ACADEMY Your complete guide to tents
Welcome to Nordisk Academy Are you considering buying a tent or do you already have one, but have a feeling of not knowing all the tech stuff, then this is for you. The Nordisk Academy is a brief introduction to all the basics (and not so basics) of a tent. Here you learn a bit more about construction, materials and accessories, but you will also be introduced to technical issues like hydrostatic head, fabrics and coating. Finally you will get a few tips & tricks how to choose, care and store your tent. It is our hope that you will find it useful and that it will enlighten you a bit more that you were before... Happy reading!
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TENT
Pack size and weight Is weight and pack size important?
Construction How many people are going and what are you doing?
· what are you doing on the trip? The tent needs to fit people and activities · do you have special needs like space for kids to play, a porch area for eating or extra room for luggage and equipment? · consider the number of doors. For more than two people an extra door is welcome · how is the weather? More indoor space when raining – and a low tent when windy
Hydrostatic head and fabric Where and when are you going?
· for a warm summer holiday choose a spacious tent with a hydrostatic head around 2000 mm. Consider a PU-coated polyester for extra UV-protection · for hiking in cold and wet surroundings you’ll need a hydrostatic head around 3000 mm on the upper flysheet and 8000-10000 on the ground sheet
· how do you transport your tent – in the trunk of a car, on a bike or on your back? · for biking four kilos is max · for kayaking six kilos is acceptable · for motorbiking the pack size shouldn’t exceed 50 cm · for hiking choose the smallest and lightest pack possible
Quality of materials How much will you use your tent?
· if you go camping once or twice a year choose a cheeper tent · if you plan to use your tent extensively or in extreme surroundings be extra aware of the quality of fabric, stitches, zippers, poles and pegs
Colour, design and usability How does it look and feel?
· step inside the tent in the shop · feel the fabric and zippers and check out the design and colours · choose with your head, hands, and heart!
CONSTRUCTION Ridge
Dome
The classic
Easy to pitch, no need for pegs
The ridge tent is the classic-shaped tent and is easy to pitch and quite sturdy. The symmetric or asymmetric A-shape provides lots of room, but also makes ridge tents more sensitive to very strong winds.
Dome tents have a very simple structure. Some models pitch outer-tent first, while others pitch inner-tent first. The pole tension keeps everything in shape and dome tents do not require guy ropes and pegs – except when very windy.
+ easy to pitch + sturdy – sensitive to very strong winds
Tunnel Spacious and comfortable
+ no need for guy ropes and pegs – weight
Geodesic For extreme surroundings
Tunnel tents offers more indoor space than a dome tent with the same ground area, but need guy ropes and pegs. Most often there is a sleeping area at one end and a porch/ storage/living area at the other. Tunnel tents are sensitive to very strong winds.
Geodesic tents are dome tents with extra poles that criss-cross to support the basic shape and minimise the amount of unsupported fabric making them more suitable for use in snowy and windy conditions. Therefore they are rarely higher than 120-150 cm (4-5 ft).
+ more space – sensitive to very strong winds
+ great under most conditions – more complicated to pitch
A basic compromise
Hydrostatic head is also called water column and is a measurement of waterproofing – but do not count on the numbers alone!
Hydrostatic head is a delicate balance. On one hand you want your tent to be very waterproof – but on the other hand you want high breathability.
How is it measured? To measure the hydrostatic head of a fabric a column of water is pressed against the fabric. The height of the water in the column is slowly increased until the water penetrates the fabric. The height of the water just before the water penetrates is the hydrostatic head measured in mm, like 3000 mm which is actually three meters of water!
If the tent is too waterproof with a very high hydrostatic head water will condensate on the inside and create poor indoor climate – just like sleeping in a plastic bag.
Did you know..? Hydrostatic head is only a measurement of the waterproofness of the fabric – NOT an indication of the overall performance of the tent in rainy weather. For the overall performance you must also consider the construction and waterproofness of the seams.
· the higher the number, the more waterproof the fabric
A quick guide to waterproofness · hydrostatic head is a measure- ment of waterproofing
· balance: a tent should be waterproof yet breathable · for a flysheet 2000+ mm will endure most European rain in all seasons · for a groundsheet the general rule is a hydrostatic head of 8000+ mm
3000 mm
HYDROSTATIC HEAD
FABRICS Nylon and polyester are both lightweight and durable synthetic fabrics that share many of the same properties, such as easy care and resistance towards wrinkling, stretching, shrinking and abrasion – and both are naturally hydrophobic, which mean they absorb very
little water. Both polyester and nylon are easy-care fabrics that can be machine washed and dried, though low heat is recommended. But neither is a better fabric as it depends on needs, purpose and use.
Nylon can be produced in very fine qualities making it possible to create nylon fabrics down to 7D, which is extremely light weight.
Nylon Nylon was originally created as a substitute for silk and generally has a smoother texture than polyester. Nylon has a silky texture while polyester has more of a fiber feeling. Even though nylon is more stretchable than polyester it is still extremely durable and is generally considered a very strong fabric. Compared to polyester, nylon has very good resistance to abrasion, fungi, insects, chemicals, and even mildew. All Nordisk Nylon is made with rip-stop, which is a reinforcement technique where tear proof threads are woven into the material with regular intervals. Rip-stop ensures that small tears do not spread.
Polyester Polyester is a sturdy and durable material that gives you great value for money. It is strong, crisp and resilient wet or dry. Polyester is more heat-resistant and UV resistant than nylon, and it is also slightly more fast-drying than nylon. Polyester fabrics also tends to be slightly more wrinkle resistant than nylon fabrics. Even though modern polyester can be quite soft and in some ways match the nylon handfeel, polyester is generally a rougher fabric
than nylon, which is why it has traditionally been used in outerwear garment. Polyester can only be produced down to 20D which sets a natural barrier for producing extreme light weight tents from polyester.
Cotton Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of cotton plants. The fiber is spun into yarn or thread and used to make a soft, breathable textile. The use of cotton for fabric is known to date to prehistoric times.
water resistance. When wet the cotton fibres simply absorb a part of the water and thereby expand, which assists to seal the fabric against rain.
Did you know..? The fibre mass is measured in denier (or D). Denier is defined as the mass in grams per 9000 metres. E.g. 9000 metres of a 40D thread weighs 40 grams, so the lower the denier the thinner the fabric. Denier is based on a natural reference as 1D equals silk thread
Cotton is the traditional material for tents and has been used for many years as it offers a great indoor climate – especially on a hot day. Cotton is a great material if weight is not an issue. For both our cotton fabrics we have developed a unique treatment which allows us to avoid a coating. This impregnation helps maintain a comfortable indoor climate while still ensuring
Rip stop weaving ensures great tearing strength
FABRICS STYLE
| T- N Y 1 0 D
Nylon 10D is an extremely light yet extremely durable 10 denier fabric with an amazing tear strength of 8 kilos due to the high quality nylon yarn and the tight weaving technique which has been sealed with a unique silicone coating on both sides. The Rip-Stop weave also reinforces the fabric and adds strength and durability. With a weight of just 30 grams per m2 it offers an extreme low weight and a small pack size. Nylon 10D is used for all Nordisk Lightweight tents.
STYLE
| T- N Y 4 0 D
Nylon 40D is a 40 denier fabric with an amazing tearing strength of 15.1 kilos which has been possible through a targeted development and the use of high quality nylon yarn, a tight weaving technique and a unique three layer silicone coating on both sides. The Rip-Stop weaving actually reinforces the fabric and adds strength and durability. Nordisk 40 D nylon is used for all Nordisk Performance tents.
STYLE
| T- P O 6 8 D
Polyester 68D is a strong 68 denier polyester which is PU coated on the inside making it possible to seal all seams by taping. This literally makes the tent as waterproof as can be, which again makes the tent easy to use from day one. Polyester 68D is used for all Nordisk Leisure tents.
STYLE
| T-T C 1 8 5
Technical cotton is a mix of natural cotton and polyester yarn – a mix that ensures higher durability and lower weight. This fabric offers a great indoor climate due to the natural cotton feeling, which adds light and natural ventilation as well as protection against wind and rain.
STYLE
| T- O C 2 8 5
Organic Cotton is a natural canvas fabric made from organic cotton through a environmentally friendly production method. The fabric is relatively heavy but offers a great indoor climate with a high degree of light and natural ventilation and at the same time a great protection against wind and rain.
COATING PU
Polyurethane coating (PU) Polyurethane coated fabric is coated on one side of the fabric, normally on the ‘inside’. PU coating is not as flexible as SI coating and has a lower tear strength, but with a PU coated tent the seams of the tent can be taped making the tent as close to waterproof as can be. As the PU coating might stick to itself and eventually break off if you pack it up wet for a very long time, it is important to dry up the tent before packing and storing it. Nordisk PU coating is applied on all Leisure tents.
Silicone coating (SI) Where the PU coating is applied to the surface of the fabric, the lighter SI coating penetrates the fabric so it can’t peel off. Therefore the SI coating actually adds strength to the fabric, and compared to PU the much more elastic
SI
SI coating actually has a much higher tearing strength. As SI coating is ‘hydrophobic’ it naturally repells water, so when it rains all the water stays on the surface where a quick shake will get rid of almost all of it – and only a few minutes in the wind or sunshine will dry the tent completely. Since SI coated fabric can not be taped, the Nordisk SI tents are specially designed with folded seams and expanding threads that expands when wet to avoid water penetrating the seams. However, it is still recommended to add seam sealer on the seams for improved waterproofness. SI coating is very dependent on the coating technique, which differs from brand to brand. Nordisk only use European silicone which is applied in three layers on each side. Nordisk SI coating is applied on all Performance and Lightweight tents.
GUY ROPES Dyneema guy rope
High Tenacity guy rope
Dyneema guy rope is very durable and ultra strong. Compared with steel Dyneema rope is actually 15 times stronger – that is, strong enough to pull a car. At the same time Dyneema guy rope is quite slim and very light. Dyneema rope is standard for all Nordisk Lightweight tents.
High Tenacity guy rope is made with the same technology as safety belts and has an extreme breaking strength at 260 kilos. High Tenacity guy rope is flexible and great for big cotton tents. Standard in Nordisk Leisure range.
Nylon guy rope Nylon guy rope is a strong and durable guy rope suitable for almost every need. Reflective yarn keeps you from tripping when returning to your tent in the dark. Nylon guy rope is standard for all in Nordisk Performance tents.
Polyester guy rope Another reliable alternative for guy rope is the tightly woven polyester guyrope. It offers great value for money, and even includes reflective threads to offer safety and easy identification during nighttime. Polyester guyrope is standard for all Nordisk Leisure tents.
Did you know..? All guy ropes from Nordisk are made with reflective yarn so the guy rope will reflect the light from your flash light at night and keep you from tripping.
POLES
Aluminium
Poles are the skeleton of the tent and provide structural support. Generally tent poles come in many different materials, but Nordisk uses aluminium and carbon fibres, as these are the strongest, lightest, and most durable materials.
Aluminium is a strong and flexible material for tent poles. Some of our aluminium poles are made by DAC who have developed a green anodization process, which eliminates some of the major toxic chemicals as the anodisation liquid is reused, yet still achieving high quality with a beautiful and durable surface. + strong and flexible + best price-to-weight ratio – heavier than carbon poles
Carbon Carbon is the lightest material for poles. Carbon comes in many different qualities and unfortunately this has led some to think less of carbon tent poles, which is a shame. Carbon poles are great – if the quality is right!
Did you know..? Aluminium poles are very strong, but if you are unlucky and the pole breaks – for instance when travelling – the pole is easily repaired with the enclosed sleeve and some tape.
Carbon poles have a higher breaking strength than aluminium. At Nordisk we use high quality 4th generation carbon poles, designed especially by Nordisk: a 4-layer technology with vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines to ensure optimal balance between strength and flexibility. + very light + higher breaking strength than aluminium – more expensive than aluminium poles
PEGS Pitching your tent on sand, rocks, ice or a soft forest floor? Choose the best peg for the task.
SHAPES
Steel Skewer
Steel T-Peg
The slim peg that will push through rocky soil. If you choose a steel nail, you can pitch your tent on any hard surface – even on very hard and rocky ground.
Nail:
The classic peg, easy to push through and easy to clean.
Steel Nail
Steel V-Peg
Skewer:
Alu. Square Skewer
A very strong yet very light peg with a strong grip in a wide range of soils.
Alu. Triple Twister
Triple twister:
Alu. Y-Peg
Extremely strong peg with a solid grip. Strong enough to be hammered into very hard soil or ice.
Alu. DAC V-Peg
T-Peg:
Alu. Nail
This shape has a large surface for a strong grip in most types of soil.
Titanium V-Peg 15g
Y-Peg:
Titanium V-Peg 9g
The classic V-shape with a strong hold in most surfaces
Titanium Nail
V-Peg:
MATERIALS Titanium:
Ultra lightweight yet strong. The ultimate peg for lightweight outdoor activities.
A light yet strong material with very robust anodised sur- face in highly visible colours.
Aluminium:
Value for money for uncomplicated surfaces.
Forged steel:
The strongest material and optimal for very hard and rocky ground or ice.
Steel:
TIP! Camping on the beach or in sand? Use the Nordisk Steel V-Peg and attach the guy rope in the hole at the tip of the peg, so the guy rope is pushed down in the sand for better stabilisation.
PEGS Soft ground
Hard soil
When pitching your tent on soft ground like grass, meadow or forest floor you can basically choose any kind of peg. A simple and basic peg will do the job, but if you have a bigger tent you may consider using a longer and stronger peg for greater stability.
For hard ground like clay soil, frosty soil or even ice you need a strong, durable peg that you can hammer or trample in. For bigger tents consider steel pegs, while aluminium is perfect for most regular tents. Shape is key where the V-shape offers maximum grip at high tension, whereas the nail is easier to use in extremely hard soil.
We recommend:
We recommend:
• aluminium Triple Twister
• aluminium DAC V-Peg
• aluminium DAC V-Peg
• aluminium Triple Twister
• aluminium Y-Peg.
• aluminium Square Skewer
• titanium V-Peg
• aluminium Nail
• steel V-Peg
• titanium V-Peg
• steel T-Peg
• titanium Nail • steel Nail
Rocks
Sand
When trekking in the mountains, rocky ground is inevitable, but stones and rocks call for special pegs. Basically pegs for this must be thin, strong and light as they have to fit into chinks and cracks and often must withstand extreme conditions. The weight is often key as you often have to carry it all the way.
When camping in extremely loose soil like sand you need a long and firm peg, which digs deep into the soil in order to provide stability. Also the width and shape are important, as the larger the surface and the more the resistance, the better.
We recommend:
We recommend:
• aluminium Triple Twister
• steel V-Peg
• aluminium Nail
• steel T-Peg
• titanium Nail
CARE & STORAGE Care before use
Care when using
· pitch tent before leaving to make sure there are no missing parts or tears
· remove all sharp rocks, sticks and logs or use a footprint
· replace or fix bent poles and grease zippers with silicone
· pitch only on an even surface – and avoid too high grass for ventilation
· use repair tape to fix broken seams
· avoid extreme exposure to direct sunlight
· seal the seams with a seam sealer for either silicone or polyester
· secure against storm by using additional pegs and guy ropes
· bring only what you need, but include a repair kit, tape and an outer tube for poles
· stretch the tent as much as possible for optimal strength and water repellency
· consider to add a footprint
· avoid open fire near and inside the tent · leave your shoes outside to avoid tear and damage
Storage after use · remove all mud, dirt and the like by using a wet sponge
· before packing, check all parts and if needed fix or replace damaged parts
· clean the surface with a hose, but do not use high pressure
· store the tent under completely dry conditions
· do not use harsh chemical cleaners and avoid machine washing · let the tent dry off completely before packing, preferably in the sun
Did you know..? The Nordisk pack sack is a little bigger than necessary, so that the tent is quick and easy to pack in case of an emergency pack down
©Anruf
TENT ACCESSORIES Footprints To protect your tent from water, thorns, mud and dirt a footprint is ideal. It is usually made of tough, waterproof material that sheds mud and water easily, and will therefore extend the lifespan of your tent if you often go places where the ground is rugged, wet or dirty.
Moreover it also makes it easier to take down and pack up your tent without rolling it on the muddy ground. You can either choose to buy a basic square piece of fabric or you can choose to buy a tailored footprint that is specifically designed to fit a certain tent model. All Nordisk tents have tailored footprints available as extra accessories.
TENT ACCESSORIES Tarps A tarp is a simple and versatile way to add extra space to your tent, create an extra shelter for your camp, or simply as an alternative to a tent if you need an ultra low pack size – and when the weather allows. The pros are low weight, small pack size and flexible use, whereas the cons are that you often need to bring extra poles, and that it takes some skills to use a tarp – and then there are of course the bugs, which is the single biggest complaint about using tarp shelters. Shapes
There are a variety of different shaped tarps, but cut to the bone there are basically two categories: flat and shaped. Flat tarps have a square shape with flat edges. It is very versatile and can be set up in numerous ways – even in hard wind. But it takes practice to master a tight pitch. Shaped Tarps comes in many different shapes, often based on a curved ridge line or with curved edges. They are often easier to pitch and often provides a tighter fit, but the downside is that they can only be set up in a limited number of ways.
Some classic ways to use a tarp are...
Shelter A-pich You can do this either at the ground for sleep or hanging in the air as a roof for e.g. eating.
If you are more persons sharing a tarp, this shape is ideal as a large bivouac or a shelter.
Diamond pitch This is a very easy and still highly protective shape that will keep you and your gear dry.
Bivouac This shape is ideal for sleeping alone as it offers a tight shape around your sleeping bag.
For some of the uses you can use a guyrope for hanging and poles for standing – and if you are short of both, you might use a tree or a branch...
LEARN MORE... 360° view If you go to nordisk.eu you can find more information about tents, tech stuff and particular tent styles. You can also watch each tent in 360° from the outside as well as from the inside. This means that you can get a pretty good idea about the tent without seeing it physically, which often is a challenge in the shop.
INFORMAL VIDEOS You can also watch a short video about how to pitch each Nordisk tent style in the best possible way. For all trekking tents you can also see how they perform in a professional wind tunnel, where we have tested the construction, fabrics and materials under extreme conditions.
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Nordisk Company A/S Papirfabrikken 74 · 8600 Silkeborg · Denmark Tlf. +45 7373 4000 · info@nordisk.eu Nordisk Freizeit GmbH Max-Weber-Straße 16 · 25451 Quickborn · Germany Tel. +49 (0) 410676770 · info@nordisk.de Nordisk Freizeit GmbH – Die Manufaktur Rauschwalder Str. 42/43 · 02826 Görlitz · Germany Tel. +49 3581 76560 · info@nordisk.de Nordisk Asia Limited Unit 904 · Zhong Rong Heng Rui West Tower, 560 Zhang Yang Road · 200122 Shanghai · China Phone +86 21 58363068 · asia@nordisk.eu Nordisk Japan Co., Ltd. 2F, 2-8-11 · Nishi-Azabu · Minato-ku · 106-0031 Tokyo · Japan Tel. +81 (0) 3 6885 8206 · info@nordisk.co.jp www.nordisk.eu
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