When Buying A Tent You Should Consider The Hydrostatic Head And The Sun Protection Factor
Friday, February 19th, 2010META: There are certain aspects that we must consider when buying a tents for camping. Two of these important elements that you must contemplate while purchasing a tent are the hydrostatic head and the sun protection factor.
Tents are available in various kinds of material that are suitable for different weather conditions. Canvas, cotton, nylon, polyester and felt are all fabrics that are available. Canvas can become very bulky when it’s absorbed a lot of water so bear this in mind. 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. However as years pass by these fabrics tend to wear due to constant exposure to 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.
Tents use coatings to protect them. Polyurethane is used on nylon and polyester tents. 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. Groundheets can exceed the limit of that of a flysheet which can be a good 5000mm or above. Fabric with a hydrostatic head of 3000mm is usually used for tents which are being used for expeditions.
The other aspect that we must take into consideration while selecting a good quality tent is the sun protection factor. You should only expose yourself to the harsh ultraviolet rays of the sun for so long, so be sure to check the SPF or sun protection factor as this will show you how long you are allowed to expose yourself for. You will have more protection from the sun if you choose an SPF with a large number. UV protection is generally graded between SPF35 and SPF50. Tent fabrics are marked appropriately depending on the type of fabric. You will pay a little bit extra for tents with higher SPF protection, but this is definitely worth it.
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. You need to ensure that you are safe from the suns rays at all times. Purchasing a tent that is of good quality is a good start as the harsh ultraviolet rays 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. It is important to store it correctly without too many folds or bends, especially after it has been subjected to torrential rain or extreme heat. This will ensure it lasts longer. 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.