Best Way To Clean Tent After Burning Man?

Sleeping under the stars at Burning Man sounds romantic, until yous become run over past a bicycle or swept up by a grit tempest. That's why a good tent (or an RV if you can afford it) is vital for a week in the Black Rock Desert.

In the nearly xxx years that Burning Man has taken place in the unforgiving environment of Northern Nevada, Burners accept started to become savvy about the best shelters to bring to the Burn.

Mesh on your tent will leave it looking like Pompeii after a dust storm. The tiny metal stakes that come with the tent are equally effective as toothpicks. A sturdy zipper is a must (A dust-clogged attachment sometimes can be fixed with a little monkey grease, or even a spritz of spray-on sunscreen if you're in a bind.).

Most importantly, though, yous want a shelter that won't blow away like Dorothy's home en route to Oz. Brand no fault, y'all'll desire tie downs and rebar galore, merely these shelter options are a decent identify to start.

Here'south our guide to the all-time tents and structures for the political party on the playa:

Kodiak

Price: Starts at $500

Size: Starts at 100 square feet

Upsides: The Kodiak has proven to be the rex tent of Burning Man. If you plan on coming back year later year to the playa, or yous oftentimes camp in unforgiving environments, this might be the tent for y'all. The sail tent is spacious, breathable and durable. And waterproof. Depending on the size of tent you purchase, information technology can easily sleep a queen bed and you tin stand up up in information technology.

Downsides: Information technology is bulky and nigh easily set up with a partner or ii. This is certainly not a tent yous can bring backpacking, this is for setting up a basecamp for an extended period. If you do end upwardly bringing information technology to the playa, know that you will need to launder it clean of dust afterward and dry out it out for at least a day in a yard or open space to prevent mold.

Andrew Mitchell of Los Angeles lays down tape while fellow first-time Burning Man participant Jeremy Wisuthseriwong of San Francisco smooths it out. The two bought building insulation from a home improvement store and learned how to make their shelter by watching YouTube videos.

Hexayurt

Toll: Approximately $500

Size: 166 square feet (for the standard model)

Upsides: A hexayurt stays relatively absurd and can be a tiny habitation to return to at Called-for Man. If you want to cool the hexayurt farther, y'all can even add your own swamp cooler. A hexayurt, a cogitating hut that is made of a number of panels taped together, has been used at Burning Man and at refugee camps. In truthful Burner fashion, the inventor of the hexayurt, Vinay Gupta, is ever striving to make better versions of his invention and share those designs with whomever wants to use them.

Downsides: It does have some piece of work and some coin, and it's something that you demand to exercise some piece of work on at home before you can throw it together on the playa. It also takes several hours, with the help of friends, in one case on playa -- and that'southward in skilful weather.

Instant tent

Price: Starts at $100

Size: Starts at 56 square feet

Upsides: If you're not a seasoned camper and non a seasoned Burner, and you plan on spending the big bulk of your time exploring Called-for Human, night and solar day, the Coleman Instant Tent could be your tent. This tent sets up very easily, and it doesn't toll an arm and a leg.

Downsides: This tent is far flimsier than any of the other alternatives, and also less protective from the elements. Yous'll likely get your share of dust in house (seal any mesh areas), and information technology volition heat upwardly pretty rapidly. Consider planting your tent in a spot that is west of a large vehicle for prolonged shade, and also consider setting upwardly a reflective tarp or shade structure above your tent.

Monkey Hut (a shade construction for your tent)

Toll: Depends on size, materials used

Size: Adaptable

Upsides: This is a great style to set up a shelter over another tent. Made of little more PVC pipe and tarp, a Monkey Hut provides shade from the sun, cover from the rain, only it'due south too open-aired for a breeze, whether y'all want the cakewalk or not.

Downside: Y'all take to go out and become a number of materials, and it will probably take a time or two to get the hang of it. You'll want a helping manus, of class, and make sure you have a good amount of space, though y'all tin kind of adjust the size to what you need.

Jenny Kane covers arts and civilization in Northern Nevada, too every bit the dynamic relationship between the state and the growing Burning Homo community. She besides covers the land'southward burgeoning cannabis industry (Check out her podcast, the Potcast, on iTunes.) Back up her work in Reno by subscribing to RGJ.com right here.