Camping is a fun activity in any weather, summer is no exception. However, traveling on a hot day requires extra preparation if you want to keep yourself and your tent cool. Knowing where and how best to pitch your tent, as well as how to practice simple cooling techniques can help beat the heat while enjoying the great outdoors.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Choosing a Cooler Location
Step 1. Find a shady spot
Before setting up your tent, find a location that is protected from the sun. Find a spot under a tree, a low hill, a ridge, or a tall cabin. Remember the position of the sun's movement so that you can find a shady place throughout the day, for example on the east side of the hill if you are going to sleep late or on the west side of the hill if you want to sleep early.
Step 2. Find an area with good wind flow
Look for areas of the camp that have a lot of wind blowing. When setting up a tent, face the door facing the direction of the gust of wind so that you can enter the tent.
Step 3. Camp near a river or lake
If your destination is near the water, try camping nearby. For lakes, ponds, or oceans, pitch the tent toward the shore to catch the breeze from the water. For rivers and estuaries, point the tent upstream to accommodate cool breezes.
Step 4. Choose a point where you can sleep outside
Sometimes, when the weather is very hot, there is no way to make the tent feel comfortable. To prepare, find a campsite that will allow you to sleep outside without a problem. Avoid areas known to have lots of insects or wild predators such as bears. Find a place with these characteristics:
- The ground is flat and bare so you can spread out the blanket.
- Shade so you can wear a sleeping bag underneath.
- Trees where you can hang the crib.
Part 2 of 3: Setting up a Tent
Step 1. Dig a hole where the tent will be erected
If possible, dig a hole as deep as 60 cm wide for a place to pitch the tent. The temperature of the inner soil will be cooler than the surface temperature of the soil and air, so it is best if the tent can be cooled by setting it up in the hole.
If you can't dig a hole, spread a tarp under the tent. While not as effective, the tent will still be a little cooler
Step 2. Set up the tent when it gets dark
Unless you're going to be wearing it all day, the tent is best set up after sunset. Before that, leave the tent in the bag and store it in a cool, shady area. Especially in very hot weather, keep a tent bag with ice.
Step 3. Remove the rainproof coating
Most tents are equipped with a rain-proof coating to prevent water from entering the main room. Since this layer is usually quite thick, heat can be trapped and raise the temperature inside the tent. To cool the tent, simply remove the rainproof coating and store it in a tent bag.
For a hot, rainy day, hang a rainproof layer over the tent by tying it to a nearby tree. Make sure this layer is installed at a slight slope so that water does not pool on it
Step 4. Lower the tent during the day
Depending on the design, the tent can accommodate heat like an oven, so if you leave it alone, you'll have a hot night. If you're not going to use it, take the tent down after getting up and store it in a cool area.
Part 3 of 3: Keeping Cool Inside the Tent
Step 1. Open doors and windows
Open the front door of the tent, and if applicable, the side or rear windows. This allows cool air to enter the tent and prevents hot air from being trapped inside. If you are camping in a place with lots of insects, look for a tent with a double zipper system, one zipper controlling the main tent door and the other controlling a thin screen that prevents animals, especially insects, from getting in.
Step 2. Lie down on the sleeping bag
You can deal with the heat easily by lying in a sleeping bag. Professionally manufactured sleeping bags (even lightweight ones) will retain a lot of heat so you don't feel cramped when you lie down on them.
Step 3. Use a battery powered fan to cool the tent
A small, battery-powered fan can help improve airflow in the tent. Place the fit near the corner of the tent, and if possible set it to oscillating mode. Make sure the windows are open so they don't just move hot air.
For added coolness, place a small bucket of ice in front of the fan
Step 4. Tie a reflective tarp over the tent to block out the sun
If you're camping near a tree, use it to tie a reflective tarp over the tent. This tarp will serve as a hat that protects the tent from the sun and heat. Be sure to leave some space between the fabric and the tent so the water can flow through.
