How to stop condensation in your tent

If you are new to camping, and woken up in the morning with you and your gear all damp, and touching the side of the tent means more moisture on you and your belongings, it generally will be one of the following:

1)   It's been raining and you have a leaky tent
2)  You should have gone to the toilet before you went to bed because you have had a massive accident
3)  It's condensation

For the sake of this article, we are going to say it's number 3 on the list - condensation.

So what does that mean - tent condensation?

It's quite a simple concept.  There was a difference between the outside air temperature and the air inside your tent.   As the temperature dropped during the night,  your tent walls cooled down and your warm breath, containing water vapour, comes out, and it's trapped in your tent in the form of tiny little droplets of water.   With no escape, those droplets float around and land. 

But how to stop it?    

There are a few options to reduce this problem  (note - I am saying "reduce" instead of "stop" because I don't want to give you false hope that it can be 100% prevented). 

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1.  Ventilation

 Having a tent window or door open is the best way.    The air you exhale can escape.         It really is the number one way to help reduce condensation.

If the weather allows, open up as many vents as you can.     If there are a number of you sleeping in the tent, that's a lot of warm air being exhaled, so ventilation is going to be important.

If you do have lower vents, make sure that no gear is blocking the air flow into the tent.

Ventilation is all about letting your warm air escape, so it doesn't settle on surfaces.       Worried about being cold with those doors/vents open?   Invest in good sleeping gear. 

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2.  Consider your tent location

If you are pitching your tent, and concerned about condensation, think about your tent placement.      The more sheltered sites could be protected from a breeze (and that is something many of us want).  But a breeze can also be beneficial in getting air into your tent. 

In a valley might also be a problem, as cool air will collect there, making  your tent more susceptible to condensation.

Being close to rivers, dams, water sources can increase your chance of condensation due to humidity.
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3.  Avoid bringing in wet gear

 
Bringing in wet gear might be tempting, but this can lead to condensation too.   The moisture evaporates, adding to the water vapor in the tent.        If you possibly can, leave outside the tent (or bring inside, in dry sacks, so no evaporation occurs).

4. Don't cook inside your tent

I don't know of many people who actually would do this because its very unsafe, but it's worth mentioning.   The cooking process is going to generate a lot of moisture.   Don't do it.
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5.  Deal with it - with a towel

You might just have to deal with some condensation - sometimes it might be unavoidable.     Cool night, with no breeze.  Humid  weather will also be hard to deal with.      Despite your best efforts, condensation may form and a small towel/microfibre cloth will be needed to wipe up all the droplets on your tent.          

Are any tents going to be immune to condensation?     No.      There are too many factors as mentioned above that could cause condensation.      

​Condensation might just be a part of your camping experience to some degree or another.      If it's going to occur, move gear away from the sides of your tent to prevent them getting wet also.          Condensation is not ideal, but don't let it spoil your camping trip (just remember to dry your tent well before its packed away!).

More tent advice can be found here:


How to get mould off your tent

Nylon or Canvas - which one to choose for your tent?

Do you need a groundsheet for your tent? 

How to season a tent