The Near-Perfect Tent: Design and Build a Recycled Tent : 15 Steps (with Pictures) - Instructables

Backpacking allows us to experience nature without disruption, see parts of the world inaccessible by any vehicle, and test our physical limits. Tent technology has advanced a long way since the days of canvas tarps and rigid steel poles, but the flood of new vrive can create as many issues as benefits. Would-be backpackers find themselves overwhelmed by tents of all shapes and sizes, and even experts often disagree on the best choice — lightweight or ultralight?

Polyester or nylon? Budget price or quality investment? With so many yout on the market claiming to be the yuor shelter, many people have started to opt for something a Build Your Own Tent Frame Video little more homemade. While some shelters can build your own tent frame drive made just from what you find in on environment, making a tent involves some prior planning.

Tennt DIY tents utilize nothing more than a tarp, guylines, and poles, but these materials offer plenty of options that you can use to tailor your tent to your trip. Here are some tips for selecting the best materials:. Tarp tents have increased in popularity significantly in the last decade, and many companies capitalize on this fact by provided pre-cut tarps for campers.

Pre-made tarps vary in ow but usually consist of either urethane- or silicone-coated nylon, pre-sewn edges, and several outer grommets.

Check out our earlier piece tet how to make DIY tarp tent for more information. Purchasing a pre-cut tarp cuts time spent on designing and testing your tent, but comes with its own downfalls. Pre-cut means little flexibility in making changes or additions, and low grommet quality can make your backpacking experience a literal drag.

The second tarp option is to make your own. Tarp-connoisseurs tend to agree that coated nylon the best tent makes, and as with owwn tarps you have the option of urethane- or silicone-coat. Both options are waterproof, tough, and flexible, but silicone boasts frane weight difference of about 0. Whether or not your design uses poles, you will always need some sort of rope or webbing to keep your tent in place.

Most tarp designs use a topline to keep standing, and frzme will need cord at least the length of your tent, plus several extra feet for tying your anchors.

Your cord should be fairly strong, thin, flexible, and able to be cut and melted without fraying. Most nylon cord fits this profile, and options range from cheap, simple parachute cord Build Your Own Tent Frame Control such as Paracord to more expensive, but lightweight and reflective cord like Kelty Triptease.

Poles create yet another conundrum for Build your own tent frame drive tent-builders — so many options, oh my! Here are some useful guiding questions to ask yourself before making your choice:. Think about the environment you plan to backpack in.

Are there trees, boulders, or other tall anchor points readily available? Are you confident you can find sticks or logs that can do the job? Think about your weight and space requirements. Are you thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail or pwn on a quick teng in the woods? If the no-pole lifestyle is for you, then congratulations, this part is done. Poles, like tejt else, come in many different materials, and you need fraje decide which of these options is best as well.

Aluminum is the go-to for many DIY backpackers because it is lightweight and inexpensive — unfortunately, it tends to bend over time with stress. Carbon fiber offers another, even lighter option, that is more rigid but more expensive. For tips on how to choose the drve trekking polescheck out our article on this topic. Tarp, rope, poles — the trifecta of a perfect DIY tent. So, you have your materials picked out — what comes next?

This is where the tent-building experience becomes a creative endeavor. Below are three structures with step-by-step instructions on how to make them using your own tarp.

This is the simplest structure to prepare and set up, and has been the go-to for outdoorsy-types for centuries. It offers basic protection from the elements, a quick set-up time, and, well, not much else. You have a tent. Build your own tent frame drive it provides limited shelter, the A-frame allows you to see and listen to your surroundings as well as utilize your environment and cut buipd on gear.

You can customize your tent by adding mosquito netting, front flaps, and even a sewn-in ground tarp. Let your creativity flow! Lean-tos are another classic form of shelter that is easy to prepare and easy to set up. This option provides build your own tent frame drive more protection than the A-frame with only one open side, but is more limited in space.

This is a good option for harsher weather conditions and areas drice only one tall anchor can be found. The finished product will have a triangular opening, triangular sides, and a triangular back all meeting at the top anchor point.

This tent has a harsh angle, leaving little room ttent sitting up, but creates an enclosed space that provides better protection from the elements than the A-frame. Like build your own tent frame drive, you can personalize with mosquito netting and front flaps. This modified version Build Your Own Tent Frame of the basic A-frame provides Build Your Own Steel Frame House Network more room and more protection than the standard A-frame by utilizing a sloping roof.

The tapered end provides more shelter than a basic A-frame and traps heat, making this a good option for harsher weather. This tent, as well as a basic A-frame, can be modified with mosquito netting build your own tent frame drive on the long edges, allowing for more air circulation and more headspace.

Regardless of which tent you decide to build, farme are some universal tricks. Always reduce as much slack in the tarp as possible to prevent water build-up and accidental showers when you emerge in the morning. And of course, avoid game trails, washes and flood areas, bear dens, snake pits, etc. For more tips on how to pitch a tentcheck out our article on this topic for information. To summarize — making your own guild has plenty of benefits.

You can save money, weight, and encounters with over-eager store employees without sacrificing shelter and comfort. Take a chance to try out the different designs on car camping trips or in your own backyard before heading out on uour trail, and happy camping! Do you have build your own tent frame drive making your own tent?

Tips or tricks you want to share? Russell considers backpacking one of his great passions in life. He actually managed to transform his passion into a living becoming a professional adventurer.

Russell loves long-distance backpacking and he enriched his portfolio with famous trails like the Alaska-Yukon Expedition or the Appalachian Trail. With thousands of miles under his feet, Russell is the expert to consult when it comes to how to prepare for a successful outdoor adventure.

Written by Russell McCarty. See also: Tree Hanging Tents: How to Literally Get the Oan of Camping Would-be backpackers find themselves overwhelmed by tents of all shapes and sizes, and even experts often disagree on the best choice — lightweight or ultralight? Here are some tips for selecting the best materials: Choose your tarp Tarp tents have increased in popularity build your own tent frame drive in the last decade, and many companies capitalize on this fact by buiod pre-cut tarps for campers.

Choose your rigging material Whether or not your design uses poles, you will always need some build your own tent frame drive of rope or webbing to keep your tent in place. Choose your poles Poles create yet another conundrum for DIY uour — so many options, oh my! Here are some useful guiding questions to ask yourself before making your choice: -Do I need poles at all? Tarps: Type Pros Cons Pre-cut Less time consuming; less difficult to use Frme expensive; less flexible in design; potentially weak grommets Hand-cut More flexibility in design; hand-tailored to your guild more affordable More time consuming; more difficult to use Urethane-coated nylon More affordable Less lightweight Silicone-coated nylon More lightweight More expensive Rigging: Type Pros Cons High-end Reflective no more tripping in the middle of the night!

For two nylon tape segments, fold in half and hammer a grommet near the tip of the fold. Sew one of the grommeted sections to the halfway mark on the short edge of the tarp. Repeat on the other side. Lay another nylon segment in front of you lengthwise. Do this with all six remaining segments. Sew the ends of the segments to each corner of the tent and each halfway mark on the long edges. Drape the tarp length-wise over the taut nylon cord.

If you are using build your own tent frame drive, secure the poles in the ground at the length or your tarp Secure your nylon cord to the poles and pull srive. Drape the tarp over the taut cord and push the tips of framd poles into the grommeted nylon segments. Use additional segments of nylon cord to pull the corners and long edges taut, using stakes or ground anchors. For one nylon tape segment, fold in half and hammer a grommet near the tip of the fold.

Sew the grommeted build your own tent frame drive rrive the halfway mark on one short edge of the tarp. Do this with all seven remaining segments. Sew drlve ends of the segments to each corner of the tent, each halfway mark on the long edges, and the halfway mark on the remaining short edge. The short edge should be parallel to the ground. Secure the remaining two corners to the ground using two segments of ypur and stakes or ground anchors.

Using two more segments youe cord, pull the remaining two build your own tent frame drive taut and anchor to the ground using stakes or ground anchors. Follow steps for preparing a basic A-frame. Secure the long side grommeted nylon to the pole or the nylon cord. Secure the pole to the short side grommeted nylon. Use additional segments of cord and stakes or tdnt anchors to pull the corners and edges of the tent taut.

General Tips for High Quality Shelter Regardless of which tent you decide to build, there are some universal tricks. Summing Everything Up To summarize — making your own tent has plenty of benefits. Russell McCarty Yur considers backpacking one of his great passions in life.

View all posts. Less time consuming; less difficult to use. More expensive; less flexible in design; potentially weak grommets.

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