You have everyday camping equipment like sleeping bags, camping stove, campfire equipment and of course the tent. We all know that a great outdoor adventure starts with the tent.

Therefore it is important to know the proper way to care for your home away from home. Most camping tents are portable and small enough to be compacted and transported by one person. The best tents are made of sheets of material that drapes over or attaches to a frame. This material is durable and waterproof fabric that is easily attached to aluminum poles that are foldable.

Typically, it is also important to know that camping tents consist of a sheet of fabric of similar material draped over or attached to a frame of poles. Some of the new camping tent models come with durable waterproof fabrics and foldable aluminum poles.

Even though camping tents are manufactured with tough, rugged, and durable features, they are not maintenance free. Mother nature can sometime make camping harder than usual. So to make them last longer you need to take some extra care by keeping the quality of your tent up to speed. It’s very important because a tent is often the only thing standing between you and surviving when things go wrong.

Here are some few ideas on how to take care of your tent:

1) Waterproofing your tent is very important. Even though most tent manufacturers disclose to their buyers by tagging their tents as waterproof, and ensuring all the seals and stitches are sealed properly they still need extra care. You should always double-seal them yourself. You can contact the company and get the seam sealer they use and reseal the seams yourself. You can also purchase a spray on water seal to put on the material for added protection.

2) It is always smart to have spare parts when camping such as duct tape, zippers, and material or fabric to make repairs if needed. Make sure to keep an eye out for any damage when taking down your tent and make repairs as soon as possible to stop them from getting any worse.

3) Take caution when setting up and taking down your tent. Follow all the steps to avoid any ripping, bending, or breaking parts of the tent.

4) Be sure you have packed the correct stakes to use on your tent. Stakes are a huge support system in securing your tent to the ground. Standard stakes are good enough if you are camping during good weather and on firm ground, however, if you are setting up in loose soil, or if the weather is windy, you may need heavier stakes. This will help to keep your tent in place. Tension on the stakes are important, so, once you have your stakes pegged make sure you have correct tension.

5) Setting up your tent in the shade is also important. Sunlight can damage the material if tents are exposed to it directly. Even manufacturers advise of this. Ultraviolet light will weaken the material and destroy the fabric so always go to shaded area of the campgrounds.

6) Installing a ground cover underneath your tent is also a very smart thing to do. Before setting up any tent it is a good idea to have what is called a tent footprint. This will protect the floor of your tent and help to keep moisture from the ground out. It will also protect the tent floor from dirt, rocks, sticks, and other items that might rip the tents floor.

7) To keep moisture from accumulating from inside the tent, you should make an effort to ventilate frequently. Condensation builds up when camping more than a few days. Open your windows and vents when every possible. This will help keep the tent dry and comfortable.

8) If you were unfortunate enough to camp in the rain, be sure to sir dry your tent when you get home. Set it up in your yard to dry so you can store it dry. You never want to store a wet tent cause mildew and fungus can grow that can damage the material of the tent and it isn’t healthy.

In conclusion, if you are an outdoor enthusiast and love mother nature, camping, hiking, backpacking, hunting or even pitching a tent in the backyard with your kids, you should always make sure to take care of your equipment. Your adventures are important and you want great memories. Keep in mind, a comfortable sleep, warm and dry tent will make your adventures fun and memorable.