Mother Nature really hated when you decided to go on an adventure. The rain came down in buckets, ruining all of our plans and making this camping trip into a nightmare.
While it is true that we would prefer a sunny day on our outdoor adventures, preparedness for adverse weather can make the difference between an enjoyable trip and one with lots of pain.
The best way to avoid getting wet when camping is by following our guide on how you can keep your tent dry. We provide some other helpful tips and tricks in this article as well so that everything will go off without a hitch.
Table of Contents
1. Bring Plastic Bags
Bringing along a plethora of plastic bags is one way to ensure that your gear stays dry. Make sure you have enough to cover all the items in and around tents, as well.
Consider the size of your tent when deciding what kind of trash bag is right for you. Larger ones are perfect if there will be firewood or large packs, but make sure it can still fit under vestibules because smaller bags won’t.
2. Camp on High Ground
The ground plays an important role in your tent’s durability. Make sure you always pitch it on higher surfaces so that any water from rain or snow won’t damage anything.
When you’re camping, it is important to find high ground. The best place for your tent will be near trees so that they can provide some natural rain cover and height when sitting in campsites with low spots like this one here on top of a slope where water often pools due dark soil below which may cause wetness even if there are no clouds visible during unsettled weather days.
3. Use A Tarp
When it rains, your tent is quickly swamped with water. You might be surprised to learn that even the best waterproofing won’t keep you dry if there are leaks in key areas like seams or floors.
To avoid unfortunate events such as rainwater damage, make sure that there’s an extra layer of protection for your tent. Place a thick tarp under it with the ends tucked in so they can’t stick out from underneath or else water may seep through.
4. Cover The Inside Of Your Tent
When you place an additional layer outside and inside your tent, such as lining it with a tarp or thick plastic sheeting (which works better), the result is that water cannot seep through. This makes camping much more enjoyable in inclement weather without having to worry about getting wet.
Cutting a larger piece of fabric to make your tent will ensure that it stays dry. We recommend you cut six inches bigger than what’s needed for single layering, and with double-layered fabrics there won’t be any problems staying comfortable in wet conditions.
5. Cover Tent With A Tarp
There are various ways to keep the rain off your tent, but it’s best if you don’t need anything more than just an area for getting dry. A tarp hung over one side will provide this necessary space while also helping prevent any moisture from seeping inside by trapping water outside where it belongs. You can use tarps as preparation before going into shelters.
Some people like to take a dry camp on their trips, and for those who do it’s important that the tarp slopes downhill away from your tent. It can also be helpful if you have hiking poles or trees nearby so they’re not all together in one spot when camping at night time.
6. Have Some Extra Tarps With You
Tarps are a tent’s best friend when it comes to keeping everything dry. Extra tarps allow you use on anything too large for bags, like maybe large fires or tables they’re perfect.
We all know how windy and rainy coincides can make for an unpleasant experience. If you’re trying to stay dry, but also enjoy being outside during these bad weather days then consider building a tarp wall that will protect one side of your house from high powered gusts.
7. Seal Tent Seams
The best way to protect your tent is by applying seam sealant before you leave on vacation. You can also use it if there are any small holes in the rainfly or awnings of yours, which could let water seep through into whatever storage area its stored under at home.
When camping, make sure to protect your tent from rain with an effective sealant. We recommend using one of the available field repair kits for any damage you may acquire on location otherwise this is another step that would require extra time in addition to all other activities during outdoor trips.
The seams of your tent are always a good place to check for leaks when you’re repairing or replacing parts. Make sure there aren’t any and then seal up all those pesky little cracks.
8. Ventilate
There is a certain logic behind why you should open your tent vents in the rain. Opening them will help prevent condensation from building up and keeping moisture out, which can lead to mold or rot inside of an enclosed space like this one.
To avoid the discomfort of a stuffy tent, be sure to open up your windows when it’s hot outside and let in some fresh air. This will help reduce humidity levels so you don’t have to worry about feeling congested or heavy headed inside.
9. Pick The Right Tent
Tents come in many different varieties, but they all have one thing in common: the ability to keep you dry. Some tents are water resistant and others waterproof; these aren’t exactly same thing.
when it comes time to camp in hectic environments with high rain potential, we recommend going for tents that are specifically designed as waterproof. In addition there should also be an outer layer made from either canvas or polyester and cotton which will help protect against moisture build up on the inside due.
This information provides you all important details about your camping trip so make sure not only do they have protection but comfort too.
You may not be familiar with the terms “waterproof rating” and how long it will last, so we prepared a guide on this topic. You’ll learn what they mean in regards to your tent’s durability under water as well as if you need more spray before going out into wet conditions.
10. Erect Your Tent Properly
When you are done setting up your tent in the rain, take time to make sure everything is tight. Make certain that there aren’t any gaps or sagging where water can pool against an area of vulnerability on either side this includes checking for Yourself before going inside as well.
The rainfly is the bottom part of your tent that pulls down over all sides to keep water from seeping in. A tight fit will help prevent condensation, which can lead to mold or mildew on any surfaces not protected by an intervening layer above it.
