Awning - a simple and effective invention of man, which he uses throughout his history. It has not lost its popularity even now. Hide the car from the sun and rain, organize a picnic, make a light canopy - all this can be awning. But does a modern tourist need a tourist tent when the weight and qualities of tents have almost reached their perfection? Let's try to figure it out.
Tent or Awning?
A shelter in marching conditions, by definition, should fulfill the functions of protection from rain, wind, cold, insects and animals. Of all the above, a tourist tent can give real protection only from the sun and relatively from the rain. About using it in the cold seasons is out of the question. It turns out that the tent is superior in all respects to a tourist tent, a picnic is the only case of its justified use. But not so simple. After all, the awning also has advantages that should not be forgotten. This is light weight with a large covered area and the absence of a phenomenon such as condensate. How can this be used?
Very simple - as a camp kitchen. Indeed, in bad weather you have to cook in a tent or its vestibule. This automatically causes the tent to become wet from the inside of the condensate. And this is if there is a gas or gas burner available: of course, you can’t light a fire in the tent. A tourist tent, on the contrary, makes it easy to organize a camp kitchen, even a bonfire, and its reasonable installation will protect not only from rain, but also from the wind. It will be no less useful or even indispensable in halts, when there is no sense in putting up a tent at a short stop, and you need to hide from rain and wind. From what has been said, it is clear that a tourist tent is not a competitor to a tent, it is a great addition to it. And if for two people an additional weight of one or one and a half kilograms will be clearly superfluous, then for a group of three tourists or more, we can safely recommend an awning as a mandatory equipment.
Right choice
Manufacturers of equipment in a large assortment now offer tourist tents and tents, and it is easy for an inexperienced person to get lost in this variety. In order not to make a mistake when choosing, you should be clearly aware of why you need it. As already mentioned, the dignity of a tourist tent in its lightness and considerable area. But both of these qualities are in some contradiction with each other, because a large area means more weight. Reducing the latter is possible only through the use of ultramodern materials or reducing their strength and water-repellent qualities. If you plan to hike in difficult conditions, when heavy rainfall and strong wind are expected, then the awning should be selected based on its reliability, and only then look at the weight. This means that a tourist tent should have a minimum of seams, be made of modern synthetic materials, its attachment points to stretch marks must be reliably strengthened, and the stretch marks themselves are long enough and strong to install the tent in any position.
Afterword
It is unlikely to be cheap to buy a good tourist tent, and carrying a canvas blanket is pointless.