How to Set Up Your TETON Sports Lodge Tent

Quick Answer

To set up your TETON Sports Lodge Tent, choose a level spot, lay out the footprint, assemble the poles, raise the inner room, then attach the front vestibule and rain fly. This guide walks you through each step with checkpoints to avoid common mistakes.

Step-by-Step Lodge Tent Setup

1. Choose and Clear Your Campsite: Find a level area free of rocks, sticks, and roots. Lay out the tent footprint or ground cloth to mark the spot and protect the tent floor. A slightly elevated spot helps water drain away in rain. Check for low spots where water could pool after a storm.
2. Lay Out the Inner Room and Assemble the Poles: Spread the inner room flat on the footprint. Connect the pole sections and feed them through the pole sleeves or clips on the inner room. The Lodge Tent uses color-coded poles; match each pole to its corresponding sleeve color for a faster setup. Never force a pole into the wrong sleeve—this can tear the fabric or snap the pole.
3. Raise the Inner Room and Stake the Corners: Insert the pole ends into the corner grommets and raise the inner room by lifting the center. Stake down the four main corners first, pulling the tent taut to remove floor wrinkles. Then stake the remaining loops around the perimeter. Staking the corners first keeps the tent square and prevents sagging walls.
4. Attach the Front Vestibule: Drape the front vestibule over the inner room's front pole, aligning the clips or sleeves. Secure the vestibule's own poles if included, then stake its corners. The vestibule creates a covered entry and extra gear storage area. Make sure the vestibule door zips smoothly before staking it fully—misaligned zippers are hard to fix later.
5. Install the Rain Fly: Spread the rain fly over the entire tent, centering it so it covers both the inner room and vestibule. Attach the fly's clips or buckles to the tent poles, then stake the fly's guy-out points. Tighten the guy lines so the fly is taut but not stretching the tent. A loose rain fly can flap in the wind and let rain in; tighten it just enough to eliminate sag without distorting the tent shape.
6. Adjust Ventilation and Privacy: Open the large mesh windows on the inner room for airflow and an open-air feel, or close them for privacy. The vestibule has its own mesh windows for insect protection. Roll up the rain fly's side flaps if you want more ventilation on mild nights. On warm nights, opening both the inner room and vestibule windows creates cross-breeze that reduces condensation.

About the Lodge Tent

• Lodge Tent: The TETON Sports Lodge Tent is a 2-room tent that fits up to 6 people, with a front vestibule for gear and an inner room with a nylon floor for moisture protection. The separate vestibule keeps muddy boots and packs out of your sleeping area, and the nylon floor helps keep the inner room dry on damp ground.