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How to Pitch a Tent: What Campers Need to Know

The emergence of lightweight, self-supporting tents has made life easier for campers. Prior to the introduction of light tent fabrics such as nylon and polyester, it has been a necessity for outdoor enthusiasts to know how to pitch a tent. But improved canopy designs have provided recreational campers with pre-formed shelters, color-coded poles and a host of other helpful materials to make tent pitching easier than it used to be.

One of the most important aspects of knowing how to pitch a tent is site selection. The place where the tent will be erected should be as level as possible. It is also best to choose a place away from trees. Although trees can provide added shelter, they can also create problems when the wind starts to pick up.  

After the site has been selected, staking the tent down is the next step. All tents should be staked down to keep them from being blown away. This step is done after the tent body has been erected and before the fly is draped over the foundation. Staking before the fly is put on allows the camper to get the proper shape for the shelter and ensures that the fly is properly aligned to the frame. To get the best tension, start at one corner then move to the opposite diagonal corner for the next stake or peg until all four corners are staked out.

To determine whether the staking has been too tight, check the zip of the canopy. If the zipper is too difficult to open, then the stakes should be loosened a bit. After the tent has been staked, put the fly over the frame and attach its connection points. For each type of ground, a particular type of stake is needed. For a sandy site, long, broad stakes are needed while steel stakes are better for hard, rocky and frozen ground. For a snowy ground, campers can use anchors or materials that have wider surface areas. They can be anything from branches, snow-filled sacks to snow shoes and ski poles.

If the camping ground is in a windy or snowy site, guylines must be used. The guylines will act as anchors and serve as angle cover for each other. The right anchor holds the tent if it is being blown leftward and the left will provide the protection if it is being blown towards the right side. Since most tent models feature loops or rings for guyouts, it is much easier to attach this added protection. Proper attachment of guylines will prevent movement except toward the anchor.

Knowing how to pitch a tent is a useful skill, particularly for those who love the outdoors. Although most modern tent models are designed to make pitching an easier job, knowing the basic steps is still a handy skill that every camper needs to learn.