Something to Sleep In
Aside from garb, you can probably lose more money on tents than anything else. Grand pavilions with hand sewn dagging and ornamentation: who wouldn't want one? Of course, grand pavilions come with grand price tags. Can you, the poor SCAdian, still have somewhere to sleep without blowing the bank account? Of course! It just takes a little creativity.
Before we start, though, one thing needs mention. If you've been in the SCA for any amount of time, you have certainly heard about the debate between modern tents versus period pavilions. Those in favor of modern tents praise their ease to set up and take down, their portability and compactness, and above all, their price (ie: cheap). Though who love period tents exalt their authenticity, their comfort (it's nicer to stay in a cloth tent than a nylon one when it's a scorching day), and claim they are not much more expensive than modern tents. I will be discussing both, and let you come to your own decision about what you want.
The stuff on this page:
General rules about tent buying and making:
- Make sure it's really what you need: You might think you want a four-room pavilion, but it it's just going to be you sleeping in it, you probably don't want to get it. Putting up a huge pavilion by yourself can be a daunting task at best, and you don't want to try it in the dark when you came to the event late and it's raining. Also, how are you going to transport such a huge pavilion? Make sure you have enough (a good rule for modern tents is to take the "sleeps X", and divide X by 2 or 3, depending on how much stuff you have), but don't get too much.
- Make sure it's what you want: This is one of those areas where you might want to spend a little more (not three times as much, but a little) to get something that you like. If you don't, you'll wind up with a tent that you hate and that you want to replace as soon as possible. You'll have wasted your money for no reason.
- Make sure it's authentic enough for you: if you want an authentic pavilion (even a small one), make sure it's authentic enough. Think along the lines of construction and pattern, material, and decoration. Think to yourself "will this be good enough for me in two years, when I've progressed in the SCA?". If the answer is no, rethink your tent and do some more research. Researching now will save you when you actually have to put it all together, and you won't kick yourself later on for messing up something simple.
Let's follow the five-step method for tents and sleeping:
- Get it free: Obviously, no one's going to give you a tent for free. If they do, be very cautious about what you're getting. However, there are ways to sleep at camping events for free. The easiest, of course, is to day-trip (ie: go during the day and go home at night). That way, the whole problem is circumvented. But if the event is too far away to day-trip, or you want to stay for the midnight party, what then? The easiest way to stay for free is to ask around and see if anyone has extra tent space you can use. People are generally good about this, and often will let you stay with them an entire weekend if you help them set up and take down their tent (note: I don't count this as barter, but simply following the rules of hospitality and common sense). Be sure to give people lots of advance warning that you're looking for someone to camp with, or else all the spots might be taken. Alternately, you can see if someone has an extra tent you can borrow for the weekend.
- Barter for it: Now we're getting into actually having your own tent. If someone you know is getting rid of a tent or pavilion that you want, you can try bartering for it. This works best if you have a SCAdian or otherwise marketable skill they can use, or else be prepared for some serious laboring to pay it off. Or you can see if someone can make one for you. Be warned, though, that this will also be costly on your barter budget (you don't really want to do dishes for a year, do you?)
- Pay someone in the SCA for it: You can usually buy used pavilions or pay someone to make you one for less than you'd pay in a camping store. Just make sure, though, that you inspect the tent before you buy it. Make sure there are no holes or mildew, that all the parts are still included, and that you can set it up yourself. You don't want to be stuck in a rainstorm when you find out that the roof leaks or the window won't zip up. You can also see if someone has a damaged tent that they are giving away: if you know how, you can fix it, and voila! instant tent.
- Get it at discount: For modern tents, check out wholesale tent manufacturers, army surplus stores, and end-of-season sales at camping stores. This is probably where you'll get the best deals. For period tents, try hitting the lumber yards for wood, and follow the same principles as getting fabric for garb for the canvas for your tent. In general, you might want to pay a little extra money to get something you really like: there's no point in having a tent if you hate it, because you'll want to go out an get a new one and you'll have wasted your money. At some events (notably Pennsic), you can rent tents to use for less than you might pay to buy it.
- Get it cheap: Again, check for modern tents on sale. For period tents, check out SCAdian merchants. Again, check what you're getting and be sure it's really what you want.
Tips submitted by other people:
- Crazy Einar has sent in his experience making a tent. Click on the link to see it!
- Submitted by John Greyshade of Adria: $8 No-sew Canvas Mini Pavilion: The military makes many low tech durable things that can be adapted by reenactors, but shelter halves deserve a special mention. These are two person wedge tents that button together at the ridgeline. The idea is that one soldier carries half a shelter, one pole and four stakes and he can make a shelter to share with any other soldier so equipped. They are extremely common suplus items. I picked up a Dutch pair for $8 complete with stakes and poles from Cheaper Than Dirt. Mine was useable out of the box but a little patching might be needed on some of them. It was, of course, olive drab but fortunately these tents are cotton canvas and can be dyed. I used black dye and ended up with the kind of brownish grayish black that Elizabethans called "rat color," very period. You could also try browns, greens and other dark colors. Once the color is altered the only thing that looks out of place is the double row of metal buttons along the ridge, but even that is more atypical than unperiod. You can also paint heraldry etc. on the tent. You can replace the aluminum poles with wood, add a top pole for a banner, pendant or whatever you come up with. The point is for super cheap you have a fairly period useable tent that can be cheaply and easily customized as time permits. If you buy from Cheaper Than Dirt, use the flat rate $5.99 shipping to your advantage and pick up some blankets and other cheap camping goodies. You can probably get a decent looking little camp together for less than your pewter tankard cost. I've even seen a few period weapons there from time to time.
- Submitted by Lady Eulalia de Ravenfeld: Find a friend or relative who is upgrading their gear. My lady's cousin just gave us her viking A-frame after she moved up to a larger pavilion. She explained that it was a good tent, and perfect for two people, but because she's had to patch it she is wary of selling it. The key is to make sure you trust whoever is offering you something for free (or for really, really cheap). I realize this isn't an option either for someone who needs some kind of shelter immediately or who has very specific needs for their pavilion. But a free period tent is better than no period tent! By endearing yourself to many people in your local group, you may find that someone you know will think of you when they ask themselves what to do with their old gear (actually I guess that goes for more than just tents).
- Submitted by Joe Papasso: I'm active duty Navy, and I have a wife and a 6 month old son. I'm currently living in Colorado. Here, there are a lot of outdoor activities to do (not all SCA related), but when we arrived here we wanted to start camping. Knowing my wife was pregnant, we knew money was not going to stretch too far (as babies cost a lot of money even before they are born). So I checked with our Morale, Wellfare, and Recreation (MWR) office and found they offer a lot of camping supplies for very cheap. In fact one could get everything needed for camping (not counting your car) for nearly $50-80. This includes tent, coolers, lanterns, chairs, stove, etc. These prices aren't restricted to only this base's MWR, most MWR offices have this equipment for about the same price.
- Submitted by Lady Anne Brynley and Lord Oliver Tarney: My Lord and I felt that the cost of already made pavilions was beyond our budget, plus we liked sleeping in a bug-free tent (zippered tent fly) so didn't really want to give up our mundane tent. We made a French Bell Wedge Pavilion "coverup" to go over our mundane tent. Instructions and photo are at http://www.borderwinds.com/tentcover.htm
- Mistress Baroness Merlinia submitted an entire article on how to make a cheap period tent. See it here!
- Submitted by Anitra: I belong to a number of 'Points for Email' services. I earned enough points for a $25 Gift certificate to a national chain camping store. I also earned enough points on a different service for a $10.00 check. The tent I chose was on sale for $19.99 - I also bought an under-tarp for $2.50 on sale. The sleeping bag was also on sale for $14.99. Tent, under-tarp and sleeping bag cost me $2.48 plus tax.
- Submitted by inge: The SCA never banned mundane tents for events. You can get the 'dog house' type rather cheap, maybe borrow it of a friend who doesn't go camping just on the event weekend. Make do with it and wait for better times. (Even if you can sew well, making a tent is still a large project, costs a lot for cloth, and if you can't afford a car, how are you going to get the pavillion to the event site?)
- Response to previous submission, by Lady Ennoguent filia Bronmael: Oh, I have to disagree with you. I made an 8x10 Viking a-frame for less than $100. About $55 for the canvas, and around $30 for the odds and ends. I sewed it on my brand-new Kenmore machine, typical household style. It took one Saturday. I do recommend reading everything on the florilegium about tentmaking before you try it, and having an assistant to steer the big heavy piles of canvas around. The tent itself fits into a average-sized rubbermaid tote, with ropes and stakes, and I (a weakling) can carry it myself. The poles are 10 ft long and can be strapped to the roof of my Bronco II or my Buick. It might be possible to figure out a way to bisect the poles and thus fit them into the average trunk or backseat. I realize this still isn't very practical for a college student, but it is within reach of the average poor SCAdian.
- Submitted by Kat: If you're a student, check with your college to see if you can rent or borrow camping gear. Many of them do this.
- Also submitted by kat: Look for sports stores going out of business, and look for stores that sell used equipment.
- One more from kat: Buy things at the end of the season. Right now (autumn) prices are going down for camping chairs etc.
- Submitted by AElfwenna: If your group has events locally ( and most have at least one or two a year ) then daytrip; it's a lot less expensive than weekending and you are there for 90% of the good stuff.
- Also from AElfwenna: When you do travel to events, try to share expenses and travel with others; if available, then using crash space instead of staying on site can also save money. Just don't forget to be a gracious and helpful guest, and remember down the line when you are more prosperous to return the favor.
Want to suggest a tip? Email the webmistress at julie.golick@gmail.com.