Go camping long enough and you’ll eventually find yourself at your campsite, ready to set up your tent, but it’s raining. Sometimes you can’t wait out the rain for a break to pitch your tent.
Setting up a tent in the rain, while keeping the inside dry, is possible. Start under a large tree for shelter, or suspend a tarp to work under. Erect the tent sides and spread the rainfly over the top. Finally, reposition your tent on your campsite.
Those are the basic steps, but keep reading for more details.
Our camping over the years has been a lot of fun and some of the most notable memories are those that included rain. Planning ahead and facing the rain during your camping trip won’t be too big a deal.
Whether you’re planning on spending an extended weekend away in the wilderness or just want to get outside and have some fun, you don’t want the rain to spoil your trip.
Sure, it can be annoying when you’re trying to set up your tent, but a few simple tips and tricks can make rainy camping much less of a hassle.
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Why should I keep the tent doors closed while setting up
The first tip for setting up your tent in the rain is to keep any doors closed while you’re packing up so that water won’t be able to enter through them.
This will reduce the amount of moisture that enters the tent and helps prevent condensation problems later, which can be a huge problem for sleeping comfort.
Next, it’s a good idea to put an extra tarp underneath your tent, so that any excess water can be kept from soaking through the groundsheet and won’t seep into your tent as well. This can be particularly helpful if your tent is leaking or if the floor is soaking wet.
Finally, when you’re ready to pitch your tent in the rain, it’s best to avoid the low ground and pick a spot that has good soil drainage. This means that the soil is sandy and drains quickly so that rain won’t collect.
If the soil isn’t sandy and you’re concerned about the slope of the ground and the potential of water passing under, and possibly into, your tent, you could use a small camp shovel to make a shallow trench around your tent.
The trench only needs to be a couple of inches deep and should open to the downhill side to allow water to flow around and away from your tent.
You’ll want to pay attention to the rules of where you’re camping as sometimes trenching is not allowed. If you’re allowed to trench always be sure to fill in the trench and be sure to return the campsite to a better than the way you found it.
Another option is to try and find a dry spot under a tree where you can set up your tent temporarily. Even if you don’t plan to leave it there you can bring up the sides of the tent, and lay the rainfly over the top.
Once complete you can reposition the tent where you want it on your campsite. However, you should be aware that this will only work if there’s a large tree or large canopy of trees nearby to provide some shelter from the rain.
If you’re camping in the rain, you might be concerned that the interior of your tent will be wet, especially if it’s a double-wall tent and the top of the inner tent has a mesh roof, as most do.
An inner tent with a mesh top can be a serious problem though, so it’s best to take care of it as soon as you can. The easiest way to solve this problem is to spread the rainfly over the top of the mesh as quickly as possible or put a lightweight tarp over your tent before you start pitching it.
Why should I bring a couple of lightweight tarps when camping
Tarps are a great way to protect your tent from the rain, especially when it’s coming from the side. They also prevent water from soaking into the floor of your tent, which can be troublesome if you’re camping in a remote area with no trees to use as shelter.
You can buy a tarp that is specifically designed to cover your tent and make it waterproof. The size of the tarp you choose will depend on how much water you expect to encounter and how thick you want the tarp to be.
You should aim for a tarp that’s slightly larger than your tent and a bit wider to ensure that the entire tent and sleeping area are protected from the rain.
Some people prefer a more traditional tarp that is attached to the ground with poles and pegs. These are usually heavier and take more work to set up, but they do offer more protection against the weather.
Another option is to use a ridgeline with the tarp draped over it. This is a simple and effective way to create a rain-free area, or use the tarp for cooking, hanging out, or pitching your tent without getting it wet.
There are many different styles of tarps, but most are rectangular or diamond-shaped. There is no right or wrong shape for a tarp, but wind direction and the location of trees or other supports will influence which type you choose.
You can also use a tarp to build a base camp. This can be used for extra living space if you have kids, or as an emergency shelter in case of a storm.
A couple of extra tarps can also come in handy when taking down a tent in the rain. Check out a few of my tips on taking down a tent in the rain.
A tarp can be very useful for any camping trip and is often a part of every tent’s kit. They can be used for shelter, ground cover, and even as a first aid beacon. They can also be used to help keep your gear, bikes, and firewood dry.
If you have a canopy or shelter separate from your tent, you may be able to set this up first to work under in the rain. Spread the tent out on a table under the shelter and zip all the doors and windows closed on the tent. You may be able to lay out the rainfly over the tent before you move it and the tent into place to set it up.
How should I stake down the tent and rainfly in the rain
If you are camping in the rain, it is a good idea to stake out your tent and guy lines before putting up the tent body. This will help to protect your tent from being blown away and will also keep the rain from getting inside.
Stakes are a necessary part of any tent pitch, so it’s important to choose the best ones for your specific needs. The best stakes will be able to hold their own against high winds, but they will also be durable and flexible enough to adapt to different types of ground.
For example, some stakes are made from titanium and can be driven into soft and hard ground alike. They are also incredibly lightweight, which makes them ideal for backpackers who prefer to carry lightweight equipment.
However, it’s a good idea to use a rubber mallet when driving in your stakes. This tool will speed up the process and make sure your stakes are at the proper angle. When driving in stakes they should be angled slightly away from your tent.
Once you’ve driven in the stakes, it’s time to set up your tent. This can be difficult when it’s raining, but with a little planning, you should be able to get everything set up quickly and easily.
Start by staking the rainfly to the tent body using the same technique you used for the tent. For this, you’ll need to use one stake to hold down the rainfly, and the other to hold down the tent body. This will ensure that no water gets into the tent body and prevent condensation from forming on the inside.
Don’t forget to stake the corners of the tent as well. This will further prevent any water from dripping into the tent and making you wet.
At this point you should also be certain the groundsheet or tarp under the tent is tucked under, away from the edges of the tent by an inch or two. This will prevent water running from the sides of the tent from being directed by the tarp or groundsheet to the underside of the tent.
If you are setting up a tent in the rain, it’s important to have strong and sturdy stakes that will be able to hold their own against the wind. There are many stakes on the market, so it is important to choose the best ones for your specific situation.
In the end, it’s important that when you are out in the wild, remember to be as calm and patient. This will help you set up your tent as smoothly and efficiently as possible, which will make enjoying the outdoors much easier.
Why is a rainfly important while camping
Some tents come with a rain fly that can be set up over the top of the main tent. This gives you extra protection against the elements and can even help keep your tent cooler in hotter weather.
The rain fly can be attached to the main tent using poles or guy lines and sometimes they are even color-coded so that you can easily see where each end of the tent goes. Once you have it set up, it is a good idea to stake the rain fly down to make sure that it stays in place.
This is especially important if the rain is heavy and windy. If the rain fly isn’t securely fastened, water can pool underneath seep into the tent, and get your gear, clothing, and sleeping bags wet.
One way to prevent this is to choose a location that has a flat surface where you can pitch your tent. You should also try to avoid areas where the soil is rocky. If you can, find a spot that is soft and covered in pine needles or grass — soft materials on the ground will protect the floor of your tent from being damaged and will make it more comfortable to sleep and walk on.
A tent that has a porch vestibule is also helpful for keeping the inside of your tent dry in the rain. It allows you to leave wet boots, cooking equipment, and anything else in a separate space outside the main sleeping area of your tent.
You can also add a rainfly over your porch vestibule to help protect it from the rain and reduce condensation on the inside of the tent.
Finally, it’s a good idea to practice setting up your tent at home when it’s dry before you go on your trip. This will give you a feel for the steps involved and will save you time at your campsite.
Being familiar with putting up and taking down your tent before you go camping will help you keep from making mistakes in difficult weather that could damage your tent. See my article here on how long a tent should last.
Most of all, prepare well and plan to have a great time.
I’d love to hear about your most memorable camping experience so leave a comment below.
