Rainfall makes everything seem so fresh and beautiful. While trekking, I enjoy a slight drizzle as it rejuvenates my tired spirits. The greens get greener, the flower drip droplets creating a mesmerising view, and the nature simply seems to be in its finest form when the thunder strikes.

However, when it comes to pitching a tent for nightly rest, the rain turns into my worst enemy. With dripping droplets inside my tent, my haven transforms into an unpleasant place. Condensation at night, is another major issue that I have faced on my camping trips that leads to wetness inside the tent.  After struggling for a year or so with rain and nightly condensation, I decided to solve my problem by learning about preventive measures that could stop precipitation. All my research paid rich dividends, and I was able to overcome the issue. Here, I would like to share with you my experience, so you do not suffer from the problems created by a wet tent.

There are three strategies you can employ for creating a dry haven in the wild.

Camp Near Trees

The air under the tree is always warmer than the air found in the open fields. Find a tree that has a large spawn, so that air cold air is restricted to a bare minimum. The impact of rain will be minimized and condensation that happens at night will take place in the foliage of the tree instead of your tent.

Reduce Additional Moisture Sources Inside Your Tent

  • Apart from external elements, there are three major reasons for moisture in a tent:Humid air inside the tent
  • Moisture inside the tent by each breath you take at night
  • Wet items inside the tent that create moisture

When you are inside a tent, you have no other option but to breathe in whatever air is present inside the tent. You cannot control what is outside, but you can always tweak the internal elements as per your requirements. The internal elements mentioned above are within your control and you can adjust them or eliminate them, and minimize the moisture level. Always dry things before getting inside the tent, so that the moisture content is at its lowest.

Ventilate Early, Often and Fully

Ventilating the inside of the tent is a great way to remove moisture. Below are a few steps that you can follow for replacing the interior air with the dry air:

  • If there is a gentle breeze outside, pitch your tent so the door is facing into it.
  • It’s always better to open all rainfly doors and roll up sections. You should only deploy them if the rain starts to fall.
  • Stake the tent out tightly and tension the fly for maximising the airspace between it and the wall of the tent.
  • Make a habit of opening all rainfly vents, especially opposing ones for cross ventilation.
  • Make sure that you open all inner tent windows.

By following the above-mentioned strategies, I could minimise the moisture level considerably. Now my nocturnal experiences have improved a great deal and I am able to sleep in peace. I hope you follow my plan and gain the same sense of satisfaction while resting. As rest recharges your batteries on a gruelling hike, you should never compromise on your comfort and keep the moisture away.