How to Keep a Tent Cool in the Summer

Though there might be a hundred of even a thousand positive things we can say about camping, there is still one inevitable problem that we usually experience, and that is the uncomfortably hot tents we would sleep in.

To make your camping experience more comfortable, we’re going to teach you how to keep a tent cool.

Some say that it’s difficult to achieve this as we have little control over the weather or the temperature of our surroundings.

However, with a little bit of ingenuity and handy techniques, we can keep our tents cool throughout the day.

You’re going to learn everything about that in this article. So sit back and enjoy reading, mate!

In choosing a comfortable tent, you need to make sure that it is durable, has good ventilation, and can insulate heat and at the same time, also get rid of heat.

There are different kinds of tents you can choose from, and each is made from different materials.

Remember that the materials are important because this is where you’ll know if it absorbs too much heat or not.

2. Have your tent under a shade

To keep your tent cool, you also need to find the perfect place where you're going to set up camp. Find a shady area that will block the sun's heat from directly reaching your place.

It's recommended that you set up camp near a tree. The more trees, the better.

Just be sure that there are no wild animals that can pose a danger to you and your group. Most shady areas are also habitats for insects, so you need to watch out for these too.

3. Direction of the Wind

Another important thing to consider to keep your tent cool is the direction of the wind. Set up camp where fresh air can easily circulate. You want to set up camp where air can freely flow.

If you're camping near a lake or on a beach, it would be best if you set up your tent near trees or rock formations because these will filter the warm air and make it cooler.

4. Shovel

You also need to have a shovel or any equipment you can use to plow soil and dig a pit. You’re going to be using this later on because setting up your tent in a pit which is one to two feet deep will help in keeping your tent cool.

5. Portable Fan or Airconditioner

This is a must-need if you want to ensure that your tent will be cool even when the sun is at it's highest point.

Any rechargeable portable fan will do. You can also bring with you a fan where you can put in ice cubes so that it'll blow cool air.

There are also affordable portable air conditioners you can buy in the market. Technology has come a long way, and now these portable ACs are lightweight and more efficient than ever.

6. Reflective Tarp

You'll also need to have a reflective tarp. These are very useful in bouncing off the sun's heat so that it doesn't seep through the tent's fabric and material and cause it to warm up your temporary shelter place.

These reflective tarps can bounce off heat efficiently because of its reflective properties.

Step by Step Guide: How to Stay Cool While Camping in a Tent

Step #1: Find the Right Place

You've got a lot of choices when you're in the outdoors.

The sky is the limit, as what most people say. Though this is true, you shouldn't take it literally because there are a lot of things to consider when you're finding the right place to set up your tent.

In doing so, you first need to find a shady area. A place where there is a tree or a group of trees.

The place should also be where fresh air can easily flow through and circulate.

You need to have a constant supply of fresh air, and you don't want to breathe in damp and stagnant air.

You'll find these places near cliffs or near bodies of water.

Just be sure that you're safe from danger coming from all the natural elements like wild animals and dangerous surface features.

Step #2: Dig a Pit

The next thing you want to do is to dig a pit. It’s best if you use the shovel that you prepared earlier.

Dig a pit which is one to two feet deep. By placing your tent partially underground, you are making your tent cooler because the soil will act as a shield or barrier from the outside temperature.

The soil or ground surrounding the tent also acts as a form of temperature stabilizer as this will also keep you comfortably warm during night time.

PRO TIP: You still can feel the gross and sticky feel of the damp soil beneath you. But don't worry when having tent footprint and camping cots.

Step #3: Unpack Your Tent and Set Things Up

When you’re done digging up a one to two-feet deep pit, you can then start unpacking your tent.

Assemble it and set it up in a way where the entrance will be facing the direction that can get as much air as possible.

If your tent has windows and small holes to let air in, you should make sure that these wouldn’t be covered by the shrubs, bushes, or anything that might be in your surroundings.

Step #4: Place the Reflective Tarp

Unpack your reflective tarp and place it properly on the roof of your tent. You can use simple camping ropes to tie and secure it in place.

If you are placing multiple reflective tarps, make sure that there are no gaps in between them because heat can easily pass through those gaps, making the entire reflective tarp setup useless.

Step #5: Set Up the Portable Fan and Airconditioner

Bring out your portable fan and use it when you’re inside the tent.

Don’t waste its battery because you might not know when you’re going to need it the most. But if there’s electricity in the place where you’ve set up camp, you can just plug it right away into the socket.

If there’s no electricity, you can bring with you a portable gas-powered power generator. You can even use a portable air conditioner when you've got a generator.

You can also check out this video to know more information on how to keep a tent cool with no electricity:

Conclusion

Camping is no doubt fun. However, we can't deny the fact that the tent we'll be staying in will be too hot.

Even though we're out in the open, we still need to feel comfortable and keep our tents cool. There are a lot of ways to do that, such as digging a pit, placing reflective tarps, finding the right camping spot, and using portable fans and air conditioners.

By simply following these steps, you'll surely have a more enjoyable and memorable camping experience.