We live in a fine country, a beautiful country, full of glorious countryside, and lands to behold. However, it does rain a little bit, from time to time. Rain should not be an issue for a camping trip - unless the ground is a complete quagmire or flooded. In this event - don't even bother. However, a bit of wind and rain really should not put you off - unless there is a Met Office Weather warning against it. This guide was inspired by the Summer of 2019, and compiled with the idea of surviving a weekend of wet weather.
Camping in Wet Weather
Take a waterproof tent (or re-proof your old tent)
Making sure you have a waterproof tent is essential if camping in wet weather, there are two type of tent fabric, polyester or polycotton. Both adapt to wet weather well, but each has their own advantages and disadvantages. Polyester is ready to use out of the bag if the tent is brand new, as it is treated with a waterproofing agent in manufacturing. However, the polycotton tents need to be weathered before use, or they may ingress water. The modern polycotton tents do have a small amount of treated waterproofing on them.
Waterproofing on a polyester tent is measured in Hydrostatic Head, the higher the level - the more water the tent will be able to repel. If your tent is an older polyester tent, you may want to consider reproofing it with a Fabsil type product before going on your camping trip.
Pitch your Tent Properly
A massive part of a tent's ability to stand up to wet and windy weather is how well it has been pitched. Make sure your tent is well-pitched, taught, and all the guylines are used and in place. Pitching the tent taughtly, will stop the roof panels from sagging, and collecting water. Once they sag and rain water pools on top, there is a chance the fabric can be stretched. Also, once the water pools, there is a greater chance that the tent will ingress water.
Use a Footprint Groundsheet
A footprint groundsheet if you have a family-sized tent is a key purchase. The footprint is the base on which the tent sits on top of, protecting it from the elements below such as water and muddy grounds. The key purpose of the groundsheet is to prolong the lifetime of your tent, and to help keep the tent's sewn-in groundsheet cleaner, making it easier to pack the tent away
If you cannot get a specific footprint groundsheet, I would recommend getting a piece of tarpaulin, and cutting it down to the right shape and size.
Dress and Prepare for Wet Weather
- Take waterproof clothes and boots.
- Take plenty of fresh clean socks
- Take some towels
- Kitchen roll is usefull
- Camping Chairs are ideal for being able to get off the cold, wet ground.
Take a Shelter
Event Shelters can be an ideal product if you tent does not have a large living space to socialise in. It gives an external, waterproof shelter to congregate in when the weather is bad. Some of these shelters already have side-walls built-in, and some do not. Also an Event Shelter will not perform as well in high winds compared to a regular tent, so take care if it is windy. Event Shelters are also a safer place to cook if the weather is really bad, as you are not sleeping inside them, and they tend to have a better ventilation. Note BBQ's should never ever be taken into a tent, or shelter due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Airflow and Ventilation
When the weather is very wet, you are most likely going to experience condensation within your tent. A lot of people mistake condensation with a leaking tent, especially inside Airbeam tents, as they tend to attract more condensation. Polycotton tents tend to help negate condensation, however polyester attracts it because the tent is highly waterproof, and the fabric will not breathe. Therefore moisure has no method of escaping other than through the ventilation points. Its important to pick a tent with plenty of ventilation, as it will breathe more, and make the camping experience more enjoyable.
- Keep all vents open on the tent at all times to allow it to breathe.
- Use a fan such as the Christianos fan to negate condensation and create airflow.
- Use a heater in colder environments
- Condensation vs a Leaking Tent guide
Camp On Elevated Ground
Choose a pitch wisely, as you don't want to camp in the wrong location in heavy rain. Ideally try to camp on more elevated grounds, as the rain will run down the hill and ruin someone else's camping trip. Do not set up camp on boggy ground, our puddles, as standing water will have no where to go, other than up into your tent through the groundsheet.
- Sleep Elevated from the Ground
- Avoid boggy ground or standing water
Indoor Games for the Kids
An obvious one if you have children, bring something for them to do indoors for when the rain poors. Board games are an ideal way to pass the time. Obviously try not to bring anything too space consuming, if you are going to be trapped inside a tent.
Coping in Windy Weather
- Check weather reports before going away.
- Cancel if the weather is going to be a danger.
- Have tent insurance in case your tent is destroyed by the weather.
- Pitch your tent on a sheltered site - best to avoid open campsites in bad weather.
- Use rock pegs or Delta Pegs
- Make sure you use all the guylines.
The Importance of Drying your Tent when you Get Home
- A wet tent will go mouldy if left too long.
- The fabric will degrade if not stored correctly.
- The smell of something packed away wet will be quite bad after two weeks or so.
- Read our blog on packing and storage of your tent.