Autumn is here and the rain will be more and more frequent. Are you an outdoor enthusiast but you don’t know how to protect yourself on a rainy camping trip? Camping in the rain is possible, of course, but you will have to improvise. Also, check out the best camping tables.
Since rain camping is something that I have done before I will advise you about the camping equipment and other stuff so you will spend a nice time out there even if the rain will accompany you.
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Camping gear for a rainy camping trip
The right kind of gear is very important when going camping in the rain. Your main task will be to protect yourself and stay warm. So you will have to have a shelter and other gear that will make you dry and comfortable.
Here is the gear that I recommend for packing.
A decent waterproof tent
With so many camping tents on the market, you have to choose the right one for the weather. A waterproof camping tent is a right answer when it comes to camping in the rain. This type of tent has a hydrostatic head (HH) that will tell you how much rain your tent fabric can handle.
In general, the higher the HH number the more waterproof the fabric is. If you will go to a place that is known for more rain you should get a tent that has at least 2000mm HH.
Another factor to consider when buying a new tent is its manufacturer. There are many of them on the market but not every one of them provides reliable products. So, I recommend getting a tent from camping tent brands that are known and have a reputation.
Buying a tent should be an investment that will serve you for years so you won’t need to purchase a new tent next year because the tent torn apart too soon or because it was made cheap.
Don’t get me wrong, you can still get a tent that you want but maybe it won’t handle rain as it should and you could end your journey earlier because your tent started to leak.
Waterproof clothing and shoes
Without waterproof clothes and shoes, you won’t be able to do the tasks around the campsite as you will get wet to the skin soon. I am sure you don’t want this to happen so get waterproof clothes like a raincoat, anorak or a poncho, waterproof long pants and shoes.
Gore-Tex is one of the most reliable materials to stay dry and comfortable in rainy conditions. It is the best-in-class weather protection that you can put on while camping or attending some other outdoor activity. I highly recommend it as it will also provide you warmth and breathability.
You can have cotton or synthetic clothing underneath the upper layer. Cotton clothes get wet soon and dry very slow but synthetic clothes dry fast so it is better to choose the second option. You can wear cotton clothes while you will stay in a tent.
Make a dry place for drying the clothes
When you will come back to the tent from picking woods, making a campfire, or just hiking you will need to dry wet clothes. It is important that you put them in a dry place as soon as possible. However, where to put them?
One option is to put them in your vestibule (if a tent has it). A vestibule is a place that serves as an anteroom where you can put your wet shoes, clothes, and other gear. It is a place that serves mostly for storing equipment but you can dry clothes here since you want the tent interior for yourself.
You can put a clothesline inside a vestibule or dry the clothes separately on objects. Make sure that the air will circulate. If you want to speed up the drying process you can cook inside a vestibule as the hot air from the stove will help your clothes to dry faster.
Don’t have a vestibule?
If you don’t have a vestibule on the disposal you can tie a tarp over the tress. The tarp will provide a dry place where you will be able to store all the necessities and dry wet stuff that you don’t want in a sleeping area inside the tent.
A tarp is a must
An ordinary tarp can come in handy in many ways. I already mentioned how handy it is for drying clothes but you can use it for storing extra gear and for additional weather protection.
I advise you to put a tarp over the tent so it will intercept the rain from reaching the tent’s fabric. This is the most effective way to protect your tent and yourself from becoming wet. If you will have a tent that can leak a tarp will save you in this case.
You can cook underneath it, read, and do something to entertain yourself.
Get a camping stove
A portable camping stove is a clever idea as you will be able to cook a warm meal and heat up the place. A cooked meal will give you energy and warm you from the inside. It is way better to have cooked meals over eating sandwiches while you think of the ways on how to warm yourself.
Camping stoves run on different fuel types. You can get a gas, electric or wood camping stove. Choose the one that you can use at a campsite and the one that you prefer using. Gas stoves are the most usable but you will have to have one or two small fuel tanks with you.
If your tent has a vestibule you can cook there. The warmth from the stove will also heat the place up. Cooking will help you to dry them faster if you dry clothes here. The only con that I see in this technique is that clothes might smell funny due to the food you will be cooking.
I advise you to open the vents and doors a little bit so the cooking smells can get out.
The other rain essentials to consider
As you will be camping in the rain you have to consider all the necessities to have a comfortable outdoor experience. Prepare your sleeping gear, waterproof matches, a lantern, a flashlight or a headlamp, a tent heater, watertight bags, homemade dryer lint, and a waterproof spray so you will be prepared for the worse.
Camping in the rain? Why not!
The truth is that many campers (especially camping rookies) are afraid of camping in the rain because they think that they will be deprived of plenty of fun camping activities. However, if you prepare the right gear, and take care of the warmth, you can still have a wonderful time outdoors.
With waterproof shoes and clothes, you will be hiking and exploring like in nice weather. Rain is also a wonderful time to read a book that you wanted to check but you never got the time.
Enjoying outdoors in the rain gives you new opportunities to enjoy. If you wanted to have a long sleep without your phone ringing all the time this is your chance to unwind and rest as long as you want. I wish you a great trip!
