When the temperatures start to rise, camping can become quite uncomfortable. If you don’t know how to stay cool while camping in the summer, you’ll be miserable the entire trip. But, with a little planning and preparation, you can stay comfortable and enjoy your time in the great outdoors. Here are a few tips on how to stay cool while camping in the summer.
7 Steps On How To Stay Cool While Camping in The Summer
When the tilt of the earth places our hemisphere directly in the loving gaze of the sun, it’s time to go camping. Summer camping is popular for a variety of reasons. Long days, cool water swimming, flying discs, cookouts, and family fun are just a few suggestions.
Dressing up, packing a cooler with food, and driving to a campground for the tranquil atmosphere has a distinct feel. This summer, maximize your camping experience by following these tips for remaining comfortable and cool in hot, humid weather.
How To Reduce The Temperature While Camping In The Summer
Although the longest day of the year is the first of the season, the season’s hottest days frequently follow — this is referred to as the lag of the season’s effect. This is because the oceans gradually store solar energy and the mountain snowpack melts, both of which contribute to the release of heat long after the solstice has passed.
This includes figuring out how to stay cool while camping in July, August, and September. Think about the best ways to keep cool while out in the heat of the summer.
1. During the Day, Disassemble Your Tent
When the weather outside is scorching, your tent acts as a greenhouse. It absorbs and stores heat from the sun, creating the sensation of entering a sauna upon returning to the tent.
Additionally, and perhaps more significantly, virtually no fabric is resistant to direct sunlight. Tent fabric made of synthetic fibers is no exception. Regardless of the material of your tent, it is always a good idea to take it down during the day. This will extend the tent’s life and allow you to use it for an extended period.
It’s a good idea to disassemble your tent when you awaken and reassemble it before the sunsets. While this may require additional effort, the benefits to your tent and the cooler temperature make it worthwhile.
2. Retain Your Tent In The Sun
If you can, find a shady camping spot. Allowing trees to absorb sunlight rather than your tent will aid in keeping you cool. The trick is to anticipate the direction of the sun throughout the day.
The United States’ average latitude is approximately 39 degrees north of the equator, meaning that the sun rises in the southeast and sets in the southwest. In the middle of a summer day, it will pass between 2 and 25 degrees south of the zenith, which means it will pass almost directly overhead, depending on where you are camping. Determine the sun’s position in the sky using a compass, which many smartphones now include.
Congratulate yourself if the trees beneath which you are parked provide sufficient shade in all directions! You may be able to leave your tent up for the day.
3. Use A Sunshade That Reflects Light
Reflective sunshades are the best way to keep cool while camping. To keep their surroundings cool, these awnings block the sun’s rays. The idea is to use them to shade your tent or social area while camping. Sunshades enable you to sleep in after the sun has risen, which is when the “sauna” effect takes effect, as any seasoned camper is well aware.
It is most effective when a sunshade is positioned above the tent. Allow at least 12 inches between the tent’s top and the sunshade to allow for air circulation and cooling.
Additionally, a sunshade does not have to be made of gleaming, reflective mylar — though that certainly helps — but can be as simple as a tarp. Tie the shade above your tent using trees, stakes, or poles.
4. Maximize The Use Of Fresh Air
Consider where you want to sleep before you make your choice. Nature’s air conditioner is the wind. Even if the breeze is not particularly strong, utilizing it is critical for staying cool while camping in the summer.
Make a point of pitching your tent in an area that provides ample shade and a consistent breeze. If you sit facing the breeze rather than downwind, you will stay cooler. Mesh tents allow for air circulation throughout the day and night, keeping you cool and comfortable with a breeze. Once you’ve determined the direction of the wind, face your tent door in that direction.
Utilize these techniques to forecast the direction of the wind.
Consult the locals: Campground owners and staff, full-timers, and residents may have a good idea of which direction the wind blows during the night and day.
Examine the weather forecast: The majority of weather applications will indicate the direction of the wind. For example, “5 mph NNW” indicates a wind speed of ten miles per hour from the north-northwest. In this case, the wide side of your tent should face that direction.
Utilize your finger: Hold it up in the air after it has been wet. The direction of the wind is indicated by the cold side.
5. Check The Weather And Pull Your Rainfly
At night, your hot breath and body heat rise to the inside of your rainfly and condense. If no rain is forecast, removing the rainfly allows all of the heat and moisture inside the tent to escape through the tent’s top. This can make a significant difference in terms of maintaining a comfortable temperature throughout the summer.
A tarp or sunshade placed sufficiently above your tent will not trap heat or moisture. Because rain flies encircle your tent, they are more likely to trap heat. Keep it on hand, however, in case it rains unexpectedly in the middle of the night and you need to quickly string it up for shelter.
6. Select A Tent With A Large Mesh Depth
The advent of mesh tents marked a turning point in camping history. To keep mosquitoes at bay and allow for airflow, a fine mesh walled tent is an excellent addition to your summer camping gear.
Camping in the summer necessitates the use of a tent that has the most mesh possible. Each wall of a tent has a solid, waterproof floor that runs the full length of it. This wall not only keeps the breeze out of the lower portions of the walls but also shields the nearby earth from raindrop splatters.
7. Purchase A Portable fan
Battery-operated portable fans provide a soothing breeze that lasts all night. A good camping fan should be portable, lightweight, and easily attachable to the tent’s floor, wall, or ceiling. Because you’ll be using the fan in close quarters, look for one with foam blades. Once you’ve experienced the benefits of having a portable fan while camping in temperatures approaching 100 degrees, you’ll never leave home without one.
Final Thoughts
With a little bit of preparation, you can stay cool while camping in the summertime. By following these tips, you will be able to enjoy your camping trip without feeling uncomfortably hot.
