Tent condensation

[Rezarf <><]

We bought our kids a Colubia down onesie with hood and flaps to put their feet and hands inside. They are basically a small down mountaineering suit... They looked like 25# Everest explorers. Fleece blanket layered up 2-3 layers in the pack-and-play, a down blanket on top of the kiddo and a blanket draped on 3-4 sides and over the top of the PNP, and our babies slept... like babies! We camp year round in Colorado high country in temps down to the high 20's and this has worked for us. As the kids have gotten bigger I bought a few Mountain Hardware Mountain Goat sleeping bags that grow with the kids. They've worked great too.

 

[GR8ADV]

Maybe, in part, why it is over 80%

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/150034-Poll-Do-you-actually-sleep-inside/page7

 

[huskyrunnr]

That is a big problem with silnylon tipis. The usual approach there is to affix a very light breathable liner to the wall of the tipi. Otherwise it will rain on you inside the tipi. Search tipi liner and you'll see what I mean.

 

[herecomestony]

Ventilation is the solution.

 

[dlh62c]

Ventilation is the solution.

+1

A ShamWow added to your camping kit will help to wipe up moisture and speed drying time.

 

[jerdog53]

Well we had been considering this Oz tent but now maybe not, I am interested to see if any of the solutions suggested here would work.

 

[Maxcustody]

Well we had been considering this Oz tent but now maybe not, I am interested to see if any of the solutions suggested here would work.

I would not rule out Oz tent. I have had mine for several years now and on the east coast, I am camping in the rain quite a bit. As a matter of fact, 2 weeks straight non stop rain for the week leading up to Expo East and at Expo East. No problems at all with condensation in my tent..............

 

[jerdog53]

There was plenty of humidity on both sides of that tent on that trip. What were the night time temperatures?

 

[GFA]

I was thinking maybe using an electric heater with a fan built in might solve both problems. The fan would keep warm air circulating so maybe the tent would be a little warmer and the moving air might keep the condensation down. I think electric heater draw a bunch of power though so I'm not sure if there is a smaller more efficient one that I could try. I have a dual batter set up with an aux batter and solar panels but right now just have a smaller 600 watt inverter so I'm not sure if I could get something small that would work with my power set up now.

The electric heater with fan does the trick for me in my Kodiak tent. And that's with it zipped up tight except for the top vent.

I bought a cheap fan for summer use that runs on D cell batts that keeps temps and condensation at bay during the warmer months. I'd imagine it would help in the winter also if you don't have power for the heater.

O2-Cool FD10101A Battery or Electric Camping Fan, 10" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013BOC6VC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_rDEywb99ZM99C

 

[Lemsteraak]

I'm not that familiar with the OZ tent. Since they are an Australian tent, I figure they are optimized for warmer, dryer weather. You may want to adapt it for colder damper conditions. Check out mountaineering tents and you will get the concept, they are mostly double walled (or with rainfly) with lots of ventilation options. I would suggest three ideas to start with, I figure you have the classic OZ tent

Insulate the ridge poles - Condensation forms first here will drip all night, make a sock for them.

In really wet or cold conditions use a Parawing style awning over your tent to create an airspace, also good for hot conditions too.

Dry heat source - standard propane heaters exhaust a ton of moisture so keep them out of the tent, for other obvious reasons too. Zodi used to make a great little inexpensive propane heater that had a heat exchanger that stayed outside and had air ducts that would blow warm air into the tent. The old school way is to put a big rock or boulder in your fire to heat up and then carfully wrap in foil and a old blanket then bring inside your tent. Dries thing out inside and keeps you warm all night.

Hope these suggestions help

 

[jays0n]

Our Tepui did the same thing. The worst of the condensation would collect on the aluminum floor under the mattress, which kinda makes sense. We added an anti-condensation mat under and that seemed to really solve the issue. The condensation still happens a little but nothing gets wet now, the mat lifts the mattress up about 1 inch from the aluminum and creates an air pocket in between. This doesn't replace opening a window and the other suggestions seen here but it really does help.

 

[Lemsteraak]

jaysOn - Guess the heating and rolling the boulder into the tent trick will not work for you Never understood why Tepui chose to make an alloy base to their tents. We use alloys as heat sinks, most of your heat is lost through the bottom of the tent because of your contact. Moisture condenses on metals well so maybe it performs as a dehumidifier once you get the mattress off the base.

Don't know why Zodi isn't making their little tent heater these days. Probably a product liability thing, they are crude but effective. For a roof tent, I have thought these are great, turn them on to heat and dry out the tent before you go to sleep and and then turn it off, turn it on in the morning to warm up. A buddie of my built a nice hook system for my tent to hang the heater outside away from tent.

Here is a link to Zodi - http://zodi.com/tent-heaters/hot-vent-tent-heater - no affiliation
and they do show up on eBay from time to time, again a link - http://www.ebay.com/itm/ZODI-Propane-Hot-Vent-Tent-Heater-/291628700100?hash=item43e66cd1c4:g:xsQAAOSwp5JWXRDy - again, no affiliation

The last wild idea is one that came from an associate that went long. We used to go to a lot of trouble to work with fabric companies to get the vapor transportation right but with so many tents coming from China now, I don't think they really care so moisture is retained inside these newer tents. What I'm saying is this will work with older tents, I don't know about the new "replica" tents. So, with that caveat, go and buy a 12 volt heated blanket, the type they sell at truck stops and put it in the tent when it is closed. Then run the wire down to your vehicle and turn it on during the day when you are driving. They warm up the tent and force the residual moisture out. When you open the tent, it is warm and dry inside. Don't try running a blanket for the night, they draw a lot of power. The best system if you want to throw money at the problem is to get a 12 volt heated mattress pad that lies under your mattress.

 

[BurbanAZ]

Well we had been considering this Oz tent but now maybe not, I am interested to see if any of the solutions suggested here would work.

I wouldnt rule it out, aside from the condensation we have loved our oz tent. It's been through crazy weather and always does great. I'll probably give the rain fly a shot, combined with some type of small fan and really get some ventilation going. I'm sure we'll go on another trip before the end of winter so I'll see if it helps.

 

[gaap master]

A buddie of my built a nice hook system for my tent to hang the heater outside away from tent.

Do you have any pictures of the hook system? I might try to do something like that with my Zodi and RTT. Thanks.




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[wreckdiver1321]

I've had my Oztent in cold weather many times, and the only time I had condensation problems was during a 36-hour rain fest in Banff. And then there was a lot of condensation. That was the only time I've had any problems at all.

I did some research, and it seems this is a common problem. However, if you get the optional rain fly with the tent I'm told it solves almost all the condensation troubles. I'm planning on getting that and seeing how it works.