A tent may be one of the important gears when you go hiking or camping. While the unique thing about tents is that they are more complicated gear than all other gears. It means you have to set up it properly to get protection and good sleep during the night outdoors. I have seen a lot of information is available on the internet about pitching a tent, but the information is basic and not on a particular point. Pitching a tent is not the only thing you should know to get the most out of a tent. You should know which direction should a tent face? Or where should you pitch your tent? These are some questions that are less covered but have an important role in pitching a tent. So, if you don’t know which direction should your tent face? Then don’t worry today I will cover it in detail. Most people believe that you should only face your tent away from the wind. Well, that is not totally true in all situations. Every situation requires a different solution which we will cover today. Before diving into the article I want you to know that the information involves some of my personal experience and suggestion from other hikers.
Which direction should a tent face?
If you are camping or hiking in normal weather, especially in summer then your tent small door should face towards wind for ventilation. However, if the weather is windy then you should make sure your tent door face in opposite direction or away from the wind.
- Moreover, if at night, you should avoid facing the tent door in the direction of the wind to avoid strong gusts. In winters also your tent should face away from the wind direction to avoid cold.
- In weather conditions where wind speed is more, you should pitch your tent in a way that the direction of your tent provides you enough stability during the whole night. For that you need to make sure the narrow or lowest parts of your tent are facing the wind and where the tent height is high is facing away from the wind.
- The lowest and narrowest parts allow the wind or air to pass more efficiently and evenly over the tent. In windy conditions, your tent door should always face away from the wind, otherwise, the force of the wind can damage the tent.
- The wind is not always the deciding factor in which direction a tent should face. Wind can create the most problems when you are sleeping or it’s raining outside.
- Anyway, another thing you should look for before finalizing the direction of the tent is sunlight exposure. If you are camping or hiking in the summer season, then you should always face your tent away from the sunlight during the day.
The temperature is so high in summers and the harmful rays of the sun can also ruin the fabric of the tent, so to avoid that I would suggest you pitch your tent in the shade if you find any place.
While searching the place with the shade I also want you to avoid pitching your tent under the trees which stand alone near water or high in mountains. If you don’t know why then check out this article- Should you pitch a tent under a tree?
But if you are a winter camper or hiker then you need some sunlight inside the tent, if there is the sun. This is only true if there is some sunlight during the day.
- I have discussed all the factors that you should look for when deciding the direction of your tent. But the last thing I want you to look for is the weather forecast. If you think that there will be rain then look for the direction of the rain, by judging the direction of the wind. You don’t want any water to come inside your tent during the rain and ruin your sleep.
- The best is to pitch your tent away from the wind. But if the wind is strong then, I would suggest you to look for a place with shelter or where the direction doesn’t make a huge difference.
- Choose a place such as a side of hills or where you find high edges. If you are pitching your tent in these places when there is no wind in summers or you feel sophisticated then change the direction of your tent towards the wind to get enough ventilation.
Or you can face the tent away from the wind but make sure to open the doors so that air can pass through easily.
Most of the campers or hikers do the right thing by facing the small side of the tent towards the wind. Though it is right,but you should also make sure that the side-facing wind has the strongest pole to survive the strong gusts.
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Key points when pitching a tent in the right direction
Facing the direction of your tent is very important when you go outside for night camping or hiking where the weather is unpredictable. While the direction is not the only thing that you should look at when you pitch your tent. There are some things that are as important as direction.
I have discussed all the important points you should look for when deciding to pitch your tent. I will also tell you things you should avoid when pitching a tent. I hope you may already know how to pitch a tent if not then don’t worry it’s very easy and you can easily get used to it after doing it one or two times.
Pitch your tent near the river
The first thing you should look for, before even pitching a tent, is the best location with resources. Pitching your tent near the river is a beneficial option as you can get water service and you don’t have to travel for miles for water.
However, this may not be the safest option if you pitch your tent too close to the lake or river. Sudden flash floods are common in some places and that might drain your tent and a boat if you are too close to the water. For insurance, at least maintain the distance of 70 feet to 100 feet from the water to your tent.
Pitching your tent in the snow
Whenever you decide to go camping in a forest, make sure you have enough knowledge about soil types. If you are not a pro, at least check the soil before pitching your tent because some soils are not hard and won’t be able to handle the tent set properly.
So, before planning your trip to the forest, make sure you have knowledge about soil and skip the place where you feel the soil is too soft or wet.
Far from insects
If you are a hiker then you might have experienced this already. There are some blood-sucking insects present on every trail or campsite. But you can avoid them by choosing the right place to pitch your tent.
Avoid pitching your tent on low campsites or places because there is a high chance that you will find some type of insects there. Look for a place that is high on the hills or mountains because insects’ lungs don’t have enough capacity to bear the shortage of oxygen.
Search the flat ground
Choosing flat ground is one of the first steps to set up your tent. Clean the spot completely by removing rocks or sticks before pitching the tent. Flat grounds give more strength to the poles and distribute the weight evenly.
Mistakes to avoid when pitching a tent
- Using a big groundsheet
- Not clearing up the surface
- Tight set up
