How to Cool My Tent While Camping
- 1). Purchase the right tent. If hot temperatures are going to be a problem, get a double-walled tent with plenty of mesh. Double-walled tents include a rain fly for inclement weather, and feature a lot of mesh for better ventilation and cooling. You can even buy a tent that is essentially all mesh with a tub floor. During the hottest months, the more mesh, the better off you are.
- 2). Choose the right spot to pitch your tent. Find a good shaded area to protect you from the heat of direct sunlight. When finding your location, remember that shade will shift depending upon the position of the sun. Consider where the east is and position the tent next to a tree or other barrier in a way that will give you shade in the morning when you're sleeping and through the heat of the afternoon. You can always adjust this later on.
- 3). Position the tent. If there's a breeze, determine which way it's blowing and pitch the tent in a way that will put the mesh windows in direct line of the breeze. A cool evening breeze doesn't do you much good if it's blowing directly into the nylon on the tent. Position isn't as important if the majority of your tent is made of mesh because then the wind will blow through no matter how the tent is set. Change the positioning as the wind switches directions.
- 4). Purchase a light sleeping bag rated for summer night temperatures or even a camping sheet for really hot evenings. It's wise to bring a heavier bag along in case temperatures drop, but plan to use bedding that is light and cool.
- 5). Use a tent fan. Camping companies offer tent fans that can help increase cooling air circulation on still, stuffy nights. Be sure to pack one of these.
- 6). Open the windows during the day. Be sure that all the zippers are fully closed, but leave the windows open so that the tent doesn't sit and collect heat like a greenhouse. While bugs shouldn't be an issue, if you're worried about them, you can spray the windows with bug spray to keep them away.
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