Metateps

Let's not confuse this venue with the austerity of homelessness. We're not talking about sleeping in cardboard boxes or stowing away in a freight car. These are homes and other habitable structures, and there are more of them out there than you might think.

Tents and Soft Shelters

Tents have been used by nomadic people since well before recorded history. An example is the tepee, used by some Native American tribes. Even today many people, such as the Bedouins of the Arabian Peninsula, still live in traditional tents. Tents are the mainstay of modern armies behind the front lines. They serve as a key piece of gear for individuals and groups that venture into the backcountry for recreational or exploratory purposes. They are also used for emergency housing and storage during disasters. In moderate climates at low latitudes and where marine currents generate a consistently comfortable environment, tents are a reasonable choice for independent living or vacationing on a tight budget.

Tents possess three major selling points: First, they're economical; second, they're portable; and third, they're quick and easy to set up.

Tents can be made from many different materials, but nylon and cotton canvas are the most commonly used. Nylon is the material of choice today due to its light weight and its inability to absorb significant moisture. Nylon materials are often coated with substances like silicon and polyurethane that make them almost completely waterproof. The disadvantage of nylon is its tendency to break down under UV radiation (i.e., sunlight). A seasonally inhabited tent may last a few seasons, but a permanent nylon habitation would be lucky to survive a year in the sunlight. Considering the cost of a tent compared to that of a "hard shelter," they're a better deal even if you have to replace them once a year. Cotton canvas is heavy and it absorbs water easily (making it even heavier). When it absorbs water, the threads swell and become so tightly packed that the tent eventually becomes temporarily very water-resistant.

Tents come in all shapes and sizes. Most of the popular tents on the market are dome tents that are supported by external poles. Some additional features that you'll want are poles and/or flies (rain covers) that are shock-corded to the main frame. Double-wall construction increases the weight, but also increases durability and weather-resistance. Bug-screened windows and doors are nice. Dual zippered doors and windows are another plus.

Since we're talking about zippers, be forewarned that the zippers on a cheap tent will be the first thing to go and can only rarely be repaired, leaving you with a tent that has doors and windows that won't close. If you're buying a cheap tent, as soon as you get it home, make sure you check the zippers and trim away any loose threads or material that can get caught in the zipper. The next things to fail on your cheap tent will be the stake loops and the fabric channels that attach the tent to the frame. These fail because the material is of poor quality and the sewing is weak. If you're buying a cheap tent, consider using your surge sewing machine to double- or triple-stitch any of the seams and channels that will be highly stressed. Stitching a patch to a weak point may also spread the stress over a wider area and prevent it from tearing.

So, just what is a "cheap tent"? Let's just say that if you're paying less than $1 a square foot for floor space, you're probably buying a short-lived lemon. This isn't always the case, but it's generally accurate. Buy brand names that you can trust.