Spending some time outdoors is a great way to relax, especially if it gives you the opportunity to stay away from all the hustle and bustle of an urban lifestyle. You can trek up a mountain trail and camp out for a night, or spend the weekend by the lake, or simply have an afternoon at the local park. If you want to bring along a tent, pick a pop-up tent. It is easy to carry around, and learning how to put up a pop up tent is fairly easy. Read on to know more.
Pop Up Tents Vs. Regular Tents
Pop up tents are simply tents that can be set up with minimal effort. They are also fairly easy to fold up when it’s time to put them away. They pitch almost on their own. Meanwhile, regular tents take a little bit of skill to set up, are more complicated to pitch and require some disassembly when you need to pack it away.
Uses of Pop Up Tents
Although pop-up tents are easy to put up, they can only be used in limited settings. These are for outdoor activities in areas with fairly good weather and short camping trips. In other words, they are designed only for quick outdoor getaways. Hence, it is worry-free to bring along, easy to set up and hassle-free to pack away. It can be for that short stay at the beach or a quick afternoon at the park with the kids.
How to Put Up a Pop Up Tent?
A pop-up tent springs open on its own after you take it out of the bag, releasing the harness that holds everything together. This is what makes pop up tent really amazing. But there is more to it than just taking it out and letting it unfold on its own. Here’s how to put up a pop up tent properly.
- Check Your Equipment
Make sure that the accessories that the tent comes with are complete, specifically the metal pegs that you will use to secure the tent to the ground. Having one or two missing could mean a wobbly set up, or a tent that swings easily with each blow of the wind.
- Pick Out the Right Spot
In a relatively flat ground, choose a spot that is slightly higher than the surrounding area. If you have to camp out where there’s a chance that water can run through your campsite, this will ensure that water will not pool where you pitch your tent. If you have to set up your tent on sloping grounds, then any spot will do as water will just run off to the bottom of the slope. Just make sure that the opening of your tent faces downslope.
If you are camping out in a crowded area, like a popular campsite or at the park, then make sure there is plenty of space between you and the next tent. It pays to have some distance as you don’t want to bother your fellow campers, or let them bother you as well. This allows you and your fellow campers some privacy. It may be a public space, but some privacy can be afforded. If there is limited space, then try to pitch your tent with as much distance in between from other tents around you.
- Clean Out the Area
Once you’ve chosen the spot where your tent will rest, clear it of sharp objects like branches, rocks, and pebbles. The floor of the tent is thin enough for you to feel these objects when you lie down. A thick blanket or padding will help but would be unnecessary if you clean out the area before pitching your tent.
- Remove the Cover and Harness
Most pop up tents would have a carrying bag and a harness that holds the tent together when folded and stored. When you take it out of the bag, hold the frame firmly and make sure that you hold all layers together as well. Check to see if the harness is still in place. This will keep the tent from springing up on you once you take it out.
- Pop Up the Tent
While still firmly holding the folded frame and fabric, release the harness of the tent. Stand a few steps away from the spot where you are going to pitch the tent. Toss the folded tent up in the air towards the sport where you want to put it up. The tent will unfold and completely open up while it flies through the air, and should land right on top of the spot you picked out. Reposition the tent as you see fit.
- Secure the Tent to the Ground
Your tent will have loops at the corners and outside bottom edges. Drive the metal pegs to the ground through these loops. The top of the pegs should be angled away from the tent to act as resistance whenever there are high winds. This keeps the tent steady, prevents it from toppling over, and stops it from rolling up on you while you are inside sleeping.
If the tent comes with guy ropes, then secure those to the ground as well with the pegs. Pull the guy rope away from the tent, perpendicularly to where it attaches to the tent. Don’t let the rope slack when you are attaching it to the peg. Make sure all ropes are taut in all directions. These will help stabilize the tent when there are strong winds.
- Enjoy the Great Outdoors
After you have pitched your tent, you are all done, and there is nothing left to worry about. Knowing how to put up a pop-up tent makes for a more enjoyable outing. All there is left for you to do is to enjoy your time in nature.
Final Thoughts
Having a tent when you spend time outdoors gives you the opportunity to enjoy nature without compromising on your comfort. A tent expands the limits of your outdoor activities. It can be a shield against harsh weather, a private space, and a haven. You can use a pop-up tent for those quick getaways. Now that you know how to put up one, you can enjoy your nature trip more.
Our website author Tom is a devoted outdoor enthusiast and active blogger who has a profound love for the great outdoors, especially camping and kayaking.
This passion for the outdoors combined with studying an MSc. in Product Design, and working as a Product Engineer gives him the perfect combination of experience and expertise to help guide you on the best camping and kayaking gear.
Tom aims to inspire other travellers to appreciate nature’s beauty by sharing their experiences, wisdom, and intriguing stories in engrossing blog articles. He believes in working to promote respect for and preservation of our priceless landscapes out of a dedication to environmental stewardship.
Join Tom on their quest to find undiscovered treasures, exchange helpful advice, and arouse awe for the vast outdoors.
