Being homeless in hot weather is tough. Tents heat up pretty fast once the sun shines on them early in the morning. The inside can become uncomfortable, in as little as 50 degrees of direct sunlight. The easy answer would be to keep your tent in a shaded area, but you won’t always have that choice. If you’re choosing your campsite by discretion, you have to take what the campsite gives you. And sometimes shade is not included. Here are a few simple things you can do to bring down the temps inside your tent.
Take cover
Preventing the exposure of direct sunlight on your tent is the first step to staying cool. Place something above your tent that absorbs or reflects sunlight. Reflective tarps offer a decent amount of protection. Hang them at least 12 inches above your tent. If you can’t find a reflective tarp, a regular tarp will do just fine. A cheap space blanket will reflect most sunlight directly away from your tent. They are thin and tear easily when exposed to wind. You’ll have to glue them to the sides of the tent that are exposed to sunlight.
Use a layer of aluminet. Aluminet acts almost the same as a tarp. It reflects up to 90 percent of the sun’s rays while allowing air to flow through it. It is not cheap, however.
Use a heavy wool blanket(3-5 pounds) between your tent and rain fly. The blanket will trap whatever heat gets through your rain fly. It will slow the release of the heat to a bare minimum. This allows your fan to finish the job of cooling down your tent.
Use a portable USB fan to circulate the air
Camping fans are a lifesaver in hot weather, and thankfully technology has come a long way over the years. USB fans are very common for campers to have as a part of their gear. They go up to 9 inches wide and can provide a breeze lasting two days before needing a charge.
Choosing the right tent
The two types of tents that you will purchase are nylon and polyester. Polyester offers better UV protection but is heavier. They both are going to let in heat on hot days, so in hot weather, it won’t matter the material. Having a tent with two doors and vents does matter. It gives Mother Nature a better chance to keep you cool by allowing a breeze to flow through your tent. Make sure to choose a tent with lots of mesh, and remove the rainfly whenever you can. If you are blocking out the sun, and there is no rain, the rainfly is only trapping heat in your tent at this point. This allows for better air circulation from your fan.
Other tips
Drink plenty of water to keep your body from overheating. Use a sheet of Tvrek as your footprint to stop the heat from entering into your tent from the ground. Use a combination of things mentioned here depending on the environment you’re in. You should be able to enjoy your day as well as your night.
