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Dome tent hints
We use a synthetic
dome tent, it packs away small and light, and is
assembled in 5-10 minutes once you're used to it. They're
relatively cheap
too. The 'man' ratings seem to work on how many
people you can cram in rather than how many are
comfortable. Ours is a 'six' man tent, that's
suited more for four, but we use it for two very
comfortably.
Look around before you buy,
they can be very different in the detail. We were
disappointed with the offering at Rays, but the local
camping store tents were much better
to the 'trained' eye.
Check out where and how the
strings are attached, they're pretty useless on the
corners only, ventilation is good, so are places to hang
things. Are there doors front and back for better access
and ventilation. Is there
an inner and outer skin, does the waterproof floor rise
up the sides, or sit flat on ground. Clear
windows that can be uncovered are handy. A door
that converts to overhead shade with aluminium poles can
be useful. When you buy, get a quantity of larger sturdy tent pegs and a small
hammer too, you'll find out why when you hit hard
ground.
Some people get massive tents to fit the whole family in, I'd rather
get a small one for the kids. The floor space on
ours is about the area of the car which is small enough
to fit in tight bush spaces.
If there is little wind, you can go easy on the tie
downs, and use less pegs, it won't go anywhere. But in
the wind watch out! They will withstand it OK as
long as you tie down well, we've seen tent fly's blow
away overnight, with their occupants waking up well
exposed to the fresh morning air, it's kind of funny but
not much good for their holiday.
We've also woken up with ankle deep
rain around our tent, and completely dry inside, that's
why you need a waterproof floor that comes up the sides.
Some are not real good in the snow
and will start to cave in with the weight, usually designs
with more poles and curvier roof shapes will be better.
If your zip 'breaks' and the metal
thingy is running up and down without doing anything,
you can often fix it by closing it together with
some pliers, but don't go too far. Our tents have
been saved many times this way.
For hiking, you'll want something
light and compact, the rip stop materials will help keep
it in one piece, but are not essential. Aluminium
pegs will save weight. Hiking tents are normally
simpler and lighter with less features to save weight.
Canvas tents
Bulky and heavy but resistant to wear.
Usually less 'stuffy' than the synthetic dome
type due to material breathability. Will stay darker when it gets light.
Swags
A small one man 'tent'.
Well they don't really pack up all that small, and
they're not all that light, no good for hiking, but very
popular quick and convenient. The equivalent
hiking thing would be a bivvy bag, which is basically a
light waterproof cover for your sleeping bag and not
much more, no tent required.
Camper trailers and caravans
Sorry don't know much about these, except that the
misses wants a camper trailer eventually, and I don't
want to lug it around. Would make setup easy
though, just park anywhere and you're done! At
the end of they day, just get what you're comfortable
with.
When a tent isn't so good....
A tent can be inconvenient at times
is not ideal if you will encounter a lot of....... very
rocky ground, wind, rain, sandy ground, or limited time
to set up. You may be better with a camper
trailer, roof top tent or staying indoors.
Where not to
place your tent Look
up. Be careful about placing your tent under gum
trees. Some gums like to drop branches without
warning. You hear stories about this on the news.
It's the river red gums and
similar large trunked gums with the fat branches I'd be
worried about. The more spindly and flexible gums
aren't such a problem. As you travel, you'll see
dropped branches so take note of what they're from.
Don't camp in dry water channels
or river beds, if it rains even distantly you can be
flooded. Think about where the water will flow.
Same thing goes for beaches, don't
camp at below the high tide level.
If you stop at a potential camp
spot and find it swarmed by insects of the biting kind,
it may be better to move on, we were itchy for a week
after one bad experience. Smoke may keep them away
or lessen them but not during fire ban periods.
Look down. Ant nests,
branches, rocks and bracken can make you
uncomfortable and sharp bits put holes through the
floor.
Near animals or their tracks may
not be ideal, but they'll usually just keep to
themselves. Up north be aware of crocodiles, but
that's a whole other topic.
Hard ground can be impossible to
peg into, it may be better to move elsewhere.
Don't block your vehicle in behind
the tent, or you won't be able to get out quickly in an
emergency.
Keep the ground as level as
possible, and think about door and sleeping positions.
Exposed hill tops can be windy and
cold, and valleys can capture the still cold air.
Keep out of private properties and
away from busy road sides.
Keep away from cliff edges or a
half sleepy midnight toilet break could be your last.
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