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Subject Topic: How to avoid damp? Post Reply Post New Topic
20/7/2017 at 9:46pm
 Location: Bury Lancs
 Outfit: Roofbox & Wynnster Valencia 400
View Granturismo's Profile View Profile   Reply to Granturismo Reply   Quote Granturismo Quote  
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Hi, looking for a bit of general camping advice so apologies if I've put it in the wrong section. We've camped several times on the continent in warm weather but we're planning a few days up near Whitby at the end of August. On the odd occasion we've camped in the UK we've had some pretty chilly nights (<10c) and everything has ended up slightly damp - sleeping bags, clothes, towels, you name it, it's ended up damp. Our tent is a bog standard Wynnster so not very heavyweight material. Can anyone recommend some steps we can take to avoid it, or is it inevitable in anything other than warm weather? Thanks

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St Tropez 2018


20/7/2017 at 10:13pm
 Location: Derby.
 Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
View Mucker1884's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mucker1884 Reply   Quote Mucker1884 Quote  
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I'd say it's inevitable... to varying degrees... but there are things we can do to help minimise the damp...

Run a fan heater if on EHU. (Set a thermostat if need be).

Never bury your head in the sleeping bag, regardless of how cold you may be. The bag will end up getting very, very damp from your moist breath, which is the main culprit of damp. (Wear a hat or balaclava if your head is cold).

The more tent vents open the better... regardless of how cold you are! (Wear more bed clothes, or get a warmer bag, if you are cold).

In anything other than breathable cotton canvas, sleep in an inner bedroom compartment. The air in the gap between inner and outer acts as insulation, and condensation drips from the outer onto the inner, rather than dripping onto you/your bed.

Don't store wet coats/boots etc inside the tent. Even if that means leaving them in the car.

Never pi55 the bed, when camping... take a bucket and some cat litter!

Every little helps, and all that!

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2024: 38 nights thus far...
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From July 2012: 23 nights


20/7/2017 at 10:26pm
 Location: Bury Lancs
 Outfit: Roofbox & Wynnster Valencia 400
View Granturismo's Profile View Profile   Reply to Granturismo Reply   Quote Granturismo Quote  
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Haha cheers Mucker. I always keep a pee bucket in the tent, in fact I've just invested in a new one with a lid so maybe that'll be the cure!!

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St Tropez 2018


21/7/2017 at 6:30pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram
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Good ventilation is the key.

When we used to go away in the tent, I had the door partially unzipped at the top so mostly just the mesh door closed.

That helped with condensation in the bedroom compartment but that moved it to the main tent area, especially the plastic panels on the roof. So i started to leave the door partially unzipped at the top also.

That helped a lot.

You need a way to get that warm moist air that your breathing out of the tent. Have some through flow of air.



21/7/2017 at 9:25pm
 Location: Bury Lancs
 Outfit: Roofbox & Wynnster Valencia 400
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Thanks Grampian, that makes sense.

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St Tropez 2018


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21/7/2017 at 10:58pm
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All good advice above but in certain conditions the inside of the flysheet will feel damp to the touch so obviously keep everything away from the walls. Clothes and bedding should be kept in the bedroom pod where they will be less likely to feel damp. Be careful not to lean things up against the inner tent walls so the inner tent touches the outer fly as this will wick water through the inner.

The main thing though which many new campers don't realise, is to keep all the vents open top and bottom at all times in all weathers. They are positioned specifically to create a flow through of air and reduce condensation. If they are closed you are in an enclosed bag and the moisture from your breath and body has to go somewhere...usually the roof where it will bead and drip off giving the impression the tent is leaking. Not very healthy either


22/7/2017 at 4:10pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Outwell Montana 6P tent
View Frazzle-'s Profile View Profile   Reply to Frazzle- Reply   Quote Frazzle- Quote  
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If camping at a time of year when it is solidly damp and you get wet it may be worth seeing if a tumble dryer (on site) can tumble wet towels, sleeping bags or anything else. It can be hard to keep things not-damp on a really wet week away in a tent.

This is if you have all your vents open.


22/7/2017 at 7:50pm
 Location: Sheffield.
 Outfit: Coachman mirage 460 sportage 2.0 petro
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dont camp: get a caravan

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Remember: Tomorrow is the first day of rest of your life:


22/7/2017 at 7:58pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Outwell Montana 6P tent
View Frazzle-'s Profile View Profile   Reply to Frazzle- Reply   Quote Frazzle- Quote  
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Mad max- that is swearing where I come from!!!!

I'm a tent camper.


22/7/2017 at 8:31pm
 Location: 
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View Bob61's Profile View Profile   Reply to Bob61 Reply   Quote Bob61 Quote  
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That is providing you can find a caravan that isn't rotting with damp


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22/7/2017 at 9:05pm
 Location: Costa Del West Sussex
 Outfit: Tesco 4 Man Dome. Outwell Virginia 5
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My wife has 'Big Breaths' so we get a lot of condensation inside our tent.   


James

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In the beginning there was darkness.
Then I bought a tent.
I'm not destitute, I'm just poor.


22/7/2017 at 9:52pm
 Location: Bury Lancs
 Outfit: Roofbox & Wynnster Valencia 400
View Granturismo's Profile View Profile   Reply to Granturismo Reply   Quote Granturismo Quote  
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Haha how can you tell it's Saturday night

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St Tropez 2018



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