Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Stay cool in the tent
• Part 2 of 3: Choosing a cooler location
• Part 3 of 3: Putting up the tent
• Warnings

Camping can be fun no matter what the weather is like. The warm summer days are no exception. However, for particularly warm weather, you may need to prepare a bit to keep yourself and your tent cool. Knowing where and how to pitch your tent and how to apply simple cooling techniques can help you beat the heat while enjoying the outdoors.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Stay cool in the tent

1. Open any doors and windows with zippers. Open the front door of your tent as well as the side and back windows if it has them. This allows cool air to enter and prevents hot air from being trapped inside. If you are going to an area where there are many insects, get a tent with a double zipper, which means it has one zipper for the main door and one zipper for the mesh door, which allows air to enter, but no insects.
2. Remove the rain cover. Most tents come with a rain cover to prevent moisture from entering the main room. These are often quite thick and can therefore retain heat, which increases the temperature in the tent. To stay cool, remove the rain cover and store it in the tent bag.
   • On warm, rainy days, you can hang the screen or tarpaulin over the tent by tying it to nearby trees. Make sure the fabric runs down so that water does not accumulate.
3. Lie on top of your sleeping bag. An easy way to beat the heat is to simply lie on top of your sleeping bag. Professionally crafted sleeping bags, even very light ones, retain a lot of heat. Laying on top of it prevents stifling heat.
4. Use battery powered fans to cool your tent. Small, battery-powered fans can help circulate air around your tent. Place the fan in a corner of your tent and, if possible, set it to the oscillating setting. Make sure your windows are open so it doesn't just circulate warm air.
   • To make the air extra cold, you can put a bucket of ice in front of the fan.
5. Tie a tarp over your tent to block out the sun. If you are camping near trees, use them to tie a tarp over your tent. This will work like a hat for your tent to keep out the sun and heat. Make sure there is space between the tarpaulin and the tent so that air can circulate between them.

Part 2 of 3: Choosing a cooler location

1. Move your tent to a shady spot. When camping in the heat, always find a spot that is protected from the sun. This can be through trees, low hills, ridges or high huts. Remember that the sun moves. So look for a place that will keep your tent cool while you are in it, such as an eastern ridge if you want a long sleep, or western hills if you go to bed early.
2. Find a place with good wind circulation. Choose a spot for your tent where the wind has room to blow. When setting up your tent, face the door towards the wind to receive the breeze.
3. Camp by a river or lake. If your destination is near a body of water, try to get close to the water. At lakes, ponds and seas, aim your tent towards the shore to receive the breezes coming from the direction of the water. At rivers and streams, aim your tent upstream to catch cool breezes. EXPERT TIP

   "To follow the" leave no trace "principle - and avoid affecting water sources - make sure you make your camp at least 200 meters from the water."

   
   

   Choose a place where you can sleep outside. Sometimes when it is very hot there is no way to make a tent comfortable. As a backup plan, you can choose a place where you can sleep outside without too much trouble. Avoid areas where insects are known to be abundant or where there are wild animals such as bears. Find places with the following elements:

   • Free, flat ground on which to put blankets.
   • A shady place where you can put a sleeping bag.
   • Trees where you can hang a hammock.

Part 3 of 3: Putting up the tent

1. Dig a hole to pitch your tent. If possible, dig a wide hole about 60 cm deep to use your tent. The temperature of the ground is lower than the air, so placing your tent in a hole will help keep the tent cool.
   • If you can't dig a hole, put a tarp under your tent. Although it is less effective, it will still cool your tent slightly.
2. Pitch your tent in the dark. Unless you plan to use it all day, you should pitch your tent after dark. Until then, keep it in its pocket and put it in a cool or shady place. On particularly hot days you can place the tent bag in ice.
3. Disassemble the tent during the day. Due to their design, tents retain heat like an oven. This makes them very hot in the evening if you leave it during the day. If you are not going to use it during the day, disassemble it after you wake up and store it in a cool place.

Warnings

• If your tent is causing you to sweat excessively and feel faint, nauseous, or faint when in it, get out immediately and find a cool, shaded place to recover. Also drink plenty of water.