How To Set Up an Easy Pitch Tent
, by Laurence, 8 min reading time
An easy pitch tent is a great investment for wild campers and outdoor enthusiasts of all experience levels.
These camping tents are easy to set up, often taking just a few minutes to put together, and they can be quickly packed away again when it's time to leave, making them a great choice for short trips or for those who want to be able to move around easily.
Easy pitch tents also tend to be very light and easy to carry - most wild campers are fans for that reason alone!
There are a variety of different easy pitch tents on the market, so it's important to do your research before you buy one.
Here are some tips on how to choose the right easy pitch tent for your needs, including what to look for in terms of size, weight, price, and features.
Easy Pitch Tents vs Traditional Tents
The 'easy pitch' tent is one of the newer innovations in the camping realm. They are designed to almost pitch themselves in effect. Although the mechanism might change, for example, some easy pitch tents are popups and require little to no effort on your part.
Traditionally, these types of tents were better suited to novices camping for a night or two in fair weather conditions. However, as of late, advancements have been made which make the tents more robust, allowing them to stand up against adverse weather or other challenges.
- They are quicker & easier to pitch
- There is a range of sizes and styles to choose from
- They are often more lightweight and, therefore, easier to carry around
Traditional tents, on the other hand, tend to be bulkier; they also have more of a variety than easy pitch tents with bigger tents available.
Traditional tents may also be a little sturdier with the poles made of a stronger material, although obviously, you have to assemble them yourselves.
Finally, this does mean that a traditional tent might last a little longer.
Choosing An Easy Pitch Tent
When it comes to choosing an easy pitch tent, there are several things for you to consider.
You need to think about where you are going for starters, how long you will be there, and all of your needs while there, like how many people you need to sleep, the space that you are going to need, the weather you are likely to encounter and how much money you have to spend.
So let's explore the options.
Types of Tents
Easy pitch tents is an umbrella term which encompasses several forms of tents. Each one has its own merits and drawbacks; ultimately, your choice will depend entirely on you and your plans.
Pop Up Tents
Pop up tents often come in large round bags. The tents themselves are already fitted with flexible poles, which means upon removal from the bag, they pop up into the right shape. They only need securing by staking into the ground, effectively eliminating the time it would take to pitch a tent usually.
Air Tents
An air tent, or inflatable tent as they are sometimes known, offers another alternative to traditional tents. They can be just as roomy, and they are also pretty easy to take up or put down. Air tents are designed with inflatable beams in place of tent poles. You simply inflate the beams, and your tent begins to take shape. While this isn't instantaneous as with pop ups, it is still pretty quick.
Tent Material
Tents can be made of several different materials. Historically the main material was canvas, but this was bulky and heavy. Nowadays, the most common tent material is polyester, but you may also find them made from cotton, polycotton, PVC or vinyl.
Size Guide
Tents come in different shapes and sizes, depending on what you plan to use them for. Tent sizes are measured in person, man or berth.
The number preceding this word indicates how many people will be able to fit comfortably in the tent. For example, a 'three man' can sleep three people. However, it is worth going up a size if you want to have more space and not be too snugly packed in.
Packdown Size
The packdown size is also something to consider. The packdown size refers to the size of the tent when it is packed away. Most of the time, these dimensions will be listed in the product description or on the packaging itself. Obviously, bigger tents or traditional tents with more elements are likely to have a bigger packdown size and vice versa.
Set-up Times
The next thing to think about is the likely set-up time. Traditional tents can be incredibly confusing when it comes to the set up. Less experienced campers might end up spending an hour or two trying to put up a traditional tent, fighting with the tent poles and struggling with instructions.
On the other hand, easy pitch tents are just that, easy, with some of them having incredibly quick, almost instantaneous set-up times.
Easy Pitch Tent Assembly
Most forms of easy pitch tents come with fewer parts. They tend to come with just the tents themselves and pegs to help stake them into the ground. On the other hand, traditional tents can have many elements.
Easy pitch tents are often a lot simpler to assemble. That being said, for novices, it can still be a little confusing. This is why they still tend to come with instructions to clear up any confusion and offer clarification.
Does Tent Location Matter?
In short, yes. Tent location does matter. Firstly, in some places, wild camping is illegal, which means you are only legally allowed to pitch a tent on campgrounds. After that, within the campgrounds, the location may matter less.
Obviously, you should also choose high, flat ground, if possible. Avoid pitching under trees or too close to other camping tents – you need to make sure you have enough room around your tent. Finally, think about where the amenities are.
Tent Ventilation
Ensuring that your tent is well ventilated is the key to preventing condensation from forming. Ventilating your tent allows air in and any moisture to escape. Whenever possible, you should keep a window of your tent cracked open.
It can be hard to strike the right balance between keeping warm and keeping your tent ventilated in the cold weather, but this usually isn't an issue in warmer weather.
Quick Erect Tent Weatherproofing
Weatherproofing must start with a clean tent. The easiest way to weatherproof a tent is to use some form of weather sealant on it. Most of the time, this will be an aerosol which needs to be sprayed over the erect tent and left to dry before repacking away before the camping trip.
Final Thoughts
In all honesty, whether or not you want to invest in an easy pitch tent comes down to you. If you want to take up camping as a hobby, you might want to invest in a more robust tent that is fit for that purpose. However, if you only need a tent to take to festivals or for short summer breaks, then an easy pitch tent is a great solution.
Is pitching a tent hard?
Traditional tents can be tricky to pitch. However, easy pitch tents are aptly named for how much they have simplified this process.
How do you pitch a simple tent?
This depends entirely on the form of easy pitch tent that you have purchased. For example, a popup tent simply needs decanting from the bag and putting down; it does all the work for you. On the other hand, an air tent requires a pump to blow up the inflatable beams, but the tent takes shape quickly.
What is a fast pitch set-up tent?
A fast pitch set-up tent is fairly self-explanatory. It is a tent that is really quick and easy to set up or pitch. Again, using a popup tent as an example, they are almost instantaneous to pitch.
How do you pitch a tent on a hard surface?
The pitching process remains mostly unchanged. The only difference occurs when staking the tent down. Obviously, with a hard surface, you won't be able to stake the pegs into the ground. So instead, you should tie the guy ropes to heavy stones to stabilise the tent.
How tight should a tent be?
A tent should be pitched pretty tight but not overly so. You need the tension to keep it pitched properly, but too much tension can distort the tent.
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