META: There are certain aspects that we must consider when buying a tents for camping. The hydrostatic head and the sun protection factor are two really important elements that you must consider before purchasing a tent.
Tents are available in various kinds of material that are suitable for different weather conditions. Canvas, cotton, nylon, polyester and felt are all fabrics that are available. Canvas can become very bulky when it’s absorbed a lot of water so bear this in mind. The nylon and polyester types do not take in much water and are therefore lightweight, they can also be completely waterproof if the right kind of coating has been used on them. The fabrics over the years will tend to wear as they are exposed to constant harsh UV rays. It is therefore necessary to see how much resistance each kind of tent fabric has against natural conditions such as the sunlight and rain.
Tents use coatings to protect them. Polyurethane is used on nylon and polyester tents. The coatings are available with different resistance power and the strength of this resistance is generally measured in Hydrostatic Head. The greater the hydrostatic head the longer the coating will last and the greater the durability of the tent. The fabric is tested to see what force of water it can take. This is done by calculating the resistance of rain in millimetres. More pressure is added by a heavy down pour in comparison to that of a light shower.
If a fabric indicates a hydrostatic head of 1000mm, it can be classified as good enough for a light shower. A hydrostatic head of 1500mm in a tent fabric is appropriate for summer camps while 2000mm fabrics are durable for more weather types like 4 season tents. Flysheets and groundsheets vary in size but you will find a flysheet will be at least 5000mm, so it is safe to assume that the groundsheet will be much bigger than this. Fabric with a hydrostatic head of 3000mm is usually used for tents which are being used for expeditions.
The other aspect that we must take into consideration while selecting a good quality tent is the sun protection factor. The ultraviolet rays of the sun are very harmful to use it is therefore very important to check the sun protection factor or SPF. This will show you how long you can expose yourself for. The SPF number ranges greatly; remember to select one that offers you the maximum protection from the sun. UV protection is generally graded between SPF35 and SPF50. Tent fabrics are marked appropriately depending on the type of fabric. Tents are available with higher SPF protection; the only problem is you will pay extra.
However it is always more sensible to buy a tent that provides you the maximum SPF protection because you are outdoors for several days and need the best safety measures for your skin. You need to ensure that you are safe from the suns rays at all times. Purchasing a tent that is of good quality is a good start as the harsh ultraviolet rays will not be able to penetrate the tents fabric.
While your tent takes care of you, it is also required that you take equally good care of it. Taking care of your equipment is very important. Great care should be taken after a heavy holiday out in the rain or the sun to store it properly without too many folds and bends. This way it wll last longer. Signs of wear and tear of the tents fabric will be clearly visible at the folds. So make sure it protects you as much as you protect it.
