One minute you’re standing in a green, serene clearing in the woods that is your campsite, and the next you’re wrapped and wrangling a tangle of ropes, poles, stakes, and canvas. It’s the age-old endeavor that every camper must conquer: setting up their tent.
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Setting up a tent can be both the most intimidating part of building a campsite, and the most rewarding. Yet this first step to camping is often what holds many beginners back. No doubt, the seemingly endless amount of poles, stakes, tarps, strings, and whatnot can get to be a bit much. And if you’re not one for reading the instruction manual, you’re looking at a long afternoon of setting up, tearing down, rinse, and repeat. But there is nothing better than being able to step back and admire your hard work, and then getting to enjoy that tent for the remainder of your trip.
Here at White Duck Outdoors, we are all about simplifying your camping setup so you can feel confident in your campsite and maximize your time enjoying the outdoors. So have no fear, we have some tips and tricks for an easy tent setup that will leave even the most rookie camper feeling confident and capable. So here is our list of tips to ensure a successful and easy tent setup.
Before Getting Started
Read the Instructions
We know, we know– you want to do it on your own. Some simpler tent models are a little more intuitive than others. If you’re planning to camp in a 4 season tent or a wall tent, these will almost always include more structural and additional pieces. However, if you’re setting up any kind of tent for the first time, there is valuable information about its specific structure in the manual that you won’t want to miss out on. Campers of all levels of experience should take some time beforehand, and again at their campsite, to read step by step through the manual.
Get to know the pieces
As you’re going through the instructions, make sure your tent duffle bag has all the pieces inside. You don’t want to find yourself at your campsite and missing a crucial item or tool. Most tents often share the same basic parts, but because each design is unique, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with what that tent specifically requires.
Tools
Tents sometimes include the tools you’ll need to help secure everything down. But if not, make sure you bring a small hammer or mallet with you to assist in pushing stakes down into the ground, especially if you’re unsure about what the terrain is like at your destination.
It’s Go Time
Picking a Spot
Now that you’re comfortable with all the pieces of the puzzle and you’re arriving at your destination, the first step in successfully setting up your tent is picking the spot where you will do so. At your campsite, try to identify the flattest and most level surface. If possible you’ll also want to find a space that is uncovered. The more trees and foliage there are over your tent, the more debris will likely fall and dirty your tent as well as weigh down on it. However, it is also a good idea to have some sort of foliage around the surrounding space at the campsite to act as a windbreaker.
Laying the Footprint and Tent
Once you’ve decided on your spot, you can get out those instructions and all the pieces, and begin with what is called the “footprint”. This should be a ground covering like a tarp that is meant to lay under the tent itself and protect it from the ground. It also acts as an outline for the tent. If your setup does not already come with one, we recommend bringing one that is the size of or slightly larger than your tent.
On top of the footprint, lay out your tent flat, aligning the corners with the corners of the tarp. Make sure you know which side the tent entrance is, and that it’s facing the direction you prefer. As you prepare to stake down your tent, smooth out the fabric to ensure it will be taut. If you find yourself in high winds, feel free to stake down the corners before setting up the poles so it doesn’t all fly away.
Pole Configurations
Another reason why instructions are crucial is the specific way the poles are meant to hold up the tent. Think of your tent’s pole configuration as its unique skeletal structure. This is the part that will actually transform all these loose parts into a shelter.
Following the design in your instructions, lay the poles down on top of the flat tent to line them up with the eyelets you’ll weave them through. Then carefully begin to thread the poles through the eyelets of the tent. At this point, while everything is still flat on the ground, you can stake down the poles to the ground, so that when you raise them up they stay in place. This is an especially helpful step if you’re pitching a tent alone and don’t have someone helping keep things aligned. Using a tool you brought, like a hammer or mallet, push the stakes into the ground. Now watch your tent take shape as you start bending and lifting the poles to raise the whole shelter up.
Rainfly
Bring a rainfly. Many tents will include this in their perfectly sized kit. Or you can purchase one and bring it along. Keeping your tent clean and dry is a must when camping. It helps prevent leakage from precipitation or wear and tear from sun damage. Overall, rain flys help preserve the quality and lifespan of your tent. It also offers an additional layer of shade from the sun.
Stakes and Guy Lines
What are guy lines? These are ropes or cords that are used to secure the tent to the ground and add structure and support through tension after the tent is standing. We recommend bringing guy lines just in case you’re anticipating heavy weather and may need extra strength in high winds or rain.
The sides of your tent and rainfly may include loops or hooks that are meant for guy lines to be attached and then secured to the ground. You won’t want these too tight, since they may rip the tent material. However, guy lines should be rather tight to ensure tension.
Guy lines are super important to have as this extra tension they provide helps your tent brace itself against wind and other elements. Keeping your rainfly above taut allows water not to pool, but to roll right off the sides, protecting the quality of your tent.
Setting up your camping tent should be a fun and exciting experience– don’t let it keep you from getting outside and enjoying nature with friends and family. Remember, your tent will always ultimately be subject to the elements, but by being extra prepared, giving yourself time, and having a positive attitude, you can be an expert!
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