Tips for Camping in a Heatwave
Posted by Gav Grayston.First Published Aug 2022; updated Jun 2023.
The extreme temperatures in the UK's heatwaves means some changes to the way we camp. Here are some tips for camping in a heatwave.
Camping on a sunny day is more enjoyable than cold, wet and windy.
However, the recent heat waves have caused unprecedented temperatures in the UK. We're not discussing a few sunny days that the press likes to talk up as heatwaves. We're talking 27 degrees Celcius and up.
Most tents in the UK are designed to keep the rain out. Camping in these higher temperatures needs a few precautions.
The Obvious Advice
Hydration
Everyone needs to keep hydrated. That goes without saying, but I said it 😉
All UK campsites must provide clean drinking water.
However, not all kids will drink water, especially when it is warm.
Yes, warm.
The water will get warm if you have the container in your tent.
And depending on where the campsite has run its freshwater pipes, those pipes may heat up to.
If the pipes are exposed, the water may come out of the tap, scolding hot. So be careful, and don't let the kids play with the drinking water - especially as there may be a water usage ban in your camping area.
Tip
Keep your water container on the shady side outside your tent. And yes, this may mean moving it as the shadow moves during the day.
Keep your water container out of the sun
More Info: Outwell Collaps water carrier.
You may be tempted to fill water bottles and place them in your coolbox. Unfortunately, this will raise the temperature inside your coolbox and spoil your food.
Talking of which...
Coolboxes and Freezers
Some campsites provide fridges and freezers for campers to use. Use them to re-freeze freezer blocks.
Non-powered cool boxes will warm very quickly in a hot tent. If you are on an electric hook-up and have a powered coolbox, then that's better. But even those with these extreme temperatures won't stay too cool.
Again, try to position them in the shade, out of the sun.
Tip
Use the campsite's fridges and freezers. Use a powered coolbox if you can. Keep it out of the sun.
Powered coolboxes help, but you must keep them out of the sun.
More Info: Outwell ECO Lux.
UPF and Sun Protection
The high temperatures bring a high amount of harmful ultraviolet rays.
Of course, everyone needs to wear sun cream.
Some tents have some protection from the UV rays, but others don't, so sitting inside the tent may not block those harmful UV rays.
Tip
Check whether your tent blocks harmful UV rays.
Our tent reviews indicate what level of sun protection the tent has. Note that UVF 50 has less protection than UPF 50.
For example, a UPF 50 fabric blocks 97&percent; of the sun’s raysskincancer.org
Venting and Airflow
The inside of the tent will get unbearably hot.
If you have a polycotton tent, you will be more insulated from the sun's rays than regular tents. However, with these heatwave temperatures, it will still get very hot.
Open all your doors and vents to get some airflow through the tent.
If you have bug mesh on all your doors and windows, you can open all your doors and vents with the bugs kept out. (Even better, if you have one of the Outwell Quick and Quiet doors, you can come and go and the bug mesh self-closes behind you).
Doors open, but bug mesh is closed!
Tip
Open all the doors, windows, and vents.
However, bug mesh does slow the airflow a little bit. You might want to make a call to open everything up... except the bedrooms, perhaps.
BTW, if you have teenagers that like to sleep in, they will be roasting in their bedroom.
Tip
Rise a little earlier before the sun, and the tent's bedrooms, get too hot.
If you are on an electric hook-up, use a fan, but position it with an open door behind it so it helps bring cooler air in. Yes, it might be 40 degrees Celcius outside, but inside your tent, it will be MUCH hotter.
Tip
Position a fan with an open door behind it.
And something grosser...
Chances are it's going to be warm all night too.
Warm at night or in the morning as soon as the sun starts to shine can mean a sweaty sleeping bag and bed!
Tip
Dry your sleeping bags and beds in the sun.
And for all those inflatables.
Inflatable Tents
Reduce the pressure in your air-filled tubes.
This is very important.
The air will expand in the tubes. If you have them at max pressure, there is a high chance that your tube will burst.
You need to reduce the air in your air tubes.
Reduce the pressure in the tubes so that the air has room to expand.
If you are experiencing colder nights and the beams start to sag, pump more air in at night. However, let that air out when the sun starts shining the next day.
Tip
Reduce the pressure in your air tubes so they don't split.
Inflatable Beds
The same goes for air mattresses and SIMs.
They may not be outside in the sunshine, but the tent's bedrooms will get extremely hot.
Tip
Let air out of your inflatable mattresses in the morning; add it back at night.
Laying on the Vango AirHead inflatable mattress. But remember to let some air out on very hot days.
Happy camping!