Your Tent is Your Castle
To survive in a tent, you don’t need fancy backpacking gear. Sturdiness, coolness, simplicity, and durability are your new friends. Get a size larger than you think. The playa is tough on fabrics so prepare your tent to be forever-dusty.
If you build our simple shade structure, your tent will be way cooler! Add a swamp cooler and you’ll need a blanket.
Essential Pick
For the Coleman or Cole-woman
Count the amazing features:
1. Poles are sewn in so you can’t lose them.
2. Windows zip all the way up to keep dust out.
3. External “skeleton” allows you to clip on a shade cover (tarp, camo-netting, or whatever).
Lab update--personal experience dictates you WILL need to use the included guylines for wind stability in this tent. So get a few extra rebars or lagbolts.
This tent is very handy, but has only 1 door, so maybe not the best for cranky tent-mates. Get the extra rainfly--it can rain in the desert! The tent comes in two sizes.
The New Dark-Room version comes with blackout fabric and an optional screen-room. That extra space is great for boots, waterjugs, and your drunk boyfriend. That extra loop of tent pole is great for clipping on an additional shade-cloth.
Order online (#ads ↓)
Luxury Larry
Delicious deluxe, at a price to match
Alternative Hacks
Start a tent fight
A tough competitor to Kodiak, Springbar will suit you right too. Culty followers argue their differences. Psst, don’t tell them... they’re almost exactly the same! Both are fantastic tents. Comes in 6-man or 8-man sizes
These have been hard to find online but keep checking!
Budget Bob
Disposable but gets you through the week
This no-name dome tent is quick and dirty, just like you. The mesh zips closed on all the panels and the rainfly gives another layer of shade. This baby will probably not last too many burns, but it'll do the job for Bob.
Stakes
Don't eat the candy canes
Just buy a pack and call it done, would you? Are you really going to cut and bend metal at home? Who are you, Superman?
The pre-made rebar stakes are perfect for tents and small shade structures. For anything load-bearing, you need longer stakes or lags, read our other post.
Do me a solid and get this liquid lube. Keeps your tent zippers running smooth and works on the bike too.
Reviews of pitched-tents!
A winner with Playa-ready features