Whether you have recently purchased a new tent or you are simply trying to keep your existing tent in great condition, there are a number of steps you can take to prevent repairs and protect your investment. Use these maintenance and purchasing recommendations to ensure that your event tent lasts as long as possible. Event tents can be damaged by a number of environmental factors, including people, weather and even other event equipment. Here are some of the most common signs of tent damage, their causes, and how to prevent them. Grace Wu (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she evaluates fabric-based products using specialized equipment and consumer tester data.
Marmot uses color coding smartly to help you position the tent as well as set it up. Both of the doors zip open to the side that’s color-coded blue, as opposed to zipping open to opposite sides. In other words, one partner—or one partner’s gear—is always going to get a dose of weather when they head out. Like the Mineral King 3, the Tungsten 4 has a mesh canopy, though the opaque polyester part of its walls go higher, and provide more privacy, than the Mineral King’s.
The Switch Pro backpack is larger and fits more gear, with a more rigid design and wheels on the bottom (not the lightest or best for portages). About an hour later, I was just chilling in the river at the same exit when an elderly fisherman lost his footing and suddenly found himself swept away by the current. In the space of probably 10 seconds, I told him to throw me his rod, then I hopped off my 11-foot board and pushed it out to him, which he managed to grab just in time for me to pull him back to shore. But when I decided to go river camping with a friend, I didn’t have camping gear for two people (I do most things solo). So I bought a $90, 6-pound Kelty Tanglewood 2, an $18 Ozark Trail sleeping bag from Walmart, and some cheap sleeping pads. The Switch Pro’s advantages over comparable options quickly became clear when I capped off my testing with a camping trip down the Etowah River.
Coupled with a health-conscious PP plastic lid that ensures a 100% airtight seal with its quarter-turn technology, spills and leaks are things of the past. Whether it’s for Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, your sister, or your bestie, this tumbler encapsulates joy, love, and sweet affection, making every sip a reminder of your gratitude and warm wishes. A full rain cover, two vestibules, ozark trail shower tent and an extra-sturdy pole structure make this the best choice for families who want to get outside in any weather. The most popular product in their line is the 10×10 Instant Slant Leg Tent with a blue canopy top. It is made with a steel construction frame and polyester material for the canopy, which is in line with just about every shade tent on the market today.
Inflating this beast with the hand pump is the most exhausting part of the day. (ISLE does offer a $145 Custom Electric Pump.) And rolling it back up can sometimes get a little frustrating. My buddy Diego used my Explorer 2 while I carried most of the gear on my Switch Pro. As we zipped past kayaks, canoes, inner tubes, and fishing boats, I never once wanted anyone else’s rig.
As a frequent backcountry hiker and camper, I have to admit it’s nice not to worry about weight. An hour later, we found ourselves facing a 6-foot-high dam of logs, which we crossed in about 3 minutes by hauling our boards (with gear still attached) over the blockage and continuing on our merry way. Compared to other ISLE models, a thicker, comfier foam pad covers the entire Switch Pro. A series of loops on either side make it easy to clip on more gear, tie on to other boards, and attach the kayak seat (same as the Switch). And given that it rolls up into a backpack, I think many paddlers will accept the compromise without a second thought. From my own experience, I can say that the Switch Pro certainly feels sturdier on the water than my ISLE Explorer 2.
Unfortunately, you have to buy a separate groundsheet for the Wawona 6 and for most other tents its size as well. Both Base Camp tents have two doors and lots of mesh in the main tent body. But unlike the Mineral King 3 and the Tungsten 4, the mesh on each Base Camp tent starts high on the walls—more than 4 feet from the ground. This design is a big plus for people who regularly camp in crowded campgrounds and don’t like to get naked in front of strangers.
She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries. That’s perfect if you’re trying to avoid carrying the board at any point. Though slightly smaller, it’s also easier to carry and, therefore, better for adventures requiring a bit of portaging.
However, the Wireless 6’s poles were the best fiberglass ones we tested—they left no splinters, unlike those on the Camp Creek 6 or the Copper Canyon LX 6. To compare tent fabrics, you also need to know their overall rip strength. For most fabrics, rip strength is expressed as a measurement of the diameter of the fibers in their thread, or a denier—the higher the denier, the stronger the fabric. We found 40 denier up to 150 denier to be typical for car-camping tents; you can read more about these measurements in gear manufacturer MSR’s blog post and in this Outside article.