Number Of Times Read: 7
Considering Hydrostatic Head And Sun Protection Factor When Buying A Tent
Category Rss Feed
- http://www.electrictext.com/rss.php?rss=347
Tents are available in various kinds of material that are suitable for different weather conditions. Fabrics can include cotton canvas, nylon, polyester and felt. Canvas can absorb water but it can also become very bulky once it takes in all the water. On the other hand polyester and nylon are lightweight and do not take in much water and so with the right kind of coating they can become completely waterproof. However as years pass by these fabrics tend to wear due to constant exposure to harsh UV rays. It is therefore necessary to see how much resistance each kind of tent fabric has against natural conditions such as the sunlight and rain.
Polyurethane is commonly used as a coating on nylon and polyester tents. The coatings are available with different resistance power and the strength of this resistance is generally measured in Hydrostatic Head. The more the Hydrostatic Head the greater will be the durability of the tent and the longer will its coating last. Resistance against rain is calculated in millimetres and the different levels indicate the force of water required to enter the fabric. A heavy down pour exerts more pressure as compared to a light shower.
If a fabric indicates a hydrostatic head of 1000mm, it can be classified as good enough for a light shower. A hydrostatic head of 1500mm in a tent fabric is appropriate for summer camps while 2000mm fabrics are durable for more weather types. Flysheets can be a good 5000mm and above while groundsheets can exceed this limit. A tent fabric with a hydrostatic head of 3000mm can be used for expeditions.
The other aspect that we must take into consideration while selecting a good quality tent is the sun protection factor. The sun protection factor or SPF shows how long you can expose yourself to the harsh ultraviolet rays of the sun. The greater the SPF number the more protection you have from the sun. Just as tent fabrics are checked for their water resistance, similarly they are marked for their UV protection, which is generally between SPF35 to SPF50. You can find tents with much higher SPF protection but that also means paying that bit extra.
However it is always more sensible to buy a tent that provides you the maximum SPF protection because you are outdoors for several days and need the best safety measures for your skin. Ultraviolet rays can be very harmful to your skin, so make sure that the tent you buy gives you a good amount of safety from the suns rays by blocking the rays from penetrating the tent fabric.
While your tent takes care of you, it is also required that you take equally good care of it. To ensure that it lasts longer after beating the extreme heat and heavy rainfall, you must take care that it is stored properly without too many bends and folds. The fabric can also show wear and tear if not cared for and these are clearly visible at the folds. So make sure you protect it as much as it protects you.
Polyurethane is commonly used as a coating on nylon and polyester tents. The coatings are available with different resistance power and the strength of this resistance is generally measured in Hydrostatic Head. The more the Hydrostatic Head the greater will be the durability of the tent and the longer will its coating last. Resistance against rain is calculated in millimetres and the different levels indicate the force of water required to enter the fabric. A heavy down pour exerts more pressure as compared to a light shower.
If a fabric indicates a hydrostatic head of 1000mm, it can be classified as good enough for a light shower. A hydrostatic head of 1500mm in a tent fabric is appropriate for summer camps while 2000mm fabrics are durable for more weather types. Flysheets can be a good 5000mm and above while groundsheets can exceed this limit. A tent fabric with a hydrostatic head of 3000mm can be used for expeditions.
The other aspect that we must take into consideration while selecting a good quality tent is the sun protection factor. The sun protection factor or SPF shows how long you can expose yourself to the harsh ultraviolet rays of the sun. The greater the SPF number the more protection you have from the sun. Just as tent fabrics are checked for their water resistance, similarly they are marked for their UV protection, which is generally between SPF35 to SPF50. You can find tents with much higher SPF protection but that also means paying that bit extra.
However it is always more sensible to buy a tent that provides you the maximum SPF protection because you are outdoors for several days and need the best safety measures for your skin. Ultraviolet rays can be very harmful to your skin, so make sure that the tent you buy gives you a good amount of safety from the suns rays by blocking the rays from penetrating the tent fabric.
While your tent takes care of you, it is also required that you take equally good care of it. To ensure that it lasts longer after beating the extreme heat and heavy rainfall, you must take care that it is stored properly without too many bends and folds. The fabric can also show wear and tear if not cared for and these are clearly visible at the folds. So make sure you protect it as much as it protects you.
Author Resource:
Find the best camping tents at www.tents.info
Article From ElectricText
Share Or Bookmark This Article:
Rate This Article:
Vote to see the results!
Do you like this article?
Article Categories
- Accounting
- Beauty
- Business
- Career
- Cars and Trucks
- Computers
- Culture and Society
- Electronics and Technology
- Environment
- Family
- Finance
- Fitness
- Food and Drink
- Free Tools and Resources
- Health
- Hobbies
- Home and Garden
- Humor
- Inspirational and Motivational
- Internet
- Internet Business
- Internet Marketing
- Legal
- Marketing
- Men's Issues
- Music
- Other
- Personal Development
- Pets and Animals
- Politics
- Psychology
- Publishing
- Recreation and Leisure
- Relationships
- Root Category
- Science
- Speaking
- Spirituality and Religion
- Women's Issues
- Writing
Article Stats
Total Articles: 6
Total Authors: 26426
Total Downloads: 4918432
Newest Member
Derek Wither
Featured Authors
Name :Larry HansonSmith
Joined :2008-10-10
City : city
State : state
View My Bio & Articles
Name :Emily Heart
Joined :2009-07-08
City : London
State : not listed
View My Bio & Articles
Name :MW Phillips
Joined :2010-03-13
City : Los Angeles
State : CA
View My Bio & Articles
Name :Ruth S.
Joined :2009-10-24
City : city
State : state
View My Bio & Articles
Name :Dian Afrial
Joined :2010-03-17
City : city
State : state
View My Bio & Articles
Sponsors
ElectricText Authors
ElectricText Menu
ElectricText Links
Sponsors
