Glamping or camping in a hot tent is one of the most uncomfortable experiences you’ll ever want to have. You can’t stay outside the tent because the sun is hot. And if you move inside the tent, it’s warmer than you would want it to be.
This kind of experience can make staying cool feels like a full-time job.
And if you don’t have electricity, cooling the tent can make you question your decision on why you are out glamping or camping in the first place.
However, you don’t have to worry if you find yourself in a tent with no electricity and the temperature is high. You can use one of the seven effective methods discussed in this blog post to cool your tent.
How to Cool a Tent Without Electricity
Sometimes we go out for adventure without any power supply. Sometimes, the electricity just decides to go off.
If you’re in either category, here are seven effective ways you can cool your tent when you don’t have access to electricity.
Use a Solar-Powered Fan
If you want something lightweight and portable that you can easily throw in your bag or a more permanent solution whenever you’re glamping, consider investing in a solar-powered fan.
Most solar powered fans are small fans so you can conveniently pack up for summer outings. They are also easy to work with as they harness the power of the sun to provide a cool breeze on hot days.
Use a Battery-Powered Fan
Battery-powered fans for tents are typically small which makes them easy hook onto tents or air vents.
They are lightweight and portable, and the best part is that you just need to charge them at home, and they will keep you cool for hours when glamping.
What’s more, you can easily control battery-powered fans with a remote. You can also adjust their height to best keep your tent cool. You can also move them around your tent for example, place them near your bed as you sleep when it’s hot at night.
Pick a Shaded Area for Camp
It’s not rocket science, but if you pitch your tent in the open when it’s supper sunny, your tent will get hot and make it unbearable to stay inside.
Your tent material, when exposed to the sun, will absorb heat, and the more it stays, the hotter it will be. This will not only raise the temperature inside, but it can also damage your tent over time, especially if your tent is not UV-repellant.
To cool your tent, aim to set up the tent in a shaded area. This can be under the trees. You can also use a tarp as shade.
Use a Cool Cloth
Get a cooling mat for the tent floor and a cooling pad and blanket for your bed. These three will help absorb body heat to keep you cool.
Cooling cloths can drop heat temperature by about 2 to 5 degrees.
What’s more, cooling cloths will not only make your stay inside the tent bearable, but they’re usually breathable, soft, comfortable, and gentle on sensitive skin making your camping experience better.
It’s wise to get these items before traveling for your trip if you know or suspects there will be a power outage.
Make Sure Your Tent is Well Ventilated
Another way to cool your tent without electricity is to ensure your tent is well-ventilated.
Ventilation is the most inexpensive and energy-efficient way to reduce heat buildup inside your tent.
Tents usually have a door opening that you can keep open when it’s hot inside. Make use of this opening to cool the inside of your tent.
Some tents also come with window openings which you can unzip and let air flow in and out, reducing the humidity or warmth inside the tent. Make use of this window opening if your tent has one.
Choose the Best Time To Set Up Your Tent
Avoid setting up your tent when it’s hot outside. If possible, set up your tent in the evening when the sun has gone down. This way, you’ll be minimizing the heat that can get caught up if you were to set up your tent when it’s too hot.
Set Up a Makeshift Air Conditioner
No electricity doesn’t mean no air conditioner. You can make an air conditioner to help cool your tent. And yes, making an air conditioner is easy. Here’s how you can go about it:
- Gather a few basic items: a large container, some ice, a fan, and a small towel or piece of cloth.
- Fill the container with ice and place it in front of the fan. The fan will blow air over the ice, cooling it down before it reaches you.
- Wet the towel or cloth with water, and hang it in front of the fan. As the air from the fan blows over the wet cloth, it will evaporate, creating a cooling effect.
- Turn on the fan and adjust its speed and direction to your liking. You should feel a nice, cool breeze in no time!
Here are a few extra tips to maximize the use of your new air conditioner:
- To make the makeshift air conditioner more effective, add salt to the ice. The salt will lower the freezing point of the ice, causing it to melt more slowly and last longer.
- You can also put the ice container in a larger container filled with water. This will help the ice last even longer, and the water will help to distribute the cold air more evenly.
- Experiment with different fan speeds and placements to find the most comfortable setting for you.
- Remember to refill the ice and rewet the cloth as needed to maintain the cooling effect.
Frequently Asked Questions on How to Cool a Tent Without Electricity
Here are frequently asked questions about tents and temperature.
Are Black Tents Hotter Than Other Colors?
The short answer is that black tents are not necessarily hotter than tents of other colors. The color of a tent (or any object) does not directly affect its temperature.
Here’s a little more information to explain why:
- The temperature of an object is determined by the amount of heat it absorbs from its surroundings and the amount of heat it radiates back into the environment.
- The color of an object affects how much light it absorbs and reflects. A black object absorbs more light (and therefore more energy) than a white object, which reflects more light.
- However, the temperature of an object is not directly related to the amount of light it absorbs or reflects. The amount of heat absorbed or radiated by an object depends on many other factors, such as its size, shape, and material.
- In the case of a tent, the color may affect how much sunlight it absorbs, but this is only one factor among many that determine its temperature. The tent’s material, thickness, and ventilation will also play a role in how hot or cold it feels inside.
So, to summarize: the color of a tent does not directly affect its temperature. Other factors, such as the tent’s material, size, and ventilation, are more important in determining how hot or cold it will be. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Why are Tents So Hot?
Tents can feel hot for several reasons. Some of the most common reasons include the following:
- Lack of ventilation: Tents typically have little space for air circulation. When the air inside the tent is stagnant, it can become stuffy and warm.
- Absorption of sunlight: Tents are often made of lightweight, thin materials that are designed to let light in. This can be a good thing in the morning when the sunlight can help warm up the tent, but it can also cause the tent to heat up quickly during the day.
- Lack of insulation: Some tents are not designed to provide insulation, so they do not trap heat very effectively. This means that the heat inside the tent can easily escape, making the tent feel cold at night. But it also means that the tent will not retain heat very well during the day, making it feel hot.
- Body heat: When people are inside a tent, they generate heat through metabolism and physical activity. This can make the tent feel warm, especially if there are several people inside.
Conclusion
There are a few things you can do to make a tent feel cooler, such as opening windows and vents to allow air to circulate, using a fan to blow air over the tent, and choosing a tent with reflective or light-colored materials to reduce the absorption of sunlight. All the above tips are practicable and effective. Try them out next time you go camping or glamping with no access to electricity.