it gorgeous on the inside.
Picture credit: The North Face
The most important thing is comfort. As soon as your tent is pitched, decide what is going to go where and keep it meticulously tidy. If everything’s in its place, you won’t end up trying to find your torch in the pitch black or rolling over to find yourself putting your head on a pile of plates.
It’s best to decide where your bed is going to be positioned first. I can cope with anything as long as I have a good night’s sleep. But, if deprived of my full eight hours, even in the wilderness, I become impossible. Make sure you think about which way you want to face while sleeping. I like to have my feet facing the door, although at festivals it’s quite popular to sleep with your head close to the door, so you can chat to your neighbours. Make your bed and pile on the pillows.
Next, choose your kitchen area, somewhere for clothes and somewhere for the important things including the torch, matches and corkscrew, books and chocolate. I think this is important regardless of the size of the tent.
Picture credit: The North Face
Luxuries are an important part of tent life. Rugs are a must, for me at least. They can be heavy, though, so tricky if you’re hiking. Groundsheets have a horribly crackly, utilitarian feel and walking on rugs is much more comfortable. They also help to keep the tent warm at night.
It’s also vital to get the lighting right. Bright fluorescent torches are OK for walking to the loo at night, but in your tent you’ll want an altogether softer light. Gas lamps are good for this, as are the lanterns that take tea-lights, but obviously take care to avoid any fire hazards.
Most campsites allow you to have a sleeping tent and a pup tent on your pitch. These are usually very small tents, but can be useful for storage.
If you’re going camping with older children, they tend to love sleeping in their own tents. As long as it’s safe I think this should be strongly encouraged. It makes it more of an adventure for them and more peaceful for you.
Picture credit: The North Face
Buy the best you can
Buy the best tent you can afford and never buy a tent without first having seen it up.
Hot advice…
If you’re camping somewhere you’re likely to get chilly, then line the base of your tent with a metallic safety blanket. Shiny side up, it’ll reflect your body heat back into the tent.
Look for funky colours
Tents are often made in rather uninspiring colours, but you can hunt out some pretty ones. Cath Kidston makes gorgeous patterned ones for Millets.
The joy of text
If you’re camping at a large campsite or festival, it’s a good idea to put a flag on your tent. Orange developed a tent that lit up when you sent it a text message. Sadly, so far no one has made it commercially.
Make it your own
If you want to customise your tent make sure you do it safely. Paint and hangings can damage the waterproofing. A helium balloon flying from the top is always rather sweet, as is bunting.
Be prepared
Check the weight of the tent before you buy it. If you’re travelling by car and can park right next to your pitch it’s not an issue. If you’re hiking up a large hill it most definitely is.
Keep bedding dry
Store your bedding in a bin bag to ensure that it doesn’t get wet when you’re making camp. There are few things as depressing as being out all day only to find yourself sleeping in a soggy bed when it’s time to turn in.
Frame
These are the most like a house. They’re large and you can walk around freely as there’s enough headroom. Usually they have a number of separate rooms.
Vis-a-vis
This means the tent has a bedroom at each side of the living area.
Pyramid
These are triangular in shape and are easy to erect because they have a central pole.
Ridge
Traditional triangular tents, which are sturdy and offer a lot of headroom. Their weakness is that the sides are unsupported.
Lightweight/dome
The most suitable tents for backpackers as they’re compact and aren’t heavy. Dome tents come in larger sizes for families or those who want to camp in a crowd.
Geodesic
These tents are similar to the dome variety, but because they have a different pole configuration they’re sturdier in high winds.
Hoop
These are like a cross between a ridge tent and a dome tent. They’re lightweight, spacious and are good in windy conditions.
Inflatables
An ingenious invention, as you don’t have to go through the palaver of erecting the tent, you simply blow it up with a foot pump.
Picture credit: The North Face
tipi or not tipi?
Everyone should sleep in a tipi at least once. Their combination of elegance and practicality, and the way they allow one to gaze at the stars at night, make them truly romantic and my favourite camping
