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How to Put Up a Tent: Main Considerations

Learning how to put up a tent is not as difficult as some perceived it to be. The ease of erecting a tent largely depends on its size. Camping tents are easier to pitch and the job can take only five to 25 minutes. For larger tents, the activity can take much longer and professional skills are sometimes required to get it right.

The first step in learning how to put up a tent is to know its parts. A simple tent structure is commonly comprised of a roof and structural support materials that can include poles, stakes or pegs. In some cases, extra layers or covers are also used to protect the main or inner tent from the wind and the rain. For camping tents, optional ground protective coverings are also common.

In building a tent, height is the first consideration. It is the distance between the ground and the top center part of a tent. For camping shelters, four basic heights are commonly used; lie down only, sit, kneel and stand. The height of camping shelters depends mainly on how tall the campers are. For those who are six feet and taller, choices might be a little limited. In its simplest form, a tent with a sitting height can measure between three feet to three feet and six inches, while the most common kneeling height measures between four to five feet.

If an outer tent or flysheet is used, it is important to remember that the outer layer should have no contact with the inner shelter. Preventing the outer tent from touching the inner fabric will help keep the inner part dry should the outer layer become soaked with rain or snow. To make sure that the two layers of fabrics are kept away from each other, extra poles can be used.

Poles, aside from providing shape to the structure, also act as foundations or support. They are an important part of any type of tent since these materials are responsible for how well the structure will be able to stand the wind and other natural elements that can bombard a shelter. To have a stronger structure, use stakes and pegs to fasten the tent to the ground. Guy ropes can also be used, particularly in windy places. These ropes pull the poles and canopy outward to provide stability and better shape.

Learning how to put up a tent can be as enjoyable as the actual camping itself. But before one can be an expert in this activity, several steps are needed to be learned and perfected. Basically, though, it is just a matter of knowing what part of the roof of your house should be attached to your walls.