Rain & Tub Style Flooring
A tent with a rain fly is like a tent within a tent. The rain fly acts as a waterproof / waterproof exterior barrier to help keep the rain away from the actual tent. Ideally, it should be kept out of direct contact with the tent material, as the contact will promote the transfer of water to your belongings indoors. Has anyone ever been startled awake by a cry from a 4-year-old boy because he just woke up in a soggy sleeping bag? I shudder just thinking about that. A good rain fly is worth its weight in gold, and it’s better than trying to hastily mount tarps or retreat to the car for the next 14 hours straight. A tub or tub style flooring will also go the extra mile to keep water out of your belongings. This style of flooring brings the waterproof flooring material partially to the wall of the tent, usually 8 to 12 inches, and prevents much of the rain that drips from the roof from mixing with the mud and soaking the side wall of the tent .
Adequate ventilation
With 4 or more people trapped inside a tent on a rainy day, the humidity inside the tent will skyrocket fairly quickly. You’ll try to play cards only to have one suddenly disappear … an hour later you are found clinging to the side of little Trent’s wet leg. You won’t be able to stop the storm, and neither will your breathing, but you can choose a tent that has at least 2 screened windows on opposite walls. Or just as effective, a vented dome top with a ground vent that’s protected from the rain fly or a vestibule. Any combination that allows air movement will be of great benefit.
Lobby and screened in porch
Many tents are now available with a vestibule … a semi-protected area above the door opening that is formed by an extension of the rain fly. These work quite well to protect the door from direct exposure to rain. A vestibule is also very handy for taking off and leaving wet and muddy shoes, soggy clothes, and storing anything else that is waterproof to free up space for crazy occupants trapped inside the tent. Some of the larger “cabin” style family tents now come with a screened porch. If the rain isn’t too torrential, these screened porches are great for allowing the family to spread out a bit until the rain subsides. Not only does it allow your family to stretch out physically, but it can also go a long way toward promoting mom and dad’s emotional well-being by allowing them a few minutes of relative peace while the kids occupy their own time safely playing nearby. out of the weather.
Creature comforts
Alright, some of these aren’t on the old-school “clumsy” list, but let’s face it, few of us embarked on this rainy weekend adventure to be Davy Crockett or Lewis & Clark. Currently, there are tents on the market that have built-in LED lights and fans, powered by readily available rechargeable DC sources. No more kicking the flashlight or trying to hold the flashlight in your mouth while shuffling the cards and helping your daughter put on the hoodie at the same time! Most tents have some type of interior storage pockets, but did you know that now there are tents with cabinets? Yes, you read it correctly. These specially designed closet areas free up valuable floor space on a rainy day, giving you more room to maneuver in the sea of humanity trapped in the tent with you.
Ceiling height
Does it seem like a lot of 12-year-olds are almost 6 feet these days? If you are stuck inside a tent all day, or worse, ALL weekend due to rain, the height of the roof of the tent will become very important. Your body will naturally want to stand up at some point, and it is quite uncomfortable if you are 6 ‘tall and the tent is only 5’ 8 “. The selection used to be somewhat limited for tall tent campers, but has recently flourished with. a large number of tents with ceiling heights of 5 ’10 “or more. I would also suggest looking into a cabin style tent rather than a dome, as the former will offer more room to move in the taller headroom.
So if you’re new to tent camping, want to retire or upgrade your existing tent, or are busy compiling your Christmas camping wish list, consider these traits in a new tent. Doing so, before being trapped inside with the whole family during a prolonged downpour, could go a long way toward a more enjoyable weekend outing … and maintaining your continued sense of sanity.