Five Basic Parts Of The Tent

If it is your first time to go camping, you might find it rather hard to set up your tent especially if it is new. You will have to depend on the manual to be able to set up your tent. Unlike those who are experienced campers, setting up is just like eating popcorn. If you come to think of it, most camping tents have the same parts and all you have to do is get to know these parts to be able to figure out how they are used. Here are some of the basic parts.

1. Inner Tent. This is the basic part of your tent. Without this part you will have no room to sleep in. In other words, the inner tent is the main body of the tent. The inner tent can either be waterproofed or meshed.

Meshed inner tents usually have a waterproof rainfly to protect it from getting wet. The other type of inner tent also known as single skin tents are already made of waterproof and breathable materials. This is the type of inner tent that doesn't need a rainfly.

2. Rainfly. This part is exclusively found in double skinned tents; the type of tents whose inner tents are usually made of mesh like materials. Other manufacturers use the term flysheet instead of rainfly but nevertheless the two are one and the same. This part is placed over the inner tent and reaches to the sides. An adequate space is maintained between the flysheet and the inner tent in order to keep the inner tent dry. A separate pole is usually used to keep the rainfly in place.

3. Poles. You cannot simply put up your tent without the poles. So when you are packing, make sure that you pack the tent poles with you. The poles work in the same way as the bones in the body does; meaning it provides structure and support. The tent will be able to take shape if you have the poles.

4. Stakes, Screws and Pegs. Can you imagine yourself going after a flying tent on a windy day? Of course not it would be rather embarrassing to find your tent up in the air while camping. To keep this from happening, stakes, screws or tent pegs are used to secure the tent on the ground.

There are usually metal rings attached on the four corners of the ground sheet. The stakes are driven through the middle of these rings. Other than securing the tent, the stakes or tent pegs also help in giving the tent its shape. A mallet is usually used to drive the stakes into the ground.

5. Ground sheet. This is the bottom part of the tent. It is on the ground sheet where you sleep and place your other gear. The ground sheet is made from waterproof materials because this will serve as a barrier between you, your sleeping bag and the ground. There are also separate ground sheets available. The usual practice in double skinned tents is that the ground sheet is usually attached to the bottom part while in single skinned tents the ground sheet can either be attached or separated.

It is best that you get to know the different parts of your tent so that when you go camping you won't have a hard time looking for the various parts. Remember that the manual doesn't exactly tell you which is which so it is still best if you get to know your tent parts first.