Chamonix to Zermatt, Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn – in two weeks of mountain travel you will see the greatest collection of 4000 metre peaks in the Alps!
For the past 3 years General Mill’s brand Nature Valley has done maintenance on as many as 10,000 miles of trails over 19 national parks in 16 states.
And the brand has renewed its commitment, pledging $3 million to work with the National Park Foundation to restore another 10,000 miles of trails, including the removal of invasive species, repairing structures and building boardwalks.
How to choose a camping tent is just like assuring your home has the best roof. Actually, the tent is your shelter, your dome of protection against all the elements, your home away from home. Your family might want to spend the summer getting the feel of nature. Of course, you want to feel the cool air, the soothing sounds of the babbling brook. Ahh, but when you encounter the chill of the night because of dim knowledge on how to choose a tent, your summer vacation might not turn out the best. Most people shun away from the basic questions that are necessary to ask for them to know how to choose a camping tent. Here are some tips you should know to help you on the outdoor experience of a lifetime. Believe me, you will give yourself a pat on the back later just because you chose these extra minutes to learn a little bit more.
There are things to consider before you decide how to choose a tent. You have to consider the purpose of the tent, what season you’re going out on an outdoor experience, how many will be going on your trip, etc. Of course, when you want to spend time camping with the whole family, you should bear in mind the comfort, space and ventilation of the tent. Also think about the amount of gear (coolers, clothes, flashlights, backpacks etc.) you will keep in the tent. If you are going camping backcountry, then weight, size and durability of the tent should be considered as well.
Consider how long you will be setting camp. Are you just going for a day or two, or will you be camping a day or two every month? If you are planning to set camp for several days, buying a heavy tent is worth the expense and additional weight. If your camping adventure involves you getting exposed to the natural elements: storm, hail, snow, sleet, etc., four season tents are available for your convenience. On hot nights, poor ventilation in your tent will cause sleeping turmoil, so be sure to consider ventilation as well.
One of the most basic and most important parts of the tent is of course, its floor. A good floor will keep out ground water that could seep under your tent. Here are the different types of tent floors:
• Bathtub floor – a floor that wraps up along the sides. It is named such because it is wrapped up around 2-4 inches above ground level. This type of floor is made of heavy duty waterproof material.
• Nylon floor – this type of floor is not water repellent. Urethane treatment is needed for it to become highly waterproof.
• Polyweave floor – Contrary to nylon floors, these floors are highly waterproof but are not advisable in the presence of sharp rocks. The materials of a polyweave floor are the same ones used in covering boats or trailers. They are also heavier than nylon floors and might cause a little more weight in your backpack.
Bear in mind that tent floors can also wear out. A ground tarp is highly recommended. If you want something specifically made for your tent, you can buy a “footprint” tarp for most middle to high-end tents, such as Eureka camping tents. When camping during winter, position your tent in such a way that the early morning sun can thaw the dew or snow on your tent.
You may ask: how do I make sure that my tent seams are good? The floor seam should have lap-felled seams for it to become durably waterproof. These lap-felled seams provide extra strength because they are composed of layers of interlocking fabric joined by a double row of stitching. Nylon tents that are uncoated should have taped seams. Nylon tends to unravel. To avoid this, the end of the fabric behind the seam should be taped or hidden with another fabric. All end points should be strengthened with extra stitching or bar tacking. Always give the material a tug to make sure the weight is equally distributed across the stress points.
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