How to Stop Condensation in a Tent

Condensation can be a frustrating thing to tackle when camping and leaving these water droplets can lead to all sorts of issues with your tent. To ensure your tent is kept in top condition, you need to learn how to stop condensation in a tent before it forms.

In this blog, our camping experts will give you our best tips and tricks on preventing condensation build-up as well as solutions to removing the moisture should it appear overnight. 

Don’t let damp get you down! Browse our exclusive range of bell tents and enjoy a luxury camping experience that keeps you comfy, cosy and condensation-free!

Why Is It Important to Avoid Condensation in a Tent?

It’s crucial to ensure you don’t let condensation take over your tent because it can cause all sorts of problems, with the most serious being mould and mildew.

As the water droplets form on your tent they are absorbed and create damp patches. When left untreated this can encourage the growth of mould and mildew which can ruin your tent and pose health risks. 

If you’re already struggling with this issue you can check out our dedicated guide on how to remove mould and mildew from your tent. 

What Causes Condensation in a Tent?

Condensation is an accumulation of moisture that is formed when warm air hits a cold surface. The water droplets you see on the inside of the window when you wake up in the morning are condensation, caused by water vapour in the air cooling and turning into a liquid. 

In the same way that you see condensation form inside your home, you’ll notice it on your tent walls when out camping, but what causes it to form in a tent? Well, there are a few things that can cause condensation:

Your breath: It may seem hard to believe but in a small space like a tent your warm breath is enough to create moisture build up on a tent. As we exhale we breathe out moisture so 1 or more people in a tent is enough to create a hefty amount of condensation. 

Weather: If it’s already warm or humid, as the weather cools down at night, this encourages condensation to form as the air cools.

Damp clothes: If you’ve been caught in the rain and you enter your tent with wet clothes and gear, as your clothes dry and the water evaporates into the air it becomes trapped in the tent, causing the water vapour to settle on the tent walls. 

Cooking: If you’ve got a tent that allows you to cook safely inside, the increased amount of heat and steam will encourage the amount of condensation produced. 

How to Stop Condensation in a Tent

There are a wide range of ways you can help to stop condensation buildup in your tent. 

Ventilation

This is the most important prevention method for learning how to stop condensation in a tent. Allowing air to escape your tent and fresh air to travel in will help to eliminate moist air staying put and settling as water on your tent walls. To ventilate your tent properly you should:

Open tent doors and windows:  If it’s safe and dry outside, make sure to open up your tent doors and windows when you wake up or whilst you’re around the campfire to allow the fresh air to circulate. 

Our range of multidoor bell tents is perfect for creating the ideal airflow in your tent, with several styles that feature multiple doors and windows for maximum ventilation. 

Opt for Tents with Vents: It’s not always possible to keep your tent open in cold or wet weather which is why most tents come with built-in vents. These vents should always be kept open even in the cold as this will allow for adequate airflow and reduce the severity of condensation should any build up.

Utilise Inner Tents: Using an inner tent or a mesh inside tent can keep you warm while providing a breathable layer that still allows you to open vents and doors to let in air. 

Choose the Right Place to Pitch

Wherever you choose to set up, ensure that you’re in a spot that’s as dry as possible and away from water. Make sure you’re also positioned away from low areas or at the bottom of hills where cold air can settle and rain can pool. 

If you’re camping in the wild, opt for an area close to a few trees or woodland to give you some natural cover from rain and excess water, but just be sure you’re in an area where the breeze can still get to your tent. 

Keep Damp Clothes Out

If you were unlucky enough to get caught in the rain, don’t bring your wet clothes and gear into the tent to dry. If you can, utilise nearby trees or bring a portable washing line for your items to dry outside your tent. 

If this isn’t possible you can place your wet clothes in a plastic bag and place them outside as soon as you’re able to do so. 

Remember that if you’re stuck in rain you’ll need to ensure you can dry yourself off and stay warm to stop you from getting ill. For tips on how to do this, check out our blog on how to stay warm when camping. 

Cook Inside A Fire Safe Tent

If you want to cook inside a tent, make sure you use the correct equipment. Our fire retardant bell tents are designed especially for use alongside our range of stoves. With chimney holes and dedicated vents, you won’t have issues with steam build-up as the long stove funnels go right through the top of the tent, releasing any fumes outside. 

Waterproof Your Tent

If your tent isn’t already waterproof or doesn’t have a waterproof coating applied you should apply one. This will create a surface that allows water to slide right off rather than allowing water droplets to settle and create condensation. A product like Nikwax Cotton Proof is perfect for the job and can be applied easily following our guide on how to waterproof a tent. 

Use Your Groundsheet

Ensure you use the correct groundsheet for your tent to stop moisture from the ground or grass coming through the tent floor. All of our Boutique Camping tents come with a groundsheet that can be removed and washed to ensure a dry and comfy base for your bed and other furniture. 

Choosing the Right Tent

By far the best way to combat condensation is to pick the perfect tent, and at Boutique Camping that’s what we do best. We’d recommend selecting a cotton or polycotton blend tent as this is the most lightweight and breathable fabric.

This means that air will be able to flow in and out of the tent, reducing the chance of humid air causing condensation to form. To find out more information on which fabrics are best for your tent, browse our specially created fabric guide.

All of our cotton and cotton blend bell tents also have a waterproof coating pre-applied which will help to make the water slide right off. 

Products to Fight Condensation

If for whatever reason you can’t take any of these measures to stop condensation forming there are some products you can use to reduce the rate and intensity of condensation build-up. 

Dehumidifier 

A dehumidifier is a great way to fight moisture in your tent. You can purchase disposable dehumidifiers that can be thrown away at the end of your trip or invest in a portable dehumidifier that collects water in a tank that can be emptied. 

Anti-Condensation Mat

These woven plastic mats can be placed on the floor of your tent to help absorb any water and stop moisture from travelling through to your floor. Simply place these mats under your sleeping bag or across the tent to stop condensation from forming on the ground.

Moisture Wicking Gear 

Opting for clothes and gear such as sleeping bags with moisture-wicking materials will stop any water or sweat from lining on materials that could turn into condensation inside the tent. 

How to Combat Condensation When It Forms

Even if you’ve taken a variety of steps to learn how to stop condensation in a tent, you can still wake up in the morning with some water droplets on your tent walls and ceiling. If this does happen, here's how to deal with condensation before it causes any damage.

Wipe Down Your Tent

Make sure a dedicated towel or some microfibre cloths are part of your camping essentials. Wipe down the surfaces of your tent inside and out until dry and place the clothes in a plastic bag or hang them outside to dry.

Leave Your Tent Pitched to Dry

Once you’re ready to go home, keep your tent pitched with all the doors and windows open until you’re ready to pack up. This will help to dry your tent and prevent mildew and mould from developing once your tent is packed inside its bag.

Shake it Out

Both rain and condensation have the same damaging effects on a tent and if it's windy or wet outside leaving your tent to sit might not be an option. You still can’t put that wet tent straight in the bag, however, so the best you can do is shake off as much of the excess water as possible before folding it down. 

Camp Condensation-free with a Boutique Camping Bell Tent

By now you should know a wide range of solutions on how to stop condensation in a tent, but by far the best way to keep dry and warm is with our luxury glamping accessories and tents. Each one of our tents has been designed to give you maximum comfort and luxury without having to worry about the stress of condensation build-up and how to deal with it. 

To find the best tent for your trip, browse our detailed tent guide that explains the amazing benefits of each one of our models. Alternatively, you can get in touch with our camping experts and we’ll help you find the perfect one for you. See where your adventure takes you!