Condensation on quilt when cowboy camping

This well written article is always worth reviewing.

https://backpackinglight.com/single_wall_shelters_condensation_factors_tips/

If it’s warmer it’s less likely to happen, like above maybe 45 F

If it’s colder it’s more likely to happen

If you knew what the relative humidity was in the evening before that would be another indicator, if it starts higher it’ll be more likely to reach 100% when it get colder over night

Like in that article, if you camp under trees it’ll be less likely to happen.  Out in the open you get radiative cooling – your quilt will get 10 F colder, so more likely to have condensation.

I cowboy camp about half the time also.  The 10 months before June it rained every trip and just a few nights camped out.  Since I’ve done 14 nights without any rain, camping out.

If it’s clear and you can see the stars, it’s more likely to happen.  The very thing that makes it a good night to cowboy camp makes it a bad night to cowboy camp.

good point

if it’s clear then camping under trees is better

if it’s cloudy it doesn’t make any difference

Here are some good articles for you to read

. The Bivy Condensation Conundrum .

. Dew, Frost, Condensation, and Radiation .

. CONDENSATION IN SINGLE-WALLED SHELTERS: CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AND TIPS FOR REDUCTION .

.  STAYING DRY IN A BIVY SACK: TECHNIQUES FOR MANAGING THE MOISTURE BALANCE BETWEEN EXTERNAL PRECIPITATION AND INTERNAL CONDENSATION .

. NIGHT TIME CONDENSATION ON TARP AND TENT FABRICS .

It’s likely that the above articles cover it, but how saturated the ground you are sleeping on will definitely be a contributing factor with localized condensation. I’d recommend a ground sheet with good coverage to help obstruct the moisture. While you might wake up with a wet ground sheet on the underside, at least it’s not all over your quilt. In general, the earth below our sleeping pads is a sponge; any bulk water will both be absorbed and evaporate, depending on the air pressure, temperature, RH, and soil quality beneath.

Over the past few years when I’ve camped under the stars, I’ve very much enjoyed using a thin silk liner over top of my quilt. It acts as a wicking layer and I’ve definitely noticed a difference with the amount of surface condensation.

On a clear night, your quilt radiates infrared heat into deep space and gets little back unless you’re under a tree. On a cloudy night, your quilt radiates heat away but gets a similar amount of heat radiated back to it by the clouds.

An object can get 10 or 15F cooler than ambient in still air on a clear night. If the relative humidity is 70 or 60%, respectively, some dew will form. Higher RH than that and even more water will condense on your quilt.

As someone who always cowboys camps unless its raining, in which case I’m under a tarp. I normally try to camp under a big tree which tends to keep me dry most of the time. Ever seen a dry circle around a big tree when the rest of the ground has a layer of dew? Try not to camp next to a creek unless the humidity is low and the temperature won’t be too cold. I also find it more common when the ground still hasn’t fully dried out from the last rain storm.