'Technical' Camping Terms

For those that are new to camping, it can be pretty tricky getting your head around the camping lingo, so we’re here to help you with a ‘technical’ camping terms blog!

A

A-frame – A basic tent shape, the cross section forms the shape of an ‘A’

Awning – An Awning is a secondary covering attached t the exterior of a Campervan, Caravan or Motorhome

B

Berth – A designated sleeping area inside a tent or awning. For example an 8 berth tent will sleep 8 people as each berth is for one person.

Breeze – This means inflatable. A variety of OLPRO products are known as a ‘breeze’, as theyare inflatable, such as the Cocoon Breeze.

Breathable - refers to a porosity of fabrics. Breathable materials are not waterproof.

C

Canopy– the inner wall of a double-walled tent. The canopy is breathable. The outer wall/fly is waterproof.

D

Denier – A weight measurement used to define the fineness of a yarn or thread used in some backpacking and camping equipment. The lower the denier, the thinner the thread and the higher the denier the thicker the thread.

Dome – A tent shape where the poles create a dome by curving each other

Drive Away – This means that you can drive away even if you have an awning attached to your campervan, caravan or motorhome.

DWR – Durable Water-Repellent finish. A treatment that is found on outerwear that forces water to bead up on the fabric.

F

Ferrule – The metal sleeve that’s attached to the pole sections of fibreglass tent poles.

Figure of 8 – A figure of 8 is what you would use to attach an awning onto your campervan, caravan or motorhome.

Fibreglass - Fibreglass poles are made to be flexible with adverse weather such as wind. Instead of them standing still against the wind, they bend with the wind to shed gusts.

Floor Area – The amount of useable floor space in a tent, measured in square feet.

Footprint – The shape and square footage of a tent floor

Frame Pack – A pack with an exterior aluminium or fibre framework.

Free Standing Frame/Self-Supporting – A tent that does not require stakes or guy lines to stand erect

G

Geodesic Tent – Shelter for harsh conditions. The standard shape of geodesic tents is a semi-sphere or like the shape of a dome tent. A guying of at least three crossover tent poles ensures a very stable design, which makes geodesic tents perfect for using in tough conditions.

Guy Lines – The cables which are tied to the tent and you place into the ground with ground pegs to ensure your tent is secure.

Guy Point - One of several points outside a tent where the guy line can be attached and secured to increase the tents structure.

Ground Stakes – Anchors that hold a tent to the ground.

H

Husk – Husk is a product made from rice husk which is the protective shell which covers the rice grain whilst it is growing. What was once was an agricultural by-product has now become a sustainable material used forfuel, building and can be made into an alternative for plastic.

Hydrostatic Head – Hydrostatic head is a way of measuring how waterproof a fabric is. The measurement works in millimetres and it relates to how high a column of water standing on the fabric would need to be before the water would penetrate the fabric.

Hollowfibre – Hollowfibre is from the fine, hollow strand of polyester. The hollow centre traps air and helps to provide a lofty duvet filling. Hollowfibre bedding is lightweight so you can get really warm, high tog bedding without having a thick duvet on your bed.

I

Imu – A shallow pit in the ground that is used for cooking.

K

Kindling – Small, dead wood that is used start a fire.

M

Melamine – Melamine is a plastic material that is used to manufacture cooking utensils, plates and plastic products. It’s durable, fire and heat resistant and virtually unbreakable.

Mesh – A tent mesh so fine that it keeps out tiny bugs

O

One Pole Tent – A tent with a single vertical pole at each end.

Open Site or Closed Site – This refers to the amount of vegetation around the campsite. An open campsite doesn’t have high vegetation and will get a lot of sunlight.

P

Packed Size – The dimensions of a collapsed tent and its contents.

Pole Sleeves – Fabric tunnels where the tent poles are inserted

R

Rain Fly – A tent covering top keep a tent dry and windproof

S

Seam-Sealer – Special glue, used to waterproof stitching on tents

Seam Tape – Waterproof tape applied over seams of a tent to ensure waterproof

Shock Cord – Elastic cord, placed through tent poles to keep poles together and expedite set-up.

Skylights – Skylights are windows located in the roof of a tent or awning so you can have a sky view

Storm Flap – A panel of material which backs the zipper of a parka, preventing the storm from getting inside the tent.

Storm Ties – Extra connection points on tent, cords run to additional stakes in event of wind gusts.

T

Tent Pad – An area at a campsite that is designed for tents to be pitched up on. They are usually covered in sand, cement and small gravel.

Tunnel Tent – A popular tent design and are commonly found in family tents. They are simple to put up – just insert a tent pole into a sleeve at regular intervals. The tent pole bends to create an arch. This is both strong and provides a tent with a lot of head room.

U

UV Degradation – A breaking down of material due to the sun’s harsh UV rays. This is something to be careful of when camping in the summer, you need to ensure that tents aren’t exposed to the sun for too long or it can cause damage.

Get summer ready with OLPRO.