Last updated on March 2nd, 2023 at 02:32 pm
Learning how to lock a tent at night provides you with a useful skill and an added sense of security. You might not always use it, but it’s good to know. You never know when you’ll find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, and it just might come in handy.
Locking your tent is as simple as threading a lock shaft through your zippers. However, locking up your food and valuables requires a bit more versatility.
Should You Lock Your Tent at Night?
In reality, locking your tent at night provides little more than peace of mind. It may deter petty theft, but it definitely won’t stop a determined thief or assailant. Additionally, hungry raccoons or bears tear their way through just about anything.
In truth, very few campers take the time to lock their tent. It often becomes an unnecessary obstacle for entering and exiting, especially when Mother Nature calls.
Fiddling with a combination lock in the middle of the night while half asleep creates an unwanted hassle for many. However, if it offers you a sense of security, then, by all means, do it. Sometimes, we all need to feel a bit more secure.
While locks won’t necessarily keep you safe, they at least provide you peace of mind for a good night’s sleep. The adage, “Perception is reality,” gives us what we need to stave off the paranoias of the night.
Sometimes just a little extra obstacle is enough to discourage others from attempting a tent break in.
How to Lock your Tent
Within the camping community, you rarely hear about any tent robberies or assaults. However, some campers find comfort in adding a lock to their tent doors.
Almost all tents in today’s market feature double zippers.
To lock your tent, simply run the lock shank through the double zippers of your tent door and lock.
If the shank’s diameter is too wide, attach zipper pull loops and run the shank through those instead.
How to Lock a Tent at Night
When you attach a lock to the outside of your tent, do so discreetly. This helps alleviate unwanted attention.
Use a Combination Luggage Lock
Most campers use luggage locks, but any lock works if it fits through the zipper holes or zipper pull loops.
I find that combination luggage locks work best, especially if camping with a group of people.
Moreover, the style that requires a 3-6 number rolling combination is superior to dial-style or keyed locks.
Conversely, most key locks only supply two keys, which minimizes the number of people who can access the lock.
This creates an inconvenience when camping with a family or in a small group. Keeping up with who has the keys can be challenging, especially if campers get separated.
Additionally, trying to find anything in the middle of the night while half asleep proves to be difficult. Keys can also very easily be lost or misplaced. By using a combination lock, you minimize your hassle.
Finally, check out our favorite tents for summer that are easily locked up in our Best Tent for Hot Weather post.
How to Keep Your Food Safe While Camping
In addition to locking your tent, you must store food safely to prevent unwanted visitors during the night.
Many nocturnal animals forage while you’re sleeping. Don’t give them a reason to hang around your campsite.
Use Bear Lockers
Bears live in many campgrounds across the country. It’s important to remember that we’re the visitors.
Thus, it is imperative to prevent them from getting a whiff of your food supply. This keeps you safe.
Use a bear canister or bear locker when camping in their territory.
Not only do bear lockers help keep the bears at bay, but they also help keep raccoons and opossums away.
These hard-walled canisters carry up to 5 days of food, and many national parks actually require them.
Bears possess a keen sense of smell. As such, anything that projects a scent necessitates closed storage. Tuck all your food and anything else that has an aroma into these provided lockers.
Additionally, keep them downwind from your site. Usually, 100 feet or so suffices.
Lock Food in Your Car
Leave your food in your vehicle, especially if you have easy access to your car. Vehicles act as the best storage lockers of all. Their heavy-duty frames work much better than any bag or locker.
They also lock, which protects your personal belongings from both wildlife and humans.
Hang a Bear Bag
If you’re backpacking, you may be left with hanging a bear bag as a last resort. This time-tested method requires essential skills for almost any wilderness adventurer.
Bear bags are generally lightweight and waterproof, so they won’t weigh you down or take up much space. They should also be made from durable, tear-resistant materials such as Kevlar.
Follow these steps to hang a bear bag:
1) Avoid any unwanted encounters by finding a tree approximately two hundred feet away from your tent. Your chosen tree requires a solid, sturdy branch at least six feet long and approximately twenty feet above the ground.
2) Tie your bag shut and attach a rope to your bag using a locking carabiner.
3) The tricky part is throwing the bag over the branch without getting it stuck. Much easier said than done. I prefer to weigh the bag down with a pseudo-heavy rock or stake to make throwing the bag easier.
4) Once the bag is over the limb, shimmy it out about six feet away from the trunk. This places it outside a bear’s natural reach.
5) Once over the branch, fill your bag and secure it. Run the other end of the rope through the locked carabiner.
6) Hoist your bag in the air, then tie the loose end of the rope around a small, short stick. This requires the use of a clove hitch to keep the rope from slipping. Place the stick as high as you possibly can. Should a bear chew through the string, you want it to be below the stick.
To access your food, pull the rope down, release the twig, and let gravity do the rest.
Other Ways to Keep Valuables Safe
Sometimes just a little common sense goes a long way to keep your valuables safe. Employ a variety of these options to ensure you never lose a thing.
Make Friends
Making the acquaintance of nearby campers gives you some peace of mind when leaving your camp. You can simply ask them to keep an eye on things while you’re away for an extended period of time.
Or simply feel comforted that your friendly neighbors will note if any unfamiliar people or pests try to get into your things.
If you frequent the same camping location throughout the year, it’s pretty common to encounter the same people several times. Before long, you’ll realize you’re part of a small camping community. Camping with people you know only adds to your sense of security.
Even if you don’t, most campers are generally friendly and have no problems watching your site while you’re gone.
Store Valuables in your Car
Storing valuables in your car is one of the easiest things to do. Simply place your items in your glove box, trunk, or tuck them under a seat so they’re out of sight. Just don’t forget to lock your vehicle before you leave.
And, don’t forget to take your keys with you.
Camp in a Campground
Not only do designated campsites provide much better visibility, but many of them also employ their own security detail.
It’s not uncommon to see a security vehicle patrolling the campgrounds as an added safety precaution.
Campgrounds have better visibility and better security than camping in the wild.
Keep Valuables on You
Additionally, keeping your valuables in your possession means you won’t have to worry about them getting stolen while you’re gone.
Small items such as ID, money, phones, and keys are fairly easy to carry on your person.
Even if you’re taking on a rough hike, taking valuables won’t weigh you down that much. In fact, some of our favorite packs are in our Best Canyoneering Backpack post.
Choose the Right Spot
Location, location, location! Staying away from busy trails that open your site up to heavy foot traffic is also a good option.
You don’t want to be too far out of sight. However, by choosing a location off the beaten path, you reduce the chances of theft by convenience.
Sleep Securely
In my experience, most fellow campers are friendly and courteous. While general theft is usually not a worry, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Locking your tent, keeping your food secure, and storing your valuables all reduce any potential threats of theft. You also develop a sense of security, which gives you peace of mind and allows you to sleep like a baby!
About the Author
Todd Alexander
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