How to Live in a Tent (Without Worrying About..Well. Anything!)

Here’s everything you need to know when living in a tent.

Consider your Tent: Choose a Canvas Tent

The first step to living in a tent is getting a tent. And not just any tent.

There’re a couple of important things to consider with the tent selection.

Material

Tents are available in different materials, but nylon and canvas are two common options.

I prefer a canvas tent over a nylon tent because of its durability and reliability.

Unlike nylon tents, a canvas tent doesn’t rip, tear or wear under the challenges of living outdoors, such as exposure to sunlight, snow, rain, or wind.

Another huge benefit with the canvas tent is that it’s comfortable to use in hot weather and warmer climates/warmer months because it’s highly breathable.

On the other hand, Nylon tents can get pretty unbearable during summer.

But nylon tents still have their uses, and I prefer them when I need adequate shelter to move around regularly.

See, canvas tents are a bit bulky, and their weight makes them challenging to lug around. Perfect for camping in one location.

But if you plan to move around while camping, consider the lightweight and easy-to-use nylon tents.

Size

Size partly determines the level of comfort in a tent.

Traditionally, the regular camping canvas tents should only be big enough to accommodate you and your camping gear.

But if you plan to live in a tent, finding something big is more convenient.

Remember you’ll be spending most of your time in the tent, so it needs to be as comfortable and homely as possible.

A big tent, at least in my opinion, is where you can sit up, stand up, and even have enough space for folding chairs, camping bunk beds, or even cots.

Don’t shy off from going for the wall tents even when camping alone.

Appearance

If you’re worried about what people will think of you or simply want to camp discreetly, choose a camouflage tent.

Your location should inspire the ideal tent.

Avoid the traditional tents with invisible colors such as purple, red, green, or blue. Instead, choose something that’s not easily noticeable and one that doesn’t draw a lot of attention.

Khaki, grey, brown, or jungle are some of the less noticeable color choices for a good tent.

Consider a Pop-up Tent

It’s easier to live in a tent if you can stay in one place, but that’s not always impossible.

Considering you’ll be moving around a lot, pick a light and easy-to-set-up tent.

A pop-up tent is a great option because it sets up in minutes and is easy to use. It’s also light, so it won’t fatigue or cause too much trouble moving it.

Picking your Camping Location

After successfully choosing your ideal camping tent, the next step is picking your camping location.

There’re a couple of things to keep in mind, but legality is probably one of the biggest of them. You don’t want to get on the wrong side of the law because of your camping spot.

But the good news is there’re a couple of options, and in the section below, we’ll look at some of the common camping spots.

Camp at your Friend’s/Relative’s Yard

Camping at your friend’s yard is a great option, especially if you plan on staying for a short period.

Ask them if you could set up a tent in their yard for some time, and while there, you can help with some of the household chores.

Also, ask them if they could help you use their bathroom.

Set up a Tent on a Farm

If you don’t like the idea of camping in a friend’s yard, consider camping in farmland.

Make a deal with the farm owner to allow you to set camp on their farm.

Of course, in most cases, the right to set camp on their farm will come in exchange for services. You might offer to work on their farm.

The good thing with this arrangement is you won’t be bothered by neighbors or strangers. Even better, a couple of farmers are willing to accept campers on their land.

Visit WWOOF Organization to identify farmers within your locality willing to accept campers.

Find Free Campsites

The other popular campground option is setting up your tent in a free tent site.

A couple of locations/ national parks allow campers to set up their permanent tents at no extra cost or free.

Most of these locations are flat and usually cleared out for setting tents.

Even better, some of the free campsites have communal amenities and bathrooms.

However, before you head out to a free campsite, check with the managing body for regulations and reservations.

Some of the crucial details to check is how long they allow visitors. Most free camp grounds have a limitation of time you can spend there, ranging from a week to several months.

But I’d suggest you find a campsite open all year round.

Consider a Secluded Spot

If everything fails and you can’t really find a spot to set up your tent, consider a secluded spot.

I’d recommend you avoid the busy cities and parks because you’re likely to get ejected by the authorities. It’s not a great option for staying year-round.

Also, be sure not to set camp on privately owned property.

Understand that even if your spot isn’t marked privately owned, you might still not have the right to set your living space there.

Instead, the ideal spot for setting up a tent is the remote woodlands or forests, where you’re less likely to be a bother to others.

Setting Up Your Tent

Assuming you’ve found a nice place to set up your tent, the next step would be the actual setup.

Now, it’s easy to think you can set a tent anywhere, but that’s far from the truth. There’re a couple of things you need to keep in mind.

Location

The ideal spot for setting your tent should be free from wind or water pools.

Avoid the lowland such as valleys because it’s where most water collects. I know it might be tempting because of easy access to freshwater sources, but it may make your life miserable, especially when it rains. Mosquitoes are also a menace in lowlands with water pools.

Instead, consider the highland areas, free from the risk of natural catastrophes.

Consider Ground Insulation

The exact spot you set up your tent should be free of rocks, branches, and other debris.

But that’s not enough, even with a sleeping bag. While it’s definitely comfortable, you can make it better by adding a layer of ground insulation.

A padding or thick blanket is sufficient to keep your tent’s floor and sleeping bag from getting extremely cold while offering a nice sleeping spot.

If you can’t get a blanket, consider using other materials such as dry leaves as ground padding.

Organize your Space

Your life in a tent gets manageable if everything is neatly organized.

Have everything in place and with a purpose. Food should be in tightly sealed containers, while clothes and other gear should be neatly arranged.

And when you wake up in the morning, be sure to spread out your beddings in the sun to dry them and eliminate any dampness.

Build fire

The final step of setting up a camping tent is building a fire pit.

A fire pit provides a convenient place to cook your meals, warm-hot water for bathing, and stay warm at night.

Building a fire may also scare potential animal threats such as bears.

Of course, depending on the location, you might not always manage to start a campfire.

You’ve the option of building a wood stove, and consider a tent with a stove jack.

A wood stove is more manageable to use even in crowded spaces, while a tent stove jack will allow you to light a fire inside a tent.

Finding Ways to Eat

You’ll still need to eat to stay alive.

But just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you can eat healthily or maintain a balanced diet.

Here’re a few tips to help you survive in camp:

Eat a Healthy Diet

When shopping for your food supply, avoid processed foods, especially those with high salt, sugar, or fat levels.

Instead, consider healthy food choices such as veggies, whole grains, and fruits.

Dried legumes are a great source of protein and will provide you with the much-needed calcium.

Eat Dehydrated Foods

Dehydrated foods are a nice option for camping because they don’t go bad easily. You don’t need a fridge or anything to keep them edible.

The other plus with dehydrating your meals is it saves you money, reduces food wastages, and speeds up the cooking time.

While at it, consider freeze-dried foods. These have a long-shelf-life than regular foods.

They don’t require refrigeration, and the good thing is they regain their shape, form, and nutritional value by slightly warming them over a fire or in warm water.

Cooking Over Fire

Your options for cooking while camping may be limited, so you need to go back to the basics of cooking.

Using a campfire might be a great way to cook your meals, especially if you don’t have camping stoves and heaters.

It’s economical since you don’t need to buy firewood or anything.

Grow your Food

If you plan on staying on a camp year-round, consider growing your foods.

Some low-maintenance foods such as tomatoes, lettuces, carrots, and potatoes are easy to grow.

They add to your food basket, ensure you’ve enough food and don’t take much effort to maintain them.

Sanitation

Keeping clean while camping is usually a big challenge because of the lack of amenities.

But it doesn’t need to be so; here are the tips for maintaining personal hygiene.

Bath Regularly

Maintaining personal hygiene is the first step to cleanliness in your tent camping.

There’re a couple of ways to clean your body, but most people prefer taking a dip in the water. But that is only possible if you live near a stream or river.

Alternatively, boil some water over water and use it to clean yourself.

A clean tent site is also a bonus. Collect all the garbage on your camping grounds and tidy your environment.

Remember, a dirty camping vicinity may attract rodents, snakes, bears, or even provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Also, consider how you dispose of your food and leftovers. Don’t just stash them in your refusal bin. Instead, use a closed bin or sealed paper to put them, and once it’s full, dig a hole to bury them.

Relieving yourself shouldn’t be any different. If you don’t have a toilet, dig a hole far from your campground, and once you’re through with your business, be sure to bury everything.