If you are going to the mountains or somewhere where winds can get quite strong you should take precautions and secure your tent properly. How do you secure a tent in high winds?
As camping in windy conditions can be dangerous, this article will guide you on how to secure a tent when you face the wind so you will stay safe while camping.
Follow my 6 steps to properly secure the structure and stay safe in a wind storm.
How to secure a Tent in High Winds?
Strong winds can be a nuisance when you are camping, no doubt about that. A tent gives us security and a place to sleep and without it, you will have a hard time, especially if you intend to stay out there for a longer time.
Nobody wants to stay without shelter when a storm is coming or when the winds are getting stronger and stronger. It is, therefore, imperative that you learn to secure it when weather changes so let’s get into it.
Ways to secure your tent against strong winds
How do you prepare a tent for the wind? These are the things that you need to do to make sure that your tent holds its own weight against strong winds.
1. Choose your location wisely
The pitching location will also affect how it stands up to the strong winds. If you set it up in an open area, the chances of it getting blown away are high as the tent is exposed to it from all sides.
But when you choose a sheltered location to set up your tent, the things around will act as a windbreaker and this will protect you from the wind gusts. A sheltered spot has trees and other structures such as rocks or a rock cave.
You should also avoid areas that have a possibility of fallen tree trunks and other heavy objects because they can get blown into your tent and damage it or even you.
2. Erect the tent properly
This is the first thing that you will have to do to make sure that your tent is able to withstand the winds. Setting it up may appear like a simple task but you risk its stability if you don’t do it properly.
Tents usually have instructions for the setup. You should follow those instructions if you want your shelter to remain stable. Make sure that you use all the poles when pitching it as the poles keep it stable.
When anchoring it to the ground, make sure to use all the guy ropes and pegs provided. Drive the pegs into the ground at a 45 degrees angle and make sure that they stick to the ground for proper anchoring.
Here is the video that explains how you can easily pitch a tent in windy conditions.
3. Use extra pegs and guy ropes to anchor your tent
How to reinforce a tent? Additional anchoring is what you should do to reinforce it. If you feel that the pegs and guy ropes provided don’t hold your tent properly, then you can get more of them to anchor it for safety.
The extra pegs and guy ropes will add stability to the structure to ensure it doesn’t get blown away even when the winds are strong. You can add small rocks to the pegs to ensure that the pegs stay firmly in the ground.
Here is a guide that will help you to set up a tent in the snow.
4. Remove the sidewalls
The side walls are obstacles to the wind and this makes the tent susceptible to strong ones. They increase the area exposed to the element and this increases the chances of it getting blown away.
5. Handle repairs immediately
When a part of the tent gets broken you should make the repairs immediately. Its poles could get broken as a result of the strong winds so you should repair them immediately to increase the structure’s stability.
You may not have the tools to repair the broken section comprehensively. However, you can get a piece of wood and connect two sections by tying the ends with a piece of thread.
This will restore the support of the shelter at that moment and allow you to get the tools that you need later on.
6. Point the tent towards the wind
This is another great strategy for ensuring that your tent is not susceptible to the winds. With it pointing towards it, the wind won’t be able to hammer it down. It will ensure that it remains standing for the entire time you will be outdoors.
How to camp in high winds?
When you camp in bad weather conditions you should know some useful tips to stay secure and safe, especially if you are a beginner outdoorsman. Here are some of the tips that I use when tent camping in high winds.
Tent location
This is the most important factor to stay safe. Never erect it under the trees or near the water as you might face tent damage or injuries. Strong winds break the weak branches that will fall on it if you pitch it under.
This could cause you additional problems as the fabric can get damaged and won’t fully protect you from the elements.
Choosing the right tent
If you don’t have a tent yet but you want to be safe in the mountains where the wind is strong, choose one that will be as low as it could be. Why is this important?
A unit with high walls (cabin tent) makes a good wind resistance object where the wind could knock it down if it is not secured as it should be.
If you don’t have a proper model yet, I recommend a geodesic tent that is designed for more extreme weather situations and is the best tent for camping in high winds due to the shape.
A tunnel tent in high winds is also a good option as the wind will go up and through the structure, so the wind pressure won’t be so strong as at a cabin tent.
Tent pitch
There is a rule regarding pitching the tent in high winds. How to set it so it won’t get blown so easily? The goal is to pitch it so the winds will go over and around you.
Put the nearest part of the unit facing the wind so it will go over the shelter. This way, the structure won’t be a big barrier to the wind blowing it away.
Staking the tent
To make sure the tent is secured from the wind you should stake it properly. Don’t put stakes straight to the ground, they should have an angle (around 45 degrees). This way the unit will be set up stronger and be more wind-resistant.
Put down the rain fly
The rain fly is a piece of camping equipment that the wind loves to play with. So, if you don’t expect rain put your rain fly down to avoid it being blown away.
Campfire isn’t an option
If you think you can have a campfire burning in the strong winds you are wrong. Never set up a campfire in the wind.
However, if you have it burning but the weather just started to get worse, put it down as the wind can blow some fire sparks towards your tent or in the woods and make a fire hazard.
Avoid asphyxiation
If you intend to get warm or to cook a warm meal inside a tent while there is a storm outside, don’t.
Making this action is logical to most campers but you should know that in this case, you can face asphyxiation which is very dangerous.
Avoid it in all-cause, get inside a sleeping bag, or cover with the blanket and save your energy so the storm passes through.
Think of entertainment
If you thought of all regarding tent security and stability then you can relax inside while the wind doesn’t lose its strength.
Prepare a good book for reading, a crossword, or some other game that you can play so the time will pass faster while you wait for it to calm down.
How strong of winds can a tent withstand?
A well-secured tent can handle about 40mph winds. Will a tent survive 50 mph winds? I don’t recommend trying it out as you might get hurt. Listen to the forecast before going outdoors to know if your camping will be safe.
Wind won’t have a chance
Of all the elements that you have to deal with when you are outdoors, strong winds are the most destructive. They can blow your tent away and leave you without much-needed shelter.
It is, therefore, important to ensure that your shelter has been pitched properly. Follow my tips to secure the tent against high winds and other tricks that will make your camping adventure safer.
