Tent Glossary: Terms and Jargon
Pole Tents pole tents are our most popular and economical tent style. With tall, graceful peaks, they provide an airy, spacious interior. They are supported by large centerpoles in the middle of the tent. Their strength comes from highly tensioned fabric and webbing. Hence, they are also known as "tension tents." Click here for a comparison of our tent styles.
Frame Tent Frame tents or clearspan tents have several distinct advantages over pole tents. They have no interior poles. So, there is no obstruction of view or aisles. They can also be secured to weights instead of driving stakes into the ground. They are generally more flexible for installation in tight quarters or unique situations. However, their cost is usually higher than a pole tent. They are supported by an aluminum frame instead of centerpoles.
Engineered Tent Engineered tents are especially well suited for very large tent sizes or long-term installation. They are also required to satisfy permitting requirements in some locations. They have been specially designed and tested to withstand 70 mph sustained winds and 90 mph gusts.
Side Wall Side walls are removable sections of walls that can partially or totally enclose the tent. The solid sides are included for free.
Stakes Tent stakes are driven into the ground 3' – 4' in order to secure a tent. A stake driven into solid ground can withstand over 2,000 pounds of force.
Side Poles Sidepoles are the poles around the perimeter of the tent. They are usually 7' – 8' tall.
Center Poles Centerpoles are the large poles in the middle of pole tents. They create the "peak" of the tent.
Weights Weights are used to secure a frame or clearspan tent when stakes cannot be driven into the ground. On average, to safely secure a tent, 7.5 pounds of weight are required to per square foot of tent.
Wind Load The amount of wind speed that a tent is designed to safely handle.
Tent Liner Fabric that is hung inside a tent to provide a "false ceiling." Tent liners add a touch of elegance to weddings and other events.
“Tents for Rent was an easy company to rent from. They were very accommodating even when I changed my mind several times. Marlin was knowledgeable and gave great insight to what are needs were. I highly recommend Tents for Rent. Their prices were also the most reasonable I could find. ”