How to choose a tent for outdoor recreation

Purpose

The scope of use of titanium shovels is quite extensive. With their help, spring and autumn digging of beds is carried out, potatoes are dug during harvesting, root crops are dug, trenches are dug, soil is taken out of the soil, trees are planted and used in construction work.

In addition to being used for household and agrotechnical needs, titanium shovels are in service in many armies of the world, where they are an indispensable element of equipment for paratroopers, infantrymen and sappers. For example, in the airborne troops there is a whole instruction on the use of a titanium shovel as a cold weapon for hand-to-hand combat, and for sappers it is an obligatory part of working equipment. In addition, titanium alloy shovels are indispensable in hiking, where they use them to dig in fires, set up tents, dig holes in the ground for waste and chop off branches.

What every tourist needs to remember

If you are seriously going to go to Poland as part of walking tourism, it would be advisable for you to follow some general recommendations. Among them, we note the following:

Always have a detailed map of the route with you, regardless of its duration, difficulty level, or being accompanied by a guide. You can always lag behind the group, and then the route plan will be the only information that can help you out in this situation.
Never go to the mountains alone, even if you are sure that the route will be within your reach. When traveling with a group, always leave information about the route to the host country, for example, if you are staying in a private house.
If you are walking on a ready-made route, for example, in the Tatras, be sure to follow its signs. Do not turn off the paths, as you can very easily get lost.
Always check the weather forecast before going on the track. This should be done even when you are walking with a group. Remember, a sudden change in weather conditions is a good reason for the group to return to camp.
If possible, choose for yourself precisely those groups that start the route as early as possible.

It is very important to return from the route before dusk, so that darkness does not catch you in the mountains.
Do not pick berries or plants on the way. Eat only food recommended by travel organizers

This will help you get rid of food poisoning that often accompanies such tourism.
Watch out for mountain streams when crossing. Also, avoid roots and large rocks - they can be quite slippery. Also, during the hike, you should not step on small stones. As a rule, it is they who, in practice, turn out to be the least stable and lead to the fall of tourists.

Even if you have been practicing such tourism for a long time, you are not insured against general weakness and illness during the transition. Be very careful about your own health. At the first sign of weakness, try to return to camp and receive the necessary medical attention if necessary.

WHERE TO BUY A HIKING TENT?

If this is your first time buying a tent and you are not a seasoned connoisseur of the market, it is best to shop for the first time at a major outfit center. Here you can choose from a variety of models, see, touch and even install / fold the model you like. In such stores, as a rule, real experts in the tourism industry work, so they sell the most suitable, functional models, and do not order everything, like large online stores of “everything in the world”. Here you can really help with advice when choosing. Vendors usually use the equipment themselves, rather than being consultant theorists. The main thing is not to fall completely under the influence of the seller. List of verified stores with discounts for members of the Couloir programs

HOW TO BUY AT THE EQUIPMENT CENTER?

Remember, real "pumped level 1000 sales masters" who are able to delve specifically into your request and sell what you need is extremely small. In most cases, even an experienced tourist-mountaineer, who is also a sales consultant, will sell you equipment "for himself." This can lead to the fact that you will fall under the "magical influence of a specialist" and acquire something you do not quite need. To avoid this, go shopping as prepared as possible, draw up the criteria for your choice, even write them down. Save photos of the models you like on the Internet on your smartphone. You know that in a photo on the Internet, everything may not look the same as in reality. When shaping your desires before buying, avoid a large number of advisors, especially those with low qualifications - you risk completely confusing. If possible, choose a couple of really smart people whose opinion you trust, describe your task to them as constructively as possible. They will ask you the right questions themselves. After that, go to the store. The chosen tent must be laid out, ask permission to climb inside - lie down on the rug, sit. If you are going to become an avid tourist, remember - this is your future home in a variety of places and conditions, and you must be confident in it.

Now let's take a look at what you absolutely need to know about tents.

The main criteria for choosing a tent for a hike:

• An acceptable price range for you.
• : , . .
• . .
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• ... Characteristics of the bottom and awning of the tent.
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• The weight. Dimensions in the case. Wind resistance. Resource. ...

Folding mechanism overview

In the manufacture of folding models of tourist seats, the manufacturer uses several options for transforming structures.

Umbrella

The principle of unfolding is that the chairs have one more support, in addition to the legs, which is the jumper of the mechanism.

Tablet

A simple option with a standard folding folding option, which will be more convenient for furniture transported in a personal car, since even when folded, the model takes up a lot of space.

Stroller

The folding algorithm is similar to the principle of bringing the stroller into working condition, which makes the furniture more practical in terms of transportation in carry-on luggage.

FEATURES OF OPERATION

COOKING FOOD IN A TENT

Be very careful and careful! Avoid using burners inside the tent unless absolutely necessary. If this cannot be avoided, cook in the vestibule, making sure that a lot of air enters there and that no part of the burner or utensils comes into contact with the tent material. Avoid cooking in a tent on integrated systems such as a jetboil, reactor and the like - they are extremely dangerous. There are many known accidents associated with this.

WALKING TENT PACKING

You don't have to always fold your tent in a cover. You can separate the parts of the tent and carry them separately from each other. The wet canopy can be placed on the backpack while on the move to dry. When packing your tent without a cover in your backpack, make sure it will not be damaged by sharp objects.

TENT CARE

Modern tents are made of synthetic materials, they are very unpretentious and require a minimum of maintenance. Moreover, they can serve you for a very long time. Nevertheless, the tent should at least be dried after the hike. When folding, avoid stereotypical (habitual) folds - in the same places. Repair the tent as soon as possible after damage occurs, use a suitable repair kit.

SEASONALITY OF USE

This is a very conditional characteristic. Extreme tents are often referred to as “all season” and are often uncomfortable to use during the summer. At the same time, two-three-season tents are often successfully used in winter and in the mountains. However, there are a few things to be understood.So, one of the main characteristics that determines the possibility of use is wind resistance. A tent with a weak frame and large windage is hardly worth taking for difficult weather, it will not be able to withstand increased wind and snow load

If you have a warm sleeping bag, you can use a tent with a lot of mesh inside in cold conditions, but it is important that it has enough strength and that the tent reaches as low as possible to the ground. Against the beliefs of some tourists, a snow skirt is not at all a mandatory attribute of "winter" tents, although it can often be of great use in snow and in strong winds.

However, many well-known manufacturers sell "winter" tents without snow skirts. Experienced hikers know that a good windbreak can often be more important than a skirt or a very sturdy tent.

You should understand that modern super-technological tents of the ultralight segment may not withstand serious loads and take this into account in your travels. You also need to know that even the most expensive, heavy and durable super extreme tent can be torn and simply destroyed by a hurricane wind.

Travel wisdom, knowledge and developed intuition are often more important than the newest and most expensive equipment. And while waiting for the arrival of all these important qualities and gaining the necessary experience, try to use the equipment strictly for its intended purpose, take into account the positioning of the manufacturer and always use common sense.

Good luck with your choice and pleasant travel!

The author of the article is Sergey Lakhotsky.

Varieties

Titanium models are classified according to the type of construction and are presented in several types.

Bayonet

These tools represent the most numerous category of goods and are widespread in agriculture, construction and everyday life. The blade of bayonet shovels can have a triangular or rounded design, and the handle can be slightly curved. The shank is made from natural hardwood, which is sanded and varnished. This allows not to comply with special storage conditions, to use the product at any level of humidity.

Tourist

Such shovels are often foldable and equipped with a shortened handle. The models feature a smooth 2 mm working surface and a pressed blade that does not require sharpening. The handle of touring models has a telescopic structure and is made of high-carbon plastic. In terms of their operational properties and durability, such cuttings are much superior to their wooden counterparts. Very often foldable models are equipped with a protective cover, which allows them to be carried in a tourist backpack or transported in the passenger compartment.

A distinctive feature of folding shovels is the ability to change the position of the working surface relative to the handle. In the first position, the blade can be easily folded with its face towards the handle and becomes completely safe for transportation. In the second, the working blade is rotated and securely fixed perpendicular to the handle. This blade arrangement turns the shovel into a hoe, allowing it to break up large clods of earth and gouge frozen ground. The third position is standard: the working surface is folded down and securely fixed.

The main types of travel backpacks

A tourist backpack differs from an urban one in one important detail - a hip belt. Thanks to him, 70-80% of the weight of the backpack is transferred to the pelvic region and legs

This belt is the main "secret" of hikes: after all, carrying a weight of up to 20 kg on one shoulders for several days is very tiring and it is possible to earn yourself back problems. Remember: almost the entire mass of the backpack is kept on the belt, and the shoulders only hold it by the straps so that it does not fall back.

Backpacks for hiking and travel are roughly divided into two types of designs: soft and frame.

Frameless hiking backpacks - pros and cons

Soft (or frameless) backpacks with a soft back. By the presence of zip ties, additional pockets and accessories, they are not inferior to frame backpacks. In such models, usually, instead of a frame, a mat (rug) is used.

Pros of frameless backpacks:

• compactness: minimized;
• lightness: weigh two or more times less (in comparison with frame backpacks);
• relatively low cost;

Minuses:

• do not keep their shape - you need the ability to properly pack the backpack;
• limited adjustment of the load between the shoulders and the belt;
• discomfort with a large backpack weight;
• limiting large-volume models.

Conclusion: to an inexperienced tourist, a model with a soft frame, most likely, will not seem entirely convenient to use. For the first few years, it is better to go to the mountains with a hard backpack.

Frame backpacks - pros and cons

Frame (rigid) - backpacks with frame system. In models with a small volume, a plastic plate can act as a frame, and in models designed for a larger weight, a system of arcs made of light-alloy metals (for example, duralumin) serves as a frame.

Pros of Hard Backpacks:

• full adjustment of load distribution;
• allows you to comfortably carry a large weight for a long time;
• large assortment - a choice of models for every taste and budget;
• the ability to properly pack a backpack is not critical;

Minuses:

• the relatively large weight of the backpack. On average 2.5-4 kg;
• medium and high cost;
• an empty backpack cannot be rolled up compactly

Conclusion: despite some disadvantages of these backpacks, this is the best choice for a novice tourist. Therefore, we will dwell on them in more detail.

ONE OR TWO-LAYER TENT IN THE MOUNTAINS?

Most of the tents on sale are of a double layer construction. As a rule, this is an inner tent, equipped with a bath-like (overhanging) waterproof bottom and a lightweight breathable upper part of which is made of lightweight mesh. In tents for use in warm and hot seasons, almost the entire top can be made of mesh, while for models for colder conditions, the amount of mesh is much less and it can be closed with a denser fabric with a zipper. The outer tent is usually a protective canopy made of waterproof, durable fabric with braces attached. It is usually connected to the inner tent through the frame using special fastexes or other fixing devices equipped with a tension mechanism. It allows you to stretch the awning as tight as possible, which is necessary during rain or wind. Double layer tent forms an air gap between the inner and outer tent

This makes staying in it more comfortable in both hot and cold weather and to a greater extent prevents condensation in the living area, which is very important for keeping your belongings dry during the hike.

A single layer tent is either a very cheap and extremely simplified "supermarket" option, or a specialized design for specific tasks. Almost all single-layer tents, one way or another, have problems with condensation, even when using special breathable fabrics, so their use in most cases is limited to the winter period, mountains and other places with low air temperatures, where condensation is not so critical. Also, single-layer tents are colder in the cold, and hotter in the sun than their double-layer counterparts. Instead, they offer ultimately low weight and volume, ease of installation and folding in extreme weather conditions, minimum dimensions in the installed form, which allows them to be placed on the smallest flat area.As you already understood, this option is not for everyone! It is also worth considering the often very high cost of such structures.

NUMBER OF INPUTS. VESTIBULES (TAMBURS), PLACING THINGS IN THE TENT

Many are accustomed to the fact that the tent should have one entrance (exit). It's nice when the entrance to the tent allows comfortable use in the rain. Practice shows that two entrances are much better than one. Therefore, if possible, choose a model with two inputs. If you do not intend to often use the tent on narrow sites, it is better to choose a model with side entrances (provided that you have a 2-3 person tent; if the tent is larger, then the entry / exit in the head / legs is a good option). What is the best way to organize storage space? Of course, it is better to keep the little things and some of the clothes close at hand in the tent itself, for which you will find useful pockets in it and the "mezzanine" - a shelf under the ceiling, is especially pleasant. Backpacks, shoes and bulky / dirty things are convenient to keep in the lobbies (vestibules). In theory, the more of them (that is, two are better than one) and the larger their volume (for example, it is good when a separate arc of the frame is "responsible" for the vestibule), the better. In practice, you are constantly balancing between the useful volume of the tent and vestibules and its weight / size / cost. Think about what will be important to you and proceed from this in your choice. Where do you want to shift the emphasis - towards comfort or light weight?

Advantages and disadvantages

The large number of approvals and stable consumer demand for titanium shovels are due to a number of important advantages of this tool.

1. Due to the unique composition of the titanium alloy, the products do not oxidize or rust.
2. Long service life favorably distinguishes titanium models from steel and aluminum counterparts.
3. The possibility of using shovels on hard soils and stony soils allows them to be used for the development of virgin and fallow lands.
4. Due to the small weight of the tool and the compactness of the bayonet, it is very convenient to dig in plants with such a shovel without risking damaging the neighboring ones.
5. Titanium models are absolutely immune to adverse environmental factors, do not require special storage conditions and always look like new. Even with regular use, the products do not need to be straightened and sharpened.

However, along with the obvious advantages, titanium shovels still have weaknesses.

These include the high cost of products: for the most budgetary unpretentious option, you will have to pay about 2 thousand rubles.

In addition, due to its increased strength, titanium is a rather brittle material, and when the load on the bayonet increases above the permissible limit, the metal can burst and break off. In this case, you will have to throw away the entire product, since titanium models cannot be restored, and it will not be possible to weld the gap. Therefore, a titanium shovel is not suitable for uprooting trees and other hard work.

Do you need additional pockets and other options?

From the extra pocket of the backpack, you can quickly get the necessary thing without removing your equipment

Before buying a travel backpack, you need to pay close attention to the additional elements of its design, such as pockets, valves, ties, locks and other options. Different models on the market for outdoor equipment can vary significantly from each other.

The main structural elements that you need to pay attention to:

• The flap is a special top retainer designed to restrict access to the main section of the backpack. By closing it, you can not only protect things from falling out, but also protect them from moisture. In addition, the clamped valve will help to significantly reduce the volume of the backpack;
• Additional pockets - ease of use depends on their availability and total number.They can be located on the main cylinder of the backpack, on the valve, in the shoulder straps and hip belt. The main thing is not only the number of pockets, but also the quality of the materials from which they are made. Cheap Chinese models are distinguished by the fact that their pockets come off after several attempts to put even small items in them;
• The number of additional sections. You should not get too carried away with this point, but it is desirable to distinguish food products from other things;
• Compression lines are located on the sides of the main section. If a trip to nature does not imply an overnight stay, then their presence can be neglected. In other cases, slings are useful for fixing a tent or trekking poles;
• Mounts and loops for climbing equipment: all kinds of ice axes, ropes, carabiners and "crampons". Such models of backpacks are called assault or mountaineering, the most expensive ones often have special mounts for a helmet, snowboard, skis or avalanche equipment;
• The radial backpack is an additional feature of the top flap, which is detachable on some models, and is a mini-backpack for short excursions that do not require a lot of equipment and provisions. The main backpack in such cases remains at the base;
• Rain-cover - the main feature of the model with this function is the presence of an additional piece of water-repellent material that is attached to the top of the backpack during heavy rain. If the weather is normal, then this fabric is hidden in a special pocket;
• The quality of the accessories used directly affects the reliability of the piece of equipment. It is unlikely that anyone would want to bother with a jammed zipper lock on a hike, hunting or fishing.

A variety of travel backpacks by volume

As a rule, the volume of all backpacks (regardless of their purpose) is measured in liters. Top models have a volume of 80 to 125 liters. They are considered the largest backpacks and are most often used for long hikes in the winter. This backpack can fit not only a large tent, but also a lot of dishes, warm clothes, food and other necessary equipment. -

The 60L Hiking Backpack is medium in size and is great for two-day hikes. Such backpacks do not have much capacity, and therefore it is worth limiting yourself in some things. It is best to distribute them equally among all team members. The smallest backpacks have a volume of up to 45 liters. These models do not have a special frame or anatomical suspension. These backpacks are called soft bags, so you won't stay with them for a long time.

What to look for when choosing a backpack

Optimal volume of a backpack for travel

As one seasoned tourist said: “First you choose your backpack, and then the rest of the equipment that fits into it. But not the other way around. " Therefore, the first thing you need to decide on is the displacement (internal volume) of the backpack.

20-35 liters - backpack for day trips or climbing. Everything you need will fit here: a raincoat, a thermos, sandwiches, a first aid kit and personal items. Models with such a displacement are suitable, for example, for trips to the Carpathians, when you live in a comfortable house and go out for a walk in the nearby mountains. In addition, they are convenient to use in the city or when traveling.

35-50 liters - storm or mountaineering backpacks. Considering the cost, such backpacks are usually used by freeriders, climbers or rescuers. For ordinary people, it can be useful during a vacation at a ski resort.

There are also simpler models in this displacement range. For a novice tourist, this will be the best choice. Designed for 2-3 day light hikes.

50-100 liters - a full-fledged hiking backpack. It will fit everything you need for a hike from 4 to 20 days: warm clothes, a tent, a sleeping bag, boilers and food.And if something does not fit, then there are special puffs outside that can be used to fasten a pad, tent or other things. On the other hand, in this case, you should thoroughly review its contents: maybe you accidentally grabbed something unnecessary?

100-150 liters - expedition backpacks. This capacity is suitable for difficult sports trips or expeditions lasting from 20 days to several months. With such a backpack - 140 liters - I went for 4 years and I can say with confidence: you need to try very hard to fill it to the brim. Even if it turned out to be done, I do not guarantee that it will be possible to carry such a weight for a long time.

Important parts of trekking poles

Anti-shock. In fact, it is a spring (less often elastomeric) shock absorber located inside one of the stick sections (usually the upper one). The antishock is designed to reduce the shock load when walking with sticks on the joints of the hands. The need for anti-shock is still a controversial topic, since neither the destructive effect of using sticks on these joints, nor, accordingly, the prevention of this action with the help of this design, has been fully proven. What is known for certain is that anti-shock increases weight and increases the complexity and cost of the structure. Also, not everyone likes the feel of using it. This is also why it is often made disconnectable. For me personally, the justification for the use of anti-shock by a healthy tourist raises doubts. On the other hand, it can be useful for people with overweight and joint diseases.