by Joan H. Young

Created on: September 24, 2010

Few backpackers venture out without a tent or some kind of fabric shelter. How you treat your tent while on the trail can have a real impact on how well the tent will protect you. Hammocks are becoming increasingly popular with backpackers, and most of these tips would apply equally to them.

* Keep it dry

This sounds like an impossibility, right? Tents are used to keep the rain and dew (and sometimes snow) from falling on you. But almost every day a backpacker needs to pack that tent into a small bag and carry it to the next campsite. The ideal situation is to allow the tent to dry thoroughly before packing. Moisture quickly causes mold and bacteria to grow. These can make the tent unsanitary, and can actually damage the fabric.

Condensation from breathing inside the tent will create moisture even on nights when the weather is good. Always air the tent in the morning before packing. If you can get it in the sun or a breeze, so much the better. Check the underside of the rain fly, as this will collect the most condensation moisture.

If the tent is wet from precipitation, and you must begin hiking, take advantage of stops after the weather clears to dry the fabric. After a wet morning, a sunny lunch break is an ideal time to set up the tent and let it dry. If the tent is really wet, you can wipe it down before packing with a 4-inch square of camp towel carried for this purpose. This will reduce the water weight in your pack and speed the drying time. Never leave a wet tent wrapped in plastic for more than a couple of hours, or mold growth is almost guaranteed.

Keeping a tent dry also makes the waterproofing last longer.

* Protect it from mechanical damage

You don’t want your tent to get holes or tears that will reduce its effectiveness as a shelter. Always be thinking about this. Don’t pitch your tent too near a fire where sparks might create small holes in it. Don’t carry it in your pack where sharp objects might poke it. Be careful how the stakes and poles are positioned in the carrying bag.

The poles themselves can be damaged with incorrect use. The shock cord which holds the poles taut when extended can easily become abraded. Open each pole deliberately rather than allowing it to snap. Even more important, when re-folding the poles, begin in the middle and work toward each end. If you begin at one end the shock cord will be stretched to its maximum when you reach the other end, shortening its life.

Select your tent site with care. Don’t pitch

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