Summer is in full swing, and that means scorching temperatures and harsh UV rays beating down. It’s tough out there in the summer sun. Desert, beach, and music festival campers know too well how tiring extreme heat can be. But it would be a shame to miss out on the beautiful summer season without trying! As you read, discover ways to beat the summer heat, stay safe, hydrated, and make the most of your camping trip!
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Staying Cool While Camping
Staying cool while camping in the peak of summer can be a little tricky. To a certain extent, it’s just going to be hot, you’re going to sweat, but it’s okay because you’re camping anyway. But when it comes to your health, safety, and comfort over the course of a camping trip, it’s important to be prepared.
Sunburn, exhaustion, and poisoning are serious. The good news is, they’re avoidable! With a little extra planning, you’ll be cool, calm, and collected for an easy breezy summer camping trip. Keep reading to learn the ways you can beat the heat and have fun on your camping trip this summer.
Use a Breathable Canvas Tent
Nylon and synthetic fabrics are notoriously uncomfortable in the summer. These materials trap heat and moisture, creating a muggy, stuffy tent. That makes it hard to find any relief from hot days, and makes for uncomfortable nights. This season, ditch the old tents for cool canvas.
Select a tent whose very fibres will aid in keeping you cool. A canvas camping tent is naturally insulating and breathable. Any cool air that flows into the tent, the canvas works to maintain the coolness inside. Additionally, since this is a natural material, it remains breathable. You won’t have to worry about mugginess or moisture getting trapped inside. Come in from a hot day and find instant cooling relief.
Ventilation and Airflow
Cooling down a tent means you need to have a constant flow of air. Especially at night, when doors are zipped. That’s when roof vents and mesh-covered windows come in handy. Roof vents allow for constant ventilation. Mesh-covered windows let campers unzip window covers at night and still feel secure.
Sleeping Solutions
In addition to a breathable canvas tent with ventilation, there are a few things you can do to stay cool at night. This can be the hardest time to feel comfortable. When nights are hot, and you can’t necessarily leave your tent, here are some tips for keeping cool.
Ditch the sleeping bag! In the heat, these can feel claustrophobic, heavy, and just too much material. Opt for your sleeping mat, pillow, and a couple of comfortable blankets. These are far more adjustable as you sleep. Even sleeping in a hammock or a lifted cot is a great option on warm nights. Air can circulate freely all the way around. Bring a battery-operated fan to hang from the ceiling and circulate internal air, too.
Create As Much Shade As Possible
Maybe you’re camping in the desert, or at a higher elevation. If you know it’s going to be a hot, unsheltered camping trip, be prepared. Pack extra camping tent accessories to create shade for you. Bring a canvas tarp or sunshade tarp. With grommets, guylines, and stakes, you can create a makeshift shade to adjust however you like at camp. Bonus points if it’s a reflective material! This will ping the sunlight off the tarp so it doesn’t absorb the heat.
Get real fancy and install a tent awning on your tent. This provides designated shade at your campsite. Especially for desert campers, where trees are limited. It turns your tent into quite a larger setup, but it is so worthwhile. On a hot day, no one wants to be stuck inside the tent trying to cool off. But with outdoor shade, campers can still enjoy the fresh air and scenery in the safety of their shade.
Hydration and Nutrition
Hydrating on hot summer days goes without saying! Bring an insulated water bottle and extra water jugs. Pack enough water for at least two days, and a little extra. Additionally, amp up your hydration with electrolytes. Sports drinks, coconut water, and electrolyte packets are great sources. This works beyond quenching thirst to help your body better absorb the hydration.
When we think of hot weather, we usually only tend to think about water and hydration. But having plenty to eat makes a big difference, too! Being properly nourished in extreme temperatures allows the body to regulate and function. It can help prevent heat exhaustion and fatigue. Eat plenty of protein to sustain you throughout your hot summer day adventures.
Camp by the Water
Is a heatwave making its way? Try to book a campsite near the water! It’s hard to argue the relief of a cool mountain lake, or dipping your toes in an icy rushing river on a hot afternoon. If you’re able to, try to prioritize getting in the water. Of course, if you’re already desert camping or at a music festival, you’ll have limited options. But, if you have more flexibility, look to book a site on the coast or near a lake. Besides being able to get into the water, the air tends to be cooler by the water, since wind travels across the surface and cools as it moves.
SPF, UPF, and Hats
You’d best be bringing enough sunblock to share in the summertime! We know well enough these days the dangers of extensive sun exposure. Keep you and your friends protected with an effective sunscreen. The key is to reapply throughout the day. Especially if you’re sweating and swimming.
UPF clothing is a sneaky way of enhancing sun protection. This stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. UPF clothing works like sunscreen to reinforce protection from the harsh sun rays. A wide-brimmed hat that protects your neck and shoulders completes the outfit! For a DIY solution, protect the back of your neck from the sun by layering a t-shirt under your hat. You can also soak a bandana in cold water to wrap around your neck during a hot hike.
First Aid: Dealing With Sun Burns, Heat Exhaustion, and More
Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, someone ends up with a little too much sun. From burns to exhaustion, it’s smart to be prepared! First aid should already be something in your camping essentials. When you know the temperatures are going to be sky-high, you should come extra prepared.
Bring burn relief solutions, and follow the steps to proper sunburn care. Start by cooling the sensitive skin. With a wet cloth or aloe, this helps the inflamed skin calm down. Follow up with moisturizer for sensitive skin. In extreme cases, pain-relieving medicines may be necessary. Continue to hydrate, as this will help cell reproduction during the healing process. Antihistamines come in handy when the itchiness and blisters set in.
Heat exhaustion can hit especially when you’re being really active in extreme heat. Be sure to keep an eye on each other if you’re out hiking, biking, or exerting yourselves in the heat. If someone does seem to have heat exhaustion, cool them off as quickly as possible. Hydrate them, dampen a cloth for their neck, and sit down to rest. The point is to slow down, rehydrate, and stay cool.
Wrapping Up…
Summer’s heating up, but we’re still going camping! Despite the heat, there is so much fun to be had in the great outdoors this season. So, with a little extra preparation and flexibility, get ready for an easy, breezy camping trip.
Turn a canvas camping tent into your cool oasis from the heat. It’s naturally breathable and has extra features to enhance airflow and circulation. Trying to get some shut-eye on a hot night can be the bane of a summer camper’s existence. But with a minimalistic sleeping setup, refreshing rest will come easily.
Creating makeshift shade solutions is an important skill. Especially for those planning to camp in the desert or at a festival where natural shade is going to be hard to come by. Bring extra materials like a sunshade, tarp, or a tent awning. These are serious game changers in being able to enjoy the outdoors while staying cool.
Hydration, nutrition, and UV protection are a given when thinking about summer camping. Enhance hydration with electrolytes, and pack plenty of protein. Wear and reapply plenty of sunscreen, and invest in UPF protective clothing. Pack plenty of sunburn relief in your first aid kit, and you’re all set!
Enjoying the sunshine while camping doesn’t have to be uncomfortable or exhausting. Let it be one of the biggest joys of the season! Replenish your vitamin D intake while staying cool and safe.
Happy camping!
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