Last updated on June 18th, 2020 at 09:54 am
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional at camping, there are still many common mistakes that people make when setting up their tent. There are a number of things that you might do when pitching your tent that could cause a nuisance later on in the trip or even something that could be unsafe.
In this blog post, we’re going to tell you the things that you should avoid and the things that you should do, to ensure the perfect camping experience.
The first mistake you can make, is always looking at the ground. Of course this seems logical, because where else would the tent go? But you should also always look at what’s above you. For example, if you pitch your tent below a tree, this might seem like a good idea for the shade, but could also become unsafe if it’s windy. The birds in the trees might also quite like to use your tent as their toilet which can be a nuisance when it comes to packing the tent away!
You should always pitch your tent somewhere that is visibly safe, and you should scan the area to avoid any safety hazards.
Another problem you might encounter when setting up your tent, is not having enough time before it gets dark. It can be tricky to set up your tent in the daylight, let alone in the dark with just the light from a campfire. Make sure that you arrive to the campsite or location early with plenty of daylight hours left, this way – you won’t have to end up in a tricky situation.
You might also want to watch the sun in your location before pitching your tent. If you’ve ever been in a tent in the summer sunshine before, you’ll know that this is something to avoid, you end up with a sauna like experience and it’s certainly not pleasant. If you’re camping during the colder winter months, you’ll probably want to be more into the sunlight to keep the warmth in your tent. If you want to be fully prepared, watch where the sun goes throughout the day and how it will hit your tent at certain times, the morning is the most important as this will represent the rest of your day.
Finally, you should be careful with the ground you choose to pitch on. Don’t just choose the first place that you find. Scanning the area for things like tree roots & rocks is a good start, however, what you really need to think about is camping on higher ground, rather than lower ground. If there is any rain, this will rush to the lower part of the ground and fill your tent.
We hope that these tips will come in handy when you next pitch up your tent.
Do you have any of your own tips to share? Why not share them in the comments below!