How to Keep Your Tent Cool While Camping?
Camping in the summer or warmer climates is excellent for those who like lengthy and sunny days with plenty of options for activities and water sports if there is a lake or river nearby. While the days may be filled with fun, the nights can be a bit restless. As your tent sits out in the sun all day, it tends to get unbearably hot, making it hard to sleep.
As your tent absorbs the heat, all of that hot air becomes trapped. Nobody likes sleeping in a tent that is pushing 80 degrees, and cooling it down can be challenging. There is no reason to save your camping trip for the fall or compromise on the places that you want to go if they are warmer. We’re sharing our favorite tips for keeping your tent as cool as possible so that you can enjoy your favorite pastime anywhere and during any time of the year.
Pick the Right Tent
If you plan on camping during the summer months or in a warmer climate, you will want to choose a tent that is made with a lighter material. Tents created explicitly for hot weather have features that allow them to release any trapped heat and cool down faster.
Things you want to look for when choosing a tent made for warmer weather include rain flaps and several mesh windows to allow for more airflow. Selecting a tent made with the right material is essential, as well. Check for tents made with nylon, as they let more heat escape the tent, and look for a UV resistant material.
Pitch the Tent in a Shady Spot
Where you set up your tent can have an enormous impact on how warm or cool the temperature is inside. To stay cool, it is best to pitch your tent in an area with a fair amount of shade. Never pitch your tent in direct sunlight. Remember that the sun will move during the day, so a spot that gets a lot of shade in the morning may be completely covered in sunlight by the afternoon.
Another great spot to set up camp is by a lake or river. Bodies of water tend to be cooler, especially at night. Pitching your tent by a lake or river is a great choice. You can open all mesh windows to ventilate and cool down your tent.
Set Up the Tent When it is Cooler
Pitching your tent at the beginning of the day gives it more time to absorb heat throughout the day. Once the tent is already hot, it is much more challenging to cool down. Rather than pitching the tent at the start of the day, start setting up right before the sun goes down. This is an easy way to ensure that your tent stays cool inside.
Take It Down During the Day
Another way to ensure that your tent doesn’t collect too much heat during the day is to take it down. Of course, this requires a bit more effort and is probably best for those who are spending a bit more time on their camping trip. However, this is almost a guarantee that your tent won’t become too warm to sleep.
Get A Fan For Your Tent
If you are struggling to find a natural breeze in your tent, there is an easy fix for that! You can conveniently add some cool air to your tent by using a portable fan. Camping fans are an absolute lifesaver during the warmer camping trips. Be sure to get a battery-operated fan that can be attached to the floor, walls, or ceiling of the tent. This will not only help to cool the tent, but portable fans also create better ventilation within your space. Some campsites will have an electrical hookup that you can use if your fan isn’t battery-operated.
Put Up a Tarp
You can use reflective tarps and sheets to help deflect the sun’s rays off of the surface of your tent. This is called Thermal Reflection. It helps keep heat from entering the tent, which is great for cooling the interior of your space. The best way to use these is by tying them to tree branches so that they cover the tent like a roof. To allow for circulation, you will want to leave at least 12 inches between the tarp and the top of your tent. Most camping stores carry these tarps, and they are very budget-friendly.
Wear Light Clothes
When camping in the summer, it is essential to pack and wear light clothing for sleeping. Even with a summer tent, a fan, and other measures taken to cool down the interior of the tent, it is still good to pack the right clothes for bedtime. Be sure to stay away from dark-colored and heavy clothing. Keeping your internal body temperature down is more manageable with lightweight fabrics such as linen or cotton. These types of cloth typically do not trap any heat, which allows you to stay cooler throughout the night.
Sleep While it’s Dark
Sun in the morning will quickly heat up your tent and you don’t want to be inside when that happens. The best way to ensure that you don’t get stuck inside a blistering tent is by trying to go to bed as soon as the sun goes down. This will give you more time to sleep at a cooler temperature. Getting up before the sun has fully risen will keep you from getting too warm during your sleep.
Final Thoughts
Are you excited to go camping now that you know how to keep your tent cooler? These tips are meant to help you have a more enjoyable time on your next trip, no matter where you go or in which season you are traveling. Knowing how to keep your tent from absorbing and trapping too much heat is an excellent way to ensure that your next camping adventure is a total success.
