Take a minute before unpacking
Use the designated pitch and check for stones, sharp debris, pooled water and obvious overhead hazards. Do not alter drainage, cut branches or dig trenches. If the assigned pitch looks unsafe, ask the campground host for another option.
Let the instructions do the hard work
Different tents use different pole, fly and guyline arrangements. Lay out the parts, follow the maker’s sequence and avoid forcing connections. If you use a groundsheet, fit it as directed so it does not collect rain beneath the tent. Keep guylines out of main walking routes and make them visible.
Shelter, insulation and dry bedding work together.
Set up the inside before dinner
Unroll sleeping pads and bedding while you still have light. Put footwear near the entrance and make a consistent home for the headlamp. Use the tent’s vents as intended; closing every opening can encourage condensation. Keep cooking and fuel-burning equipment outside, away from the tent and its entrances.