Sleeping under the stars, listening to the noises of the wild animals and the whispering of the wind in the treetops, in the mornings woken by the first rays of sunshine – spending the night in a tent is for all the senses and simply has a very special fascination. TATONKA gives you some valuable tips for an unforgettable, wonderful camping experience.
The tent: Cozy outdoor base camp
After a long hiking tour during the day you set down your backpack, take off your walking boots and enjoy a barbecue around the campfire: The evening under the stars is the crowning glory to a lovely day in the open air. Just because you do not want to stay in a hotel does not mean you have to do without comfort: modern tents are real dens to feel well in and where after a long hiking tour, you can snuggle down in your sleeping bag and breathe in the fresh night air. With generous size sleeping cabins, apses often of standing height and additional storage space, TATONKA tents are ideally suited as mobile outdoor base camps; ventilation openings ensure a pleasant climate but the mosquitoes have to stay outside! TATONKA product developers have fitted out most of our tents with an additional mosquito-safe internal tent so that in the night you can enjoy your well-earned rest without being disturbed by these stinging nuisances.
”Green” Camping: very special camping enjoyment
Unauthorized camping is forbidden in Germany but there are numerous camping sites in the wilds which make the hearts of all outdoor enthusiasts beat faster and provide an intensive nature experience. When these nature camping sites were established, attention was paid to long-term sustainability: they are conceived as environment friendly and in harmony with nature as well as fitting in with the surrounding landscape. As a matter of course, at many of these sites, food products and meals from the region are offered. If you wish to enjoy the beauty of the region just beyond your front door, by day and by night, on a hiking tour or camping trip, you will soon find information in the Internet under the header “Nature Camping Sites”.
Off to distant parts with kit and caboodle
For those who wish to take off to distant parts with tent and hiking equipment, there are fantastic areas particularly in northern Europe for camping. Iceland for example, offers fascinating scenery but it may be that the low temperatures here put a damper on outdoor pleasure: The spectacular landscape, however, more than compensates for rain, wind and minus temperatures overnight, sometimes even in summer.
TATONKA tents: Mobile Feel-Good Dens for Expedition “Life”
TATONKA tents are manufactured in top quality materials and are provided with many useful details: Provided that they are used properly and with due care they are long-lasting, reliable partners for nights in the open. The TATONKA tent manual gives you valuable tips for care and erection of your tent – and your excursion into nature by night will be an unforgettable experience.
What you need to know about your tent
Care and maintenance
The tent underlay protects the floor from thorns, thistles and dampness and keeps the floor material impervious for a longer time. After use the tent should be shaken out well and if necessary wiped with a damp cloth – tents should never be put in a washing machine. After use the tent should be hung up or spread out to dry – condensation occurs in all weather, regardless of the place the tent has been set up or its type. Over the longer term the material will not withstand UV rays as these speed up the ageing process of the tent; the material becomes brittle and loses its non-tear properties; silicon-coated outer materials are less sensitive than PU-coated.
Zips and seams
Welded seams and watertight zip fastenings are essential contributions to camping in comfort. The proper care of your tent increases its lifespan. If there is dirt in the zip fastenings, this is of course not good and if the tension is not correct, then they may get stuck. If the zip fastener does not function immediately, then you must be patient: this can be remedied with a silicon-spray. Only very few tent seams are guaranteed as absolutely watertight. Some points are subject to special conditions and in such cases a seam sealing procedure can be introduced by carefully applying a thin layer of sealant to the erected tent which is then allowed to dry.
Storing in the tent bag
At the end of your tour your tent is cleaned and dried and folded together and brought to a dry, airy place not in direct sunlight. It is advantageous if you do not pack your tent in its storage bag. When folding your tent, there are always kinks but in order to avoid these you can try to fold not so tightly in order to minimize the risk.
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4 Facts about tents
Of course every camping enthusiast wants his new acquisition to be 100% dry inside, to last a lifetime and to survive many years without damage. TATONKA tents are top class quality workmanship – but some things must always be observed:
Fact 1//
No tent is 100% waterproof. A finished tent comprises various materials and parts. Seams, depending on the design and how bonded, cannot always be waterproof, and water can also seep through the zips; condensation should be allowed to exit via openings in the tent.
Fact 2//
Tents do not last a lifetime. All materials age. Especially when subject to weather conditions or UV rays. Tips on the best ways to deal with external influences can be found in the tent manual.
Fact 3//
Even in the good tents there is still condensation dampness. Formation of condensation is a physical occurrence which simply cannot be avoided in a tent. Tips on minimizing condensation can be found in the tent manual.
Fact 4//
If not handled or stored correctly or under too much pressure, even aluminium rods can break. It is therefore recommended that you always take at least one spare sheath with you when camping.