High stakes, poles, and rainfly - Tips on pitching your tent in the wind

Are you even camping if you’ve not struggled at least once with howling winds? If you’ve ever spent time sleeping outdoors you’ll know what a challenge the wind can be in the backcountry, especially above the tree line where a minor gale is almost inevitable.

Pitching your tent in the face of an aggressive breeze can be particularly frustrating, which is why we’ve put together our top tips for getting your tent up when the currents won't quit.
Location, location, location

Look for a site with natural windbreaks like beside a treeline or nestled between boulders. When laying out your footprint reduce exposure by positioning the narrowest part of your tent into the direction of the wind.

1. Anchor me
Finally a use for packing the kitchen sink! Use heavier gear as a makeshift anchor for your tent. Once you’ve unpacked your tent from its bag you’ll want to throw heavy gear on top to prevent the tent from becoming a kite flying off into the sunset before you’ve had a chance to peg it out.

2. Order is everything
Pop together the tent poles before unpacking the tent and rainfly. Once the tent is unravelled it can become an unruly flag flapping in the wind, so having the poles ready will provide structure to secure the tent, giving valuable control over the elements.

3. Stake Out
With two tent stakes in hand, unpack the tent body and grab the side facing the wind. Let the wind blow the tent body away from you and securely stake down this side. You can break with tradition and set up your tent footprint after this.

4. Pass the poles
Place the poles on top of the tent to hold it down. Insert the poles into the grommets, starting with the side you’ve just pinned down. Stake down the other side, add the poles and clip the tent to the poles. You can further anchor your tent by throwing heavy gear inside if it’s dry.

5. Rain fly away
Let the wind work for you by holding the rainfly from the side facing the wind as you unpack it. Hopefully, the gale will help lift the fly over the tent. For solo adventurers this can be the most frustrating part, moving with haste to attach the rainfly before the conditions get the better of you.

6. Hey guy!
Using your guy ropes adds strength and stability, bracing the shelter against the wind. A loose tent flapping in the wind is more likely to encounter damage, and you are less likely to get any sleep, as the noise of a poorly secured tent can irritate even the deepest sleeper.

If you think we’ve missed anything let us know, and good luck out there!