The summer heat is unbearable, especially when you are sleeping in a tent at night. To help you cool down, I’ve gathered eight tricks and tips on how to stay cool in a tent.
A hot tent is uncomfortable to rest in while camping. Prolong exposure to high temperatures is also incredibly dangerous and cause dehydration. If you plan to camp in hot weather, it is especially important to stay hydrated and cool down.
In this post, I will teach you how to keep your tent cool in the summer with and without electricity. Let’s get started!
I may earn a small commission for purchases made through links in this post at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Frugal Home Addict! Learn more about my disclaimer policy here.
How To Stay Cool In A Tent
It is important to stay cool inside a tent in hot weather. Below, I’ve gathered eight easy tips on how to stay cool in a tent at night. I’ve also recommended several helpful products I felt had the most value for the cost.
Best Products To Keep Cool In A Hot Tent
1. Cool Your Tent With A Portable Camping Fan
While camping, it can be tough to keep a hot tent cool. The easiest tip on how to keep your tent cool in the summer is to use a portable camping fan. For hot nights, you can position the fan towards your sleeping bag to help you rest better at night.
A camping fan is a must-have for any camper, but it can be hard to find the right one. Fortunately, most portable and handheld fans are battery-powered, lightweight, and compact so they can easily fit inside any backpack. For camping, you’ll need to select a portable fan with a long battery duration.
To cool down a tent, I highly recommend using this Portable Camping Fan from AmaCool. This portable fan can last up to 40 hours on the fan mode and has a convenient built-in hook to hang it directly from your tent. This product also has a built-in LED lantern, is super mini-sized, and has three fan speeds!
2. Cool Down Quickly With Cooling Towels
Cooling towels are essential items for camping trips and outdoor activities! These reusable towels are designed to provide cooling relief without electricity or refrigeration. To use, simply soak the towel in water, squeeze out the water, and shake it three to five times. The towel instantly chills and you can wear it on your neck to cool down!
These towels also come in handy during power outages when you need a way to stay cool without electricity. If you plan to go camping in hot weather, this is a great product to help you cool down during hot nights and sleep better. Cooling towels one of my favorite products and tips on how to stay cool in a tent.
I highly recommend using these amazing Cooling Towels from Amazon. These towels come in a pack of four and are made of a soft breathable mesh material. The towels are lightweight, super affordable, and can stay chilled for up to three hours!
3. Open The Tent’s Vents And Doors
Looking for an easy tip on how to keep a tent cool in the summer without electricity? Open up the tent’s vents and doors to allow cooler air to flow inside. The improved ventilation can help unwanted heat escape from your hot tent, helping you cool down better while camping.
If you have a portable camping fan, try aiming the fan near a vent so that it draws in cool air. A fan can help increase air flow so your tent can cool down faster. If it’s still too hot to sleep in the tent, try sleeping without your sleeping bag.
4. Go Camping In A Summer Tent
Coleman Dome Tent for Camping | Amazon
There are many ways to make summer camping more enjoyable and comfortable. One of these is a summer tent. These tents are designed specifically for hot weather and provide a lot of ventilation as well as insulation from heat.
If you are going camping this summer, I highly recommend to consider buying a summer tent. Summer tents come in many different forms and sizes but they all share some common traits: they’re lightweight, effectively block sunlight, and have large mesh windows and vents that allow for greater airflow at night (without inviting bugs inside).
Summer tents are one of the easiest and best tips on how to stay cool in a tent without electricity. If you are looking for a quality tent on a budget, I highly recommend checking out Coleman’s Dome Tent for Camping. This tent effectively blocks out 90% of sunlight, is weatherproof, and has a large nine by four feet full-floor screen room for bug-free lounging!
5. Cover Your Tent With A Reflective Cooling Tarp
Tents can get really hot in the summertime. To help your tent stay cool while camping, I recommend covering your tent with a reflective cooling tarp. A reflective tarp is a reflective cloth that reflects sunlight, deflects heat, and provides a relaxing shade to help lower the temperature inside your tent.
These cooling tarps are lightweight so they won’t add too much weight to your pack. If you plan to camp during the summer, I recommend bringing along a reflective cooling tarp to help prevent a hot tent. This is a great tool and tip on how to keep your tent cool without electricity.
For outdoor and camping using, try using this 70% Reflective Sun Shade Cloth from Be Cool Solutions. This shade cloth has a clever reflective knitted mesh design to provide maximum shade and air flow to your tent. This product is weatherproof, has great value for the price, and is super easy to mount.
6. Bring Ice Water In A Water Cooler
Not sure how to stay cool in a tent? If you are camping in hot weather, it is important to stay hydrated. I recommend bringing ice water in a large water cooler to help you beat the heat, keep your body temperature down during warm nights, and prevent dehydration. Water coolers are a convenient way to stay hydrated and cool in the summer.
While camping, make sure to have enough water on hand. It is recommended to bring at least 2 gallons of water per day per person camping. However, it’s better if you bring more as your body needs more fluids when it’s hot outside. Before heading out, make sure to completely fill up the water cooler with ice and water.
For camping in the summer, I recommend using Stanley’s 2 Gallon Insulated Rugged Water Jug. This amazing durable insulated water jug locks in the cold and keeps water chilled all day. The built-in handle makes it super easy to transport it to your campsite. I highly recommend checking it out!
7. Pitch Your Tent In A Shaded Area
Looking for more helpful tips on how to keep a tent cool in the summer? During hot days, make sure to pitch your tent in a shaded area. The shade will help keep the temperature of your tent low by limiting its exposure to the sun’s hot rays.
This is an easy tip to help keep your tent cool and comfortable without electricity. The shaded area will help prevent the sun from heating up your tent and making it too hot to sleep in at night. If you can’t find a shaded area while camping, I recommend covering your hot tent with a reflective cooling tarp to shade it from the sun.
8. Wear Breathable Clothes
It is important to wear lightweight clothing when camping in hot weather. Breathable clothes will help you stay cool and dry in your tent at night while sleeping. For sunny hot days, I recommend wearing light-colored clothing so that the heat from the sunlight doesn’t absorb into your clothes.
Looking for breathable clothes to wear camping this summer? I recommend wearing moisture-wicking clothes which won’t trap body heat inside and will allow your skin to breathe. This is a quick and simple tip on how to stay cool in a tent during the summer.
Avoid clothes made of nylon, acrylic, polyester, and fleece. These fabrics are NOT moisture-wicking and will make you super hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable during warm days. Instead, opt for clothes made of cotton, linen, or silk which have excellent breathability.
Can’t Cool Down The Tent? Ditch It.
If the heat is too unbearable and you can’t cool down the tent enough for sleeping, it’s time to ditch it. In order to not sleep directly on the ground, I recommend using a camping mat or hammock to lift you off the ground. If it’s still too hot, make sure to sleep outside your sleep bag.
Hot weather can be incredibly dangerous so make sure you are keeping yourself hydrated. Note that temperatures above 105°F are considered too dangerous for camping. Consider heading back home and trying again on a cooler and safer day.
Summarized: How To Keep Your Tent Cool In The Summer
In this post, I’ve gathered the best tools and tips on how to stay cool in a tent in hot weather. Below, I’ve listed all the main points from this post in one convenient list.
How To Keep Your Tent Cool
The easiest tips to cool down a hot tent:
- Go camping in a summer tent. I recommend Coleman’s Dome Tent for Camping which blocks out 90% of sunlight and has a large full-floor screen room for amazing ventilation at night.
- Cover your tent with a reflective cooling tarp. These clever tarps deflect heat and shade your tent, while still allowing air to flow through.
- Open the tent’s vents and doors. The improved ventilation can help unwanted heat escape from your hot tent, helping you cool down better at night.
- Pitch your tent in a shaded area. The shade will help block strong sun rays from heating up your tent.
How To Stay Cool In A Tent
The best hacks to cool yourself down during a hot camping trip:
- Cool yourself with a portable camping fan. I recommend using this super lightweight, compact, and long lasting battery powered camping fan from AmaCool which has a convenient built-in hook to hang inside your tent.
- Cool down quickly with cooling towels. These amazing towels provide quick cooling relief without electricity or refrigeration!
- Bring ice water in a water cooler. For camping, I recommend using Stanley’s 2 Gallon Insulated Rugged Water Jug. This amazing, durable insulated jug helps keep drinks cool all day long!
- Wear breathable clothes. Go for moisture-wicking clothes to keep your body dry and comfortable at night.
Conclusion: How To Stay Cool In A Tent
Camping is a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy the natural beauty of the outdoors. However, it is not all sunshine and rainbows.
The summer heat can be unbearable when you are inside a tent. It is important to keep your tent cool during the summer to make sure you and others don’t overheat. In this post, I’ve listed the best tricks and tips on how to stay cool in a tent in hot weather.
The heat can make it difficult to sleep at night while camping. But, if you prepare properly, it is easy to keep cool in a tent. Even without electricity, using the methods above, it is totally possible to keep cool in a hot tent.
I hope this post gave you some helpful tips on how to keep your tent cool in the summer. Good luck, have fun, and stay safe!
