The ger packs up relatively easily and with practice, can be set up by one person within the space of an hour. When disassembled, the canvas and wooden parts of the ger easily fit on top of most cars equipped with simple roof bars. The canvas can also be stored in the trunk.

Chapter 4

Modern Store-Bought Shelters

These days, an enormous number of fabricated shelters for any need or budget are readily available from the store. Rather than covering different makes, models or manufacturers or simply providing reviews that you can find anywhere on the Internet or in magazines, I will focus on different types of modern, store-bought shelters. I will occasionally refer to specific products only to describe certain forms of shelters where I was unable to find generic options. For most of these shelter types where manufacturers are named, there will be other manufacturers who produce similar products. As such, my writing does not imply an endorsement of one brand over another, but simply describes my experiences using the shelter types covered.

Even as an experienced outdoors-person, you may be surprised by some of the shelter options available.

HIKING TENT

We have come a long way from the heavy ridgepole canvas construction, which required sharing equipment between multiple backpacks and fitting heavy poles in just the right order, never mind regularly recoating waterproofing chemicals. Now, only scout groups and armed forces who have the logistics to carry such heavy tents about will benefit from their undoubted durability. One other circumstance where the heavy canvas tent still rules supreme is in arctic winters, as it is the only tent rigid enough to support heavy snowfall and allow the safe use of a wood-burning stove.

Now, except during winter trips to the Yukon, Siberia or similar destinations, we use lightweight hiking tents with polycotton waterproof material or other advanced fabrics and ultra-light carbon fiber flexible poles. The weight of such tents can easily be absorbed by one person’s backpack. The typical tent now also features advanced designs to make full use of flexible tent poles, creating a small, yet comfortable space, often with a built-in awning, allowing work or storage outside the main body of the tent, yet out of any rain.

As for what type of hiking tent works for you, well, that depends on your needs and desires. Do your homework before buying. Read reviews, and when in the shop, check for strong, neat seams. Many cheaper tents come with single-thread seams, which are taped for waterproofing. While taped seams aren’t necessarily bad, make sure that the stitching itself is strong and durable. Check the zippers too. They should be sturdy and when closing or opening, should not catch any fabric. Sadly, many tent manufacturers do not pay sufficient heed to their zippers; when they catch tent cloth in their sliders, this can lead to frustration, ripped material, unmatched teeth or stuck sliders.

Camp Location

When using such a tent, the main thing is to consider the camp location. Take full advantage of shelter that’s already present such as trees blocking the wind or overhanging branches taking the sting out of the rain. The site should be safe, close to required resources, ideally flat and relatively soft.

Keep in mind that a tent pitched next to a water source will be soaking in the morning. When picking a site, you also want to ensure that you do not disturb the natural environment too much, so avoid flattening a site yourself or cutting away live branches with abandon where possible. Be sure you are able to erase any trace of your presence when you pack up. If you are using a tent in one site for a longer period, consider moving it every few days to avoid grass or other plant life perishing underneath the tent.

Tent Anatomy

I picked the generic tent I’ll be describing below because its construction and set-up will be similar to most modern tents. And it showcases certain useful features very well.

As with most tents, the flexible poles are threaded through tubing sewn into the tent. With this tent, however, the poles are threaded through the outer tent, which is waterproof. (I also have a tent where the poles are threaded through the inner tent, with the outer tent placed over the top of it.) The advantages of a tent where the poles thread through the outer tent are twofold. First of all, you’ll be able to set up the rainproof, outer shell of the tent first, so the inner tent and gear remain dry if it is raining out. When leaving, the inner tent and gear can be packed away while sheltered under the still-erected outer tent. Secondly, you are not required to use the inner tent with such a design and have the freedom to use the outer shell only, potentially lightening your load even further and creating more space (so long as you don’t mind any potential insects invading your space).

Tent Entrance

The entrance of this tent faces off to the side. This tends to make it easier to lay out your gear appropriately and get in and out of the bedding easily. With tents having an entrance at the head end, you often have to crawl over your bedding to get in or out and will generally find yourself having a more awkward time storing and reaching your gear. Imagine yourself sitting with your feet out of the tent to remove muddy boots before having to reverse direction and crawl in feet-first. Tents with such an entrance are generally inefficient to use.

Tent Accessories

Elastic loops and guy-lines. All tents will be fitted with elastic loops at the bottom edge of the cover. Most, if not all tents will also have guy-lines attached at strategic locations. In many scenarios, you will not have to use them unless you expect a stormy night.

Vents and mosquito netting. Tents are usually also equipped with one or more vents to allow moisture-laden air to escape and so keep condensation down. The inside cover of the tent will more than likely get soaked with condensation anyway, regardless of whether the vents are open or not. To prevent this, leave the tent door open whenever you can get away with it, and rely on the mosquito netting of the inner door instead to offer a sense of privacy/insulation.

Drying Your Groundsheet and Outer Tent

In the morning, there will often be some moisture on the groundsheet and outer tent. If you have time, dry at least the inner tent/groundsheet before packing it away. You can attach the (wet) outer tent to the outside of your pack, either with available straps or with a pouch, preventing moisture inside of your pack.