How to Cool a Camping Tent
Keeping cool while camping is always a difficult challenge. Campers spend the day hiking, biking, fishing and baking under the hot sun, then come back to no shower and a stifling tent that feels like a human greenhouse. It's not the best recipe for getting a comfortable night of sleep. While you may never feel like you've spent a reinvigorating, air-conditioned night at the Ritz, there are several strategies that can help make the night a little more comfortable.
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Instructions
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Pitch your tent in the shade. That sounds obvious enough, but don't simply pitch it where it's shady at the time you're setting up. You want to remain cool in the tent when you're sleeping, so find a spot that is shaded in the morning. Use a compass to determine the east where the sun will rise and find a spot that offers shading from that direction. You should also attempt to keep the tent shaded through the early afternoon to prevent it from sitting under the sun during the hottest part of the day. If you can't find that much shade, consider moving it during the day to keep it from collecting rays.
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Pitch the tent in line with the wind. If your tent uses windows or pieces of mesh for ventilation, take the time to set the tent up so that the windows are in line with the breeze. Using this technique will help to deliver a steady breeze into your tent. Pay attention to wind direction and alter the tent when needed to keep it lined up.
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Open up your windows and keep the rain fly off as long as it's sunny. Leave the windows open throughout the day to keep the tent as cool and ventilated as possible. The more mesh you have letting the breeze in, the cooler you'll be.
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Install a fan. There are fans on the market designed specifically to cool camping tents when camping in warm weather. These fans are operated by batteries or other portable power sources and provide a means of increasing air movement and cooling the inside of the tent.
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Use a sheet in addition to a sleeping bag for warm weather camping. Before leaving for the campsite, find a sheet that is cool and soft to the touch and use it to line your sleeping bag. During the night, if it gets too hot in the sleeping bag, you can sleep under just the sheet. Sleeping bag liners designed for this purpose are available.
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Tips & Warnings
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to remain hydrated and take care when drinking alcohol.
Try to plan strenuous activities for the cooler parts of the morning and evening.
