What is the Elk River 1?The Elk River is a lightweight yet protective freestanding tent designed for solo backpackers and trekkers. It features a durable HydroTex flysheet, an exoskeleton pole design and fully taped seams for ultimate weather-resistance.
What is it made of?The flysheet is made using Robens' own HydroTex AWT-T, a tough yet lightweight 30D ripstop polyester with a silicone PU treatment; this provides a fully waterproof shelter with a hydrostatic head of 3000mm. The ripstop bit means it the flysheet gets snagged, it won't destroy the whole sheet, just a small section which can be easily repaired. All seams are fully taped for optimum weather-resistance and the entire tent will pack down to just 42x11cm.
The inner is made from a similarly durable 30D polyester but without any of the weather-resistant coatings, making it super breathable and quiet.
How is it constructed?The Elk River features a freestanding design with an exoskeleton pole structure. The inner can be left attached to the flysheet, meaning pitching the tent takes no more than five minutes with a bit of practice. Simply attach the poles to the corresponding clips on the flysheet, pop some pegs in, fasten your guylines and you're good to go. This design means the tent can be pitched in foul conditions without getting the inner tent all soggy.
What are its features?Starting with the vestibule, it's large enough to store muddy boots, a large rucksack or other bits and pieces you'd rather not have in the main sleeping area. The door can be pinned back and stored in a handy pocket for ultimate ventilation on dry evenings.
Once inside, there's a cord running along the inner sleeping area to hang clothes and other bits from. The door to the inner tent is mosquito-proof for some added privacy and a waterproof stuffsack keeps everything dry and protected when not in use.
- Freestanding construction
- Exoskeleton structure
- Flysheet fabric repair kit
- DAC poles and joints
- HydroTex siliconised flysheet
- Mosquito-proof inner door
- Door stores away inside pocket
- Inner cord for clothes
- Inner can be left attached to flysheet
How to Care for Your Tent
We know that purchasing a tent is a big investment, that’s why we have such a wide range of options to suit different activities, weather conditions and people, allowing you to choose the perfect one for you. Taking care of your brand new tent can be the difference between heading out for an adventure in the mountains, or having to fork out for a hefty repair bill, or even worse, another replacement tent. Below are our best tips to care for your tent.
Footprint
Before even leaving the shop (or online basket) with your tent, consider a footprint. A footprint is a large water-resistant piece of material which sits underneath your tent to protect it from sharp rocks and wet ground; if this footprint gets damaged, it’s easy to replace and doesn’t cost a fortune; if your tent groundsheet gets damaged, you’ll have to spend at least twice the amount for a repair or replacement.
Don’t Abuse the Poles
The chances are your poles are made from individual aluminium sections connected by elastic; when you come to remove the poles from the tent, don’t pull them out. The best way to remove poles from their sleeve is to place the pole end against your hip and pull the fabric towards you. If you simply attempt to pull the pole out, they’ll disconnect inside, the elastic will stretch and then spring back, potentially trapping the fabric of your tent between the pole sections.
You might also be tempted to flick the poles out so that the elastic snaps them into place in a quickfire fashion. However, this is far from ideal, as if the poles don’t align when they meet, you can easily damage or weaken the end of the pole, leading to future failure which is usually on the wettest and windiest nights!
Collapse Poles From the Centre
When your poles are safely removed from the sleeve, collapse them from the centre to avoid stretching the elastic.
Stuff, Don’t Fold
You were probably told when you were in the Scouts or doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award that the best way to pack your tent away is to neatly fold it into a rectangle, the width of your storage bag, roll it around the poles and pegs and then put it all in the stuffsack. However, whilst very neat and tidy, this method of packing can create permanent creases in the fabric, weaken the waterproofing and eventually split the fabric of your tent. The best solution is to simply stuff the tent fabric into the storage bag, just like you would a sleeping bag, and pack the poles separately. Make sure to leave and end or corner at the top, so that you can easily peg it out if your next campsite is windy. The poles normally have their own stuffsack so they can be packed separately, strapped to the outside of your pack or stored inside, allowing the tent fabric to be compressed for efficient packing.
Store it Dry
Let’s assume you’ve been out with your tent and the weather has been a little on the damp side. You’ve packed your tent away when wet and now you’re back home in the warm and dry with a nice of cup of tea reflecting on your latest adventure. But what about your poor soggy tent? The worst thing you can do is to leave it packed away wet, mildew will grow and eventually rot the tent, rendering it useless. As soon as you’ve finished that cup of tea, wipe off any excess dirt and moisture with a towel, then hang the tent somewhere where it can fully air out; a nice warm spare room or a garage is perfect. Alternatively, when it stops raining, pitch the tent outside in the sunshine to dry off. Let it air for at least 24 hours and once you are sure that it is bone dry it can be packed away for storage. Note - don’t tumble dry or hang the tent over a radiator or other direct heat source.
Don’t Store in the Stuffsack
Like your sleeping bag, it’s best not to store your sleeping bag in its stuffsack unless it has to be compressed for an activity. Leave it in a large duffel bag or supermarket ‘bag for life’ in a cool, well ventilated area so it can breathe.
Avoid Tree Sap
If you’ve ever had sap on your hands, you’ll know how horrible and sticky the stuff is; it’s even harder to remove from your tent flysheet. Pitch away from trees if possible.
Don’t Leave in the Sun
The majority of tents we stock are made from nylon. Nylon is incredibly tough, lightweight and easy to care for, however it will naturally degrade if left out in harsh sunlight for extended periods of time. Try to pitch your tent in the shade or strike the tent (pack it away) during the day. Polyester tents don’t suffer from this quite as badly, but it’s still a good habit to get into.
Leave Sharp Objects Outside
Boots, cooking equipment and other sharp/abrasive objects can all be stored in the vestibule, where there is less chance of it ripping a hole in your fly or groundsheet. You may not want to pop your pet in there, but at least carry a small blanket to avoid their claws damaging your groundsheet.