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The Use For Tents
by Bradley Clenworth
http://www.fotent.com
The tent was the symbol of ancient Arabia. For the
Ottomans, the tent was a royal structure set up for
ceremonial occasions and trips. Initially, Europe adopted
the tent for the same function, but later on developed it
into a style of roof utilized in large buildings such as
rail stations, botanical gardens, and camping.
While circuses and conventions use large tents, the primary
purpose for a tent in the U.S. today is for backpacking and
camping. Tents are designed to protect their occupants from
the elements, such as rain, wind, and cold as well as bugs
and dust. Tents also provide their users privacy in the
middle of wide-open spaces and a feeling of security once
they are zipped inside for a night\rquote s rest. It is
amazing how much comfort and reassurance one feels when
enclosed by stitched panels of nylon supported by
fiberglass poles.
The most common type of tent is a dome tent. Dome tents
feature a rounded, geodesic-dome typically supported using
fiberglass poles. Dome tents usually provide ample interior
head room and are more apt to stand strong in wind. Domes
shed snow more easily. They are freestanding tents, meaning
they do not require stakes to hold them up and they can
move easily from place to place. Freestanding tents make it
easy to shake out unwanted dirt and debris before
dismantling them.
Another type of tent is a tunnel tent, which employs a
linear design typically involving a rectangular floor plan.
Also called hoop tents, tunnel models use fewer poles, less
fabric and often have wedge-like shapes. One disadvantage
of tunnel tents their rainfly, which lies flatter and can
collect snow easier. Tents also come in frame and cabin
varieties, but these models are usually larger and intended
for use as base camps or in campgrounds.
Tents come in three-season and four-season models. Three
season tents are intended for spring, summer and fall usage
in temperate weather. They perform well in rain and wind,
though they are not suited to withstand heavy snow loads.
Sturdier four season models typically utilize one or two
additional poles to fortify walls to help them stand firm
against heavy snow loads or severe wind. They work just
fine in mild weather, but their extra poles make them a bit
heavier than their three-season counterparts.
If you're looking for a tent, be sure you know the kind of
outdoors you're going to be in while camping and choose
your tent accordingly. In this case, cheaper is not better
and you want a tent that will stand up to the elements that
nature can throw at it. Remember, heavier tents are not
moved around as easy as lighter weight tents and are
probable better suited for longer term camping. Choose a
tent that is nice and roomy for two people moving around in
because many two person tents can be a bit small for two
people moving around inside them. You want enough room to
sleep comfortable in and maybe even offer some extra room
for storage.
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