15 Tent and Body Cooling Tricks for Campers
When muggy weather began to make me feel sick on camping vacations, I vowed to learn everything I could about staying cool outdoors. My love for the wilderness has been restored, and the same can happen for you. Here's to wishing you greater comfort in the woods!
1. This shade cloth keeps my tent cool on the hottest days
This magical reflective fabric can be draped right over your tent to reflect 80% of the sun's light and heat away from you and back out into the universe. It comes in a variety of sizes for large and small structures and includes a nice bungee system to secure the covering in place. It's also great for covering plants, pet cages and vehicles. Greenhouse owners attest that this fabric takes temperatures down by 20 degrees!
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2. This battery operated fan generates strong breezes in my tent
I have a growing collection of battery operated cooling fans, but the adjustable base sets this one apart from the rest. I like to position one fan at each end of my tent to create a cross directional breeze. When relaxing outside the tent, I set this fan on the ground near my camp chair and tilt the head upward to create a breeze that sweeps over my entire body. In addition to cooling me down, the breeze helps blow mosquitoes away! For more mosquito control tricks, visit my page on campsite pest control.
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3. Peppermint oil cools my skin, kills germs and repels mosquitoes
For a frigid blast that transports you to a whole new realm of comfort and freshness, mist your skin with peppermint oil and sit near the fan! Be sure to do this outside the tent, as the peppermint fumes will quickly become overpowering within a confined space. I like to make my own personal cooling spray by adding a few tablespoons of peppermint oil to a spray bottle filled with witch hazel. This not only repels insects; it kills germs on the skin organically. A nice spray bath helps me to feel fresh and clean, even when I have no access to running water. I go through a lot of peppermint oil when I camp, so I appreciate the wholesale price on this large 8 oz. bottle.
For more mosquito control tips, visit my page on campsite pest control. |
4. This blanket is designed to pull heat away from the body
Bamboo fabrics have long been known for cooling and moisture wicking capabilities. Unlike weighted inserts designed to be slipped into cooling duvet covers, this convenient lightweight blanket doesn't have to be dry cleaned. It remains cold to the touch and provides year round moisture management for hot sleepers who tend to sweat a lot.
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5. Air beds are known for absorbing a chill from the ground
Blowup beds are known for absorbing a chill from the ground and remaining cool on hot summer nights.They're also known for slow overnight deflation! To reduce your chances of sinking to the ground, choose a double high mattress that's designed to handle a higher-than-average amount of weight. This newly designed Coleman is gathering much attention for its ability to resist pinholes and avoid leaks.The twin version is rated for 300 pounds, and the queen version is rated for 600 pounds. Even if you don't intend to put that much weight on your air bed, a higher rating translates to better stability and durability over time.
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6. A tent ceiling fan helps circulate air
7. An indoor generator can run a portable air conditioner
We originally purchased a Suaoki generator for my husband's sleep apnea machine, but we quickly found that it didn't last the entire night and wasn't powerful enough to run other electronic devices at the same time. Most indoor generators are rated at 250 watts, but the generator pictured at left boasts a whopping 500 watt capacity. I can run just about any item I like from curling irons to blow dryers to electric blankets to cooling fans. Best of all, it works with solar charging panels so that you have many different options for charging.
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8. This portable air conditioner runs on ice water
9. This giant ice pack cools large sections of the body
This giant wearable ice pack isn't just for sprained ankles and swollen knees. It's great for lowering the body temperature quickly. That's a big deal for athletes on the verge of heat stroke, but it's equally cool for campers! I've found that if I wear this vest for about five or ten minutes before bedtime, it cools my body to a point where I won't begin to warm up again.
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10. This moisture wicking t-shirt comes in 23 colors!
11. This cooling vest has panels that hold 96 ice cubes
12. This hat liner wicks moisture away from your head
13. This hand held misting fan delivers a cool blast anywhere
14. This collapsible dish pan can be used to soak your feet
When your feet get cold, it has a profound cooling effect upon the entire body. This is the primary reason why it's so dangerous to go around with wet, slushy shoes in the winter. On brutally hot days, I've found that it's useless to dump ice into water.The water will just help the ice melt more quickly. I prefer to cover the bottom of the pan with fresh ice from the cooler and let the soles of my feet melt the ice.
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15. Flexible ice packs can be draped around the neck or forehead
Flexible ice packs are made to hug joints and curves. In addition to controlling inflammation, they can be used to cool strategic places of the body! Drape this ice pack over your forehead, neck, back, shoulders, arms, legs, ankles, shins, knees, thighs or wrists. You won't have to sit and hold the ice pack in place because it drapes nicely all by itself.
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Savor frozen foods or ice cubes
Tips for Glamping on a BudgetLearn how to build an easy wilderness setup that rivals motel accommodations.
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Ten Ways to Keep Mosquitoes AwayTen mosquito control tricks that REALLY work.
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Tent and Body Warming TricksNo-nonsense tent warming tricks for fall campers and ice fishermen.
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