Tent Pitch Sites That Avoid the Midnight Puddle

The best tent in the world will still flood if you pitch it in a dip. Site selection is the cheapest upgrade you can make, and it happens entirely before you unroll the tent.

Read the ground before you commit.

• Avoid the bottom of any slope where water runs and pools
• Look for a slight rise or crown that sheds rain
• Check for a smooth surface clear of roots and rocks
• Angle the tent door away from the prevailing wind

Five minutes of walking the site saves you from waking in a cold puddle at 2 a.m. The ground tells you everything if you look before you pitch.

Walk the site in a full circle before you unroll anything. The best pitch is often five steps away from the first flat spot that looked fine from the trail.