Dome Tents

Check out our Camping checklist at the bottom of this page to help with your packing!

Dome Tents are highly popular due to being both lighter on the pocket than a canvas and taking up less room in the boot. Ideal for those who do a mixture of overnight/weekend and longer stay camping.

Dome tent flys are made of either nylon or polyester of a mixture of both. Nylons hold their strength better over their life span and are slightly more resistant to UV exposure. On the other hand, new coatings can increase polyester fabrics strength and polyesters flys shrink and expand a lot less than there nylon counterparts due to a lower level of water absorbsion. Whether you chose a tent with a nylon or a polyester fly doesn't really matter too much [Manufacturers often have both nylon and polyester tents in their range and/or vary which fabric type of fabric they use depending on new technologies, availability and pricing). In short tent fabrics are continually under review. To make your life simple let the manufacturer worry about the type of the fabric and chose a reputable brand that has good after sales service.

The floor fabrics of tents are generally made in heavier fabrics with additional waterproof coating to make them more durable and watertight. When it comes to waterproofing/waterhead rating, Nylon or polyester fabrics have by themselves no waterproofing ability. The waterproofness of a fabric is determined by a coating that is rolled onto the fabric [on cheaper fabrics the coating is sprayed on resulting in uneven application and a less durable adhesion]. Waterproofing is measured in hydrostatic head. A fabric that is waterproof at 3000mm can withhold a column of water 3 meters high on top of it!!

Note - this measure refers to the pressure of the water on the fabric not how much rain has fallen [eg: 150mm in the last 24 hours]. It is also important to be aware that coating a fabric actually weakens it. Therefore manufacturers will coat the fabric the minimum amount possible while still being practically waterproof. Therefore a fabric waterproofed to 10,000mm instead of 3000mm (for example) does not indicate a better fabric nor is it required, as a 1500mm fabric is sufficiently waterproof to withhold rain.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Always follow the manufacturers instructions
• If possible, try to pitch your tent so that the rear of the tent faces the prevailing wind
• If possible do not pitch your tent under trees. The dripping on your tent will keep you up at night and falling branches can damage your tent. Tree sap and bird droppings will cause irreparable damage to your tent
• Always ensure that the fly is velcroed onto the frame (if this is part of the design), that way when all the guy ropes are pegged out, they will hold the frame of the tent in place. It also ensures that the guy ropes pull on the frame, not just the fly
• Always peg out the guy ropes
• Hit your pegs in at a 45 degree angle
• Always pack away and store your tent completely dry - rain or condensation will rot your tent if it is packed away damp
• Do not leave your tent pitched unnecessarily. UV light shortens the life of your tent
• Leave windows open during the day to make for a cooler tent
• When pushing the poles out of the pole sleeves, bend them slightly. This will keep the poles connected together. Pushing the poles in and out of the sleeves is easier and better for your tent

GEAR CHECKLIST - FAMILY CAMPING

• Check the facilities of the campground - especially if you are going with children or to a remote area (like a DOC campground), i.e are the sites powered.
• Check out any hazards in the campsite area, especially for children, such as streams, rivers and busy roads.
• Your tent!
• Gas light/torches
• Sleeping Bags
• Sleeping Mats or stretchers
• Pillows if you can fit them in!
• Fold up-chairs
• Waterproof picnic rugs or a large piece of canvas to out on the ground
• Rubbish bags and extra zip lock bags
• Insect repellant
• Sunscreen, hats, rash-shirts etc
• First-aid kit
• Your own fuel stove and spare fuel or gas stove and gas cylinder
• Dishwashing things including a separate dishwashing bucket if you can
• Toiletries including toilet paper, soap, face cloths and towels
• Rope and pegs for drying clothes
• Large water container, water bladders or drink bottles
• Spare fly or shade tent and associated ropes and poles
• Jandals for easy-on shoes to get to and from the loos and showers, for prickly terrain or burning sand
• Chilly bin or gas fridge
• Plates and eating utensils
• Mugs and drink bottles
• Basic tent repair kit - emergency pole sleeve, duct tape, seam sealant etc

EXTRA FOR CAMPING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN

• Cards, books, toys, games, puzzles, drawing pads and pens - for wet weather
• On the ground high chair for babies
• Nappies, wipes, pushchair or baby carrier
• Childrens clothes, sunhats, sleeping bags, towel, warm blankets, sunhat and beanie, toys and books
• Portacot or pop-up cot
• A plastic contrainer such as a fish bin for bathing littlies, or a solar shower
• Kids bikes, balls, kite
• Cricket set, frisbees etc
• A small pack for day walks
• Lots of food!
• Warm clothes - even in summer it can get chilly - especially at night!
• Maybe they'd like to keep a holiday diary?