Camping this Summer

Summer holidays is the perfect time for camping. Being outdoors on a hot summer’s day next to the beach or lake is absolutely glorious! While the longer days are ideal for family barbeques and beach cricket, we all need to be careful with the heat. If not managed properly, you’ll be waking up at 6:30am in a steaming sauna, and we all know how unpleasant that can be! To make your summer camping trip more comfortable, today we’ll be offering you 6 tips for staying cool in hot and humid weather. A great resource is Park Australia.

Pitching your tent

By strategically pitching your tent in the right location, you’ll avoid the scorching afternoon sun and hopefully get a nice breeze. Consider pitching your tent in the shade if possible to allow the trees to absorb most of the sunlight during the day. Also think about where the sun will be passing overhead during the day and try to maximise the amount of shade you can find.

If there’s no camping spots left in the shade, then it’s best to disassemble your tent during the day so it doesn’t heat up like a greenhouse. While it will take some extra work, you’ll be much happier getting inside your tent during the evening, and you’ll also prolong the life of your tent too!

Don’t camp near water

While it may appear to be cooler when camping near water, summer is the perfect breeding weather for mosquitoes and midges. Given that these pests breed in water, it’s best to pitch your tent a safe distance from any water. Of course, you’ll still need plenty of mozzie repellent but you won’t need to constantly worry about reapplying every couple of hours!

Invest in a good quality esky

Although it’s tempting to save a couple of bucks by buying a cheap esky, you’ll be paying for it later! Having better insulation and durability with your esky means that your food and drinks will stay colder for longer and you won’t need to keep topping it up with ice. You could also consider purchasing a 12V portable fridge which will allow you camp in remote destinations for longer periods without sacrificing any cold beer!

Use warming lights around your campsite

Instead of bringing standard lighting to hang up around your campsite, consider purchasing some warm orange lighting which is more bug-friendly. Moths and other bugs love bright white lights and will easily find their way into yourhair, your tent, and even your food! While you can never eradicate the bugs on summer camping trips, it sure goes a long way in helping! Also, don’t forget to close your fly mesh whenever you leave your tent.

Remove the rain fly from your tent

Tents made from synthetic material aren’t breathable like cotton and can get quite stuffy in hot weather. Many campers will actually remove their rainfly when it gets hot which allows plenty of fresh air to flow through the tent. Of course, you need to be sure it won’t rain that evening so you’ll need to check the weather forecast and have your rain fly handy in case it does get a little wet. You’ll find that removing your rainfly will make your tent considerably more comfortable and cooler.

Buy a portable fan!

Battery-powered portable fans are a fantastic investment for summer camping. Most portable fans are lightweight, quiet, and will attach to the tent’s wall, ceiling, or floor. Having a cool breeze swaying through your tent on a hot summer’s night is heavenly! Be careful though, once you get used to the pleasure of having a portable fan you’ll never leave home without it!

Naturally, you’ll also want to bring plenty of sunscreen and water for everyone. Staying hydrated is an effective way to regulate your body temperature and we should all be drinking at least 4 litres of water each day. Additionally, try to avoid sunburn as much as possible!

If you need any camping gear or equipment to make your next camping trip more comfortable, get in touch with the specialists at TJM Dandenong by phoning 03 9792 1116.