Tents

When people plan to camp outside and under the stars, a tent is sure to be included.  Tents have turn out to be a crucial piece for outdoor living to shelter us from the bugs and rain.  Throughout centuries, wandering tribes from different continents and eras used tents to settle on lands they found suitable for hunting and finding water. 

The Native Americans were a group of tribesmen who are renowned for using tents.  The Great Plains all over the United States were not always permanent grounds for the animals the Indians depended in order to survive.  Being mobile was necessary and Indian tents known as tipis provided their tribes shelter. 

Indian tipis were made from everyday resources the Indians used such as animal hides.  Indian tipi huts were simple to pack and unpack.  It was put together by a number of poles and ropes and provided sufficient space for occupants to put additional things in.  The best feature of an Indian tent is its sturdiness, ability to shield people from rain, and offer insulation by retaining coolness during hot days and warmth during cold nights.

Another famous form of tent is the yurt used by ancient and present Mongolians.  Yurts are almost certainly the most intricate of all kinds of tents because of the way they are built.  Unlike other tents, yurts are a lot bigger and can provide shelter to dozens of people including their animals.  The infamous Mongol leader Temujin was born, grew up, lived and died in a yurt tent.

Modern tents of today come in different shapes and sizes and most distinctively, made with added functionality.  A simple 1 man tent consists of poles, a fabric, stakes and guy lines.  The shape of this kind of tent resembles a house’s roof. 

Tents sold in stores come in a variety of features and uses.  Tents that can be carried on a person’s back are branded as backpack tents.  Carry-on tents are popular among hikers who often hike on mountains and spend most of their time in the wilderness.  A variety of backpacking tents are available in the market.  Some of them are one-person tents, dome tents, family tents and tarp shelters. 

One-person tents are popular among individual campers and hikers because they can be assembled quickly and easily carried. 

Dome tents are alternatives for triangular tents and they come with more flexible poles made of new composite materials and their doorflaps can be opened and closed by a zipper.  It could house 1-2 persons depending on its dimension.

The much larger family tents are more popular to big sets of campers spending their nights outside.  Some have single skin and some have double skins.  Inner and outer skins can be made from natural and man-made fabrics such as polyester and microfiber.  Just like the leather tents of the Native Americans, modern tents made from these materials are also breathable.

The presence of tents is always likely for people who spend their time outdoors.  For the rugged outdoorsman, tents will at all times be an crucial piece to have protection, privacy, and portability.