You can take your canopy tent anywhere and pitch it as long as there’s solid ground underneath your feet. That’s how lightweight and user-friendly these accessories are. But can you take your tent to the middle of a desert and pitch it? By all means, yes! In fact, a canopy tent is something you ought to carry in desert expeditions, if there is even the remotest possibility of having to spend days under the open sky. Better to be safe than sorry!
The canopy of a modern printed canopy tent is made of polyester or PVC, although some iterations make use of hybrid fabrics such as poly-PVC and poly-cotton for enhanced performance. Whatever the material used, you can be sure of one thing – your tent will protect you from the scalding heat of the sun and the UV radiations in sunlight. It will also keep you warm in cold weather and shield you from the rain.
So how to go about pitching your tent in the middle of a desert?
The first thing to keep in mind is of course the sand. You got to find a place that is either devoid of sand dunes or at least has some semblance of a hard ground. Because, quite frankly, it’s impossible to stabilize a tent on top of a wave of sand!
Once you have scouted out your location, it is time to pitch your tent. Modern canopy tents come with a simple no-installation-required design scheme. So, pitching a tent is never a chore.
- Pull out your tent from its bag.
- Stretch out the frame a bit.
- Attach the canopy to the frame.
- Make sure all the connectors are in place.
- Stretch the frame to its full size, and your tent is ready to give you shade.
- To secure the tent, use tent pegs and guy ropes.
- Tie one end of a guy rope to the tent frame, and the other end to a tent peg.
- Stretch the rope to make it taut.
- Use a hammer to drive the tent peg deep into the ground, not least if there’s sand.
- Your tent should be secure against mild gusts.
See, it’s that easy!
Things to make sure while using a tent in a desert
Don’t forget to carry PVC walls, if you can help it.
They can be lifesavers in arid conditions. PVC walls can serve to block hot, sandy gusts and help keep the temperature inside the tent at tolerable levels. You will also need them to block reflected heat from the desert surface.
Carrying an inflatable tent mattress is always a good idea
You don’t want coarse, dry desert sand rubbing against your skin, because it can do some serious damage to your epidermal tissue. Besides, desert sand tends to be very hot during the day and really cold at night. Blame it on its ability to absorb and release heat fast! A simple inflatable mattress can save you from all the discomfort and lend your back a soft cushion.
Sunglasses, sunscreen and full-sleeved garments
Health professionals urge us to stay protected from the UV radiations in sunlight at all times. And protective measures start with keeping our eyes and skin protected against the glare of the sun. When in the middle of a desert, always protect your eyes with sunglasses and do not expose bare skin to the sun. Sunburns can be quite painful and have long-term effects. Apply sunscreen to your face and any other part of the skin that might remain exposed to sunlight for long durations.
Sleeping bags for cold deserts
If you are planning an expedition in one of the high altitude, cold deserts of our planet, you will need to carry a sleeping bag. Retaining body heat is of paramount importance in cold climates, and you can trust your sleeping bag to keep you warm and cozy when you sleep.
Miscellaneous things you probably know you should carry
Your flask or canteen, proper shoes, gloves and a proper communication device are just some of the things you need to be carrying.
What type of tent canopies are best for use in a desert?
Desert climates are infamous for reaching extreme temperatures. Days can be searing hot and nights freezing cold. So, a tent canopy needs to be able to withstand major temperature fluctuations and dryness, if it is to perform well in a desert. PU or PVC coated polyester canopies seem to be the best performers when it comes to handling harsh climates.
Endnote
Canopy tents are reshaping the outdoor event landscape more and more every day. Nowadays it is hard to think of gala events without custom event tents and tradeshows without branded canopies. These accessories are built to last. The only thing they need in return is a bit of care.
