No matter how much we’re delighted by it, camping in hot weather needs a bit of preparation and planning otherwise what should be the massive bonus of camping in glorious sunshine can turn into a trial of endurance just as it would be in the pouring rain, so here are some tips to help.
- Camping in hot weather requires preparation.
- Lack of planning can make hot weather camping something to be endured rather than enjoyed.
- Tips to help make camping in hot weather more comfortable.
We all know that the UK weather can be fickle, so the first thing to do is to check the weather forecast for where you are going as close as you can to departure. Once you know it’s going to be hot and sunny that great because that’s exactly what you can plan for.
Once you’ve checked in to the site, if the weather is sunny, try as hard as you can to get a pitch that looks like it has some shade cover. If there’s nowhere obvious, as a DIY measure, you could use a tarpaulin or other sturdy fabric, tent pegs, cords, and even your vehicle and some tent poles to create a DIY shade sail and pitch your tent there.
Add some natural air conditioning by pitching where there’s a breeze if you can.
Alternatively, you might choose a to invest in a reflective sunshade – just make sure that you leave enough of a gap – at least 30cm – between the sunshade and the top of the tent to allow for a flow of air.
If you’ve opted for an electric hook-up, you could bring a portable fan or there are plenty rechargeable ones available. Another good DIY tent cooler is to installa bucket of ice or even freezer blocks that will slowly melt overnight keeping the tent that little bit cooler.
Although you might have a specific summer weight sleeping bag, if it’s really hot and looks likely to remain so overnight, you could sleep in a sleeping bag liner instead. It might add to the investment if you use it as an extra layer when camping in colder weather. And if you keep the sleeping bag handy, you could always use it as a blanket if the temperature drops too much for your liking.
It goes without saying that you’re going to dress for the weather. If that involves minimal coverage for you, then make sure that you remember to apply regular sunscreen. Otherwise, lighter coloured, loose fitting clothes are ideal, with an extra layer for evenings when the temperature is bound to drop despite the campfire (and don’t forget mosquito repellent).
You need to remain hydrated even more than usual in hot weather so keep your water cooler full and make sure that you keep on drinking plenty of liquids. Use a cooler to keep food and drink cool and remember that fruit and salad have a high water content, so it makes sense to eat plenty of them during the day when the last thing you’ll want to do is cook on a fire. Save cooking for the evenings when the temperature will drop anyway.
Camping in the sunshine? We love it.