Thinking of running a stretch tent at the playa? Good plan — they look amazing and make killer shade — but don’t cheap out on the hardware. A recent r/burningman thread (OP: Boring‑Sir2623) lays out what goes wrong when people use EMT conduit and other lightweight gear, and it’s worth a quick read before you spend money or risk a collapsed canopy.
What the OP saw (and why it matters)
– EMT (thin electrical conduit) will buckle under the tension a stretch tent needs to survive wind. When that happens you get shredded fabric and poles that fold like straws.
– A center pole needs a proper mushroom cap — a flat or bare pipe top will punch through your canopy when the wind loads shift.
– Anchors matter. The OP recommends lag bolts installed with an impact driver; rebar is a tripping hazard and small garden stakes often just pull out of playa dust.
– If you’re in the Bay Area, check local structural suppliers for long poles instead of paying freight — you can verify wall thickness in person and save big.
Quick definition: what is a stretch tent?
A stretch tent is a single‑layer, flexible canopy whose fabric is tensioned over a series of poles to create an open, sculptural shade structure. It behaves differently from a standard pop‑up — everything depends on pole stiffness, anchor strength, and even load distribution on the fabric.
Useful tips and counterpoints from the thread
– Use proper structural poles: commenters recommend 6061 structural aluminum with at least ~0.125″ wall thickness for many applications, or heavy‑walled galvanized steel (1.5″+). Thicker wall = less chance of buckling.
– Center pole cap: use a mushroom or other dedicated cap to spread the load and prevent the pole from punching the canopy.
– Anchors: lag bolts are commonly recommended, but one commenter noted 24″ lag bolts broke for their crew during a storm — for large lag bolts you may need an impact wrench rather than an impact driver. Learn how your chosen anchor has historically performed in high winds.
– Stakes: another user argued that properly installed long stakes can hold if driven and positioned correctly (example: stake distance roughly equal to pole height to create the proper pulling angle). Technique matters.
– Tradeoffs: heavy, properly built poles and anchoring systems cost more and weigh more. That’s the tradeoff for reliability in serious wind.
Final checklist before you build
– Verify pole material and wall thickness in person if you can.
– Use a purpose‑built center cap (mushroom) — don’t improvise with a flat top.
– Choose anchors appropriate for the soil; test them or use proven event‑grade hardware.
– Bring the right tools: impact wrench for large lag bolts, and spares.
– If unsure, consult a crew with stretch‑tent experience (the thread mentions several groups who know how to do it right).
Bottom line: Stretch tents are awesome — but they rely on structural hardware, not EMT. Invest in the right poles, anchors, and caps now and save your canopy (and your campmates’ shade) later.
Stay dusty.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/1r6bupt/thinking_of_a_stretch_tent_dont_use_emt_pipes/