It is always a rush to finally receive that long-awaited object of desire, but a few cautions are in order. I’m unclear whether others have posted similar advice, but here are my thoughts, and I hope others might refine them, or suggest other and better techniques.
1. Don’t immediately rip open the packaging. Instead, visually inspect it, looking for any damage that might have been incurred in transit, or poor packaging practice. Take photos of the package.
2. Open carefully, so as not to damage contents.
3. Don’t immediately open items – instead, inspect each one rolled up, and take photos as you then open e.g. tarp or fly, to remind yourself how they were folded, rolled or packed – presuming that that is likely to be good practice (though it might well not be).
4. Don’t immediately set up your tent. Rather, have a cup of coffee. Then sit down, and carefully inspect each panel for flaws. I am not suggesting that the material needs to be perfect; Cuben quite often seems to have manufacturing flaws, or flaws might have been properly taped by the tarp maker. You are really looking for unacceptable damage to the material. Basically, look at each part of each panel.
5. Look also at each seam, and satisfy yourself that the product has been suitably made. Pay particular attention to what are likely to be high stress areas.
6. Check out the other accessories – poles, guys, stakes.
7. If there are no significant problems thus far, have another cup of coffee.
8. Make the first pitch in your living room, not outdoors, on a carpet that you have previously cleaned, so there is no debris that might snag the material. Dogs, cats and errant children should be well insulated from.
9. Convince the love of your life that yes, indeed, this is the last tent of tarp you will ever need to buy, and they can have that expensive “necessity” they have been hinting about for some time.
10. Wait for good weather and low wind, and find a mellow sheltered campsite with perfect surface and zero audience. Perform appropriate incantations to the gods of wind, widow-makers, flash floods, and machete-wielding zombies.
11. Only then, with Venus in the fourth house and Gemini ascendant, should you pitch your new treasure.
These techniques might prevent you from getting stuck with substandard or damaged gear, that you would regret for a long time. No disrespect intended to cottage manufacturers – in general I have found them to be supportive, cooperative, and at times, downright generous. But you need to not get caught up in the blind enthusiasm of rushing in to using your new purchase, until you have made damn sure it is in acceptable condition. Caveat emptor!
