Ideas for Fixing Condensation Issue

[Kessler10]

As with most 3 season tents you will alwasy have some sort of condensation issue if not using some type of liner.

Any ideas on how to limit the condensation? is it better to lay in a mat or tarp for a floor? Would that help or hurt condensation? i would assume help as it would keep the moisture from the ground trapped in. any other ideas to limit condensation in a 3 season tent so when you wake up in the morning and bump your wall you do not get a morning shower?

[jmez]

Unless it is pretty wet where you are most of the condensation is from moisture in your breath and heat you generate in a small space when sleeping.

[VT Sasquatch]

I have tried a few things but have never found a real good solution. I also tend to cover my face with my sleeping bag when I sleep and that gets condensation too. Obviously, venting helps. One thing that I do is hang a candle lantern (or if I can deal with the weight and bulk a small Dietz-style oil lantern - mine is a German military model, I think) from the ceiling. It could be dangerous so be careful if you try it. I have found that is helps somewhat in drying the condensation.

You can obviously remove the rain fly if it is dry and cold but you will get more wind chill.

[VT Sasquatch]

Unless it is pretty wet where you are most of the condensation is from moisture in your breath and heat you generate in a small space when sleeping.

Haha: Hold your breath or sleep with your head out the tent door. It sounds crazy but some kind of face chimney/snorkel would probably work but would not be very comfortable.

[lamrith]

Unless it is pretty wet where you are most of the condensation is from moisture in your breath and heat you generate in a small space when sleeping.

Haha: Hold your breath or sleep with your head out the tent door. It sounds crazy but some kind of face chimney/snorkel would probably work but would not be very comfortable.

I know some guys that if they did that they would be calling in bulls all night long they way they bugle in their sleep...

[Elkduds]

If tent has no floor, pitch it so there is an air gap between the bottom edge of tent and the ground.

Discussed @ length w many how-to pics here: http://www.rokslide.com/forums/sleep-sy ... ion-2.html

[husky390]

If tent has no floor, pitch it so there is an air gap between the bottom edge of tent and the ground.

This. But, If your tent has a floor and a fly, I would make sure that if there's a vent, it's open and also not cinch the fly tight for a little more airflow.

[saddlesore]

Do you burn your little propane cook stove in your tent to take the chill off? Propane and butane give off water when burning

[Brendan]

Luke - Floorless or full tent?

With floorless - Raising the edges up for airflow helps, pitching so you're not on top of green or wet grass or using a ground sheet helps, venting doors or stove jack, or just using a stove to heat up and dry off.

With a normal tent - it's all about ventilation. Leave all vents open, door / fly if possible.

Basically - I accept that I'm going to be damp. A stove would be nice but I haven't packed one yet during archery... I run a floorless and I've had condensation every single morning.

[Lefty]

The moisture comes from breathing. Lower dew points, lack of air circulation and large differentiation of inside the tent and outside temps (dew point). A larger tent can help. Generally most want to take advantage of the added temp sleeping inside the tent.

One time while in Northern Minnesota we has a well below zero night,.. the hoaer frost flakes were the size of a quarter. Ive been on a few outings summer and winter ( well below zero) where I stuck my head out the side or bottom of the tent.
I dont see this much in Idaho. But in Washington state it was common to see pitched tents with large traps over them. Mosty because of rain and wet snow. Ill use a tarp over a tent to help shade in the summer.

[VT Sasquatch]

I have never used a 4 season tent (not including canvas tents). Do they make much difference with the condensation? I know the main purpose is snow load and wind resistance but I'm wondering if they handle the condensation better too.

[six]

My floorless tee pee tent on the right. Mild temperatures at night never got below freezing. I had a lot of condensation every morning on the inside of the tent. Touch it when you were getting out of bed in the morning and you were wet. The stove helped with the moisture, but with such a short burn time not practical. I'm seriously considering a tarp next year.

The little tent on the left had condensation pooled up on the floor by morning.

The tarp in the middle no condensation issues.

Home away from home.jpg (287.49 KiB) Viewed 8429 times

[VT Sasquatch]

I like that idea. It would probably take a little bit more time to set up but would probably help. I bought a Kelty Noah 9 for around $40 and used it my last time out. It was sleeting during the day and went down to 13F overnight. I had a lot of condensation but I had a bivy sack over my sleeping bag. After 2 nights my down sleeping bag had gotten pretty damp.

I probably would have done better without the bivy bag. I also have a habit of covering my face with the top of the bag when I sleep.



Do you know who makes the tarp in your pic?

[six]

Do you know who makes the tarp in your pic?

It's a 16x20 Ace Hardware special. It was his first Elk hunt. He was trying to save as much money as he could with the new adventure. As you can see by the look on his face he is hooked for life.