Tent Trivia

Here are a few things you probably never knew about tents.

Not much is known about tents in ancient history because archeologists cannot find fabric remains in their excavations. In Genesis 4:20, the Bible refers to people dwelling in tents almost at the beginning of time. Other historical records would indicate that the majority of people lived in tents. Tents are well suited to the nomadic lifestyle of early people who traveled to find food for themselves and their animals. Tents were also inexpensive and easily expanded or moved. Since that time, tents continue to be used during natural disasters, hunting expeditions, religious events, celebrations and much more.

World War II brought increasing innovation to the tent industry, which has continued since then. In the early 1900's, most tents were push-pole type tents similar to the classic circus tent. Todd Dalland among others pioneered the tension structures that are similar to what we still use today. These tents rely on highly tensioned fabric for the structure and strength of the tent. They are also more visually appealing than a traditional square-shaped push-pole tent. Another huge benefit of the tension structure is the engineering that is possible. This allows these tents to meet building codes for temporary structures.

Another type of tent known as a clear span structure was primarily a European invention. It has no interior poles and relies on an aluminum structure to support the fabric. These amazing tents are available in up to 60 M (196 ft.) widths and multiple stories. These tents have the benefits of being able to be installed in many different locations including sites where stakes cannot be driven into the ground.

Fabrics

Tents have been made from many different types of fabric. Early tents were made from skins, felt, canvas or woven goat's hair. In the early to mid 1900's, canvas was the fabric of choice. However, this fabric was flammable. So, flame retardant compounds were added to increase safety. Today, most tents are made from vinyl-coated polyester scrim or coated fabrics that are naturally flame retardant.

Uses

Tents have been used in a myriad of ways including permanent living, temporary camping, emergency shelter, and outdoor events like weddings and parties. A tent is limited only by your imagination.

Tent Sizes

We have tents that come in widths of 10 feet to 100 feet. They can be expanded in length up to hundreds of feet long. The largest tent we've installed a 100' x 290'. That's large enough to seat over 3,600 people. Since tents are expandable, we can create even larger tents if necessary.

The world's largest tent opened on July 5, 2010 and it stands in Astana Kazakhstan. It is almost 500 feet tall and 650 feet across. It covers an area larger than 10 football stadiums.

Tent Styles

Our tents come in two basic styles: pole tents and frame tents. The pole tents are our most popular style because they are more economical. The frame tents or clearspan tents also have several distinct advantages. They have no interior poles and they can be installed without driving stakes into the ground. They are also better suited for long term installations. Our larger tents are engineered to withstand 70 mph sustained winds and 90 mph gusts.

Environmental Awareness

Renting a tent is an environmentally responsible choice for temporary shelter. All of the fabric, poles, and ropes can be reused many times. Tents can be expanded and reconfigured to be used for many different purposes. Tents can be installed without any excavation or site preparation keeping environmental impact to a minimum. No hazardous chemicals are used in the installation or removal of our tents. Our tents are manufactured in the United States with materials made in the United States.