Tent A/C

[Woody]

I was wondering if anyone had a system or any tricks for cooling their tent. I like to fish in the backcountry so I often will set up a hike in base camp and fish around that central location but coming back to a hot tent for lunch is a bummer. Sitting outside is fine but sometimes you need a break from the bugs. This may also be helpful for car camping. I have looked at the few air conditioners made for tents and most have minimal effectiveness from what I have read and aren't even an option for backpacking. However, I did think of an idea. I once worked in a greenhouse and it had a water tank that pumped water up onto a cardboard kind of filter. A big fan then drew air through the wet cardboard and cold air came out of the fan (evaporative cooling). I was thinking that you could take a small thin cotton sheet or something, wet it, put it on top of the tent and take one of those battery powered tent ceiling fans, hang it in the ceiling of the tent and let it pull air through the wet sheet to cool the inside. Anyone ever tried this or have other methods?

[squidbilly]

I've seen those evaporative cooling fans used in garages and shops, and they seem to work quite well. But the ones I've seen were fairly large- moving a lot of air. Not sure how it would work on a smaller scale for a tent. I wonder if that Shamwow material would be better / hold water longer. A solar panel to charge the batteries or run the fan might help too.

[ednotmilkman]

I'd say use the stream, not your tent, to keep cool in hot weather. If the water in a lake is to warm, it's probably to warm for the fish to bite as well isn't it?

When the problem is -  80 degrees at bedtime - you might have to soak again in the stream after supper until your body temp drops enough.

Edwin

[Woody]

Ed, I agree 80 degrees at bed time is a worse issue. I can't sleep if I'm sweating but I also can't sleep wet. I am also trying to get my wife to go tent camping with me but she won't go if it is hot and I don't want to be limited to just a few months a year to be able to go. She isn't really a creek swimmer either so I'm trying to figure a way to keep the tent cool so she can sit inside and read a book (which is all she is likely to do) but at least it could be a family trip.

[Pathfinder]

Woody, I have discovered that nature provides a very effective air conditioner if you are camping in close proximity to a good waterfall.

[weathermansam]

Woody, I have discovered that nature provides a very effective air conditioner if you are camping in close proximity to a good waterfall.

I second this.  It's exactly how I've been able to camp in Sipsey the last few months and not be miserable.  Even when the high hit 95 last month, camping on the sandbar within 20ft of lower white creek falls not only provided some cool relief, but it was wonderful to listen to all night long.  Practiced some good ol' LNT out there, no fire, just a lantern.  That makes a difference in the heat as well. 

[Pathfinder]

Sam, I always prefer to have some sort of campfire.  It doesn't matter what season of the year.  Even a small fire will do.