17 Simple Ways To Cool a Tent
It is possible that this content contains affiliate links. It is possible that I will receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link. In addition, as an Amazon Associate, I receive a commission from qualifying purchases.- Everyone’s desire is to go camping in the summer, when the days are long and the sun shines brightly. In addition to making your tent unbearably hot during the day and at night, hot days can make it difficult to sleep in your tent as well. The rays of the sun are absorbed by the tent, resulting in a buildup of heat.
Are you ready to learn how to keep your cool?
1 – Choosing the Right Tent
If you’re going camping during the summer months, getting the correct tent is the first step toward remaining cool in the outdoors. You’ll want a tent that’s breathable so that you can get plenty of airflow through it. In comparison to all-season tents, summer tents are constructed of a lighter material and have many mesh windows as well as rain flaps that may be left open during the day. Polyester tents are a fantastic choice if you’re camping in really hot weather because the material is resistant to UV rays.
In addition to being cooler than polyester or nylon tents, cotton tents have the benefit of being heavier and more difficult to set up than those made of other materials.
With the larger room, you’ll get even more ventilation, with cold air traveling throughout the space to keep the inside cool.
2 – Set Up Your Tent in a Shaded Area
Rather than pitching your tent in full sunshine, choose a shady location to keep cool. Keep an eye out for areas of shade behind trees and other plants. You should keep in mind that the sun will shift around during the day, and a site that is sheltered in the morning may be in full light by the middle of the afternoon. If you can, try to take advantage of any wind you come across, no matter how slight. Even a slight wind flowing through the netting of your tent might provide some relief from the heat.
3 – Dig a Tent Pit
Bring a shovel with you, and if feasible, dig a two-foot-deep trench into the earth to store your supplies. In this trench, you should set up your tent. Pitching your tent partially in the ground, where the soil is cooler, will help to keep both the floor and the interior of your tent more pleasant during the summer months.
4 – Pitch the Tent When It’s Cooler
Bring a shovel with you, and if feasible, dig a two-foot-deep trench in the earth to store your supplies.
This trench will serve as a home for your tent. Pitching your tent partially in the ground, where the soil is cooler, will help to keep both the floor and the interior of your tent at a more pleasant temperature for you.
5 – Take Tent Down During the Day
It may seem like a lot of effort, but taking down a tent throughout the day and putting it back up at night is a sure-fire method to keep it cool during the summer. If you’re camping in really hot weather, this is one of the most effective ways to keep cool. Disassemble as soon as you wake up in the morning, being sure to store the tent in the shade.
6 – Open All the Vents
Keep your tent’s vents, doors, and rain flaps open to allow air to circulate and keep it cool. The tent will be able to breathe better as a result of the ventilation and movement of air. You may keep the mesh closed if you’re concerned about pests going inside the tent; you’ll still have plenty of airflow throughout the tent.
7 – Use Thermal Reflection
Allow air to circulate through your tent by opening vents, doors, and rain flaps. In order for the tent to breathe properly, ventilation and movement of air must occur. You may leave the mesh closed if you’re concerned about pests going inside the tent; you’ll still receive plenty of air circulation throughout the tent.
8 – Cooling With a Fan
The use of camping fans may be quite beneficial in hot weather. In the event that you’re staying at a campsite that has power, bring a camping fan with you that has an extension chord on it. If you’re camping somewhere without power, consider bringing a battery-operated fan.or two. Look for fans that are lightweight and can be fastened to the tent’s walls, floor, or ceiling with Velcro straps.
9 – Add the Ice
If you’re not receiving enough cooling action from your fan, try adding ice to the tent to help it cool down. Position a block of ice in a shallow pan and place it in front of the fan to cool it down faster. Make sure you have a large enough pan to hold the water that will form as the ice begins to melt. Even in the absence of ice, cold water from a lake or river will serve the same purpose of chilling you down so that you may enjoy a good night’s sleep.
10 – Use Cold Towels
When traveling in hot weather, bring along a couple tiny hand towels to keep you cool. In cold water or lake or river water, soak a towel until it is completely soaked through. On a hot day, wrapping a towel around the back of your neck might provide immediate comfort. During the night, apply the cold towel on your forehead – you’ll be able to chill down and sleep in a tent that may still be retaining some of the heat from the daytime. Have you forgotten to bring towels? Instead, wear a tee-shirt.
11 – Ice Water Jugs
Fill a couple jugs with water and place them in the freezer for a few hours before your camping excursion. Pack into coolers so that they don’t thaw out too fast — the idea is to utilize these jugs of ice as improvised air conditioners on a hot summer night if possible. Place a jug of ice in the bottom of your sleeping bag before climbing into it, even if you’re simply going to sleep on your feet.
This is a simple method for quickly cooling your feet so that you can go asleep. After the first night, after the ice has melted, you may utilize the water as a source of fresh water. Also, fill the jug for sleeping with water from a nearby cold stream or river to keep it cool while you sleep.
12 – Take a Cold Shower
Fill a couple jugs with water and freeze them solid before heading out on your camping vacation. Pack into coolers so that they don’t thaw out too fast — the objective is to utilize these jugs of ice as improvised air conditioners on a hot summer night if necessary. Place a jug of ice in the bottom of your sleeping bag before going into it, even if it’s only for your feet. To quickly chill your feet so that you may go asleep, use this method. The water can be used as drinking water after the first night and when the ice melts.
13 – Forget the Sleeping Bag
A sleeping bag that will simply serve to increase your body temperature on extremely hot nights is the last thing you want to do on such occasions. Instead, bring along some cotton sheets for comfort and skip the sleeping bag altogether. Lay a sheet on top of the bag and use it as a protective cover. This serves as a warning that even after a hot day in the outdoors, it might turn chilly at night. Keep a blanket nearby in case you wake up feeling cold in the middle of the night.
14 – Stay Hydrated
In order to stay hydrated when camping in the heat, you need drink enough of water. Drinking enough of water and staying hydrated in hot weather will help you maintain a healthy body temperature in hot weather. And the colder the water is, the cooler you’ll feel when you’re swimming.
15 – Pack Lightweight Clothing
Avoid wearing heavy, dark-colored clothing during the daytime since they will absorb heat and make you feel hot. Avoid overheating your internal body temperature by wearing light-colored garments that are made of natural fibers such as cotton or linen, which allow heat to escape rather than be trapped. By doing so, you will be able to reflect heat while also increasing circulation via the cloth itself. Select cotton long-legged and long-sleeved clothing to sleep in when you retire for the night before bedtime.
16 – Sleep in the Dark
With you inside your tent, the early morning sun may quickly heat up your surroundings. Make an effort to retire for the night as soon as the sun sets and to awaken before the sun has fully risen in the morning. Besides allowing you to sleep in cooler settings, you’ll also be able to enjoy the sounds of birds singing when they wake up for the day as they begin their day.
17 – Skip the Tent
There will be nights when, no matter what you do, the tent will just not be able to maintain a comfortable temperature for anyone to sleep within. Take the tent down and replace it with a hammock this weekend. You’ll need a couple of trees to hang the hammock from so that you may tie it between them. You’ll have better circulation all over your body and will be able to sleep in complete comfort. In the market for a hammock, search for one that has been specifically created for sleeping rather than for lazing in your garden.
Keep a bug net with you at all times if you’re camping in an area where there are bugs. Furthermore, if there is a danger of rain, you will want a tarp to cover your head.
Final Words
Are you ready to go camping now that you’ve learned how to keep a tent cool? You may camp in hot weather knowing that when it’s time to put out the campfire and retire to your tent, it will be welcome and cool, allowing you to get a good night’s sleep so that you’ll be ready for another day of camping adventure the next day using the recommendations in this article.
28 Tips on How to Stay Cool While Camping
Are you ready to go camping now that you know how to keep a tent cool? You may camp in hot weather knowing that when it’s time to put out the campfire and retire to your tent, it will be comfortable and cool, allowing you to get a good night’s sleep so that you’ll be ready for another day of camping adventure the next day using the ideas provided here.
28 tips to stay cool while camping
If you’re fortunate enough to have a ‘real’ summer climate and are planning on going camping this summer, then read on for some helpful hints on how to keep your cool in the great outdoors.
Create a cool campsite
Before you even think about where you’re going to set up your tent, take a look at the sun’s position and select a location that will give the largest amount of shade during the warmest hours of the day. If you’re camping in the summer, this is especially important. There is no problem with getting a little sunset sun because the temps will have cooled down by then (hopefully!). However, if at all feasible, your campground should be in the shade throughout the morning and afternoon hours.
2 Get high and enjoy the breeze
Gaining elevation is an excellent technique to bring a refreshing wind into your tent and camping location. However, finding shade does not necessarily go hand in hand with finding a good spot to sit. It’s still worth it to remain up as long as you can, if you can throw up a tarp for sun protection and there is enough wind to keep you from melting in the oppressive heat.
3 Put up a tarp
While looking for the most shaded, breezy area to set up camp, keep in mind whether there is enough space to set up a tarp or beach canopy to give additional protection from the elements. This will make the experience of hanging out at camp much more enjoyable. Make certain that it does not obstruct any valuable wind that may make its way into your tent.
4 Camp near water
Having the ability to dip in and out of a river or lake whenever the situation calls for it is the most optimal method to enjoy camping in hot conditions. It’s also unnecessary to arrange activities around staying cool — just bring a soccer ball, a frisbee, and an inflatable ring and you’ll have nothing but cool and happy campers on your hands! Having access to even a tiny brook or stream where you may paddle and splash about can make a significant impact.
5 Take an inflatable pool
If you don’t have access to a huge body of water, consider bringing your own! When it comes to keeping youngsters cool, a small inflatable paddling pool is great, and there are few better ways to spend a day than lounging in a pool with a cold drink in hand.
Make your tent as cool as possible
Yes, there are some really cool tents available, but many of them will not keep the heat out as the temperatures begin to rise. If you’re buying a tent designed for camping in hot weather, go for a light color that will reflect the heat better than a dark color, rather than a dark color.
In addition, choose a lightweight double walled tent with a mesh interior for the maximum possible ventilation and minimal weight. You might also use a tent with fans, such as theSiesta4: heat and light blocking tent with fans!
7 Take off the fly
Alternatively, if the likelihood of rain is low and your tent’s interior part is largely made of mesh, you can remove the rain fly altogether from your tent. Not only is this THE greatest method to take use of the through-breeze to keep you cool while you sleep, but it also opens up a ceiling of stars to watch while you go off to sleep.
8 Open the vents
If you don’t have the luxury of a mesh inner tent to strip down to, make sure that all of the windows, doors, and vents in your tent are open as much as possible. In an ideal world, all of them would be covered with mesh to keep the pests and mosquitoes out.
9 Use a sleeping bag liner
Use a thin cotton sheet from your bed at home, or, even better, a silk sleeping bag liner, to line your sleeping bag instead of a traditional sleeping bag. Silk is not only cooler to the touch than cotton, but it is also quicker to dry, making it a superior choice for dealing with excess sweat.
10 Get a tent fan
Do you have trouble getting any natural air into your tent? Use a small fan to keep your tent cool while you’re away from home. If you’re camping at night, hang it from the ceiling of your tent, or place it on your dining table to provide some relief during meal times.
11 Reflect the heat away
For situations when there is little shade and you really want to keep the heat away from your common area or your tent, reflecting thermal survival blankets might serve as a good alternative. Set them up like a tarp over your hang out area or a few feet above your tent, just like you would a tarp.
12 Sleep in a hammock
Getting raised and sleeping on a hammock is one of the most effective methods to remain cool at night. Due to the lack of a mattress underneath you (which was meant to trap hot air for better insulation), you will instantly feel cooler, and if you raise your tarp to a good height, you will receive an excellent cross wind above and below you.
Food and drink to keep you cool
Having a nice cooler with plenty of capacity is vital while camping in the heat. Ensure that it is stocked with plenty of cooling snacks, beverages, and popsicles. If it’s really hot, you may need to refresh your ice supply every few days, so make sure you have access to a store where you can acquire more ice.
14 Drink lots of water
Keep in mind that staying hydrated is one of the most crucial things you can do to keep cool while camping in extremely hot temperatures. In ideal conditions, you should be consuming a minimum of 2 litres of water per day in moderate temperatures; attempt to increase that to 3 litres, or even more if you are physically engaged. Put your water in an insulated container to ensure that it stays as cold as possible. Thus, you have a better chance of drinking more fluids while also being more easily aware of how much fluid you are taking in.
15 Replenish your electrolytes
If you are sweating a lot, you will be losing salts as well as water from your body. Therefore, be sure you mix in some electrolyte pills, such as Nuun, with your water.
Alternatively, you may prepare your own beverage by combining sugar, salt, and lemon juice into your water. When exercising in the heat, it is especially vital to drink enough of fluids since you will be sweating considerably more.
16 Eat cold food
Many people experience a slight loss of appetite when it is hot outside. As a result, this is the ideal time to consume some refreshing salads, which are simple to prepare and require little or no preparation. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables will help you feel less lethargic than heavy prepared meals, which is a welcome relief when the heat is already sapping your vitality.
Clothing to stay cool in
Though it may make you feel hot and sticky to wear a hat, keeping the hot sun off your head is a good approach to avoid heat stroke. Consider purchasing a hat with a brim that extends all the way around to provide you with additional sun protection on the back of your neck and face. If at all feasible, buy a hat with a UPF rating of 50 or above for the best possible protection.
18 Wear light colours
Stay away from wearing dark colors since they absorb the heat from the sun and make you feel more hotter. Instead, dress in light-colored clothes that performs a better job of reflecting the heat away from your already-hot torso and legs!
19 Choose lightweight items
Lightweight clothes will make a significant difference in your ability to stay cool in the heat. However, if you plan on spending a lot of time in the sun, be sure that your clothes isn’t too thin that damaging UV rays may pass straight through it. Consider wearing light-weight clothing that has UV protection built in, just like you would with your hat.
20 Wear loose clothing
Clothing that is too tight and restricting may be irritating even when worn under the best of circumstances. Increase the temperature and it might get downright uncomfortable! Choose baggy pants, skirts, and shirts to replace your rigid jeans with looser-fitting clothes that allows for more ventilation within your clothing.
21 Soak your hat or bandana
If the heat is becoming too much to bear, soak your hat in water before putting it on to keep cool. Put an abandana or a buff around your neck and do the same thing as before. The chilly water will gently drip down your back, and the sodden bandana will assist you in keeping your body temperature as low as possible.
22 Wear sunscreen
It should go without saying that you should use sunscreen when the weather is sunny and hot. Make sure it has a high SPF rating and that you reapply it throughout the day to avoid sunburn. If you will be in and out of the water, consider using a waterproof sunscreen.
23 Wear sandals
Wearing sunscreen when it’s sunny and hot is a given, yet it goes without saying. Make sure it has a high SPF rating and reapply it throughout the day to maintain its effectiveness. Waterproof sunscreen is recommended if you will be in and out of water.
24 Wear moisture wicking socks
To avoid excessive perspiration and discomfort when hiking or exploring in regions where shoes are required, choose for lightweight hiking shoes (instead of boots) and thin, moisture-wicking hiking socks to keep you comfortable.
Cool activities
The most apparent and fun technique to keep yourself amused in the heat is to jump into a chilly pool of water or a lake. Explore a few undiscovered swimming holes and spend the rest of the day diving in and out of the water.
If you are comfortable in the water, swimming from point A to point B down a river or across a lake to an isolated island may be a terrific way to keep active while the weather is scorching. In addition, it was a fantastic adventure.
26 Tubing
Tubing is a pleasant and really refreshing activity to participate in during the summer heat. Jump into a slow-moving river with your inflatable ring, a picnic packed in an impervious bag, and prepare to be transported back to the days of Huckleberry Finn!
27 Head for the hills
If getting into frigid water isn’t your thing, then take a trek up to a high point and enjoy the view. Temperatures are often lower, the wind is milder, and the vistas are far superior to those found in the lowlands. Sure, it may take a lot of effort and sweat to reach the top, but the effort and sweat will be well worth it once you reach the pinnacle.
28 Get active at the coolest times of the day
As soon as the sun shines through your tent in the morning, you’ll need to get up and out of there as quickly as possible. If you get up before the sun, on the other hand, you’ll avoid the awful heat panic that serves as your alarm clock. You’ll also be able to take advantage of the cooler and more tranquil time of day to experience the nature. Taking a nap in your hammock later in the afternoon is always an option if you need to catch up on sleep throughout the day. You’ll have enough of energy left over to go exploring again as the sun goes down.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke – know the signs
The methods listed above will assist you in staying cool even under the hottest of conditions and are essential in preventing heat exhaustion and heat stroke from occurring. However, things don’t always go according to plan, so if you do decide to go camping in extremely hot weather, it’s critical that you be familiar with the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke so that you can recognize them as soon as possible. Among the things to keep an eye out for are:
- Symptoms include fatigue and weakness, a sense of being faint or dizzy, a drop in blood pressure, a headache, muscular cramps, a feeling of being ill, excessive perspiration, strong thirst, a rapid pulse, peeing less often and producing significantly darker urine than usual.
If one of your party members exhibits any of the symptoms listed above, it is critical that you intervene immediately. More information may be found here.
Summer Camping in Hot Weather? Here’s How to Beat the Heat.
Any of the indications listed above indicate that someone in your group needs to be calmed down right now. Please see this page for further information.
Choosing a Summer Camping Site
While summer camping in hot weather, selecting the most appropriate spot is critical. Just think about the contrasts between a campground in an open field and one that is nestled in the woods near a lake or river! A campground with plenty of trees to give shade, as well as a water supply close by, will be ideal for your camping trip. Whatever body of water you can find to wade in will be much welcomed as the sun begins to shine. In the event that you will not be near a natural water source, but will be in a public campsite with access to water, bring bigger rubbermaid containers to fill with water for your smaller children to splash around in.
How To Set Up Gear to Stay Cool While Camping
Once you’ve selected an excellent summer camping location, you’ll want to give some consideration to how you’ll set up camp.
Use the Natural Shade to Help You Stay Cool:
Know where the sun will rise and set (the sun rises in the east and sets in the west) and attempt to identify which parts of the camp will be shaded for the majority of the day before you arrive.
If you don’t want to wake up in a sauna in the morning, park your car and/or set up your tent in an area that will be shielded from the rising sun before bed. Set up your camp stove, hammock, eating area, and other amenities in a shady location to avoid the afternoon summer heat.
Create Shade When Summer Camping:
Make use of tarps and/or awnings to keep even more sunlight away from your primary camping and sleeping locations. To keep your truck bed, camper, or tent cool, place your tarp approximately a foot away from the edge of the bed, camper, or tent. In order for heated air to not become trapped under the tarp and into your sleeping space, you must allow air flow between the two. This website demonstrates several different ways to set up a camping tarp, as well as other how-to advice. Additionally, placing a reflective mylar blanket * on top of your tarp or using an all-weather blanket/tarp * will reflect some of the heat from the sun, allowing your area to remain even more comfortable.
Take Advantage of the Breeze When Camping in Hot Weather:
Attempt to establish which direction the predominant wind is blowing (assuming there is such a thing!) After that, you may arrange your tent or vehicle to take advantage of the prevailing wind. If possible, you should arrange your tent entrance so that it faces the breeze to help keep it cool. You should also place your truck bed camper or van such that the air can blow through open windows, allowing some air movement in your camping equipment throughout the day and into the evening.
How To Keep a Tent or Vehicle Cool While Camping
Once you’ve gotten your truck bed, van, or tent all set up in the shade, there are a few things you can do to assist keep the temperature in your vehicle or tent as low as possible.
Change Up Your Cooking Habits:
Outdoor cooking is a great method to keep your camper as cool as possible throughout the summer months. Preparing meals that don’t require any heat at all is a good idea, or if you do need to cook something, put up a small camping burner on a table outside your camper.
Create Ventilation To Stay Cool:
Removing the rain fly from your tent should be done only if there is a probability of rain. This will let greater heat to escape overnight, keeping your tent cooler while also reducing the amount of condensation that forms on the interior of your tent during the day. You’ll also want to make sure there’s enough ventilation and air movement if you’re truck camping or sleeping in a vehicle, van, or SUV while on the road. Open any and all of the windows you can. Add mesh screens wherever you are possible, spray fabric with permethrin*, and search for a goodportable insect repellent * if bugs are an issue.
Use Camper Curtains When In Hot Weather:
Choosing the appropriate curtains for your camper may make a significant difference in your ability to remain cool while camping! Our most suggested method for keeping your camper cool throughout the summer is to cutreflectix material * to the shape of your windows (almost like window plugs). It is also possible to use blackout curtains to make your camping van feel more cave-like during the daytime hours. There are four alternatives for outstanding camper curtains or window covers, including utilizing reflectix, which are discussed in this piece.
Air Conditioners, 12v fans, or Battery Operated Fans for Camping
Camping fans, such as a 12v camping fan or battery-powered camping fan, as well as vent fans and camping air conditioners for your tent or vehicle, are essential when camping in the heat of the summer months. Do you have access to hookups or a generator? Go berserk! In the event that you normally camp in an area with electrical hook-ups, such as an established campground, you may easily power a 110v box fan from home or a portable air conditioner by simply bringing an extension cable and plugging it into the existing 110v grid electricity.
Do you prefer boondocking or wild camping?
If you’re anything like us, you enjoy wild camping or boondocking away from the conveniences of modern life.
Therefore, having a power supply that is capable of powering something as inconvenient as a 110v portable air conditioner is not really practical. Let’s have a look at a couple of additional solutions that will still keep you cool when camping in the heat of the summer.
Install a Vent Fan:
The comfort it gives when camping in the heat is something we were looking for when designing our truck bed camping arrangement, so we took this way. This post discusses in detail how we cut a hole in the top of our truck shell in order to install a Maxxair Vent Fan in our vehicle. It may be powered by the 12v battery system in your car, a dual battery configuration, or a solar generator, and it generates enough airflow to feel nearly like you’re camping with air conditioning. It also helps to reduce moisture in the camper shell.
Use a Portable Battery Powered Fan or 12v Fan for Camping:
Portable 12v or battery-powered camping fans are readily available on the market, and we’ve compiled a list of three of the most effective models available. Camping Fan with 12V Power: The Endless Breeze Portable Fan may be connected to any 12v power source, such as a vehicle’s 12v outlet, a twin battery system, or a solar generator, with relative ease. Furthermore, it is created by the same firm that manufactures the well-known Fan-tastic Vent Fans for recreational vehicles. Camping fans that are self-contained and run on batteries: Each of these options would make excellent camping companions for tent camping, SUV or vehicle camping, as well as van or truck bed camping, among other activities.
Use a Camping Air Conditioner:
It’s not your typical 110v air conditioner like you may have at home, because those consume much too much electricity for anyone who wants to wild camp off-grid. These 12v camping air conditioners are basically simply sophisticated “swamp coolers” – they produce cold air by evaporative cooling, which is accomplished by utilizing ice and/or chilly water. The MightyKool is a high-end camping air conditioner that can be powered by the 12 volt battery in your car or by a portable solar generator.
Camping Air Conditioner at an Affordable Price: The Mikikin Portable Air Conditioner Fan for camping is powered by a USB rechargeable battery, which can run the fan for around 4 hours.
Keep in mind that they are intended to provide cooling for a very tiny place for a very short length of time.
Keep Yourself Cool While Camping in Hot Weather
When it comes to summer camping, there’s only so much you can do to keep your surroundings cool – but keeping yourself cool is another issue entirely! It will be time to concentrate on yourself once you have set up your camping equipment, truck camper, or tent to keep cool when camping in the heat. Drink plenty of water, to begin with.
You’ll be sweating more than usual, and you don’t want to become dehydrated as a result. Also, schedule any physically demanding activities, such as trekking, during the first few hours of the day before the sun has a chance to begin scorching you. Leave the lounging until the middle of the day!
Summer Camping Clothing Recommendations:
Knowing what clothes to wear for summer camping will also assist you in staying cool in the heat of the summer months.
- Wearing light-colored clothing, regardless of the material, will help to reduce heat absorption. Wear a hat with a broad brim to keep the sun off your head and face
- And And be prepared to work up a sweat. The use of merino wool shirts and socks can assist in wicking sweat away from the body, and wool does not retain body odor the way cotton does. Instead of wearing boots or tennis shoes, opt for a pair of durable sandals that will protect your feet and toes. Also remember to apply sunscreen before going outside.
If you need help deciding on the ideal camping clothes and outfits for different temperatures and weather situations, check out ourSuper Simple Guide for What to Wear Campingfor more information.
Stay Refreshed:
If you’re camping, try to remain cool by taking action before you feel like you’re about to pass out from heat exhaustion.
- Take a plunge into the water
- Place a cold cloth over your forehead or neck to relieve the pressure. If you have any extra ice from the cooler, you may use it to wrap it around. Keep a neck and shoulder ice pack * in the cooler so you can access them whenever you need them. For short-term relief, a tiny portable mister * can be used.
Tips for Sleeping in the Heat:
When it comes to summer camping, the prospect of trying to fall asleep in the heat might be a deal breaker. Here’s what we suggest you do to make things a bit easier for yourself:
- Swap out your sleeping sack with a flat sheet. A sleeping bag liner * that fits in your sleeping bag is a nice layer to have for the other camping seasons, and it will help keep your sleeping bag lot cleaner in the long run. Afterwards, for summer camping, you may just utilize the liner. If you’re attempting to remain cool in a tent, sleeping on a cot * rather than on the ground will allow air to circulate about your body more effectively. You might consider obtaining an air mattress for summer camping rather than a foam mattress if you’re going to be camping in a truck shell, van, vehicle, or SUV since your body heat dissipates more rapidly while you’re sleeping on an air mattress. Right before you go to sleep, take a cold shower or a refreshing dip in the stream to reduce your body temperature. Utilize a 12v battery-powered fan or a camping air conditioner (see guidelines above) to provide steady air flow.
Keeping Pets Cool While Camping in the Heat
And, of course, while camping in the summer heat, don’t forget to keep your dog cool! Almost all of the same recommendations apply! Tents and campers generate heat in the same way that automobiles do, therefore putting pup in such an environment is not a smart idea. As a bonus, try to schedule your dog’s more active time of day in the morning before the heat of the day begins to oppress them. Camping near water is a terrific way to keep your dog safe (and happy) when out camping with the family this summer.
If you often camp in the heat or have a fluffy buddy with black fur, you might want to consider investing in a cooling dog vest *.
However, if you can find a method to keep cool, this is an excellent time of year to relax in the water and enjoy time in the fresh air.
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How to Keep a Tent Cool
Documentation Download Documentation Download Documentation Camping is a wonderful outdoor pastime that can be enjoyed even on the hottest summer days. When it’s hot, your tent, on the other hand, might become really unpleasant. The good news is that you have several alternatives for keeping your tent cool. You can fight the heat by making the most of your supplies, pitching your tent in the most appropriate location, and covering your tent with a tarp or umbrella to keep the sun at bay.
- 1 Bring your ice-filled cooler into the tent with you. In the event that you packed food or beverages in a cooler, the frost from the ice will be the most effective technique to reduce the temperature inside your tent. Set up the cooler in the tent and pop the top open. The ice will help to cool down the air in the tent, making it more pleasant for you.
- To prevent your ice from melting completely, take a couple handfuls of ice out of the cooler and place them in a dish or container with some liquid. Afterwards, place it inside your tent.
- Air circulation may be accomplished with a battery-operated fan. Place your fan at the tent’s doorway or in a rear corner to keep it cool. If it has the option, set it to oscillate so that it better enhances the circulation of air in the room. This will assist in cooling down your tent.
- Even the smallest personal fan may make a significant effect! If possible, attempt to carry a bigger portable fan with you if you can find one
- Nevertheless,
- When using a cooler, position the fan behind the cooler so that it blows cool air into the tent. If you prefer, you may fill a cup or dish halfway with ice from your cooler and position it directly in front of the fan. Advertisement
- s3 Open the door to your tent as well as any vents if it has any. This permits more air to flow within your tent than would otherwise be possible. If your tent is made of mesh to keep pests and animals out, you should keep the doors and vents open at all times when camping. Otherwise, leave the tent’s door and vents open when you’re not in it and throughout the daytime.
- In the market for a tent, seek for one that includes a mesh layer to allow you to leave the doors and vents open for a longer period of time. Choose a tent with vents as well because it will be cooler in such a structure.
- Choose a tent with a mesh layer if you want to leave the doors and vents open for an extended period of time while camping. Choose a tent with vents, since this will keep you cooler in the summer heat.
- In the event that you are sheltering your tent with a tarp or a parasol, you may not require your rain fly, even if it is pouring. It is important that the tarp or sunshade keeps the rain out of your tent.
- 5 Sleep on top of your sleeping bag in order to keep warm and remain cool. Because sleeping bags are meant to retain heat, avoid putting your body inside one if it’s already warm inside the tent. In order to be comfortable and cool, you should instead lie on top of the tent.
- If you have more than one person sleeping inside your tent, the heat generated by their bodies will raise the temperature of the tent. That’s something to keep in mind if you’re afraid about acquiring a cold.
- If you have more than one person sleeping inside your tent, the body heat generated by the other people will raise the temperature of the tent significantly. That’s something to keep in mind if you’re concerned about acquiring a cold.
- 1 Position your tent in a shaded area, such as behind a tree. If at all feasible, find a location where trees will provide shade for your tent. As a result, the trees will absorb the majority of the heat, keeping your tent cool. Alternatives include seeking out a spot beneath the shadow of a bigger building, such as a mountain
- Typically, shady spots may be found beneath a tree, in low slopes, under ridges, or adjacent to any local cottages. Keep in mind that the sun’s position changes throughout the day, so search for regions where your tent will remain cool while you are inside. For example, an eastern ridge will almost certainly be more effective in blocking the light in the morning than a western ridge
- 2 Look for a location with adequate wind circulation. Blowing wind will help to keep the temperature down, so select a home base that has excellent air circulation. Additional considerations include putting your tent’s door so that it is facing the wind.
- Holding your hand up into the air will allow you to determine the direction the wind is blowing. In order to determine which direction the wind is coming from, feel the chilly side of your hand. If you have cellular reception, you may also use a weather app to check the forecast.
- 3Set up camp near a river or lake, where it will be cooler. Because it’s usually cooler near bodies of water in hot weather, they’re excellent places to camp at that time. If you’re camping near a body of water such as a lake, pond, or ocean, position your tent along the water’s edge to capture any prevailing breezes. If you’re camping near rivers or streams, position your tent upstream to receive cool breezes
- 4 Place a blanket inside your tent to keep the heat from the ground from escaping. As the earth absorbs the sun’s rays, it naturally warms up and becomes more comfortable. Heat from the sun may radiate upward into your tent, elevating the temperature inside. By draping a blanket over the ground beneath your tent, you can keep the heat contained beneath it. Place your tent on top of the blanket and secure it with rope. Variation: You are free to utilize whatever form of ground cover that you have available. Depending on whether you have a tent footprint or if you have brought some cardboard, this may contain. Another approach is to place a layer of leaves under your tent to keep the heat out. Installing your tent after nightfall will allow you to avoid the heat of the day. If you do not intend to use your tent throughout the day, wait until the sun has begun to set before erecting it. To keep it safe until then, put it in its original bag in a cool or shaded location. Keep your tent bag on ice if it’s going to be very hot.
- Even if the sun is shining, heat will be accumulating inside your tent as the day progresses. Set up your tent while the sun is still shining if you’re worried about it being difficult in the dark
- If you’re worried about it being difficult in the dark, do it as soon as it begins to set up.
- 6 If it’s really hot outside, take down the tent throughout the day. It’s annoying to have to put your tent back up every day, but it’s necessary if you want to keep your tent from feeling like a hot oven. Tents are built to retain heat, which means that if you keep your tent up, it will become increasingly hot. When possible, pull your tent down in the morning and set it back up at night
- This will give you the greatest results.
- To ensure that the tent remains as cool as possible, store it in a cool location.
- 1 Purchase a tarp or sunshade large enough to cover the entire tent. While a parasol is the most effective method, a tarp or blanket may also be used to keep the heat off your tent. Purchase a parasol or tarp before you go camping, or make do with what you already have to keep the sun at bay.
- Because the sun is often what causes your tent to heat up, limiting its beams will be really beneficial
- Stakes or poles should be driven into the ground to provide support for the tarp or parasol. The majority of sunshades come with the poles you’ll need to put it together. Use loose stakes or poles to hold down a tarp or blanket if you’re not using a tarp or blanket. Place them in the ground at a depth sufficient to keep them stable. Afterwards, attach the poles together to provide a foundation for your parasol or tarp to rest on.
- In order to provide additional support, it is advisable to wrap the tarp or sunshade over a tree branch. Stakes and poles may be purchased at your local camping or sporting goods store.
- Alternative: If you’re improvising, you can utilize tree branches, the roof of your car, or the items you brought with you to assist support your shade structure. 3 Tarp or sunshade at least 12 inches (30 cm) over the tent’s eaves and corners. Gently drape the parasol or tarp over the pole or posts to complete the look. Make sure it covers the entire tent by adjusting it. Ensure that there is sufficient space between your tarp or parasol and the top of your tent so that air can flow
- Your tent will be protected from the sun since the suns rays will bounce off the sunshade or the tarp rather than seeping into it.
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- Question How far away from water should you set up camp? Halle Payne has been trekking and backpacking in Northern California for more than three years and is a member of the Sierra Club. As a Trip Leader for Stanford University’s Outdoor Education Program and as a Hiking Leader for Stanford Sierra Conference Center, she has also instructed seminars in Outdoor Education and Leave No Trace principles at Stanford University. Leader of Hiking and Backpacking Trip Expert Answer Keeping in mind Leave No Trace principles — and to prevent having an influence on water sources — make sure your camp is no more than 200 yards from a water source.
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- Staying cool is made easier by dressing in light, loose-fitting garments and consuming enough of fluids. Maintaining a cold neck with a damp washcloth or towel while in your tent will save you from being overheated.
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- It’s important to get out of your tent as soon as you notice that you’re sweating excessively and that you’re feeling dizzy, nauseated, or confused
- Otherwise, you’ll become faint and dehydrated quickly. Find a cool, shady spot to rest and drink plenty of water.
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About This Article
Summary of the ArticleXTo keep your tent cool while you’re building it up, throw a blanket or a layer of leaves below the bottom of it, which will assist to deflect heat radiating up from the ground. Under order to maximize comfort, situate the tent in the shadow of a tree. Once the tent has been put up, open the door and any vents to allow air to circulate through it. Even if it doesn’t appear to be raining, it’s a good idea to remove the outer cover, which can keep heat trapped within the tent.
You may cool down the tent by bringing an ice cooler inside and opening it to allow the air to circulate more freely.
Please continue reading for further hiking and backpacking advice from our co-author, including how to pick a camping spot with optimum air circulation. Did you find this overview to be helpful? Thank you to all writers for contributing to this page, which has been read 50,753 times so far.
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Get tips on how to remain cool while camping in our article on how to combat the heat! (Image courtesy of Getty) Don’t know how to remain cool when camping? Check out these tips. You are not alone in your feelings, dear reader. Millions of summer campers throughout the world endure long, hot, restless nights at camp, counting sheep, bemoaning their good fortune, and screaming countless “never agains” as they go. However, this does not have to be the case. A few easy adjustments to your camping sleeping arrangements, as well as a number of modest, heat-beating techniques, may turn your summer camping visits into something more acceptable than they were before.
How to stay cool while camping in summer: our top 10 tips
Make an effort to locate a location where your tent will be shaded for the majority of the day, and especially during the hours immediately after dawn and before sunset. For further information, see How to pitch a tent. Knowing that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, all you have to do is use your compass to locate the four cardinal directions and then choose a pitching location that will be protected from the sun during the hours before dusk and after dawn by features such as trees, bluffs, boulders, or buildings, among other things.
2.Ditch the rainfly when it’s dry
The rainfly on your tent is not only intended to keep out water vapor in the air, but it is also intended to keep in the heat generated by your body. However, although this is advantageous during the winter months, it might make your shelter seem more like a sauna during the hot months, which is not conducive to sleeping in. When the weather forecast calls for rain, it’s a good idea to bring along a rainfly just in case. However, if the forecast calls for sunny skies, removing the rainfly will allow your body heat and hot breath to escape through the mesh of the tent inner, making your sleeping area several degrees cooler and less humid, as well as less susceptible to condensation and mold (Image credit: Getty)
3.Choose your tent carefully
There are a few traits and attributes that might distinguish one tent from another when it comes to camping in hot weather. In particular, ventilation elements like as a wide mesh canopy, vents in the tent walls, and a double-doored design are vital since they will aid to increase circulation within the tent while also allowing heat and humidity to escape from inside to outside. It’s also a good idea to pack a larger tent than you think you’ll need — because our bodies are to our tents what our radiators are to our houses, the more room your “central heating system” needs to heat up, the lower the temperature inside your tent will be.
You should also check out our pick of the finest huge tents for 2021 if your tent is a little on the tiny side.
4. Take your tent down in the daytime
The “greenhouse effect,” which occurs as a consequence of the sun’s rays traveling through the tent walls, may cause the tent’s inside to become a bit of a furnace if your tent is exposed to the sun for an extended period of time throughout the day. To avoid this, the best idea is to take your tent down before the sun comes up in the morning and pitch it again around nightfall or later in the evening. This may seem like a lot of work, but it will be well worth it when it is time to go to bed.
(Image courtesy of Getty)
5. Use the breeze
The “greenhouse effect,” which occurs as a consequence of the sun’s rays traveling through the tent walls, may cause the tent’s inside to become a bit of a furnace if left exposed to the sun for an extended period of time throughout the day. If you want to avoid this, it’s preferable to take your tent down before the sun comes out in the morning and put it back up around dark. Even while this may appear to be a significant amount of work, the results will be well worth the effort when it comes time to sleep at night.
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
6. Reflect the heat away from your tent
If you are unable to find a covered location to set up your tent, the next best option is to use a reflective thermal survival blanket (also known as a “space blanket”) or two to generate your own shade and protect your tent from the sun while you are camping. These are most effective when they are suspended a foot or more above the tent canopy, allowing for proper circulation between the blanket and the tent canopy. The quickest and most straightforward method of suspending a survival blanket above your tent is to use supplemental cable to tie it to branches of neighboring trees.
7. Bring a frozen water bottle
This one takes the cake for the best camping hack of all time in our opinion! It works like this: if you’re vehicle camping, freeze a bottle of water at home, store it in a cooler (see our best camping coolers), and then bring it into your tent with you at night, wrapped in a t-shirt or pillowcase. When you go to sleep, tucking this inside your sleeping bag can help to keep your body cool and make catching some Zs much more comfortable. If you don’t have access to a cooler, you can make do with chilled water from a nearby stream or river.
8. Bring a tent fan
A portable camping fan can help you produce your own breeze if there isn’t any available. It is possible to change your tent evenings from steamy sufferfests into something much more bearable by using the finest camping fans, which are extremely quiet and lightweight and can be fastened to the gear hooks in the canopy of your tent.
Who is our favorite camping enthusiast? The Odoland Portable LED Camping Lantern and Fan is a lightweight, portable LED camping lantern and fan.
9. Camp near water
Generally speaking, ambient temperatures in the vicinity of water features such as lakes, streams, and rivers are less extreme than those in more dry, water-free environments. It should also assist to reduce your core temperature down a degree or two before night, which should make falling asleep that much easier when the temperatures are too high. Camping near a water source is one of the most effective strategies to remain cool (and is also convenient for hydration) when camping (Image credit: Getty)
10. Try a hammock
Two of the most frequently mentioned disadvantages of hammock camping are that the fabric of the hammock typically over-compresses the insulation in your sleeping bag, making it less efficient, and that it exposes you to more wind. While this can be a problem at other times of the year, it is a gift during the summer months! It also eliminates the need for an insulating cushion to support the underneath of your body as you sleep, allowing your buttocks, back, and legs to reap the full advantages of any breeze that may be blowing while you sleep.
If this is the case, be sure to check out our top-rated hammocks.
(Image courtesy of Getty) Kieran Cunningham is the Editor in Chief of Advnture.
Mountaineering in the Himalayas, the Alps, and the United States have been highlights of his life.
In his spare time, he climbs when he should be writing, writes when he should be sleeping, and generally has a good time.
