Without practice and careful choreography, setting up a tent can potentially become the stuff that family feuds are made of. But with a little prep and know-how, pitching your tent doesn’t have to turn into a huge dispute. A few pointers from the Maxed Terrain team at MRP Sport will have you setting up camp like a champ in no time:

  1. Pitching Practice:

Pitching your tent a few times in your garden will give you all the practice you need to nail it the first time when you reach your camping destination. Think of it as a dress rehearsal – so when it comes to show time, you’ve mastered it.

  1. Pick a Spot:

Once you’ve arrived at your campsite, find a space that’s wide and open enough to accommodate your tent, flat and free of any sharp objects. Keep an eye out for logs, protruding roots, rocks or debris that could puncture your tent, or cause discomfort when you’re asleep.

  1. Arrange the Components:

Lay out all your tent’s components in a central spot that can easily be accessed by all those helping to pitch the tent. Lay out the pegs, the poles and the flysheet so you’re not hunting for each piece as you pitch the tent.

  1. East or West?

You’ve chosen your spot, now pick a direction. Lay it out with the entrance facing the east if you’d like to be greeted by a beautiful sunrise in the morning, or conversely, have your entrance facing west if being greeted by the sun first thing is not your idea of a good morning.

Also, pay attention to the direction of the wind. Position the tent doors away from the prevailing wind. This will make it less likely to balloon and put extra tension on the tent pegs.

  1. Lay It All Out:

Protect the bottom of your tent from ground moisture by putting a barrier between the ground and your tent. A durable groundsheet is perfect for the job – but make sure it’s slightly smaller than the size of your tent. This will prevent rain from collecting and running under your tent when it rains.

  1. Connect Your Tent Poles:

Most tent poles are connected by cord that makes them a whole lot easier to locate and connect. Join the poles and lay them out across the tent.

  1. Get It Up:

This is the part that requires a bit of choreography – especially if you have a large tent. Once you’ve threaded your poles through the right tent flaps, get a partner to help you raise the tent. The flexible poles will bend on their own, forming the dome shape of your new home. Straighten it out and voila! Tent pitched. 

  1. Peg It Down:

Once your tent is up and open, peg each corner into the ground. If you’ve set up your tent in stubborn ground that’s rocky or particularly hard, use a hammer or a nearby rock to hammer in each peg.  Easy does it. Some tent pegs bend quite easily, so be quite gentle (but firm) with each one.

  1. Finish Off with the Flysheet:

Rally your tent-pitching buddy for this one. Each take opposite corners of one end of the flysheet and pull it over and across the tent. Make sure it’s positioned properly on the tent and peg it down.

TOP TENT CARE TIPS:

  • Let the tent air dry in the sun before packing it away.
  • Don’t fold your tent the same way each time – this will cause creases and weak spots in the fabric.
  • Open up and air your tent out often – you don’t have to set it up, just roll it out and give it a shake.
  • Bring a small tent repair kit on each camping trip – just in case.
  • Rather store your tent indoors instead of in your garage where it’s prone to nesting mice and bugs.

On the hunt for a new tent? Shop MRP Sport’s range of tents online at mrpsport.com, on the mrp app or at your nearest MRP Sport store.