How does leaving a tent up all summer sound? For some people, it actually turns out to be quite comfortable. There is a lot to factor in before deciding to leave your tent up all summer. However, if you prepare properly, it can be a lot of fun and a truly great experience.
Whether you are using a bell tent or canvas wall tent any other type of tent, it can be a game-changer. Nevertheless, it comes with certain benefits and lifestyle changes that have become increasingly popular in the last couple of years.
But is it possible to leave a tent up for an extended period, for example, all summer?
If you have a tent, you’re gonna want to make sure it’s well-protected and maintained. Your tent can last at least 5 years, providing you don’t use it too frequently and take care of it. Basically, there is no rule of thumb as to how long you can leave a tent up. There is a number of factors that can affect its lifespan.
In this article, we are going to give you answers to these questions and more. If you have ever wanted to leave your tent up all summer, you’re in the right place.
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Pros and Cons of Having Your Tent Up All Summer
Wouldn’t it be great if you could spend all summer in a tent? How easy would it be? Before we cover these questions, let’s discuss the pros and cons of spending summer in a tent.
The Pros
- Lower your costs. One of the key advantages is the cost of spending summer in a tent. It is much cheaper than spending it in an apartment or a resort. Sure, there will be a lot of supplies you will have to buy. You will also save more money if you rule out the costs of renting a room or staying in a hotel.
- Lower your carbon footprint. If you’re environment-friendly, you’ll want to minimize the negative impact. That’s why staying in a tent is a great idea. This will also help you reduce the negative impact of using water, electricity, gas, and other things you’ll otherwise use.
- Health-friendly. Spending a lot of time outdoors can improve your health on many levels. You’ll be taking in more air, maintaining regulatory processes in your body, increasing your Vitamin D levels, and boosting your immune system. A considerable number of studies show that spending your time outdoors can also make you happier.
- Learn to prioritize. Being in the outdoors, in a tent, is sure to make you sort out priorities and focus on the important things. It means that you can get by without things you generally consider a necessity. It’s a money-saver and can be a truly self-revelatory experience.
- Challenge. Spending your time in the outdoors may be one of the most challenging experiences and also one of the most fulfilling ones. You’re ripped off of your otherwise available resources. You’ll also get to learn about yourself and find unusual solutions to the situations that may arise.
- Mobility. Forget about being stuck in one place! Don’t like your camping spot? Move! Want to try something new? Move! Got someone you want to visit? Move!
The Cons
Spending a season in a tent comes with certain disadvantages. Accordingly, you need to be aware of these disadvantages before deciding to spend a couple of months in a tent.
- Inclement weather. Bad weather may not be that big of a deal if you have a solid shelter (i.e., a house). Being outdoors is completely different. Bad weather can instantly spoil your camping trip, leaving you hopeless and miserable. Even if you’ve got the perfect tent, a couple of nights or weeks of bad weather can be a party-breaker.
- Safety issues. Whether you’re planning to spend all summer camping or make it an extended venture, you need to make sure you have first-aid kits and survival gear on hand. You may be far from medical treatment if accidents or severe illnesses occur. This is also why you should prepare an emergency plan.
- Sanitation Issues. Lack of sanitation devices in a tent doesn’t mean that spending your trip in a tent is generally unsanitary. It’s just that lack of sanitation and waste removal may make you desperate for a long-term solution. Another issue may be the lack of showers in a tent. Campgrounds have public showers, but they are not always accessible. However, if camping during summer, you may be keen on trying bathing in a river or a lake.
- Social interaction (or Lack Thereof). Most people opt for camping to be able to spend some quality time far from the crowd. Most of them also start craving people at one point. want people. If you’ve decided to spend your summer in a tent, you should weigh the options and see how long you can go without company.
- Food. Your comfort is likely to be dependent on the way you handle your food while on a camping trip. Keeping your food in tightly sealed boxes will probably keep it safe from mice. However, you should consider setting up something that will imitate a kitchen o be able to keep your food out of the tent.
What Type of Tent Should You Pick?
Your tent is likely to withstand even the stormy weather – especially the livable ones, not to mention warm summer nights. There is a variety of tents in the market that are sturdy and durable enough to provide shelter for any weather.
If you’re up for summer camping and are treated with lenient weather, summer-only tents may serve you well. However, to be sure you’re fit for any weather, you should opt for four seasons (all year round) tents. This is because you’ll need a decent tent that endures wind and rain, which is why you should rule out ultralight or ultracheap options.
Whatever the weather, a sturdy all-rounder tent will keep your spirits up while camping. Based on frequent campers’ experience, bell tents may be just the right type for you.
Bell Tents
If you need basic shelter, bell tents are suitable for travel, leisure, or camping. A De Waard or similar is likely to average 50 weeks use, especially with a high-quality canvas. You can have your bell tent up every summer and be sure to treat it before storing it for the winter.
But remember that setting up a bell-style tent is way much harder than a quick-pitch polyester tent.
There is a variety of bell-type tents available in the market, typically quite easy to assemble. They take less than 10 minutes to assemble and you can easily set them up on your own.
The canvass is a great choice on summer days thanks to the breathable cotton. It’s also great at keeping the elements out in cold weather. You’ll be able to use it for 2 summers if you leave it up for six months and probably 3 summers if up for less.
Manufactured from high-quality cotton canvas, bell-type tents come in different styles and sizes. This can help you pick the best tent to fit your specific environment, the number of people camping, and camping style.
Pros of Bell Tents
- Easy to put up and take down even in the rain
- Easily put up by one person
- They come in a variety of sizes and designs/colors
- Cotton canvas tents are breathable and will prevent you from waking up on a summer morning feeling cooked
- Flexible interiors
- During hot summer days, you can roll up the sides for maximum airflow
- Big floor space, which makes them ideal for lots of people to sleep in
- Compatible for use with wood-burning stoves
- Made to last many years if properly maintained
Bell Tent Concerns
- Some bell tents come with separate groundsheets, but you should opt for those with zipped or sewn-in groundsheets, especially if leaving them up.
- Bell tents are seldom fully waterproof on their first use which can be attributed to the nature of the canvas. This is why you need to wet the fabric first.
- If you’re camping in a tent with front doors tied shut, you may find yourself in trouble, especially in wind and rain and when unattended. Therefore, we recommend trying those with zipped or fully closable front doors.
- Due to the weight of poles, a bell tent may be bigger and heavier to carry. This is highly important if you need to take it down if it gets soaked.
- Pick a bell tent with fly sheets covering the air vents or doors, especially if on extended camping.
- Pick your camping spot carefully, because the size of your tent (a 5m or over) may cause extra charges.
- Modern tents dry faster than canvas.
- Sunlight gradually degrades the fabric. Leaving it up all summer means it will get much more UV exposure.
Things to Consider if You Leave a Tent Up
While a tent should generally last at least 5 years of continuous use, the period may be significantly reduced if you don’t take proper care of it. Depending on several factors, it can last much less. In variable climate conditions, it may be hard to predict how the tents will turn out.
This is why it is critical to consider the climate in which you will pitch the tent.
If your tent is prepared for its first use, regularly cleaned, well maintained, and packed away dry, your bell tent may last many years. Even if you have it pitched year-round, you can make it last longer by replacing the canvas uppers annually to keep your tent fresh and new.
Without a maintenance and cleaning plan in place, you may find yourself surprised when mold and mildew start to form. You need to know how to handle humidity and damp. UV rays, as well, can disintegrate the canvas.
It’ll be great to pitch your tent on a wooden platform to keep the area clean and well ventilated.
Regardless of your preferred tent type, camping spot, or weather, you should take good care of your tent. It’s the only way you can make it last longer.
