There’s nothing worse at a festival than coming back from a night out partying and your tent is 10 degrees hotter than outside. Here are our tips on how to prevent this from happening!
We’re now well into the 2024 festival season and with the weather being as hot and unpredictable as it has been in the first half, we thought we’d step in and give people some much-needed advice on how to keep their tents cool as the temperatures rise.
We understand the concerns that come with a stuffy tent, no one likes to sweat in their bed. But fear not, we’ve put together some helpful tips to turn your fabric festival shelter from a hot box to a cool sanctuary.
Take advantage of the shade, use a blackout tent, build an enviable canopy, ensure ventilation, choose smart tent fabrics, and introduce "Coolology" with a tent air conditioner.
So, let's conquer the heat and turn your tent into the coolest spot on the scene. Scroll down and check it out!
Choose your location wisely
Once you’re there, look for a shady spot just as you would for the perfect spot in a crowd. Look for trees, larger buildings, or even pitching next to a friendly neighbor’s tent who’s lucky enough to have snagged that prime shady spot; anything that will block the morning sun. This tactical positioning should focus on getting the sun to hit your tent for the fewest number of hours per day.
This early action is arguably the most important if you want to keep your tent cool and be the envy of your fellow campers. However, it does come with arriving early, which not everyone can do. So if you’re late, this might not be for you. But don’t worry, we have more than one arrow in our quiver.
Buy The Perfect Tent
So you’ve either found a good shady spot or you’re at the mercy of the sun all day. Well, either way, an important step in ensuring your home stays cool over the weekend is choosing the right tent. Enter the unsung hero: blackout tents
These tents are specifically designed with dark fabrics and/or extra layers to block out the sun and regulate the temperature inside. Most tents will keep you 5 degrees cooler during the day, with some being up to 17 degrees Celsius cooler than a standard tent in direct sunlight.
Not only do blackout tents offer relief from the heat, but they can also provide a cosy environment for a daytime nap or a much-needed rest after a long night of festival partying; particularly useful for festivals like Glastonbury, which take place during the summer solstice when the sun rises as early as 4am.
Get Covered
While shade and blackout tents can change your tent-chasing habits, the average festival-goer probably can’t secure either of these things. So, let’s dive into the cheaper, simpler options: canopies and tarps.
Putting a canopy or tarp over your tent can provide an extra layer of shade and protection from the sun. It’s the same concept as a blackout tent, but easier and cheaper to source.
When choosing a canopy or tarp, go for an option that’s lightweight and easy to set up. A pop-up canopy or tarp with built-in poles is your best friend. You want something that you can easily assemble without breaking a sweat (unless it’s a good festival sweat). Just make sure you secure it properly.
Ventilation is Key
Keeping your tent cool isn’t just about shade and sun protection, it’s also about letting fresh air circulate. Having the perfect shade, tent, and canopy is useless if you let the air inside stagnate with nowhere to escape.
One way to do this is to utilize your tent’s windows, doors, and vents to promote cross ventilation. This allows hot air to escape while allowing cooler air to circulate inside the tent. Keeping these vents open throughout the day is the best option. However, leaving the doors open can be a hassle due to understandable safety concerns; do your best and use your own judgement.
Now, we know you want to look good at a festival, but resist the urge to turn yourself into a human tent. Ventilation is important for you, too. Choose lightweight, breathable clothing that allows your skin to breathe and avoid trapping excess heat, especially in clothing you wear to sleep.
Bring in the Cool
We've covered the basics of tent cooling, but now it's time to take it up a notch and bring the tent ac in.
Investing in a colku portable air conditioner GCP15 can make a world of difference in keeping your tent cool and comfortable. There are four modes with four adjustable wind settings to meet your different need. Look for battery-powered or rechargeable air conditioners that you can easily bring along to the festival. They provide a refreshing breeze and can be a lifesaver during those scorching afternoons.
Position your portable ac strategically inside the tent to maximize airflow. Place it near an open window or door to draw in fresh air from outside. Experiment with different air speeds and angles to find the sweet spot that creates the most cooling effect.
For your fabric festival, we also prepare camping refrigerators to bring cool feeling in such hot weather, if you are interested in them, welcome to contact us.