The Tent Culture: 3 Ways that Tents are Symbolic of a Nomadic Lifestyle and Cultural Independence

Whether we are thinking of the traditional wagons of the nomadic gypsy clans of Romania or the hunter gatherers of the American plains, it is obvious that the portable, temporary shelter is an icon of independence and self-sustenance.

This has reflected to a great sense, in art mediums that have become prevalent since the 1960’s. Silvia Bottineli, author of the work The Discourse of Modern Nomadism: The Tent in Italian Art and Architecture of the1960s and 1970s, makes this observation:

“In the 1963 essay “Nous les nomades?” (We the nomads?), he, (Georges-Hubert de

Radkowski) observed how contemporary subjects did not attribute centripetal value to a fixed home and were open to considering a number of different sites as possible temporary habitats. The new approach resulted in a more decentralized map of cultural geography, which made travel, along with the opportunity for communication, the very essence of life.

Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari later pushed the idea of nomadism beyond the anthropological study of historical change. They used this term to define an archetypical and dialectical pattern, in which nomadism is seen as a fluid, dynamic, antagonistic force in contrast to the establishment, and thus one that undermines preexisting power structures. This reading of nomadism, which they also define as “war machine,” recognizes nonhierarchical forces that stand in contrast to the stability of the state, or status quo.”

It is this theme, in a nutshell, which pretty much sums up the notion that with mobility comes independence and even anarchy. Because in the commitment to a wandering lifestyle, a clan does not hold allegiance to any beyond itself, and the whole idea of the “tragedy of the commons” fades into no-existence. It is to this lifestyle that G-d committed the Hebrews after liberating them from Egypt, to make them strong enough to inhabit the Promised Land. Here are three ways that tent living represents strength and independence.

1.       Mobility. One of the aspects of freedom is that you are free to move about the landscape and do as you please. With a tent or other type of portable shelter, you have the option of gathering your home together and moving on if you are unhappy with the environment.

2.       Secrecy. With the ability to move about the landscape, the presence of cowens and eavesdroppers will be greatly decreased, therefore, fewer people will have the opportunity to know your business or to interfere with your affairs.

3.       Allegiance to none. When you are fluid in your lifestyle and able to flutter from one environment to another, you are not dependent on any other entity for resources. 

The Effectiveness of Tents as living quarters in regards to disaster relief efforts

In a recent study of the longterm effects of tent habitation as a result of disaster relief, some surprising facts have been ascertained regarding the general comfortability of tent fabric in extreme and long term conditions.

This study, entitled: Effect of retro-reflective materials on temperature environment in tents, and presented by doctoral candidates Lili Zhanga, Xi Menga,⁎, Fei Liua, Long Xub,  and Enshen Long, has determined several key factors in long term performance of tent fabrics in regards to the effect on the human condition. Some excerpts from the study are as follows:

"Tents are widely used as temporary shelters, temporary houses after a disaster and temporary offices for construction projects due to their easy transport, rapid construction, low cost and so on. In the Wenchuan earthquake (2008) and the Lushan earthquake (2013), tents played a significant role as temporary shelters. Only in the Wenchuan earthquake, more than 1.5 million tents are used as relief supplies. Before the completion of permanent buildings, victims had to live in these tents for a long time. However, due to the poor thermal performance of tents, indoor temperature environment were very poor, and thereby victims were tormented mentally and physically. According to the experimental data [1–3], during the day in summer, indoor air temperature can b up to above 40 °C in the open tents and 52 °C in the closed tent. Especially under the high solar radiation intensity, indoor temperature environment will be worsened further. And this poor thermal environment has a negative influence on occupant's health, so it is a very urgent task to improve the indoor temperature environment in tents. As per the indoor health status of residents in disaster relief tents after the Wenchuan earthquake. Their thermal environment improvement in tents, some studies have been done. "

Wang et al. analyzed indoor thermal environment and the results showed that the high temperature and high humid environment in tents can lead to the anorexia, high morbidity, and mental fatigue.  In this study, the influence of retro-reflective materials is researched on outdoor and indoor thermal conditions by a comparative experiment under the summer climate conditions of Chengdu, resulting in following conclusions:

"(1) Due to the low thermal inertia and poor thermal insulation, there is no obvious time lag between indoor and outdoor air.

(2) Owing to integrating with retro-reflective materials, the peak values of indoor air temperature and inner surface radiation temperature are reduced by 7.7 °C and 9.2 °C, while their average values are lowered by 4.8 °C and 4.9 °C. It shows that retroreflective materials have an significant influence on indoor temperature environment improvement in tents.

(3) The retro-reflective materials can reduce outer surface temperatures of tents significantly and the reduction value of the peak temperature can be more than 15 °C, which shows outdoor temperature environment has been improved obviously.

(4) Through a comparison of the walls in different orientations, on which retro-reflective materials are covered, the top, east and north walls were found to be better choices, while the north wall is the worst one to cover retro-reflectivity materials."

Though this study doesn't prove any definitive conclusions regarding the best practice when applying reflectivity to tent fabric, it does give a foundation for study that could lead to the benefit of tent users, manufacturers, and enthusiasts. It also offers insight into the physical dynamics of the need for reflectivity in tent fabrics and a directional layout to consider in regards to the environment.

Extreme climate camping: 3 reasons to have a tent in the desert

By: Mr. X, Survivalist

If you are going to find yourself camping in desert extremes this season, here are 3 reasons to pitch a tent to make the endeavor more enjoyable and less risky. 

1.     You’ll want shelter, both from the searing sun of the day and the frigid chill that is inherent to the desert at night. Of course there is no better choice in camping gear than military surplus equipment, because this gear was designed with the climate in mind. Military surplus tents can be found to accommodate extreme cold weather, desert heat, and anything in-between.

2.     Protection. Not only from the elements but from the other mammals and reptiles with which you share your world. Many of these other entities will want the resources that you have and it will be up to you in a survival, or even a primitive, situation to keep them from getting them.

3.     A point of reference. The worst thing that can happen to you in the wilderness is that you get hurt, disoriented, or lost. If this should happen to you, then it is of the essence that you be found quickly and the easiest way for a search and rescue team to find you is to have a point of reference to begin from. A base camp with an established tent will be a perfect place to begin. You should log your GPS coordinates and text/email them to a loved one as soon as you get to your destination.

Consider these other desert camping needs as well:

• Water! You’ll need at least a gallon a day if inactive; double this if spelunking, rock climbing etc…
• Plan activities in the early morning or late afternoon. The desert is hot from around eleven A.M. until about four P.M. (unbearably so), and it is chilled from dusk until dark.
• Carry a map and compass as well as a GPS device, learn how to use both in case of technology failure.
• Sun protection! Make sure there is something to put between your skin and the sun. Lip gloss, sunscreen, a wide floppy hat etc…
• Have your vehicle checked before departure. This means your car, ATV, dirt bike, horse, whatever.

3 ways to use a surplus Army tent for profit and adventure

As a matter of pure convenience, you really can't beat the dependability, quality, ruggedness, and ease of use of a military surplus tent. These things are designed to win wars and protect soldiers from the elements and from nefarious enemy activity. It should not be a surprise to you then that these things have a great benefit to the civilian market as well.

Actually there are lots of things you can do with a military surplus tent beyond the normal sasquatch hunting excursion or the annual morel mushroom harvest. Many of these activities are highly profitable as well. Here are just three ways that you can put a  military surplus tent to work for you.

1. Carnival Tent

When you attend fairs and festivals this summer, you will see countless hawkers plying their wares from everything they can get their hands on; old motorhomes, campers, baker's tents, open air tents, etc... However, did you ever consider the fact that you could use military surplus tents to fit the needs of a carnival or fair exhibition?

2. Glamping site

The most current craze is the use of military surplus tents for glamping. Glamping is the the practice of "glamorous camping". Glamping sites can be set up with such conveniences as sofa's, luxurious beds,  refrigerators, televisions, etc... These sites are even becoming popular as temporary hotels and motels in highly  populated areas and during special events. 

3. Tent Rental

Lastly, consider the fact that for eithre of the above endeavors, it would save overhead and management costs to not have to buy the tents for the carnival booth or the glamping grounds, but it might be more profitable to rent them. Consider then, the concept of opening a business whereas you purchased military surplus tents to rent out for others to use for a short period.

U.S. Military Tent product review: 3 reasons to use glow in the dark tent strings

There is a great product out there for a military tent adventurer, glo rope®, glow in the dark nylon cord. This would not only be a perfect replacement for your military tent anchor cordage, but would also make an excellent survival bracelet in the event that you needed to use your cordage in the dark or at night. Reportedly, this stuff glows for 8 – 9 hours after it gets a full charge of sunlight, and it could be a lifesaver in a survival situation. Think of the possibilities when it comes to setting snares. Now you can check your snares after dark as the khaki color of the cordage, when it isn’t in the dark, should blend in well with twigs and dried grasses of a matching color. 

This is from the manufacturer’s website:

"Our proprietary glow pigment is added in at extreme precision when the nylon or polypropylene is still in its liquid state, and before its extrusion into fiber. This means that Glo Rope will have its glowing properties for as long as it is fiber. Our cordage can glow for up to 8-10 hours after a suitable charge from any sufficient light source. This is a state of the art technically engineered rope, that has a myriad of applications.  It is not a ” dipped” product, and thus will not gum up under friction nor compromise the equipment and the safety of the personnel utilizing Glo Rope. Not only does it glow but we’ve taken the extra step to include the options of including two 3M Highly Reflective Filaments that are woven into the glowing jacket of all our ropes so that even if the rope is not sufficiently charged with a light source to glow to its full brightness, it can at least highly reflect any ambient light; and thus, clearly be seen at night."

This stuff is great for:

1. Illuminating your tent lines and corners.

2. Reducing accidents by creating visual lines around your campsite

3. Marking your paths to boats, bathrooms, worksites, traplines, etc...   (https://www.glorope.com/product/glow-nylon-rope/)

This new cordage is a must for the military tent adventurer, even the kids will have a blast playing with the luminescent glow of the cord at night, a great alternative to the glowing plastic bracelets and necklaces which are so popular at fairs and amusement parks, but which have no real value or alternate usage capabilities.

5 things you should know about tent fabrics

What you should know about tent fabric, and when you should know it

Imagine if you would, that you have pitched camp a good six hour hike from where you parked the truck; you’re in the Rocky Mountains, in September. You have your brand new cotton Baker’s Tent set up, a good fire going, and plenty of provisions to see you through your next several nights of being alone in the bush.   And then…

…A strong “Westy” comes a blowing around the side of the mountain, large clear drops of ice cold rain begin to plop heavily on and around you, peppering your campsite like a Marine Corp mortar barrage. Your fire starts to sputter and smoke as the wind picks up and the clouds open in earnest, dropping the rain in ever increasing sheets of cold clear water. No problem you say, dragging your pack basket into your tent and securing the front against the wind and rain, you have your very own shelter from the storm… and then you feel the first drop come seeping through the cotton weave as it drips onto the back of your neck, rolls down your spine, and settles in your crevasse awaiting the arrival of reinforcements in order to stage a further advance. There is no greater hell than being in a leaking tent in the middle of nowhere. Cotton canvas tents leak until they have been “weathered”. The tent gets wet, some drips will come through and all the cotton fibers in the weave will swell and nestle into each other. As a result, you will have a perfectly waterproof tent that will give years of good service.

However, if you don’t know your material, you will not know to “weather” your cotton canvas tent before depending on it for shelter.

Therefore, we are going to discuss some options in tent fabric and try to eschew obfuscation on what is better for which scenario.

1. Cotton Canvas:

Not as common as they used to be, primarily because of cost and weight, these tents were excellent insulators and would remain cool on hot days and warm on cold nights. Cotton naturally breathes, so it is less prone to condensation than modern fabrics and therefore won’t stick to your face if you brush up against it in the night. The result of this “breathing” is that there is no need for inner tents in sleeping areas.

2. PVC Coated Cotton Canvas:

Mostly for larger framed tents or pull behind pop-up trailer tents, this material is coated PVC to strengthen and waterproof them. This process adds more weight and offers less flexibility of the material.

3. Polycotton canvas:

A blend of cotton and polyester, this material allows for the same strength as a cotton tent but allows for a lighter more versatile fabric.

4. Polyester:

Not as affected by sunlight as some of the other choices, polyester tent fabric comes with various coatings for different effects and environments. Some companies, OSMO for instance, have turned the enhancing of tent fabric into a science, creating ripstop fabrics as well as water and sun resistant coatings which has given tents an entire new market in terms of environment applicability.

5. Nylon:

Often used in smaller tents, nylon is naturally water resistant, is light, and is perfect for weaving ripstop patterns into and for coating with different types of sealant to provide both insulation and weatherproofing. The coating may be acrylic, polyurethane, or silicone; Nylon is susceptible to ultra violet light, so strong sunlight can shorten the life of your tent. Special light filter coatings reduce this effect but long exposure on bright summer days will still reduce the life of a nylon tent.

Many smaller tents also have floors made of treated, thus water-resistant nylon. However, a waterproof barrier of some type should be placed under nylon floor tents to act as a ground cloth and to protect the floor from damage.

Many styles and fabrics are available from military surplus tents and army surplus tents. Before you buy your used military surplus tents and equipment, consider the environment you will be camping in. If in an environment that will be exposed to direct sunlight for example, consider your polyester choices of which there are several. The fact of the matter is that the military has a tent for every environment, the beauty is that you can own one too, often for a fraction of the price of a consumer oriented one.

Military surplus tent focus; 3 reasons to choose the Base X tent

BaseX tent

If you're planning a large-scale family get together or a meeting such as high school reunion, military reunion, or Blackpowder shoot, then the base x tent is perfect for your needs.

This tent is really designed to have a central unit that is perfect for a large scale get together and then offshoots that would be perfect for individual accommodations. Designed by the military for command staff functions, it can also serve well as a mass unit with the central area being reserved for surgery, and the offshoot compartments serving as hospital rooms. Your imagination is the only limitation when it comes to deciding how and when you could use this base X acknowledging.

Here are three qualities of this tent:

1. The Base-X tent 305 (18' x 25’) is a mid-sized shelter with a clear span of 18’ and six entry and egress points, that can accommodate a maximum of 20 people.

2. The Base-X tent 305 is ideal for a mid-sized command and control center, medical or communication logistics operations, and private offices.

3. The Base-X tent 305 can also be utilized as a general purpose, camping or disaster relief tent.

Tent Purchasing Tips:

* Use the number of campers to determine the minimum size tent needed.

* Consider the equipment you will store in the tent, and take into account the vestibules and gear lofts for storage.

* Take note of the peak center height measurement to determine if you can stand inside the tent.

* Trail campers should select the smallest lightweight tent, while campground campers should select based on comfort.

Specifications and Features:

* This tent is refurbished (according the military specifications).

* Good condition.

* Floor space – 18’ × 25’ ft.

* Area – 450 sq. ft

* Weight – 524 lbs.

* Set-Up – Eight to 16 minutes (Four personnel required).

* Includes : Original tent, frame, liner and floor. A repair kit is included as well.

Military tent focus: 3 reasons to get a USMC surplus tent

Though made by various manufacturers, the Marine Corps Combat Tent adheres to strict guidelines for service in the United States Marine Corps. This 40 inch, 8.5 pound military tent is readily available online and is a two-man, freestanding, double wall, military tent.

The Combat Tent has a vapor permeable body and a waterproof floor and fly which provides 20 square feet of storage space. It has both an entrance and an exit, uses corded poles, and requires no special tools for pitching or striking. The rain fly is detachable and can be used for other things along with the poles and stakes.

This tent is able to:

1. Withstand 40 mph steady winds and gusts up to 55 mph.

2. Withstand temperatures up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit

3. Withstand gales of rain, sand, and blowing snow

Of all of the Army tents for sale online, military tents, and used surplus tents and shelters, the United States Marine Corps Combat tent is by the most efficient, ultra-portable, and concealable of any other military tent available. Perfect for camping out in deep wilderness areas where the larger more complex Army tent or Military Tent isn’t really feasible, the USMC Combat Tent fits the bill perfectly.

The top ten coolest tents, (and what to do with them)

The top 10 coolest tents and what to do with them

Modern camping has become something more than practical utilization of tent fabric and canvas for shelter; gone are the days of rustic survival, braving the elements in an attempt to put man back into nature with just the bare minimum of accommodations. The idea of the mountain man who could survive in the wilderness with nothing more than a handful of salt and a sharp rock has died. In its place is the concept of glamping.  Glamping is a combination of both glamor and camping, or in other words: “camping with style and flair.”

The first step towards glamping is finding the tent that appeals to you aesthetically. Afterwards, the modern glamper will personalize his or her campsite to make it unique. There are many ways to do this, more than I can get into here, but think about the possibilities of solar panels and water fountains. Air mattresses and inflatable furniture combined with comfortable plush rugs and portable air conditioners, heaters, generators, and camp stoves. Apple Computer Company has put Netflix in the hands of everyone who has an iPhone, and modern camping will never be the rustic discomfort that it once was; there are even portable camping toilets and stoves available.   

Besides having “a hut of ones own”, there are several reasons to look toward glamping as a means of lodging instead of hotels or traditional accommodations. Most importantly in today’s economy is the fact that tents are very affordable, don’t require much in the way of upkeep, and offer their user autonomy. Your personalized camp will be your home away from home as you set out on different adventures. Whether you are attending the Olympics, the World Cup, or a NASCAR race or football game, setting up your own glamping site will allow you to experience of taking home to where the action is, and it is form of lodging that can be reused time and time again.

       Roomy tents are often preferred for glamping, and here are a few examples.  

       The Tensile Tent:  Designed to be hung hammock style between two trees, this option gives a sleeping platform suspended above the ground, and the user can set up whatever manner of glampsite on the ground below.  Not only does this tent offer the security and freedom of high places, but it acts as a shelter in and of itself for the part of your campsite that is on the ground.

      The REI-Kingdom Tent: This workhorse screams ruggedness and security. Its streamline structure is designed to be aerodynamically superior in the event of high winds or inclement weather. The inclusion of mosquito netting offers a nice opportunity to enjoy a porch like experience where the tent widens at the front, while the rearmost tapers into a very snug den like area that is perfect for an air mattress or pile of buffalo robes or blankets. 

     Military Surplus GP Tent: These rugged used military surplus tents are general purpose tents and they are easily glamped out. One only has to remember Hawkeye and BJ in MASH to see what opportunities of customization are available to you as a glamper. You may not want to build a still in your GP military surplus tent like they did, but it’s nice knowing you could if you want to.  There is plenty of room for a bed and furniture as well.

     Kodiak Canvas Tent: This beautiful tent is the civilian model comparable to a military grade GP tent. There is plenty of room as in the GP tent; however, the aesthetics are different. Whereas the GP tent says “Doomsdayer” or “Apocalypse Survivor”, this one screams “Mountain Man” or “Fur Trapper”. One can easily imagine raw furs hanging from the corners of the Kodiak Canvas Tent, while fresh game roasts on a spit over the fire.

     Base X Tent: A Base-X tent or folding frame tent is a military surplus tent that is interactive with other Base-X Tents. In other words, these babies can be used to build a compound or a veritable glamping community. In the military they were often set up in an X formation with a base tent as the very center. This would be an excellent pick for group glamping with friends or family, especially if you were interested in being able to hang canvas walls for privacy or have large sheltered areas available for a large meal or gathering.

      DRASH tent: The Deployable Rapid Assembly SHelter, or DRASH tent is very similar to the Base-X tent with the difference being ease of portability and a more aerodynamic frame which would be better suited for wind resistance than would be the Base-X tents. The DRASH tent is a single unit which includes frame, sides, and floor; therefore, it is not necessary to bother with special tools when being set up nor are there loose parts to misplace. Like a Base-X tent, the DRASH tent is interactive with other DRASH tents.

     Temper Tents: The Tent, Extendable, Modular PERsonnel or TEMPER tent is designed to be interactive as well with other TEMPER tents to increase in length by eight feet at a time. Built a bit more ruggedly than Base-X or DRASH tents and with better insulation, the TEMPER tent supports accommodations such as heating and air conditioning, and electric wiring from generators. This would be an excellent choice for glamping under harsher conditions, such as the Superbowl in February or opening day of trout season in New York.

  Urban Escape and Vango Lumen: These are both tents that are popular for personal, ultra-portable glamping because they are so roomy and cool. Both come with a sleeping section separate from the “living” area and the perception is that one has a front porch already customized to ones glamping shelter. The Vango Lumen even has an extended awning to provide shelter for camp chairs, a fire, or outdoor sleeping.

 The Safari Tent:  Last but certainly not least is the Safari tent. A rugged and easily portable tent, the Safari embraces the no nonsense utility of military surplus tents and used army tents, but it also makes one think of a little cabin in the woods, or as mentioned earlier, “A hut of one’s own.” The safari tent is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and would make just as good as a deer camp as it would a woodland retreat with a fountain and a little stone path surrounding it.

     Whatever your choice for your glamping adventure, rest in the knowledge that your glamp is your own and you won’t be dependent on the provision of others if you choose to glamp rather than travel traditionally. Happy glamping.

Military surplus tents and equipment; running a scout troop on a budget

If you are a Boy or Girl Scout master, then you know how frustrating it can be to try to function under the monetary constraints that most troops have to face.  Fortunately there is an excellent source of tents and camping equipment available to you for just a fraction of the price that you would expect to pay at the local sporting goods store. I speak of course of used military surplus tents and equipment.

These surplus items are used but in good repair, replaced as military units come out of the field, they are not re-issued, but are in excellent condition. Some are new or like new as they are replaced by updated models or styles. Used military surplus is not only designed to win wars, in many cases the items you purchase will have done just that… helped to win a war.  What greater honor could a Boy Scout have than to proudly wear the very backpack that some unknown big brother had worn during combat in Iran, Kuwait, or Viet Nam? What greater peace could come than the knowledge that they are sleeping in a tent that sheltered American fighting men and women during a wartime conflict? Used military surplus tents and equipment is the perfect answer for a struggling troop trying to make ends meet. Young scouts will find the tents and backpacks to be durable and able to withstand the constant barrage of stress and strain that young hands and feet can inflict on material items.

While there are lots of options in camping gear, some of which is very cheaply priced, bear in mind that ALL camping gear on the retail market is sold by corporations whose bottom line is the almighty dollar, while used military surplus equipment is simply made to do a job and cost is not a significant factor to standards.

The art of military surplus tent maintenance

If you are going to own a used or new military surplus tent or a surplus army tent, then you should have the facility to keep it in good working order. The good news is that the military had this in mind when they designed this thing, and they offer an excellent tent repair kit that you can get fairly reasonably to keep with you as you go about your military surplus camping business.

Here is an overview of the military issue repair kit. An alternative idea to cotton twine and polyester string is heavy duty waxed string, some people call it cat-gut string. This stuff is amazing, and some people even use it for saddles and other leatherworking projects because the wax offers a sealant to needle holes when drawn tight and holds a tighter grip than non-waxed string.  A good method for repairing a rip or tear in your tent is to sew the hole up first, then use a double patch of waterproof canvas, (one on either side of the sewn up tear, about two inches larger on all four sides than the tear they cover). Sew the inside patch over the tear, and then use fabric cement or glue to patch the outside area, making sure to cover your needle holes completely and sealing the edges fully to prevent seepage and water trickle. You also will want to waterproof the canvas on occasion and keep your tent out of the sunlight whenever possible because the sun can dry the fibers out and encourage cracking.

Lastly, when storing your tent, consider that what makes a great shelter for you and your family will be just as appealing to other creatures, and if given access they will take up residence. So store your home away from home in a place where critters aren’t so common. Consider some mothballs or cedar chips to keep the creepies out and a nice shot of febreeze to hold off the must. When you notice small tears and stains, deal with them then because they never get any smaller on their own. With care and maintenance, your rugged surplus army tent will last you a lifetime and then some. Happy camping.

The art of military surplus tent usage

Since a military surplus tent is designed to be portable, it is built as lightly as possible while still maintaining its ruggedness and durability. Since the whole purpose of this shelter is to keep the elements which can harm you off of you, it only stands to reason that at some point these elements are going to harm it.  There are several actions you can take though, to ensure that you get decades of use out of your used army tent.

 First and foremost you need to protect the part that will receive the most wear, the bottom. If your used tent has a bottom canvas, the material is going to have to deal with friction between you and the earth. Rocks, sticks, thistles and thorns are all types of detritus material that make up the earth's face, and walking on the floor of your canvas tent is going to stress the material against it. A good rule of thumb is to leave the shoes and boots at the door. Your grandmother had the right idea when she wouldn’t let you wear your lucky cowboy boots on her new carpet, and that idea holds true when caring for your surplus military tent. In a harsh environment, an extra pair or two of wool socks can accommodate the loss of the insulation of your boots. Beyond this, it’s very important to have a ground mat made for your tent. This foam rubber item, though usually custom made, is relatively inexpensive, and will save your tent lots of wear and tear. 

The old adage, "you take care of your stuff and your stuff will take care of you" has never been more true than when talking about taking good care of the shelter which is there to protect you from the storm. These tents are built and designed to win wars and protect soldiers from the harshest environments on the planet. All they need in return is just  a little bit of tlc...