Many people who have been camping in the wilderness and have seen their tent be destroyed by the elements lament about the lack of protection that many tents have against heavy rains. Indeed, a lot of rain in a short time or a flooding rain that can puddle on the roof of your tent can cause the structure to snap or break down, which can render your tent useless.
For those who own tents that may become victim to a heavy rain breaking the structure down, adding a supplemental covering as a rain shield can help protect your outdoor shelter. Many newer tents come with a covering like this, but the integration of these covers into the tent design can do more harm than good.
Instead, what you can do is simply buy a tarp and some large PVC piping and create your own rain shield with a frame. Using a tarp that can cover the entire area of your tent as well as a few feet around the perimeter can allow the rain to strike this cover and not your tent, allowing you an extra protection against downpours and other inclement weather. A structure like this can extend the life of your camping equipment for a minimal investment.
