Finding a tent that fits is frustrating.
If you don’t have any trouble fitting into most tents, move along, move along.
But I can’t fit into many shelters, and other People of Unusual Size (POUS) have the same problem. It is very hard to guesstimate critical measurements based on height, sleeping pad thickness, rarely seen sleeping bag or quilt loft, etc. Then there are aggressively optimistic published tent dimensions, but I won’t go there (grits teeth).
For many years, I searched for formulas that said “if you are height X, your minimum tent interior height should be Y,” and so on. Except that no one is exactly average in all proportions, and some of us don’t like tent fabric dripping with condensation in our faces, even if the equation says we fit.
Then while on a walk, one of those “D’oh!” moments occurred. Just measure myself, in my sleeping bag, on top of my sleeping pad, inflated to the usual firmness. In retrospect, this process doesn’t seem like rocket science, but I haven’t seen it described elsewhere. Probably for good reasons.
Read on to discover how you, too, can make a fool of yourself by measuring useless dimensions, then searching in vain for shelters that fit. With a surprise ending – don’t peek!
Pseudo-requirements for tent fitting
For best results, we need four dimensions:
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Companion forum thread to: Tent Fitting the Easy Way
If you are struggling to find a shelter that fits, you aren’t alone. We provide some (mostly useful) advice in the context of a pop culture tour.
WE KNOW THE SECRETS OF THE FIRE SWAMP
Ha! I’ve slept in a hammock on all of my backpacking trips for the past six years or so and almost skipped this article as “not relevant.” I’m really glad I read it and enjoyed all of your examples and references.
I love this thinking! And I had to check the date to be sure it was not posted on the first of April. You know, the date that The Founder and Publisher writes his comprehensive review on ATVs.
Scott
Rex, thank you. I lost count of the belly laughs I had while reading, starting with “Use the other side.” Obviously a lot of work to come up with so much humor, the photos, and the links. It was a joy.
BTW, killer marmots don’t scare me. My aunt, uncle and cousins produced, directed, and acted in “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.”
Understand averages is a pitfall that humanity keeps on relearning. (That and how a one in a million chance out of a billion means it happens a lot more often than you expected.)
Boastful job applicant: “I’m one in a million!”
Interviewer: “That means there’s more than 7,800 people out there better than you. Next!”
— Rex
Rex, You made my day! May you have a perfectly cromlulent day. Can’t wait for the next episode.
Rex, this was far more useful to me than you could have imagined. Not only am I (really) looking for a new tent, and couldn’t figure out how to size it, but I’m also about to start a kitchen remodel (really), and couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t get any of the dimensions measured. Now that I read your instructions on how to use the tape measure, I’m sure the remodel will be a breeze. The tent, well, not so sure. Might be breezy, too.
Thanks again.
Brilliant article Rex! Type 1+ fun.
Being of similar greybearded vintage, and recovering from wrist surgery, decided to do a 2 night solo walk (legs are functional). First problem was setting up tentpole (Macpac Microlight, single longitudinal pole design) when only one hand usable. (Hold strap in teeth, tension pole with good hand, struggle to find the pole-hole in the strap when you can’t see it) Forgot to try out in living room because I’d done it before (easy using 2 hands).
Second problem was getting in/out of low-slung 1-man tent when unable to crawl/ lean on one hand. Wished I’d brought the ‘sleep standing up’ tarp!
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