We ended up camping Saturday night. No planning, just decided to do it with some friends. I used to do that sort of unplanned adventure before owning a business put a stop to that sort of spontaneity in my life…
I had no air mattress or sleeping pad, but I did have a 20+ year old tent that I had placed on the shelf ready to go…..15 years ago. It was exactly where I put it, and exactly as I had packed it.
While it was kinda musty, that tent had everything I needed, all the poles, the aftermarket all purpose stakes, even a hammer to put the stakes in hard ground. The elastic for the poles was dead, but once the poles were assembled and in place that didn’t matter. Past Me did a good job of putting it away so that Future Me could grab it and go. (Although I doubt Past Me had planned for it sitting for 15 or more years)
It’s kinda rewarding to know that you can pull something you prepared to be ready at a moment’s notice 15 years ago out and find it all good. (Again, I hadn’t planned on it sitting for 15 years, but there ya go)
Setup took 5 minutes (or less) and we were good to go. Back then I only bought really good gear.
I had the cooler and the lantern and threw in some dry firewood also, so a good time was had by all.
Everything worked and the tent was even dry through some mild rain and wind. Back then I only bought really good gear.
Thank God for modern materials, I doubt a canvas tent would have survived sitting on a shelf that long.
I gotta do more of this though.
Nice to know the planning worked though! 🙂
Of course, when back, take the time to replace the cording. It costs very little to do.
Even though I live in a pretty quiet suburban/rural area, I have always kept a decent selection of camping gear on hand. Still use it once a year or so, to keep my hand in.
How does one replace the shock cording in the collapsible tent poles?
The other cording is fine, but the elastic in the tent poles is just no longer stretchy.
Without seeing it, I can’t say. I did it on my Coleman A-frame tent about 5 years ago, in general it simply involves pulling the new cord through the hollow tubes, hopefully using the old elastic cord as a pull rope. Much like pulling wires through conduit. I’d do a little searching on Youtube.
yea, I don’t know how to access the ends that are crimped into the ferrules though
Everyone, even in a Suburban area, should test their ‘Kit’ by Camping Out 4 Times a Year- on every Equinox and Solstice. No matter what the Weather. I’ve done this for many Years now, and have found it both Instructive and ‘Entertaining’.
Tip: Don’t do this in a Field where your Horses are, no matter how large it is. They will Find You.
RE Gryphon’s tip: We were canoe camping and didn’t realize the beautiful little spot we found was part of the cows’ domain. One of our party got freaked out as ghostly black and white faces gradually surrounded us just at the edge of the firelight. Breakfast the next morning was interesting as he kept chasing them away and they kept coming back. Good times.