Summer Camping Tips To Keep You Cool
The Best Ways to Beat the Heat This Summer
With 4th of July upon us, most of us are itching to get outdoors having been cooped up last summer due to COVID. Campgrounds and national parks are expecting unprecedented numbers of visitors.
But camping in the summer heat when temperatures can easily reach 90°F or more can often be a miserable experience if you aren’t prepared. Here are some of my best tips to beat the heat so you can enjoy your time in the great outdoors.
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TIPS ON WHERE TO CAMP
Being comfortable camping in the hot summer months is all about location, location, location.
Be sure to research average temperatures and climate for the areas you’re thinking of camping in before you make a final decision on destination. Here are two things to consider:
Camp at Higher Elevation
Choose a destination at higher elevation during the summer months. Altitude makes a huge difference on temperatures. On a dry, sunny day, temperatures usually drop 5.4°F for every 1,000 feet in elevation gain according to NWS.
Temperatures also tend to drop more dramatically at night at higher elevation.
Going up in altitude, the pressure gradient between warm and cold air increases resulting in a greater pressure gradient and stronger winds. Strong breezes also keep you cooler at these higher elevations.
Choose a Destination with a Water Source for Swimming
Camping near rivers, lakes and streams in the summer months is not only a lot of fun, it can help you beat the heat.
Taking a dip in the cool water first thing in the morning and right before bed can significantly reduce body temperature keeping your cooler for hours.
If you choose to camp in an area with no place to swim, choose a campground with showers and take a cold shower before bed to cool you off.
TIPS FOR SETTING UP CAMP:
Once you decide on a destination, it’s time to choose the right campsite and set up camp.
Pitch Your Tent in the Shade
Choose a campsite with morning shade and be sure to pitch your tent accordingly. Nothing is worse than being woken up early in the morning because your tent feels like an oven. If your site doesn’t have shade, put up a shade structure over the tent or use a tarp to create make shift shade.
Remove Your Tent’s Rain Fly
A rain fly is a great addition to any tent but not when the summer sun is beating down on you. If rain is not in the forecast, remove the fly to keep the tent from holding in heat. You want as much air circulating through the tent as possible.
Bring The Right Tent
Not all tents are created equal. Some are designed specifically for cold weather or high wind. When choosing a tent for the summer, you want to choose one that won’t trap heat. Choose a lightweight double walled tent in a light color that will reflect heat better than a dark colored tent. Choose one with as much mesh as possible to allow maximum air flow for the best ventilation.
Make sure to leave all windows, doors and vents open. The mesh will still protect you from critters and bugs yet the breeze can get through.
Take Your Tent Down Each Morning
This next tip may sound like a hassle but it will make a big difference on comfort. Tents are like little greenhouses that trap heat during the day. A great way to prevent this is to take the tent down each morning after you get up and then put it back up in the early evening hours after the sun has gone down.
Use a Shade Structure Over the Common Area
Just like it’s important to pitch a tent in the shade, create your own shade over the areas of your campground where you will be spending most of your time. Put a shade structure over your picnic table and areas you plan on lounging at during the day.
If you don’t have a sun shade, use a tarp and some rope to create a make shift sun shade by tying the tarp to the surrounding trees. Meals and relaxation time will be much more pleasant if you’re not sitting in direct sun.
In setting up your structure or tarp, be sure not to block the wind. You do not want to prohibit a precious breeze from finding its way through camp.
TIPS FOR STAYING COOL WHILE SLEEPING
Bring a Light Weight Sleeping Bag & A Sheet
Like tents, not all sleeping bags are created equal. Check the bags temperature rating to make sure you are not bringing a zero degree bag on a summer camping expedition. Choose a light weight sleeping bag and use a sheet draped over you to keep you cooler at night. You can also use a silk sleeping bag liner that feels cooler on your skin than cotton and has quick dry technology to deal with body sweat. Normally, liners are used inside your bag and add a few degrees of warmth. However, used alone on top of your bag, they offer a great alternative to getting inside a sleeping bag in hot weather.
Sleep in a Hammock
A great way to beat the heat and stay cool at night is to sleep in a hammock.
Sleeping pads are meant to insulate you from the cold ground Being suspended in air with nothing beneath you allows you to stay much cooler since there is no air trapped around you.
Drape a Wet Towel Over Your Forehead at Night
It’s never easy to sleep when it’s hot. A great trick is to wet a towel or wash cloth with water, ring it out and drape it over your neck or forehead when you go to bed. I even draped an entire soaking wet towel over me one summer camping at Lee’s Ferry where temperatures were unbearable even at night just so I could get to sleep. It works.
Bring a Portable Tent Fan
Bring a portable, battery operated or solar tent fan to keep air circulating in the tent while sleeping. Much like a home ceiling fan, air flow can drop body temperatures significantly because when you sweat, the water turns from liquid to gas which requires heat taken from your skin which cools you off in the process. Just hook the fan to the top of the tent at night before going to bed.
TIPS ON WHAT TO WEAR
Bring Sturdy Hiking Sandals
Bring a pair of sturdy hiking sandals and ditch the heavy duty hiking boots that trap heat and require you to wear socks.
Good footwear is so important to get right. Be sure to pick a pair with no slip soles and some sort of straps.
If you do decide to wear hiking boots, avoid footwear with waterproof membranes and be sure to wear lightweight moisture wicking socks. These thin socks will not only keep you cooler, they will prevent excess sweating that can lead to blisters.
Wear a Wide Brim Hat
In winter, you wear a hat to trap heat so it may seem strange to suggest wearing a hat to cool off in summer. However, a lightweight hat with a wide brim can provide welcome shade to your face, neck and chest and help prevent heat stroke. It also protects your skin from the sun’s damaging rays and keeps the sun out of your eyes.
Soaking your hat in water before putting it on will keep you even cooler.
Put a Wet Bandana Around Your Neck
Soak a bandana in water and either tie it around your neck or drape it across the back of your neck. Better yet, buy a cooling bandana with crystal gel. The water absorbed by the gel evaporates and provides a cooling effect while the gel retains moisture so you don’t feel wet.
Wear Light Color Clothes
Black absorbs light and white reflects it. Therefore, avoid wearing dark colors that absorb heat from the sun making you even hotter. Wear whites, tans and other light colored clothes that reflect light and heat to stay cooler.
Pack Lightweight, Loose Clothing
Be sure to pack light weight clothes. Look for fabrics that are not only thin and light but also offer built-in UV protection. Make sure clothes are loose fitting to allow airflow that will help your body to better regulate temperature. Tight and restrictive clothing will make you hotter.
Nylon and polyester are good choices. Some shirts and pants even have designs that incorporate vents you can open on hot days to improve airflow and keep cool.
TIPS FOR HIKING IN HEAT
Bring Frozen Water Bottles
Pack your ice chest with frozen water bottles. Not only will they double as ice packs to keep food cold, they will provide you with ice cold water for hiking as they defrost throughout the trip. Having cold drinking water on a hot summer day makes a big difference.
Using an insulated water bottle will also trap the cold and keep your drinking water cool longer. Squirt bottles are also great choices as you can splash water on yourself to keep cool when the heat gets to be too much.
Hike Early Morning or Late Afternoon
The hottest time of day is typically noon to 3 p.m. Get an early start so that you can end your hike before noon, or head out sometime after 3 p.m. Summer days are longer and it doesn’t get completely dark until much later. This makes it possible to get a late start without worrying about losing daylight.
You can also go night hiking. Explore your surroundings after dark under a canopy of stars with the light of the moon. Be sure to bring a headlamp.
Hike in the Shade
If possible, choose a hike that is not in direct sun and offers shade. Choose routes with lots of trees or a slot canyon with steep canyon walls that keep out the sunlight.
Try to avoid hikes with constant, direct exposure to sun.
Hike With an Umbrella
Umbrellas are not just for rain. Hiking with an umbrella on a hot summer day is like having portable shade.
Have you ever been hiking in the direct sun searching for a spot to rest under a big shade tree? Remember how good it felt to stand beneath it, soaking in the cooler air for a few minutes? This is exactly what carrying an umbrella while hiking does.
Choose a Trail With a Water Source
If you have a choice, hike a trail that follows the river’s edge or takes you to a lake so you can put your feet in the water to cool off or take a swim.
Dry off in the air instead of using a towel so your body temperature stays cooler longer. It actually makes a big difference on how long your skin stays cold after you get out.
READ MORE:
Heat Exhaustion & Heat Stroke - Know the Signs and What to Do
These tips for beating the heat will help keep you cooler. However, they will not always keep you from suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Know the signs and what to do in case of an emergency.
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