Characteristics of a Tent for Mountain

Having become a symbol for the night sheltered and far from home, the tents have become an indispensable item in the mountain sports. But to choose a model that is adpate our needs first need to know all the features, components and materials that surround a tent, and the role they play. This article will try to reel off a tent to analyze in detail each of its parts.

Classification according to how

Canadians: This shop was a top seller for its simple design, but the technology has left it somewhat obsolete in terms of practicality, weight and space efficiency.

Canadian Tent

Igloos: Currently the shop is light and space; combines ease of assembly, a better use of interior space and, in turn, is self-sustaining. It has the characteristic of not resisting the wind, but to accompany him and absorb. Thus, by stopping the wind blowing, the shop recover vertical alone. The igloo store can have various shapes, for example, tube or half hemisphere. The latter is more resistant and has more amplitude inside.

Igloo Tent

INCOME CLASSIFICATION

Four stations, high mountain, dispatch or height: This is the most professional and best stores that exist in the market and hence the higher price. They are designed to withstand the worst and most difficult weather conditions and altitude, wind, rain or snow. They are prepared to prevent the accumulation of snow on the roof and sides, but do not have much ventilation as other models. However, they are not comfortable doing if camping in form and space.

Three seasons, mid-mountain or trail: This is the most versatile group of shops and the most used. Normally used for the outputs of medium difficulty which does not require the best performance and will be exposed to extreme weather conditions. Moreover, the price will be more affordable than the four seasons, depending on the materials used. In this group we could frame used for residential camping.

Three stations light, ultralight, or clicloturismo Attack: This type of store is characterized by low weight and volume. So are the best to use in motorcycle, cycling and outputs you have enough with a three-season tent and where the most important thing is to reduce the burden. The drawback is that the materials are less resistant.

Structural or basecamp Community: Are larger. Used in base camps expeditions, relief camps hikers, etc.. Can be used as a large bedroom, kitchen, living room, meeting room and entertainment, warehouse, garage, etc..

Tent base camp ( www.summitrek.com )

Canvas Shelters: They are just tarps, pyramid shaped normally, simply to avoid the rain or snow. They have no ground or nets, but its size is very small and compact.

ARMOUR

Masts: They are rigid and usually used to store the type of Canadian and advances some type of igloo.

Rods: They are flexible and are used in stores igloo. The fiber can be mentioned glass, polyethylene and aluminum, the latter being more resistant and lightweight materials. We know that the larger the diameter of the rod, the more resistant, but also heavier.

Then the materials named with the characteristic that the rods are usually made.

Series 6000 aluminum: silicon-magnesium alloy. More fragile and not very flexible and is used with narrower diameters. Good resistance to corrosion. It is typically used for large family tents.

Series 7000 aluminum: zinc alloy and small amounts of magnesium. Very flexible, stable and high quality. With the same diameter are slow to break more than the 6000 series. Typically used in technical shops.

DAC Featherlite NSL: Good strength / weight ratio. There are two versions SL (sleeve) and NSL (new sleeve). Noted for junctions between rods features.

Yunan Air Hercules: aluminum and scandium alloy, also with good strength / weight ratio.

Holding tarps: tarps Fixing the store to the rods or masts can be done by the following mechanisms.

For clips: The canvases bring some plastic clips at certain points embrace rods stretching the canvas. They are easy to attach, improved ventilation, and reduce weight, but they create stress points in the fabric.

For sleeves: The canvases have a sewn on the outside covers on the move from one end to the rod. More work needed to move the rod, better ventilation to prevent keep out the air, but do not create stress points to distribute it throughout the store.

CABIN

Interior: The inside housing must allow perspiration and ventilation, as this is where we will stay protected. The fabric is high quality 100% cotton, although the combination of cotton Ripstop Nylon is lighter and acts as a better defense against condensation.

Flysheet: It protects the home from rain and wind, collecting condensation and slide to the ground to avoid coming in contact with the interior. It is very important that at no point touch flysheet inside to prevent ingress of water in the store. The double roof must be waterproof and have a treatment or coating resistant to ultraviolet rays. Some of the materials used are cotton treated (although it absorbs moisture and is slow to dry), polyester (resistant to water and UV rays, but supports bad cold), nylon (suffering a slight deformation, although lighter and superbly supports the high and low temperatures, especially the type Ripstop).

Single or double roof without roof: Some models, in order to become very light, dispense with the double top, even if they are of high quality fabrics, impermeability lose reliability. They must possess a membrane more technical, waterproof and breathable to fill this absence. Still, it is often largely avoid condensation inside.

Additions or doors: Multiple inputs allow better ventilation and more likely when the occupants enter and leave the store without disturbing other classmates who are in it.

Lobby or advance: Formed by the extension of the flysheet. Assist the passenger compartment ventilation. Allow the team to leave it wet to enter the store, have a small store and even cook in periods of bad weather. Some stores even provide two lobbies.

Double floor: Some manufacturers offer, next to the tent or separately, a double bottom to place it between the ground and the floor inside our store. Effect is more careful to keep the original floor avoiding tears and holes. This double floor at any time does not extend the size of our shop inside.

It is interesting to know the measurements of each of these components, but above all the height, indicating the highest point of the store. We will have to see how the structure of the store and not be guided only by this measure, which is just at a point inside the store.

The weight of the materials used, nylon and polyester, is measured in denier (D) indicating the linear mass in grams per 9000 meters of fiber. Higher numbers indicate more heavy-weight, low numbers thinner and lighter. Typically will find materials between 40D and 70D.

SOIL

It aims to protect the passenger compartment of soil moisture. The fabric should be lightweight, durable and waterproof.

We find flooring stores rectangular, narrow foot and hexagonal. The rectangular let you choose which side of the store lie. The shops that taper to reduce the weight foot thereof, but require the head position on the wide side. The hexagonal allow more objects placed inside and greater stability against wind.

Due to the shape that can have different soil, the steps will be given in greater width, length and width less. Although we will have a good look at the shop drawing and specifications in case just named the greatest width and we get a wrong idea of ​​the size of the store. If appointing square meters must be clear if these are included in the lobby meters to accurately compare different models of tents.

ANCHORAGE

The base soil and flysheet ensures the pegs or stakes pinning field. We can find different types to help us save weight to our luggage or are more resistant. Although the manufacturer does not give us a choice other picks, you can always buy other models separately.

We can find two varieties, ground stakes, which are narrower (or just steel rods) to make it easier to introduce them into the hard ground, and snow stakes, wider so they have more surface contact with the snow.

Winds are ropes to help tighten the flysheet and lobby, preventing wind deforming action. We find winds with reflective materials to avoid tripping over them when we walk around the store.

VENTILATION

People naturally exhale and radiate heat. On a cold night in the tent closed, the breath of our breathing can cause condensation on the inside walls impregnated, and may even drip from the ceiling in extreme cases. This is solved simply by venting the interior of the shop.

To increase the ventilation grids or nets are installed which enable heat output occurs inside the store, preventing condensation, while preventing the entry of insects. These meshes can be found in the access doors and smaller areas of the roof. They also tend to be accompanied by a zipper outer fabric of the same type of other store to completely isolate the inside of the store if necessary.

MEASURING IMPERMEABILITY

The data discloses that the resistance of a fabric to a fluid pressure is called the degree of impermeability (or column of water). From a column of water contained in a container section 1 cm ², increases the height of said column of water until the tissue is achieved with the transfer liquid. Thus, the higher column of water, greater impermeability. A 10,000 mm column exerts a pressure of 1 kg. per cm ². A soil with a very low water column, offer few guarantees impermeability to put pressure on him, place him such heavy loads such as backpack, to support the knee when standing or in stores that allow.

SEAMS

No matter how good the material from which it is drawn up the store, if the seams are not sealed to prevent the passage of water, we will provide little benefit. Water and moisture permeating through tiny range of sewing holes to wet the inside. As the sewing thread, the penetration will be enhanced by the driver of the water wicking.

TRANSPORT OR PACKAGING BAG

The packing of the tent is an important aspect when choosing our shop as it will be the common form of transportation, so it is very interesting to know your weight and your measurements.

Size carrying case: Will the widths, height and length having the tent when it is collected in the bag.

Minimum weight: This weight measurement only includes floor, ceilings and rods or masts.

Maximum weight or weight carry bag: This weight measurement includes all components of the tent, including tent pegs, wind, carrying case, etc.

COLOR

The color of the store will be important only if we use it for high-altitude expeditions, you can surprise us by snow and bright colors can locate it from afar.