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Archive for the ‘Tent Accessories’ Category
Take Care of It!
Small Family Camping!
As we have previously discussed, it is critical to maintain your camping tent. If you want it there for you, you got to take care of it. But, aside from those general care/cleaning tips, there are other tent “No/No’s” that you should be aware of:
- Don’t roll up the tent when wet – It will develop fungi/mold that will damage the material and form a lasting nauseous smell.
- Eating inside of the tent – Food crumbs will attract ants, bugs, and other creepy crawlers. Open food products might encourage a visit from the bigger four legged kind including bears.
- Do not store near a heat source – Keep it in a cool place; heat can also deteriorate its quality.
- Roll-up your tent, rather than folding it – Folding it along the same crease lines will eventually wear out the material along those lines.
- Don’t ignore defects – It won’t get better with time, only worse.
Family camping would not be complete without camping tents. Once you have obtained quality equipment, it is important that you do those things that will maximize its potential by taking care of it and using within designed requirements.
Tent Maintenance!
Water Repellent!
Yesterday the neighbor and I were talking about summer camping trips. He said that he wouldn’t be doing much this year, the economy being as it is, and that he couldn’t really afford to go out and purchase replacement tents as needed. He further said that what he had was old and non-functional – the flooring in one of the tents was torn, zippers in neither tent worked properly and both tents leaked like a sieve. I asked if he thought about repairing them , and he said that it would probably cost more than it was worth.
I explained that the camping tents I have are twenty years old and have been repaired numerous times. I’ve fixed/replaced zippers, patched holes/tears and each year I spray them with a water-guard that repels the leaking. I suggested that he take inventory and determine exactly what the problems are. There are retail outlets that have outstanding tent repair kits/replacement parts and accessories that will take care of most damages quite cheaply and effectively.
Choose the Correct Camping Tent!
7+ Person Tent!
Arguably, your tent will be your most valuable camp-site possession. Choosing the right one is super critical and must be considered a qualified priority. Tents come in various styles, shapes, and sizes. They vary from a 1-person design that can be carried in/on a backpack, to an eight-person family tent that can almost be configured as a second home (small exaggeration). Therefore, it is important that your selection be based carefully and on intended use.
How much standing room do you need? It may be that you can stand in the living area but not the sleeping area, or may be you want to be able to stand anywhere inside the tent. Smaller camping tents do not provide for standing room but will be tall enough when sitting. So, it is important to check the tent’s height specifications.
Camping is fun but choosing the right tent-age is crucial. It can be and normally is a deal-breaker, so do your research.. Most tents come with construction details and specifications, this should assist with selection. Make sure you have the required number of stakes (+5) and a mallet – Have Fun!
A Life Saver!
Spacious!
Anticipating our yearly family pilgrimage to the mountains of Colorado, I went out and purchased two new family tents. Our family consists of my wife, I, and two daughters. The girls are grown enough to sleep separately, so I purchased a 3-person tent for them – a-little extra room for storage.
For the wife and I, we got the Eureka, Titan – Family Tent. My concern was getting one that was big enough to sleep us all, in a pinch; had a divider with several windows and large enough to provide space for inclement weather activities (if needed).
The seven day trip provided uneventful traveling, 3-days of beautiful Rocky Mountain weather, and 2-days with pour-en down rain. However, the family tent worked-out perfectly. Most notable was Dad getting beat at checkers by all three ladies!
Pure Outdoor Enjoyment!
Dry and Spacious!
Late, last fall, the wife and I with friends went on a weekend camping trip to the mouth of the great Mississippi River. Through the years, while traveling, we have crossed it many times as it meandered, in its majestic glory, southward from Northwestern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Until this trip, it was difficult to fathom the river being anything but big, powerful, and terribly intimidating.
However – this great river, like most others, starts as a small stream that can be crossed by jumping over it or traversing it by stepping on existing stones sticking out of the water. There it was quiet, bubbly, and quite forgiving; the wife missed one of the stepping stones and fell flat on her backside - nothing was hurt but her pride; but, if you were to ask, she would deny the mishap - saying: Without a bridge, I walked across the Mississippi!
We enjoyed the trip immensely but realized that our camping gear was in bad need of repair or replacement. The first night it rained and our camping tents leaked. Our battery operated lanterns didn’t seem to hold the charge they should’ve. My hatchet, axe, and knives needed sharpening. The fuel can for the cooking stove had a pin-hole in it. But, considering all, those were such small inconveniences compared with the sheer enjoyment of this outdoor experience!
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