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All About Tents
by Bradley Clenworth
http://www.fotent.com
The tent was the symbol of ancient Arabia. For the
Ottomans, the tent was a royal structure set up for
ceremonial occasions and trips. Initially, Europe adopted
the tent for the same function, but later on developed it
into a style of roof utilized in large buildings such as
rail stations, botanical gardens, and camping.
While circuses and conventions use large tents, the primary
purpose for a tent in the U.S. today is for backpacking and
camping. Tents are designed to protect their occupants from
the elements, such as rain, wind, and cold as well as bugs
and dust. Tents also provide their users privacy in the
middle of wide-open spaces and a feeling of security once
they are zipped inside for a night\rquote s rest. It is
amazing how much comfort and reassurance one feels when
enclosed by stitched panels of nylon supported by
fiberglass poles.
The most sought after kind of tent is domed shaped and is
supported by fiberglass poles that are secured into the
ground for stability. The dome shape of a tent offers more
room on the inside, as well as ample head room for those on
the tall side and stand up a little better in stronger
winds and rain. Some are freestanding tents that don't
require stakes to hold them up and are easily taken down
and carried to another campsite.
Another type of tent is a tunnel tent, which employs a
linear design typically involving a rectangular floor plan.
Also called hoop tents, tunnel models use fewer poles, less
fabric and often have wedge-like shapes. One disadvantage
of tunnel tents their rainfly, which lies flatter and can
collect snow easier. Tents also come in frame and cabin
varieties, but these models are usually larger and intended
for use as base camps or in campgrounds.
Tents come in three-season and four-season models. Three
season tents are intended for spring, summer and fall usage
in temperate weather. They perform well in rain and wind,
though they are not suited to withstand heavy snow loads.
Sturdier four season models typically utilize one or two
additional poles to fortify walls to help them stand firm
against heavy snow loads or severe wind. They work just
fine in mild weather, but their extra poles make them a bit
heavier than their three-season counterparts.
When choosing a tent, pick one able to withstand the
harshest conditions you might encounter. Also take into
account how much weight you are willing to carry. Four-
season tents are roughly 10 to 20 percent heavier than
three-season models, so if you do not anticipate camping in
late fall or winter, it might be best to choose a three-
season model. Another aspect to take into account is
capacity rating. A tent deemed a two-person by a
manufacturer might be a tight squeeze for two large adults
and their gear. In this case it would probably be best to
choose a three-man tent to provide better room.
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