5 tips for a better tent pitch, by Paul Messner on YouTube. 8 min 53 s.
- Video length
- 8 min 53 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Check the forecast and pick a pitch that blocks the worst of the wind. Use a wall, hedge or rise as a windbreak, but stay clear of dead branches and lone trees.
Lay the tent out so the lowest, strongest end faces into the wind. Point the narrow end or the foot of the tent toward the gusts.
Peg the corners down before you put the poles in. Push pegs in at an angle away from the tent so the ground grips them.
Raise the poles and clip or sleeve the tent body on. Keep the door closed so the wind cannot balloon the fabric.
Fit the flysheet and pull it tight, leaving a small gap between fly and inner for airflow. A flapping fly wears and leaks.
Guy out every available point, not just the corners. Run lines out at a wide angle and keep them taut but not so tight they strain the fabric.
Add extra pegs or heavy stones over the peg points if the ground is soft or the wind is strong. Double-peg the windward corners.
Check the whole pitch before you sleep. Re-tension lines, close vents on the windy side and keep a plan to move to shelter if the tent starts to fail.
Tips and common mistakes
Pegs pull out of soft ground in gusts, so use longer pegs or bury them deeper on the windward side.
Pitch with the door facing away from the wind so opening it does not fill the tent.
Keep a spare peg and a length of cord handy for quick repairs in the night.
Never camp under dead branches or a lone tree in high wind.
Questions
Which way should the tent face in wind?
Point the lowest and strongest end into the wind, usually the foot end or narrow end. That sheds gusts better than a broad flat side.
How many guy lines should I use?
Use every guy point the tent has when wind is forecast. More lines spread the load and stop the fly from flapping.
What if my tent starts to fail in the night?
Stay calm, check the pegs and lines first, and add weight or extra pegs. If the poles bend or the fabric tears, move to shelter rather than ride it out.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
