Ease of Setup: One of the most significant advantages of air tents is the quick and easy setup. Instead of dealing with traditional tent poles, you use an air pump to inflate the tent's beams. This can significantly reduce the time and effort required for setup, making it more convenient, especially for solo or inexperienced campers.

Stability: In many cases, air tents can be quite stable and withstand windy conditions. The inflatable beams distribute stress more evenly than rigid poles, and some models come with multiple inflation points for added stability.

Mildew is a real problem and prevention is the only real way to deal with it. A tent must be packed away bone dry with any potential sources of damp removed. This could even be from insects that have been packed away with the tent! Or from the core of guylines that were not dried unravelled to ensure deep moisture was removed by air flow.

Once mildew has set in you have to stop it spreading. Kill off the spores with a very mild solution of one part Milton or white vinegar to ten parts water − rinsing off well.

Besides the cleaners from the likes of Storm you can get canvas cleaners from the caravan market and mildew cleaners for sails from the yachting market but we have not tried any of these. The Camping and Caravanning Club used to have a data sheet on tent maintenance - worth looking on their website.

Remember to reproof the tent after cleaning.

Most tents are designed to be water-resistant or waterproof to some extent, but the level of waterproofing can vary based on the type and quality of the tent. Here are some key points to consider:

Water-Resistant vs. Waterproof:

Water-Resistant: Many tents are treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating to make the fabric resist water to some degree. However, they may not be completely waterproof and can allow water to penetrate during heavy or prolonged rain.

Waterproof: Some tents, especially those designed for more extreme weather conditions, are explicitly labeled as waterproof. They often feature a higher level of water-resistant coatings, fully taped seams, and a more robust design to keep the interior dry even in challenging weather.

Seams & Zippers:

Waterproof tents usually have sealed seams to prevent water from seeping through the stitched areas. Additionally, high-quality waterproof tents often feature waterproof zippers or storm flaps to enhance protection against rain.

Hydrostatic Head Rating:

The waterproofness of a tent is often measured by its hydrostatic head rating, which indicates the water pressure the fabric can withstand before water penetrates. A higher hydrostatic head rating generally signifies better waterproof performance.

The fabric used for your winter tent should be composed of high-denier ripstop nylon or polyester. Denier serves as a gauge for the thickness of individual threads within the fabric. A higher denier rating indicates increased abrasion resistance in the material.

Yes, tents can be recycled, but the ability to recycle them may depend on the materials used in the tent's construction. Many modern tents are made from a combination of materials, including fabrics, poles, zippers, and other components.