Podcast 013 | SKILLS SHORT – Tent-bound in a Storm

by Backpacking Light on July 8, 2019 New Features, Podcasts

Stream

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Summary

In this episode, Ryan offers some practical guidelines for managing wet gear, condensation, and camp chores if you have to be holed up in a tent during a prolonged period of inclement weather.

Outline

What happens inside a tent in inclement weather?
- Relative humidity and dew point
- How condensation forms
  - Effects of excess moisture vapor
  - Effects of temperature drops
How to manage condensation
- Convective air flow using differential ventilation
- Campsite location and wind
- Minimize sources of moisture
Wet gear management
- Raingear, clothing, footwear
- What I use for a mud room
- Mentioned: Locus Gear Djedi
Shelter Setup and Takedown in Inclement Weather
- What I do with a Djedi-style tent
- I’m a fan of this American tent, which offers a fly-first pitch option
  - read my review
  - watch my review video so you can see how I pitch it fly-first
  - visit the maker
Cooking in a tent
- About my upcoming “How to Cook in a Tent” video
- How hikers have it wrong about “minimizing the risk” of cooking in a tent
Bathroom breaks and the pee bottle
How I go outside my tent without having to put on wet shoes and socks without having to pack the extra weight of camp shoes
Packing up wet gear and a wet tent
- Where I store my wet tent fly
- This pack has a terrific wet gear pocket (see my review or watch my YouTube video about it)
- What I do with the wet tent fly while hiking

Feedback, Questions, Tips?

Submit them via email or Twitter and get featured on our next podcast!

Credits

Backpacking Light – Executive Producer
Ryan Jordan – Director and Host
Andrew Marshall – Producer and Host
Brian Rigby – Guest Interview
Look for Me in the Mountains – Music
- Written by: Chris Cunningham and Ryan Jordan
- Performed by: Chris Cunningham (acoustic guitar, lead and harmony vocals, harmonica), Chad Langford (upright bass), and Tom Murphy (mandolin).
- Produced by: Basecamp Studios in Bozeman, Montana

Contact

You can contact us at podcast@backpackinglight.com, or follow us on social media –

Backpacking Light – Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Andrew Marshall – Instagram | Twitter | WWW
Ryan Jordan – Instagram | Twitter | WWW

Comments

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

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Jul 8, 2019 at 5:36 pm #3601142

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies
Companion forum thread to: Podcast 013 | SKILLS SHORT – Tent-bound in a Storm
In this episode, Ryan offers some practical guidelines for managing wet gear, condensation, and camp chores if you have to be holed up in a tent during a prolonged period of inclement weather.
Jul 8, 2019 at 11:51 pm #3601177

James Marco
BPL Member

@jamesdmarco
Locale: Finger Lakes
A good review of wet weather camping. Thanks!

Jul 10, 2019 at 7:56 am #3601379
Rex Sanders
BPL Member

@rex
Locale: Central California Coast
Great overview, I learned a few things.
A few more tips especially for single-wall tents:
- Avoid contact with wet tent walls to keep you and your gear dry. You might need a shelter with more headroom and interior space, walls that don’t impede movement, and doors designed to reduce contact getting in and out. Or even a double-walled tent.
- Think of your tent as a clean sanctuary, and avoid bringing any mud inside. It spreads rapidly and makes life much less pleasant.
- Keep a pair of warm, dry, clean sleeping socks as dry and clean as possible. You’ll be much happier.
- Pitch your tent to promote wind flowing through – aim your biggest vents into the wind.
- Wipe condensation off the inner walls of single-wall tents with a sponge or microfiber pack towel. Be sure to squeeze excess water completely outside the tent.
- Wet gear in a vestibule still adds moisture inside many tents.
- Avoid steaming food or drink inside the tent. Cook, eat, and drink hot liquids elsewhere if possible, like under another shelter or tree. Consider a group cooking/hangout tarp.
- Don’t freak out about condensation on your down sleeping bag, quilt, or puffy. Most modern, high-quality down gear is very water-resistant. It’s still better to keep stuff as dry as possible.
- If you hear or see a “slow” leak – don’t roll over and go back to sleep, deal with it now! Slow leaks all night long can create big puddles and problems.
- Before you pack up, wipe moisture off your gear with a sponge or pack towel. Packing wet gear only makes it wetter by forcing water into previously dry places.
- Learn weather patterns, and time your tent setup and breakdown for breaks in the rain. On one trip, everyone else put up tents in the rain as soon as we got to camp. I knew the rain would stop for a while just before sunset, so I waited.
— Rex
Jul 10, 2019 at 9:44 am #3601386
john hansford
BPL Member

@johnh1
1. Yes it’s interesting how much water gets onto a tent. Some years ago I walked the HRP from Atlantic to Med using a sil nylon Trailstar. One night at altitude I ended up in cloud/mist , and the tent was drenched outside and inside, although there was no actual rain.
In the morning I wiped all services in and out with a sponge, and squeezed it out into my Evernew pot which has ml markings. In all I collected 600 ml / 21 oz of water, more than the weight of the tent. It was still not completely dry, and presumably the material had absorbed some moisture too, so the total weight of water was even more.
I think Ryan forgot to mention wiping down with a sponge, because I first got the tip from him. Thanks Ryan!

2. Regarding walking around outside the tent, if you are liable to cut your feet, then surely the stuff sacks on your feet are going to get damaged too. Better to put your shoes on over the top, or just carry light bread bags to wear in your shoes. I then pack my tent in the bags.

3. I seem to be in the minority regarding sleep socks mentioned here. Even thin ones make my feet too hot, so that’s a few ozs less to carry. That’s also one reason I changed to a quilt – so I can more easily cool my feet.

You can see that mist:
- This reply was modified 1 week, 3 days ago by john hansford. Reason: Photos
- This reply was modified 1 week, 3 days ago by john hansford.
- This reply was modified 1 week, 3 days ago by john hansford.
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