We toyed with the tent idea for years before we bit the bullet.
Doug and I decided we needed a tent at the end of the summer 3-v-3 tournament. It was so freaking hot and there’s no shade on most fields. Tents offer shade and a community-gathering area, both of which appealed to us.
But tents are huge, bulky and a pain to lug from the parking lot to the field. They’re also not easy to set up. We got an 8-foot-by-8-foot tent on sale and we’ve used it a few times. Here’s what I like:
- Shade
- Rain shelter
- Gathering area
The tent has become the team’s (and parents’) hangout spot on long days at the field.
We have learned to always have the tent in the Jeep. Why? We had one game in September on a grass field. It was a hot day and there was no shade. The field had tents set up for players (which was brilliant). But we left our tent in the garage. Never again. When I say hot, I mean 90-plus and humid. No breeze. Doug got fried.
Here’s what you need to know before you buy:
Size matters
Tents come in 8-by-8, 10-by-10 and 12-by-12. How big is your team? How big is your vehicle’s storage space? Make sure the tent will fit with all of the other gear you’ll be carrying and make sure you have a place to stow it (garage or closet) at home.
Do you need walls?
You can buy walls for your tent. They’re like curtains and they provide extra shelter. But you could probably improvise with a sheet and clothespins.
Weights
The weights are required by some fields on tournament days. Weights are usually sand-filled devices used to hold tents in place in case of wind. The box weighs 12 pounds. I’m thinking wagon for sure by the spring season!
Price-matching
We got our tent on sale for $39.99. Watch the sales and deals. Why pay more for the same thing? If you don’t want the store logo on the tent, you’ll pay more.
Warranty?
If it’s available and cheap, then yes. If the pins snap off and break, then your tent won’t work.
We made it through five years of soccer before investing in a tent and I’m surprised we lasted that long. That one day without it was enough to convince me it was worth the $40. We also bought the weights to hold it place, but we haven’t used them yet. I guess we need to put those in the Jeep, too.