It’s not just camping newbies who struggle with the storm flaps and pole hubs but tents also come with their own set of technical jargons.

Let’s get to the anatomy of the tent and explore it to that extent that any possibility of any kind of confusion is rooted out:

  • Guy Lines: The guy lines are rooted to the ground in order to make the tent withstand the windy conditions. They also create tension across the outer fabric of the tent so that it prevents the rain water from pooling. They guy lines should have a mechanism which can be adjusted according to the requirements.
  • Footprint: Those tents that don’t have any waterproof or durable groundsheet can be pitched on a footprint. This is designed for specific tents and is used as an optional extra.
  • Vent: Usually all the tents have vents. Vents are essential for keeping the air flowing through the tent which helps in managing the air flow.
  • Door Tie Backs: All the tents need door tie backs. They keep the door at their respective positions and meanwhile allows the door to be open.
  • Pole Clip: These are hooks or clips that are used to attach the poles to both the inner and outer parts of the tent. They are very easy to attach and are secure when they are in place.
  • Tent Divider: Larger tents that have spaces for 3 or more than 3 people have tent dividers. Tent dividers are for people who want to have some kind of privacy from their tentmates or if you have kids who need to go to sleep earlier than you do. Tent dividers are made of lightweight fabric and are simply hooked to the ceiling of the tent. 
  • Storm Flaps: The outer tent doors with zips have a strip of fabric that folds over the zip to prevent rain and wind from coming through the opening of the zip. The storm flaps are secured at their base with a Velcro tab to keep them in their respective place.

All tents don’t have all the above features, but many have such features that didn’t make it to our list. But just knowing about the basics of the tent parts, you will now be an informed buyer.