Beach Tents
We generally perceive tents as structures that we
utilize for camping or hiking, as temporary shelters at the end of a day’s
activities, and places to catch a good night’s rest for the following day.
People rarely consider sleeping overnight on the sand when visiting a
beach, but one will still come across many tents pitched along a grainy
shore. This is because a beach
tent is one of the best methods of obtaining protection from the scorching
rays of the sun, as a refuge from potential sunburn in the middle of the
day, that acts to complement your sunscreen, or as a substitute when it has
worn off. The typical beach tent
is specially made to protect you from harmful ultraviolet rays, and features
SPF protection with a rating of at least 35, along with abundant vents to
keep the tent well-ventilated in the heat, and a ground sheet to provide a
respite from the rough texture of the sand.
The simplest beach tents are little more than canopies,
open almost completely for that breezy, pleasant exposure that one expects
from a day in the sand and surf.
After all, the primary purpose of the beach tent is shade, which a roof over
your head does quite nicely.
More elaborate beach tents are structured much like conventional camping
tents, although their design places more of an emphasis on being spacious
than in offering adequate resistance against the elements.
Since solar radiation can seep in from the sides, as well, these
tents are covered all around with UV resistant material, for those times
when you want to take a nap without fear of waking up with the complexion of
a lobster. Beach tents come in a
wide variety of bright, lovely colors, from aquamarine to lemon yellow,
further enhancing the festive atmosphere that a beach promotes.
A fair number of beach tent designs are pop-up in
nature; that is, instead of using the usual tent pole and overlaid fabric
configuration, the poles are attached and arranged in such a manner that the
tent structure expands to its proper shape from a flat packed position.
This obviously makes the beach tent extremely easy to pitch, once
you’ve determined a suitable location.
The fabric of a beach tent is usually made of polyester or nylon, and
is water resistant, since you will be expecting to run into seawater at the
beach. However, it allows vapor
to pass through, making the tent very breathable.
Beach tents may also come with sand stakes for additional stability
in case it gets windy, and some models feature sand pockets which can be
filled to make the tent bottom-heavy, and much less susceptible to tipping
over or blowing away.
All things considered, a beach tent is an excellent
option for those times when you want to take the whole family on a beach
trip, so that you can keep your children out of the sun during its harshest
periods, and so that you have a place to store bags, towels and extra
clothing.
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