What to Bring When Camping in the Heat

People who are not fond of the heat avoid planning camping trips during summer. But the scorching sun shouldn’t stop you from enjoying a camping trip with your friends and family by a lake or in the forest. To enjoy camping in the heat, you should take extra measures so that the sweltering heat doesn’t bother you.

Who wouldn’t love a swim in the cool water on a hot summer day? But as soon as you’re done, you should have arrangements of cooling down with the help of an air conditioner or a tent fan, chilled beverages, sweat-proof clothing, and more. At the end of the day, you do not want to get sick as your body faces fluctuations in extreme temperatures.

Camping in the heat can be dangerous if not properly prepared

Dangers of Heat or Sun

Too much heat can cause multiple health issues starting from heat rash and heat exhaustion to fainting and heat stroke. As your body is not habituated to constant heat in the outdoors, the never-ending sweating leads to dehydration, and before you know it your body is unable to withstand it anymore.

Therefore, it’s important to camp out in a tent that has sufficient airflow, to state the least. Of course, there are extra measures you can take to cool down in your sleeping area (which will be covered in this article).

To prevent dehydration and constant fatigue, you’re supposed to drink more water than you think when camping in the heat. Whether you plan to hike or sunbathe you’re bound to sweat under the fiery sun so drink at least a liter of water every 3 or 4 hours.

A mandatory product that will keep your skin protected is a good sunscreen lotion. Sunburn can be extremely painful and if you’re unfortunate enough to obtain a few, it’s hard to get rid of them quickly. People also tend to forget about their lips so bring along your favorite lip balms that have SPF in it as your lips can easily get sunburnt too. Clothing also plays a huge role when you’re out in the sun. If you’re just relaxing by your tent, make sure to wear lightweight clothing preferably cotton so that the heat doesn’t get trapped.
When you’re camping in the heat, do not forget to take breaks in the shade if you’re out for a long hike. This will help you cool down before you put yourself out in the sun again.

List of Useful Camping Gear for the Heat

Sweat-proof Clothing

When camping in the heat it’s important to wear swear-proof clothing. Such clothes have moisture management or wicking properties which allows them to quickly get rid of the sweat off your skin. You’re bound to face humidity on a hot summer day, and the concentrated water vapor in the air will not let the sweat on your skin to evaporate.
In such cases, you must choose clothes that hang slightly off your body so that its moisture management feature allows the sweat to vanish in no time. Although sweat-proof clothing is usually made of synthetics such as nylon or polyester, you can also look into cotton or merino wool. They can be great options as long as you’re out in the open and they are a comfortable fit.

Insulated Water Bottles

Insulated water bottles are a must when camping in the heat. These are perfect for keeping water or any other preferred beverages cold for hours at a time. As you sweat profusely under the scorching sun, it’s important to keep yourself hydrated at all times, and nobody likes to drink warm water in the heat. Insulated water bottles are economically and environmentally conscious as opposed to plastic water bottles.
Depending on the brand or model of insulated water bottles, it can keep the beverage hot or cold up to 24 hours, so at least you’ll have access to cold water the first day when you’re camping in the heat. They come in multiple sizes, shapes, and designs so you can purchase the one that fits your aesthetic!

Water Filter

Water filters are also essential when camping in the heat especially if your camping trip lasts for a couple of days. It’s not practical to carry gallons of water just because you’ve chosen an isolated spot to camp. Water filters can transfer any water safe for drinking and eliminates the need to carry more than necessary.
There are a plethora of options available in the market so you can select one based on the size, design, filtration capacity, and price. You can find them in the shape of bottles or pouches. Since most of them kill up to 99.99% of bacteria, they fall under an essential gear to bring to your camping trip.

Tent Fan

When camping in the heat, tents can become hot boxes if there’s no ventilation. Also, the little ventilation that you can create by leaving a zipper of the tent open is not enough to beat the heat. Therefore, it’s advisable to bring a tent fan when you’re camping in the heat.
Battery-powered tent fans are the best option as they do not require any electricity or external cords. As for batteries, D batteries are great as they ensure sufficient power to run overnight. Usually, the battery lasts up to 72 hours, and multiple D batteries will of course last longer than a single D battery. Select a portable fan that will fit easily in your tent and does not take up too much space. Hanging fans are great as it keeps your tent floor clear of additional equipment.

Portable Air Conditioner

To beat the heat, portable air conditioners are of course superior to tent fans. The best sleep is achieved at a lower temperature. Therefore, if you plan to have the most comfortable sleep even in the wilderness, a portable AC unit is the way to go.
You should select an air conditioner for your camping trip depending on whether you have access to electricity or not. Normally, in public campgrounds, you’ll have access to electricity. However, if you’re camping in an isolated area, you might have to opt for an AC unit that runs on battery. Although they might not run as long as the other option, they’re still better than a tent fan.

Large Hats and Sunglasses

These accessories are crucial to beat the heat. The last thing you need in the heat is unprotected eyes and face from the blazing sun. Large sun hats protect the head and neck and in turn, save you from direct sunlight. For camping in the heat, the ideal sunglasses are the ones that block 99-100% UVA and UVB rays. You may also look into the ones that ensure UV absorption up to 40 nm.

So do not forget to pack your favorite sun hat and a pair of sunglasses when you go for your next camping trip in the summer.

Conclusion

Camping in the heat doesn’t mean you have to be dehydrated and miserable in the middle of nowhere. It can be turned pleasant with the right cooling camping gear. As long as you are aware of the dangers of the heat and how to protect yourself from it, you will be able to make your camping trip in the heat pleasurable.