Don’t cancel your weekend camp because it’s too hot! Be prepared and enjoy the warm weather. As we hit record highs in the US, it’s probably a good time to review some of the tips for camping in hot weather. Here are some tips for beating the heat that I have learned from my more than 25 years of camping with the Boy Scouts.
Tea 3 great staff The problems to take care of are heat, humidity and hydration:
Hot
As your body warms up, evaporation is your body’s way of handling cooling. As moisture (sweat) is released, heat is carried away. This works well in hot, dry areas.
Humidity
Moisture-saturated air will have a difficult time absorbing additional moisture through evaporation. Therefore, in humid areas it is necessary to create air movement to encourage evaporation. Windy areas around lakes are good for this.
Hydration
Perspiration draws water out of your body, which must be replaced frequently. Being thirsty is not a good indicator of your need for water. Surprisingly, your urine is the best indicator. Drink often enough so that your urine is clear or light in color. If it’s dark in color, drink more water!
Tips for drinking water:
- Keep water readily available and drink frequently
- Avoid drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages. They act as diuretics and remove fluids from your body.
- Drink a lot of water. Especially during strenuous activity like a hike. Bring plenty of water on a hike or walk to a familiar water source.
Clothing for hot climates
Choosing the right clothing for a hot-weather camp can go a long way toward making you a happy camper! Keep these tips in mind:
- Choose light-colored, breathable fabrics that don’t absorb heat. Leave your black “Metalica” t-shirt at home! ☺
- Wear a hat. Not only to provide shade, but also to protect against heatstroke and overheating.
- Nylon or polyester shorts and shirts are always good. The fabric is fresh, durable and will dry quickly when it perspires.
- Cotton is also a good option. But I find it doesn’t dry that fast and at night I don’t want a cold wet shirt on my back
Insects
If you are in an area infested with insects, you may need a hat with a net or you should wear light-colored long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Above all, apply and reapply insect repellent (based on DEET), especially around the ankles, neck and ears.
Sun
I hope everyone is “programmed” to put on sunscreen and wear a hat when going to summer camp, let alone hot weather camp. In humid climates, buy waterproof sunscreen so it won’t flake off when you perspire. And always wear at least 15 SPF. Don’t forget a lip balm! You can also get this at 15 SPF.
There is nothing worse than trying to sleep with a severe sunburn. ☹
Find shady spots to set up camp, bring a canopy or make one by placing a tarp between some trees.
Hot weather gear
When camping in hot weather, you can bring the same gear that you would normally take to camping, except your bedding needs to be lighter and cooler. What I mean by this is bring a lightweight nylon sleeping bag or sheet and a couple of blankets.
In hot, dry climates, sleeping under the stars is the best camping can offer. Slip a sleeping pad under your sleeping bag and you’re done. If you need more shelter, you can tie the ends of a tarp to the trees or lay the tarp over a tight-fitting robe, tied between two trees.
Most good 3 season tents have a rain fly that hovers over the tent to keep moisture out. This is good in hot and humid camps, but it would remove the fly from the rain in hot, dry areas so that you have a “screened” roof to keep insects out and gaze at the stars while you fall asleep.
Keeping things fresh
Once you’re set up at camp and have your personal hydration under control, your tent in the shade, and perhaps a canopy setup to get out of the sum, you’re pretty much ready to enjoy camping.
Keeping food and drinks cold in hot weather is not difficult. In the desert camp that I do, I bring two coolers, one for drinks and one for food. Know in advance that the beverage cooler will be open and closed all day, but not the food cooler. I bring extra ice and store it in the food cooler and as the beverage cooler loses ice I replace it. My coolers will keep food and drinks cold for about two days. Any camp longer than that and I have to do an ice trip.
If you are prepared and follow these tips, you can enjoy camping in hot climates and especially sleeping “under the stars” which is totally unique! I am constantly in awe of the number of stars in the sky on a warm, clear night.