what's the best way to put up a tent?

[sorkycake]

follow the instructions to the letter and seemingly struggle?

lie it flat put all the poles in place and hoist it up?

peg the ground sheet in place first?

It took us 50 minutes to put our Big Cypress, which granted was the first time we'd ever put a tent up but surely there's got to be an easier way?

Are there any tips at all other than hire someone else to do it and sit back and drink wine?

Oh, and what do you do with the kids for 50 minutes when there's only the two of you?

We would peg the ground sheet in first, then put the poles in place and hoist up and then peg out the top sheet.

Can you practise a few times at home before you need to do it on holiday so you don't need to worry about your DCs (hopefully!)

Otherwise, could one of you look after the DCs while the other does all the pegging out so it only needs two of you to actually lift the tent into position?

D'you know that makes perfect sense!

Yes one of us could peg the ground sheet first, then probably put the poles in as well.

When you peg the GS, how tight do you do it? Is there a knack so that it is flat and not lifting at the doorways?

Do you erect the tent with the doors zipped shut?

I take it you have a sig? I would initially pitch it with the doors open (as we strike ours with them open to get the air out) then zip up the doors before you peg it out or you may not be able to shut the doors! We have a zip in gs so I need to crawl round inside zipping it in - children are good for that as they like crawling into small spaces.

Small children hold tent pegs, are in charge of the electric pump and air beds or if it's raining they are in the car eating vast quantities of jelly babies bought specially for the purpose.

oh and practice!

I'm not sure what the difference is between peg out, pitch and strike

oooh sorry
pitching the tent is when you actually put the poles in and lift it up off the ground, then to stretch the sides out and keep it up you put the pegs in.
Striking a tent is taking it down and attempting to get it back in it's bag!

best way is to get dc's involved in pitching tent, they can pass you the pegs and hold the mallet(if needed) then you dont need to worry about where they have gone as they will be near you, Also i find best way to pitch is to zip all the doors closed then you know the base of tent is right shape, if you leave them open you can pull the corners further out and then the door does not shut