Sleeping below freezing

“As i am BRAND new to backpacking, this may seem like a sadly simple question to all of you. But since you are the most knowledgeable source i know of, i figure i'd ask, even if it is under the ridicule of some! I try to read up a ton on any sport that i'm new to (outdoor sports that is) so that i can get a better grasp of what i'm getting myself into before i go out to the AT without a sleeping pad or rain gear. I have heard people say here that a good way to get used to bpacking is to is to sleep outside a lot. use your gear to learn how to use it best. so i have done just that, twice now.

I live in the heart of the blue ridge mountains and nights here are not above freezing yet. Cold isnt the issue though, i have a great bag and pad to help with that. But i do wake up (when there is no rain) to find the inside of the tent damp. the outside is completely dry. the only thing i can imagine is that my breath and the heat from my body formed condensation all over the inside of the tent leaving me at my present state. am i correct in my thinking? and is this something you just have to deal with when sleeping below 32 degrees? Any suggestions for a new guy would be greatly appreciated. (maybe i'm missing something simple, actually i probably am!)”

“Does your tent have a vent? It is condensation. Very hard to avoid, the secret is simply ventilation. My hiking pal and I use a tarp/tarp tent in cold weather. Never have ventilation issues or condensation but we also get some cool breezes.”

“Yep, condensation from your breath. Try to improve the ventilation of you tent. In cool humid weather, it is hard to prevent completely.”

“Sass, in your tarp tent in really cold weather have you ever had the light frost on the inside of the tarp?”

“Is the tent's vestibule(s) open? I would never close the vestibules in dry weather under normal circumstances.”

“Yes, rarely. Only with the tarp tent,and only when it's pitched low on the ground. Never with the tarp, set up lean-to style.”

“Well yeah, When I use a straight tarp I have never had condensation problems. LOL but you have to admit inadvertently backing into a condensation covered piece of nylon on a 40F morning...well that will wake you up faster than a hot cup of coffee....”

“If there is any wind, try pitching your tent so that the wind blows through the tent. That should help some.

Welcome to TT, by the way. Hang on tight! Despite all the negative rancor, there are some really cool people on this board with a ton of knowledge. Everyone here is harmless, except for Nimblefoot of course. He is entirely insane.”

“Oh yeah, esp when changing shirts. Brr!”

“well that was extremely helpful already! i guess my problem was having both my vestibules closed. thanks a lot!”

“I am insane when changing shirts? I'm going back to bed.”

“Actually, AMD, condensation is something you have to live with in winter camping. That is why many high end winter sleeping bags come with humidity resistant coverings. In really cold weather it's like an indoor snowstorm when you get up in the morning.

Kepping your vestibules open will affect the retained warmth in your tent and isn't really a good idea - although temps in your part of the world aren't as extreme as up here in the northeastern US and Canada.

I prefer a bivy sack for winter camping.

Good luck and have fun.

Doug”

“Depending on where you are there may be condensation "regardless" but venitlation is the key. I laugh at the people who keep the tent closed up to STAY WARM. I have found it to be more psychological than anything else.”

“this is why i prefer either a floorless single wall or a double wall.

amd, you might want to look into a double wall tent. the inner wall is mostly mesh, which allows the vapor through.”

“I don't see the problem here, the condensation is just normal for a shelter that is working. Unless its dripping wet inside!”

“"Everyone here is harmless, except for Nimblefoot of course. He is entirely insane."

And watch out for an evil creature who lurks here named Lyra.........just watch it.

Ventilation reduces condensation.”

“Sass, in your tarp tent in really cold weather have you ever had the light frost on the inside of the tarp?”
XL400236

i do get condensation/frost sometimes on the inside of mine but it is rare and it of course varies depending on the way i pitch it...if it's a closed a frame i get more than if a lean to”

“I have a two wall tent and don't do any super cold weather camping but I have been out below freezing on many occasions. I like to keep my vestibule closed and to be honest, it does stay warmer. Or let's give it the benefit of the doubt and say I feel like I stay warmer. Even with the double wall, I have had some condensation issues. But never to the point of waking up wet.”

“On FYAO I was using my Kiva and forgot to open the peak vent. The whole inside of the tarp was covered in frost in the morning oops! The next night wasn't as bad but the frost didn't melt off until I got home.

I have also had frost issues with my double wall 4 season tent. When it is really cold the moisture freezes on the inner tent faster than it can pass thru.”

“The only down side to condensation is that your tent gets wet. How bad is that?”

“If it gets wet enough and starts dripping on you its pretty bad. Bad enough to never want it to happen again.
last edited: 3/13/07 10:28:34 AM”

“Please post age and gender, newbie. If female, please post foto.”

“The only down side to condensation is that your tent gets wet. How bad is that?”
bacpac

as long as you don't get wet there's no problem...just make sure to let your tent dry completely when you get home”

“i wonder if a small dehumidifer (one for say an instrument to keep down weight) would fix this at all. maybe if you put it close to your head? its a crazy idea but maybe...”

“yes its crazy, so forget it”

“If it's really crazy, it will be tried here. Often.”

“When I'm camping in the snow I hang a candle lantern and let it burn all night. The heat pushes the condensation through the tent and on to the rain fly and it increases the temp about 10'.”