Everyone loves camping. Getting cozy next to a campfire and sleeping in a tent make camping enjoyable. But what happens when the weather changes unexpectedly. The wind can easily blow away your tent if you do not secure it properly. It will scatter all your belongings and leave you defenseless against the elements. So, how to keep a tent from blowing away? Properly anchoring your tent to the ground is a necessity. Check the weather forecast before going camping. You should secure your tent even if the weather is nice and the winds are calm. Do not let an unexpected gust of wind ruin your camping trip.
In this article, we will discuss how you can secure your tent. We will go over the objects you can use from your surroundings and the equipment you can carry. Rest assured, by the end of this article, nothing will be able to move your tent.
How Do I Keep My Tent From Flying Away?
Not sure how to keep a tent from blowing away? There are many ways to stop your tent from flying away. We recommend following these steps to ensure a safe camping experience.
Step 1: Choose a Good Location
When choosing a location to pitch your tent, carefully analyze the surrounding environment. We recommend pitching your tent near a natural shelter that can lower wind speeds. Low trees, hedges, or boulders should offer ideal wind protection.
Pitching your tent directly under a tree is not recommended. Branches can fall and damage your tent or cause an injury. After locating a natural shield, you must judge the best distance to pitch your tent. We recommend setting up between 1 to 2 feet away from the natural shelter.
Step 2: Set Up Properly
Nothing is worse than trying to hold down a tent in high winds. Before laying your tent out, look for any rocks you can place on your tent to hold it in place. Make sure that the rocks do not damage your tent. If you use a groundsheet to protect your tent base, you must use rocks to secure it first. Unroll your tent and place the rocks at the edges to stop the wind from blowing your tent. You can also place rocks in the center for additional support.
When pitching your tent, the lowest section of your tent should be facing the wind direction. This arrangement will allow the wind to flow over your tent, reducing the pressure. You should also ensure that the wind is not hitting the sides. The wind will pressure the poles of your tent, and they may bend out of their natural arch, causing them to snap.
Watch the following YouTube video by Wild Mountain Man to learn more about setting up your tent in windy conditions:
Step 3: Use Tent Stakes
Tent stakes are essential for camping in windy conditions. All tents come with standard stakes. These stakes will have difficulty providing stability in high winds or soft ground. Still, they are worth using if you have no better stakes available.
You will need to constantly check if your stakes are still secure in the ground. Keep your mallet or hammer with you as you must keep inserting them into the ground. These stakes are cheap and do not work well, so invest in more effective stakes as soon as possible.
If you place your stakes straight into the ground, they will easily come loose. You should insert the stakes deep into the ground at a 45-degree angle. They must be angled away from your tent. Any gusty wind will pick up your tent if you angle them towards your tent. You must use all of your stakes as skipping any will surely result in a less stable tent.
Step 4: Tie Your Tent to a Secure Object
Tying your tent to a secure object is another method of securing your tent. There are loops in the corners of every tent. You must slide a paracord through the loops and tie your tent to any large object. You can also use a bungee cord as it performs similarly to a paracord. Tying your tent to a tree or a boulder is an effective strategy for high winds.
Should I Put a Tarp Over My Tent?
Using a heavy tarp will add wind protection to your tent. Place the tarp over your tent and peg it to the ground securely. This method works great in gusty weather and also keeps your tent waterproof.
A tarp is difficult to use in strong winds. You can use this method preemptively, but if the wind speeds are already high, this method is not recommended. A tarp will also increase condensation and take up a lot of space. Remember that ventilation could also be an issue when using a tarp over your tent. This lack of airflow can become a problem in hotter climates.
Therefore we only recommend using a tarp when the conditions require it. If your tent keeps lifting and you have tried every other available method, only then should you consider using a tarp.
How Do You Secure a Tent in High Winds?
Still unsure about how to keep a tent from blowing away? Stakes are already available with newly bought tents. But these included stakes may be too heavy or difficult to carry. Therefore, we have made our list of the best lightweight tent stakes available on the market.
Our Choice – Hikemax Ultralight
The Hikemax Ultralight tent stakes are the best choice for securing your tent. You will never have to worry about the hassle of a broken tent peg again. These V-shaped stakes are constructed from ultra-strong titanium alloy. They can penetrate and hold firmly in a wide range of soil conditions and weigh only 12 grams. These stakes also come with reflective cords, which increase visibility. If unsatisfied with your purchase, Hikemax offers a 100 percent money-back guarantee.
Runner up – ABCCANOPY Tent Stakes
The ABCCANOPY tent stakes are also an excellent choice. These 11-inch stakes are perfect for multiple-person tents. They are made from galvanized steel which is corrosion resistant. The stakes have a milled point making them easier to insert into hard soil. They also have a large peg head if you want to use a mallet to drive them into the ground. However, unlike the Hikemax stakes, there is no money-back guarantee.
Best Value – Hikemax 7075 Aluminum
We recommend the Hikemax 7075 Aluminum stakes if you want the best value. They are constructed with an aviation-grade aluminum alloy and are more durable than similar aluminum stakes. Because of their high visibility color, you will not lose these hook stakes in the long grass. Each stake is 7 inches long and weighs only 15 grams. They also come with a carrying case and a full money-back guarantee.
How Much Wind Can a Tent Take?
Exactly how much wind your tent can take will depend on several factors. If you are using stakes or weights to hold down your tent, it will be much more stable.
Most tents can withstand winds up to 20 miles per hour when not using stakes. If you use stakes, your tent will stay on the ground even with winds up to 40 miles per hour. Almost all tents fail to withstand wind gusts over 50 miles per hour.
If you use weights, your tent can withstand even higher wind speeds. However, we do not recommend using both stakes and weights to secure your tent. Packing up your tent will be quite challenging if you use both methods.
How Much Weight Is Needed to Hold Down a Tent?
The weight required to hold your tent will depend on the wind speeds. Nothing will be able to hold down your tent if you set it up in the open ground and the wind speeds decide to pick up. Even if you have set up your tent properly, we recommend using heavy objects to hold down your tent.
So, how much weight is required to hold down your tent? We recommend placing objects that weigh 1 to 3 pounds at each corner of your tent, depending on how strong the wind is. However, this weight will only be helpful if it is spread evenly.
Placing all the weight in one spot will not provide enough stability. Your tent will move in high winds, tossing all your equipment around. You should spread the weights evenly on the corners and the edges of your tent.
What Can I Use as Tent Weights?
So, how to keep a tent from blowing away using heavy objects? If your tent is large enough, you can place heavy objects on the inside. However, if your tent is too small to allow this, you can use rope or paracord to tie your tent with these weights.
Heavy Rocks
Rocks are a great option to secure your tent. Make sure to find big and heavy rocks. Place the rocks at the corners and the edges of your tent. Do not leave too much distance between the rocks. If the area is too windy, you can stack together heavy rocks to keep the tent in place. Ensure the rocks are secure and will not move if the wind picks up.
Sandbags
Your campsite may not have rocks, or they may be too small. In such a situation, sandbags are your best option. After setting up your tent, you will need to fill your sandbags. You can then fasten them to the corners of your tent. And even put some in the middle for increased stability. You can also use a rope to tie your sandbags together. This method will prevent them from moving about in high winds.
The ABCCANOPY Sandbags are perfect for keeping your tent on the ground. They are easy to carry, and you will only need to fill them when needed. However, you should always fill up your sandbags completely. You can use the dirt and gravel from the campsite to fill your sandbags.
Wooden Logs
Logs will be abundant if you plan on camping near a forest. You can use some of the logs you gather for your campfire to make your tent more secure. Drive the logs into the ground with the help of a mallet and tie your tent to them. You can also place a log in the center of your tent for extra stability. The effectiveness of this method depends on the logs you use. Heavier logs will work better but ensure you can lift them easily afterward.
Conclusion
These were our recommendations on how to keep a tent from blowing away. Next time the wind picks up while camping, use these methods to save your tent and belongings from flying away.
Always remember to check the weather forecast and pack your equipment accordingly. Tent stakes come in many lightweight options and are perfect for keeping your tent on the ground. If you forget to bring stakes, there is no need to worry. You can still secure your tent without stakes.
Camping is about enjoying nature. Remember to have fun and not focus too much on implementing every technique to secure your tent. Do not let a little wind ruin your camping experience.