Sprache wechseln
Ascending into your loft and settling down for the night is quite different from what you might be used to at home. You can’t just peel off clothes and throw them over a chair, or park your glasses, phone and a bottle of water on the night stand next to your book. If there are two, or more, of you sharing the few square metres of mattress enclosed by fabric walls, then you need to consider your housekeeping options and have places to put stuff where you can find them in the dark.
Fortunately, some manufacturers are well ahead of you and already have some useful ideas:
OUTSIDE THE TENT
Underfloor net
Fold-out soft-shell tents can have a very useful net slung beneath the half of the floor that extends beyond the car. The bigger the floor space, the bigger the net can be. This is a great place to put those sandy, muddy or wet shoes. They’re tucked away from the elements and you don’t carry the wet and grime into your bedroom. Easily accessible from inside the tent, you can sit on the edge of the floor and pull on your shoes before descending the ladder.
The net is also great for hanging towels or clothes on during the day so that they can dry.
Shoe bags
These have become really popular in recent years. The bag usually has piping along its top edge which can be fed into a channel at the front of the tent floor, next to the ladder. Easy to access when retiring for the night or getting up in the morning. Make sure the bag has a substantial flap as protection against rain—preferably with Velcro to keep it closed when the wind picks up. If you are testing the mattress as part of your pre-purchase decision making, then take off your shoes and put them in the bag… is it big enough to accommodate two pairs?
Normally flat when empty, they can be kept inside the tent when closed.
Toiletries bag
Similar in design to the shoe bag, these are attached to the outside of the tent in the same way. You can store all the usual items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, hairbrush, etc. in here. It’s important that the bag has a large flap that can be secured: the items kept inside aren’t heavy and a strong gust of wind can blow the bag over and spill its contents onto the ground below.
Normally flat when empty, they can be kept inside the tent when closed.
INSIDE THE TENT
Pouches
Some are available as loose items that can be hooked onto rings inside the tent, or as an integral part at different points around the walls of the tent. They are useful for harbouring anything from glasses to mobile phones, books to power banks, coins to keys. Pouches are often made from the same material as the tent, so they are less flexible when it comes to storing odd-shaped or bulky items.
Keep in mind that, if they are attached to the outside wall, they will be fall foul of the outdoor heat or cold—don’t put your favourite chocolate bar in there and let it melt on a hot summer’s day!
Nets
They’re usually attached to the outside walls of the tent, but some manufacturers also have them under the roof if there’s no skylight. The characteristics of a net mean they can be stretched to accommodate larger items, but are pretty hopeless when it comes to stowing small things such as coins. Books, phones, power banks, gloves, hats, torches… quickly stowed and easily found. Plus, you can see at a glance if you have left anything behind (like your car keys) before closing the tent.
Nets also have the advantage over pouches in that they do not collect dust or sand, which can absorb and retain moisture and be difficult to dry.
Floorspace
In the absence of an underfloor net or shoe bag, you’ll probably end up storing your shoes inside the tent on an empty space on the floor. It makes sense to have a large plastic bag or a surplus towel to put them in or stand them on. Logic says you don’t want them on the mattress.
Clothing that you don’t need during the night can also be kept on or next the edge of the mattress. On cold nights, this can be a blessing as the clothes can provide an extra layer of insulation at mattress level to prevent the chill getting to you through the side wall.
Remember to clean the floor regularly to minimise the build-up of dirt that can absorb and retain moisture.
CONCLUSION
Having enough space inside to keep things organised overnight is simply a good idea.
Pouches inside the tent are more restrictive than nets when it comes to large items and they can collect sand and dirt over time, which can trap moisture caused by condensation.
Shoe/toiletry bags outside the tent are great as long as they are big enough to hold two pairs of shoes/all your wash gear comfortably. They should have a large flap to keep the rain out and keep everything inside when it gets windy.
Underfloor netting is great on a soft shell with a folding floor. Put shoes in there and hang towels or clothes to dry.
