So you decided to have a camping tent. You choose a best 6 person tent for 4 members of your family. But now, another question appear. How to know the materials and parts of a tent?
Types of fabrics used in tents
Cotton
Advantages: Good breathability (transpiration) / No condenses
Disadvantages: It is heavy (180 to 300 grams per square meter) / rots more easily than other fabrics (when it is saved even with low humidity)
Part of the tent where it is used: inner wall of the tent (in this case it is essential to use the rainfly that is responsible for waterproofing)
Polyester
Advantages: Lightweight fabric (60-80 grams per square meter) / Good resistance to sunlight, abrasion and tear / Not absorb water
Disadvantages: Little elastic
Part of the tent where it is used: In the rainfly with a PU (polyurethane) coating gives you proofing / On the floor coated / In the inner wall of the tent
Nylon Polyamide
Advantages: Lightweight fabric (60-80 grams per square meter) / Good resistance to stretching and abrasions / it is elastic and does not rot
Disadvantages: Low resistance to UV rays
Part of the tent where it is used: inner wall of the tent (in this case it is essential to use the rainfly that protects from sunlight)
Ripstop variants: the above fabrics may have ripstop called aggregate, which is a network of threads that increases the rip capacity. The nylon fabric is commonly encountered but this can be added other fabrics.
Coatings
Apply to fabrics on the floor and in the rainfly to enhance the capabilities of these fabrics, usually 3 kinds of coatings are used:
Induced silicone coating: durable waterproof achieved with little added weight. It has good elasticity at low temperatures and good UV protection.
Induced polyurethane coating: Good flexibility and impermeability even at low temperatures.With UV protection.
Induced coating PVC: it is much heavier than the other coatings (doing the heaviest therefore tent) and may crack in the cold (it is the cheapest liner 3 and is used in the tents of lower quality)
Parts of a tent
I) Double-covered roof or ceiling
It is a cloth that covers the entire interior or the inner tent and is held in a stretched to the ground by the wind (ropes leaving the rainfly and are nailed on the ground by stakes), an important point is that the more winds have lashed more stable ground tent in strong winds.
Some models bring a rainfly covered fairly tent and others come with extensions or skirts, the latter is preferable, that way you can better protect the open tent flaps setting firmly to the ground, for example with stones.
The most crucial element of the double-roof is its waterproof quality: now comes standard with a coating which makes it waterproof and depending on the type and quality of this coating impermeability to rain will be greater or smaller. The waterproofing ability of a fabric is measured in a unit called mm water column, it is very important to know the value of this measure of the tent you shop: recommended minimum values are 1000 or 1500 mm water column, whether to use the tent in snow or under very heavy rainfall 3000 mm water column are advised.
Note that if the rainfly covers well the entire tent is only necessary that the cubretecho have a good level of waterproofing rather the inner wall of the tent.
When you placed the rainfly see that they are not wrinkled or wells where water can collect (which thus could cross the rainfly) and above all we must try cubretecho not touch the fabric of the inner wall of the tent areas.
Another thing to consider is the color: light colors best reflect heat and make life more enjoyable, while letting in more light by the illuminated inside (with dark colors is the reverse of the above and in day room temperature strong sun would be advisable to set up the tent in the shade). Some models come with an aluminized we can use to regulate the heat and UV rays filtering out putting the aluminized layer.
II) seams
Seams in all fabrics made of tent are a crucial point, because they are the place where water can enter during rain, not much good without adequate waterproof fabric seams. We have to look to be double and sealed or heat sealed so water does not pass.
III) Inside the tent or cabin
It is the room of the tent itself, above which will put the rainfly. Inside are two parts:
a) The flat, that usually polyester or high density polyethylene to resist the land on which it rests.
Although normally the material is sufficiently impermeable and resistant to land where it will support is highly recommended to care for the floor because in case of breakage lose insulation inside the tent. That is always good to bring a canvas or nylon to put underneath for reinforcement and protection against soil moisture (usually this piece of canvas is not included in a tent but can be easily achieved).
Important detail that should be the floor is a socket, which means that this part of the store that is reinforced does not end at ground level and have a bit of height. This is very necessary in the case of rainfall and have water circulating or running around the tent.
b) Internal wall: usually any of the materials listed above, what we need most is that this fabric is breathable, meaning that let out moisture as steam through it even if we closed tent, What water vapor? which we exhale when we breathe or to perspire, if this vapor does not leave the store will then condense on the fabric and will end up licking it, which is something that should always be avoided.
It is also good that we at least screens on all openings and are several to keep it ventilated inside the weather permits.
IV) uprights
Are the fiberglass rods or aluminum forming that give structure and shape to the tent. The stability of the tent in front of the survi- high intensity will depend on the quality of these studs and quantity it is always better to a higher amount.
V) tensioners or Winds
The ropes are leaving the rainfly and the inner wall, are necessary for all fabrics are well extended, they must always be tightened (but not excessively) and unwrinkled.
The more we have in winds much better tent, as if wind or rain will help keep the tent in form. If you do not have enough ourselves we can add more winds. Remember that the pins securing the tensioners must be nailed to 45 ° on the ground.
VI) Rainfly
Rainfly is a portion of the inner tent or protruding form as a prelude to the carrier, this extra space is used to leave backpacks, or changed before entering the tent and most of all to cook with a heater (a task that should always avoid making inside the tent). Generally igloo tents usually bring an apse, but it is possible and advisable to buy one separately.