Tents, the basics of tent care

If you are an experienced hiker, you will most likely already have your tent and you will be familiar with all the necessary elements and care you need to take with it. But, if you are a neophyte in these matters, perhaps you are discovering the right articles and tricks. Whatever your case may be, it will always be very important to keep in mind some basic concepts to take care of it.

A tent well cared for, it will last you for many years. This means that you will also save a lot of money because you won't have to buy a new one on a regular basis. And you'll save time, because if you follow certain tips, you can be sure that if you have a last-minute plan, all you'll have to do is put it in your backpack, without having to spend a whole day checking its condition.

Care for a tent

Here are a few tips that you can apply before, during and after using your tent.. So that it has a longer service life as a result.

Care of the tent during installation

Before venturing into camping, the advice is to read the instructions and practice how to set up your tent. Check that you have all the necessary accessories so that you are fully prepared to avoid a bad time when you arrive at your campsite.

• Find a suitable area: Look for places that do not have sharp-edged stones Also, be careful not to place it too close to vegetation, such as pinesThe resin from these often stains it.
• Use a tarpaulin underneath: Designed specifically for the size of your tent, it will provide you with important tent care benefits: it will protect your tent floor from abrasion and keep the surface clean when you have to pick it up.

• Avoid placing it in direct sunlight: Minimising direct exposure to ultraviolet rays is key to prolonging its useful life, as these degrade fabrics over time. The advice is to use a tarpaulin or fabric to protect it from this deterioration, also, you should keep in mind that polyester is more UV-resistant than nylon.

Care of the tent during use

• Take care of the zips: If the zip gets stuck, which may be normal, do not force it. Try to release it gently by moving it from side to side until it is free. It can also happen that the zip separates, don't despair, take it easy and engage it gently. If you are patient, you can easily solve this problem, which, if not corrected in the best way, could end up leaving you with a damaged zip or torn fabric.
• Leave your shoes outside: If you don't do this, dirt could puncture and erode it. Besides, who wants to sleep in a dirty place?
• Leave the food outside: If you don't want to have unexpected visitors, small creatures attracted by the scent of the food will do whatever it takes to get to it (such as tearing the fabric of your tent). Keep food outside in a closed container.
• Do not leave your dog alone indoors: Its teeth and claws could damage it considerably.

Care of the tent after use

• Shake your tent: Before leaving the mountain, take the time to remove dirt such as grit or soil before picking it up. Also, don't store it crumpled up, so it will be less cumbersome to clean it later.
• Remove the rods very carefully: Push on the poles, rather than pull on them, so that you do not put excessive pressure on them which could damage them considerably.
• Dry the inside before putting it in the bag: It is normal for it to accumulate condensation. Moisture can damage it if you are not careful when storing it. Dry it as much as possible by airing it out as much as possible, e.g. in a high, ventilated place like a tree branch, always being careful not to break it with a bush. If you can't get it to dry completely, you should do so as soon as you get home.

Care of the tent when you get home

If you have made sure to take care of your tentIf you use it before and during use, when you get home the work will be much easier for you. Basically, what you should never forget to do, is to make sure it is completely dryOtherwise, the consequence will be that the fabric will be mouldy and smelly.

On the other hand, you must store in a cool place, free from humidity or excessive heat. Do not store it in a very small bag in which the fabrics are too tight and cannot breathe, a mesh of the same size would be ideal.

Cleaning the tent

Clean it once a seasonIf you have taken care of it as we have told you, you probably won't have to work too hard to make it look perfect.

To clean it, use a sponge, mild soap, cold water and rub gently on dirty areas.. Avoid household cleaning products, as these are very strong and could over time damage the repellent coating, causing serious damage to the fabric.

Never machine wash or machine dry.This may stretch, tear the fabric or damage the seams.