent by ripping through the tent canopy and leaving you exposed to the elements. Out in the desert, it’s best to camp in the shade of a ridge. And stay as far as you can from sand dunes. They shift with the wind and when they do, you don’t want to be in their path! 

If you are camping in a reserved campsite, watch out for rocks and pebbles on the ground. You don’t want them poking through your tent mattress.

2. Unpacking and Pitching Your Custom Tent 

Once you have identified the best spot to camp, it’s time to pitch your pop up tent. You don’t need to be an expert of some sort to go about the job. Modern tents are extremely user-friendly and setting one up is a breeze. Just follow these simple steps to pitch your tent:

• Unpack your tent.
• Stretch out the frame slightly.
• Attach the canopy to the frame with fasteners. 
• The connectors need to be in place.
• Now expand the frame to its full size. 

Next, you need to secure your tent. Here’s how to go about that:

• If you are camping on semi-hard ground, use tent stakes and guy ropes to secure your tent.
• Hammer the tent stakes into the ground. 
• Now use guy ropes to attach the tent canopy with the tent stakes. Make sure the ropes are taut and not sagging. 
• Tent stakes won’t work on hard surfaces. Use weight plates, sand bags or water weights instead.
• Attach footplates to the frame of your custom tent. 
• Place weight plates on the footplates, or attach sandbags or water bags with the help of Velcro fasteners to the tent’s legs, and your tent is secure. 

Simple Yet Essential Accessories to Carry While Camping

Inflatable Tent Mattress

An inflatable tent mattress should be at the top of your list of items to carry during camping. You’ll need to rest after a hard day of trekking and your back needs a cushy support when you lie down. A bathtub type tent mattress is a smart iteration of this all-important accessory that can be a lifesaver in wet conditions. It has raised edges like a bathtub (hence the name!) and it keeps water from accumulating inside your tent in the rainy season. 

Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag is another accessory you can’t do without while camping, especially in cold weather conditions. Nothing beats this accessory when it comes to keeping one insulated. Tucked inside a sleeping bag, you get to retain your body heat even when it’s snowing outside.  

Miscellaneous Items to Carry

Here’s a few important things you should remember to pack along with other stuff. 

• Waterproof clothing for the wet season and insulating garments for the cold days.
• A portable light.
• A pocket or bush-craft knife and a camping axe.
• A first aid kit.
• A communications devise for emergencies.
• As much drinking water as you can carry on your person. 
• Dry food items.

The list isn’t necessarily limited to the items mentioned above and you can always think up other items to carry. The idea is to be prepared for all sorts of scenarios. 

Endnote 

Tents aren’t just limited to the camping scene these days. Commercial tents have literally reshaped the business landscape. You can see branded pop up tents doing duty as pavilions in tradeshows and exhibitions, promoting brands and essentially functioning as great marketing tools. Heavy duty canopies have found use in everything from outdoor restaurants to adventure sports sites.  We believe it is safe to assume that the modern outdoor tent is one of the most versatile accessories ever invented by man.