Today’s popular tents are typically dome-shaped, freestanding designs made from high-tech synthetic materials. With proper rain and tarp protection, these tents can withstand just about anything Mother Nature can throw at them. Just about anything but the wind!
To understand the adverse effects that the wind can play on a tent, you just have to look at a tent from an aerodynamic perspective. The consequence of the wind blowing through the dome shape of a tent is no different than that of the air passing over the curved wing of an airplane, that is, the elevator. And this lift is the main reason you need to stake your tent, because without the stakes your tent could quickly turn into a kite in the lightest winds and destroy itself as it falls through the woods or the dunes of sand.
Of course, another reason to stake your tent could be that you didn’t find a level campground, and you pull and sleep, and you know that if you don’t stake your tent, you will wake up in the morning and find your tent at the next campground, or worse. still, in the stream or lake.
When choosing a campground, a primary consideration should be finding one that has relatively high and level ground to pitch your tent. Such a camp will help to keep you drier in case it rains and fixes up instead if you fall asleep. Another consideration, particularly if you are camping in a windy location, is finding a camp where you can use stakes. Different bets are made to work on different types of land. Remember also:
- No stake works on all terrains
- The small diameter titanium stake for use on hard ground is not suitable for sand or snow; Just as the bulky iron / aluminum stake you use when camping on the beach will not work well on hard ground.
- Some bets work on some grounds sometimes
- Those bulky iron / aluminum stakes used on the beach can be lifted quite easily if it rains.
- There are some terrains where there are no bets
- Backpackers and mountain climbers can attest to the problems they face when faced with rocky terrain and stone outcrops that stand up to all bets.
The next time you camp, observe the methods of others. Whose tent is left in the wind? Whose runs dry in the rain? Then follow the successful techniques of your fellow campers.
Once you’ve set up your tent, make sure you understand how to set up the rest of the camp as well.
Camping Basics Index
- Introduction
- Sheets Blankets Pillows
- What kind of tent?
