Sleeping In Tents

R

rodogg

Joined
Nov 25, 2011
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So I hate hate hate sleeping in tents. It might not be so bad in a warm country, but in ireland its usually raining and I wake up in the morning with horrible condensation on the inside of my tent, and just generally feel like crap after a nights sleep in a tent. Maybe it's my tent, a cheap one that probably cost about 40 pounds. But what does everyone else think of sleeping in tents? Do more expensive ones cause less of that horrible tent feeling that I get? Im not too keen on sleeping bags and resting my head on a jumper or something either. Don't take this as a "maybe you just shouldn't go camping...." type thing... I LOVE the outdoors, but just dislike the usual sleeping arrangements.....

Any thoughts?
 
Is it the condensation that makes you feel bad? If not, I'd suggest getting a cot, a pad, a camping pillow, and some ear plugs to go with your set up. I find a little effort in the gear department goes a long way when it comes to getting a good night's sleep in a tent.
 
Have you tried a breathable bivi bag, and maybe a tent fly? That gives you plenty of fresh air and the tent fly gives you some shelter from wind /rain during other tasks.
It's quite a change from sleeping "enclosed" in a tent, but maybe that's exactly what you need.
 
Try hammock camping. Its the best sleep outdoors I get hands down. You might still have that condensation on your tarp, but if you pitch it correctly, you'll never notice it. Go check out some other sites that specalize in hammocks. Google Shug and view his movies. He's very informative about hammock set up, gear, and setups.
 
Single wall tents tend to be more prone than double wall. There's an annoyance here because if you go back in time to the double wall cotton canvas types and pitch correctly condensation tends to be less, but then you're humping a beast. Ventilation is your friend. That can be something as simple as where you pitch and the orientation to the wind, or it can be the tent design. Some are designed badly and you have to zip right up even in the mildest swirling drizzle. Aside from your breath the primary culprits are cooking in the tent and bringing in wet gear.
 
milani74 said:
Try hammock camping. Its the best sleep outdoors I get hands down. You might still have that condensation on your tarp, but if you pitch it correctly, you'll never notice it. Go check out some other sites that specalize in hammocks. Google Shug and view his movies. He's very informative about hammock set up, gear, and setups.
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+1 for hammock camping its great and more relaxing that sleeping on the ground!
 
I used to be less than enthusiastic about tent camping,especially when I was growing up and the family tents were of the cheaper variety.I love the outdoors though and endeavored to make my nights stay as pleasant as possible.Do you usually backpack or "car camp",good to know your M.O. as I do both now that I have my own family,but the basics to a good nights sleep hold true either way.First,buy a really good tent,and a really good tent doesn't have to cost a fortune.I refer to a well made and constructed tent.One with a full coverage rainfly,made of modern materials.Getting one in a bright color really helps too,I find,in avoiding those rainy,stuck in the tent days and nights.Next a thick sleeping pad(backpack) or cot(car) I love my Thermarest Dreamtime(3.5" of goodness) and use it backpacking and on top of my cot when car camping.Next I found that varying my sleeping bag with the season helped me sleep better too.I have 4 different sleeping bags to cover every temperature range I will encounter year round(then again I'm a gear hog,so...) It's all about adjusting your gear to fit you,and spending the money to ensure yourself a good night's sleep,which will always make any trip more enjoyable. Better gear not only makes things more comfortable,it will last longer,usually weigh less in the process and hold it's value better.Hope this helps!
 
Next time try having a candle lantern in the tent.
WOrks wonders

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Thanks for all the suggestions! Well one reason I had been put off the hammock idea was because I once saw someone use a hammock near me, and it rained all night, his tarp must not have been well put up and he got drenched. So if I go for that I'll have to make sure to find out the best way. Oh and thanks milani74 I will google that man!! To rickc71 usually I wouldn't "car camp", but go for a hike somewhere and sleep the night., hence not wanting to lug too much sleeping gear, although id love to have it lol! I'll have to read a few reviews online to find a good medium priced tent then!! And I think a cot would be a great idea and they dont seem to be too heavy either. I just wasnt sure if a more expensive tent would help with condensation and stuff but you guys seem to think it will. So Ill go for that probably, and also try to find so extra lightweight gear that will make it more comfortable and less torturous!
 
A decent tent, sleeping bag and pad can make a lot of difference in how well you can make out camping in the rain. And most of us have learned that trying to close up a tent too tightly can greatly increase the condensation inside. A tent need not be overly expensive to work well in promoting air circulation while minimizing condensation and protecting from rain. A double wall tent is a good place to start. Good luck on improving your kit and your outdoor experience.
 
Most backpacking tents these days come with flies for rain protection, while the tent itself has breathable panels and vents at each end. Condensation isn't usually a problem. A good ground pad (Thermarest) and sleeping bag appropriate to the temperature are essential. Synthetic sleeping bag fillings are less affected by moisture than down.
 
Before committing to buying a new tent I'd urge you to hire a couple of different types and see what works for best for you. I'm in the UK and wet or damp is the norm for me too. I use a tarp rather than a tent but even if I were to go back to tents I really don't like having an unprotected sleeping bag. Water tends to migrate off me, off my gear, off my dog, and worst of all off other people, and that's in addition to any condensation problems caused just be being inside it and cooking. At the moment I'm using a Gore-Tex bivy with the tarp. I probably wouldn't go as hardcore as that for a tent and I'd settle for something lighter and smaller but still very water repellent. Snugpak is one [I'm not endorsing this specific one] that springs to mind that will armour your sleeping bag a bit. With that and some decent sleeping padding I'd have more flexibility in what my tent options were. It's also worth noting that sometimes there is little you can do in a tent if it rains for any decent length of time; a] because you'll be in it a lot, probably with it zipped up, and doing cooking. b] a slick of water damping out the outer of the tent isn't optimal for transmitting moisture vapour. As some bright spark said about such circumstances, “it is then that you look for your mate's sock”.
 
I don't mind it but depending on the tent condensation IS a problem.

I had this Outdoor Research Night Haven that was awful.

I bought it and the floor space sounded great but the way the walls were when my wife and I slept in it there was tons of condensation, and the side walls were so low that there was almost no way to avoid getting into it.

Now I mainly use a Golite Hex 3 and it has so much headroom by myself there's no condensation and with my wife it's tall enough and big enough we avoid the condensation.
 
Basically, there are two types of tents: single wall and double wall. Single walls are generally for winter/mountaineering use and double walls [depending on the tent style] can be used in all types of environments. In Ireland, I'd recommend a double wall tent with a lot of mesh and a rainfly that extends all the way to the ground. Basically, as your body/breath give-off water vapour, the vapour travels through the mesh and then condenses on the rainfly and then runs down to the ground. Additionally, even in the worst of weather, you need to open some vents for ventilation. There are lots of tents in the $150 USD range [and less] that are designed to perform this way. Often, cheaper tents use a waterproof fabric with a tiny section of mesh near the top of the tent [and a tiny rainfly too] which offers-up a lot of fabric where moisture pools and condenses. I have three tents [2 single and one double]. Generally, the only time I see any condensation is on the floor where it's in direct contact with snow etc.

I prefer camping in tents, largely b/c the places I camp are up high and subjected to atrocious weather. I hate bivy sacs and tarps aren't practical so I'm left with a tent as my only shelter option.
 
The optimum design allows fresh air to enter near the floor and air warmed by your body to exit towards the top of the space, carrying moisture with it. (On a cold morning you can see, if not steam, a sort of fog escaping the high ventilation point.

Wedge-shaped tents (Timberline II) are good at ventilating, and the half-cylinder tents around briefly were also good. (Does anyone make them anymore?)

Double-wall domes often have problems. There is usually no way for the warmed, moist air to escape the fly so it condenses on the inside of the fly. In extreme conditions, drops may fall on the inner, breathable walls, dampening them. Hopefully, most of it runs to the ground as described above.

A "porch" of a small tarp rigged to protect the area in front of the tent door provides a place to cook in inclement weather without adding to the tent's moisture problems. Such a "porch" also keeps rain and snow out of the tent when entering and exiting during precipitation and provides storage space.
 
OP - there are better tents which will allow you to enjoy the inclimate, cold/humid weather you encounter. Don't let poor weather make for a bad experience.

Thomas Linton said:
......Double-wall domes often have problems. There is usually no way for the warmed, moist air to escape the fly so it condenses on the inside of the fly. In extreme conditions, drops may fall on the inner, breathable walls, dampening them. Hopefully, most of it runs to the ground as described above.
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On many newer double-wall dome tents there are vents at the top of the rain-fly - my 15-year-old Marmot Citadel has 'em (Marmot was the 1st company with this design - the others later copied/licensed Marmot's patent). Also, good use of the tents zippered doors and vestibule (s) will alleviate the condensation considerably.

Thomas Linton said:
A "porch" of a small tarp rigged to protect the area in front of the tent door provides a place to cook in inclement weather without adding to the tent's moisture problems. Such a "porch" also keeps rain and snow out of the tent when entering and exiting during precipitation and provides storage space.
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These "porches" can be an integral part of the tent fly and are called a vestibule.
 
Hammocks are not for sleeping. They are for napping for short periods only. Ask any native of south america.

I have slept outdoors in temps as low as -30 deg C (-22 deg F). Experienced -40 a several times but never slept outdoors at that temp. I have also slept outdoors in the amazon in a hammock and work up all f'd up because I didn't listen to the locals when they warned to not sleep in a hammock.

For sleeping on the ground (in any climate) I use a heavy wool blanket over a dutch military sleeping pad. This pad is a very thick version of a yoga mat. I bought mine about 20 years ago and haven't seen them since but any thick pad should work with the key insulation coming from the wool blanket folded over to make 2 layers. This is a heavy system so if your hiking or ultralight camping I can't help your discomfort!

Next is the tent...

- Double wall is a must! Every tent will condensate and there's no way to avoid this unless you are sleeping in the wind. The wind is what keeps the tent dry. Every surface will condensate at Dew Point. At least with the double wall tent the outer fly provides the first layer of protection. The inner tent will still condensate.

- The tent needs to have large vents that can be closed completely. Even in hot weather it's important to stay dry. In cold weather it's important to stop the wind from sucking or blowing the heat out of the tent. The tent doesn't offer any insulation but keeping your interior air from mixing with the exterior cold air helps a lot in keeping you comfortable.

One of the few tents that I have found that have extremely good ventilation that can be closed off completely is the Eureka Outfitter. It's not light and it's not cheap but it's the best I have found. It's an A frame shape with full sceen/vents on the gable ends that can be completely closed to block the wind. I've had my 4 person Outfitter for about 20 years and it's still in perfect useable condition. It's been to several countries in all types of weather.

I let it dry it before putting it away, always! Putting any tent away wet ruins the tent.

Lastly, a big roomy thick sleeping bag is what I like the best. It should be ranted for 20 deg colder than the temp you think you will be sleeping in. Change into dry sleeping clothes before bedding down for the night. Hang your other clothes to dry. They are most likely wet or damp from perspiration. Change in the morning and save your dry sleeping clothes for sleeping.

One more thing...

Clean your sweaty feet before going to bed! A good trick is to carry small bottle of 1 part rubbing alcohal/7 parts water to use as a body wash. Pour an ounce on a small wash cloth and wipe your body from your neck to your toes before putting on your sleeping clothes. Try it!

Good luck,
 
fmajor007 said:
. . . On many newer double-wall dome tents there are vents at the top of the rain-fly - my 15-year-old Marmot Citadel has 'em (Marmot was the 1st company with this design - the others later copied/licensed Marmot's patent).
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Hence "often."

Also, good use of the tents zippered doors and vestibule (s) will alleviate the condensation considerably.
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Maybe. Maybe not. YMWV

These "porches" can be an integral part of the tent fly and are called a vestibule.
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An integral vestibule will channel the moisture from cooking up under the fly, as will a tight-fitting attached vestibule. A trap is unlikely to do the same, is usually far less expensive for the size, and can be used for other functions. Also, a tarp can be added to a tent that has no vestibule as part of the fly or available vestibule attachment.

You pays your money and you takes your choices.
 
I get the same thing. Its usually from the cold, moist night air. I have asthma, so it happens pretty much every time. A few puffs of the inhaler and I feel great again.
 
The key to a good night's sleep in a tent is usually a well ventilated tent. A lot of cheaper tents aren't very nicely ventilated.

If it keeps bothering you, you would probably do well to look into using a tarp for camping.
 
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