When Buying A Tent You Should Consider The Hydrostatic Head And The Sun Protection Factor
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META: There are certain aspects that we must consider when buying a tents for camping. Purchasing a tent sounds relatively simple but there are factors that need considering beforehand. Two of the most important factors are the sun protection factor and the hydrostatic head.
Tents are available in various kinds of material that are suitable for different weather conditions. Fabrics can include cotton canvas, nylon, polyester and felt. Canvas can absorb water but it can also become very bulky once it takes in all the water. The nylon and polyester types do not take in much water and are therefore lightweight, they can also be completely waterproof if the right kind of coating has been used on them. The fabrics over the years will tend to wear as they are exposed to constant harsh UV rays. Each tent, therefore needs to be tested to see how much resistance it will take against natural conditions such as the sunlight and rain.
On nylon and polyester tents the common coating used is polyurethane. The coatings are available with different resistance power and the strength of this resistance is generally measured in Hydrostatic Head. The coating and durability of the tent will last longer if the Hydrostatic Head is greater. Rain is calculated in milimetres and indicates the resistance of the force of the water that is required to enter the fabric. A light shower will not harm your tent but a heavy down pour will put more pressure on the tent.
If a fabric indicates a hydrostatic head of 1000mm, it can be classified as good enough for a light shower. A hydrostatic head of 1500mm in a tent fabric is appropriate for summer camps while 2000mm fabrics are durable for more weather types like 4 season tents. Flysheets and groundsheets vary in size but you will find a flysheet will be at least 5000mm, so it is safe to assume that the groundsheet will be much bigger than this. A tent fabric with a hydrostatic head of 3000mm can be used for expeditions.
The other aspect that we must take into consideration while selecting a good quality tent is the sun protection factor. The ultraviolet rays of the sun are very harmful to use it is therefore very important to check the sun protection factor or SPF. This will show you how long you can expose yourself for. You will have more protection from the sun if you choose an SPF with a large number. Not only are tent fabrics checked for water resistance, they are also marked for the UV protection; this is usually between SPF35 and SPF50. You can find tents with much higher SPF protection but that also means paying that bit extra.
However it is always more sensible to buy a tent that provides you the maximum SPF protection because you are outdoors for several days and need the best safety measures for your skin. When you purchase a tent try to look for one which is made out of a really good fabric; this will ensure that you are safe from those harsh sun rays as the sun will not be able to penetrate the tents fabric.
While your tent takes care of you, it is also required that you take equally good care of it. To ensure that it lasts longer after beating the extreme heat and heavy rainfall, you must take care that it is stored properly without too many bends and folds. The folds of the tent will clearly show the wear and tear of the tents fabric; this will show you whether it has been cared for or not. So make sure it protects you as much as you protect it.
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