Breathing and thermal regulation are essential activities for most sentients. Individuals of any given species are adapted to breathe a specific mix of gasses and should this particular mix not be in the air around them at any given moment, it would lead to dire consequences – usually asphyxiation within a very short period of time. Likewise, exposure to extremes of temperature can have unfortunate results. The fact is that visiting another planet, especially one with a drastically different climate, requires a lot of preparation. In civilised areas, this usually means staying within sealed domes or buildings where the required atmosphere can be maintained using fixed gas supply systems and scrubbers to remove unwanted contaminants. In wilderness areas, this means bringing this sort of shelter with you in the form of a hostile atmosphere tent.

While many tents can get away with being made with breathable materials, the hostile atmosphere tent is meant to be airtight and thermally insulated, sealing its occupants away from the perils of an environment inimical to their survival. With this in mind, this tent’s walls are usually made using a thick, impermeable membrane or fabric, usually in two or more layers, including thermal insulation. This drastically increases the weight of the tent, meaning it is normally transported on vehicles or beasts of burden and set up at a semi-permanent base camp, as opposed to being packed up and set up every day. The tent will also have a complex entry point which would include an airlock of some sort to maintain the integrity of the enclosed atmosphere.

The tent will also include a system for producing and maintaining the required atmosphere, normally a mechanism featuring pumps and gas cylinders, as well as filters and scrubbers to remove toxins from the native air. Thermal regulation equipment such as cooling units or heaters are also included to maintain a comfortable environment. Setting up these elements is a precise task that requires skill and practice, as any small mistake can lead to a slow build-up of lethal elements inside the tent. As a failsafe, most hostile atmosphere survival tents will include portable gas cylinders for the occupants to use in an emergency. These tents also come equipped with a rapid patch kit to quickly repair any small holes with spray or stick-on patches.

While standard hostile atmosphere tents are heavy and impractical for an individual to move, there are emergency one-person tents available. These consist of a type of flexible sack, very akin to a heavy-duty insulated body bag, where a single individual can seal themselves inside and activate a small atmosphere control system to produce breathable air inside the bag. These are meant only for emergency situations and seldom function for more than a single standard day.