Rain doesn’t need to ruin your camping trips. Follow these 10 tips for camping in the rain to get the most out of your wet weather camping experience. This ScoutmasterDave video is geared to cub scouts, boy scouts (ScoutsBSA) and any avid camper.
Show Notes:
- Camping in the Rain (PDF Printout)
- 10 Pro Tips for Camping in the Rain (Backpacker.com Article)
- What Gear Do I Need to Camp in the Rain? (Outdoor Magazine Article)
- Chill Gorilla 10×10 Hammock Rain Fly (Amazon.com)
- Emergency Rain Ponchos 6-pack (Amazon.com)
- Frogg Toggs All Sport Rain Suit (Amazon.com)
Transcript:
Camping is an all weather activity, and one of the most frequent activities that can put a damper on your camping fun in rain.
But if you prepare, rain doesn’t have to be that bad, and can even challenge your camping skills and let you have a different camping experience than if you were to camp when it’s clear out.
So here are ten tips to improve your camping experience in the rain.
Tip number 1: Waterproof your stuff
Before you actually go out it the elements it’s a good idea to keep your gear in good repair, and the best way to do this with silicone spray for your pack and tent. It’s also a good idea to periodically check for leaks, and seal tent seams long before the rain. Prevention is always better than cure.
Tip number 2: Pack rain gear
If you’ve seen any of the scoutmaster dave videos on packing or being prepared, this is one you have seen before. You should always have a poncho, or rain jacket and an emergency poncho that lives in your pack. If weight is an issue, you can sometime do without the rain jacket, but having a poncho easily accessible is your first line of rain defense.
And for your tent, always have a tarp for under your tent. Not only is it a moisture barrier, but it can save your tent basin from rocks and twigs.
Tip number 3: Watch the weather forecast
Look a week out, day out, and day of, for weather. Let everyone know to prepare to get wet. It’s not enough to just watch the weather though, as a leader, if the weather is bad and your group’s skills are immature, you might want to postpone a trip, but a light rain shouldn’t stop you from venturing out.
Tip number 4: Layers are your friend
Be warm, rain is a cooling process, dress in layers. Don’t wear cotton, Merino wool is the best, as Merino wool is not itchy, and wool in general will retain heat even when wet. Cotton is a no-no, as once it gets wet it does not contain the heat. It can be a killer in freezing weather.
Tip number 5: Keep your gear dry
As much as layers are your friend, plastic bags are your wing man. Put everything in zip locks. If you have a pack that stay dry, and zip locks for each day your stuff will be dry.
When you organize by day, that’s undergarments, socks and a t-shirt in each bag, then you can pull a bag out and not have to go into multiple bags to get ready for the day.
Even if you have a tight pack, the humidity will get into your clothes, so having the extra barrier will make you more comfortable.
It’s also a good idea to bring a garbage bag, to keep sleeping bags dry.
Tip number 6: Find the right camping site
Always take the high ground. Keep tents out of gullies that might fill with water. When you set up your tent, look around, especially down, for how the land lays, and put tents and cooking areas in places that will not pool with water.
Tip number 7: Create an outdoor living space
Bring a tarp, poles and rope to make an outdoor space. If needed bring a pop-up to congregate and prep food. You are camping to interact with the outdoors, so you want to avoid hiding in your tent all day.
In fact, you want to stay in your tent as little as possible, as going in and out of your tent will let water and mud into your sleeping space.
Tip number 8: Food to combat the chill
Hearty foods are better in rainy weather, thick soups, and stews are welcome camping meals
Prep it all in advance when possible, and heat it up, to minimize prep. Preparing food when you are wet and cold is no fun.
Tip number 9: Be Prepared
Bring a newspaper, they can be used to soak up water in shoes, and also to start a fire. Have a plan for what you are going to do, and not just tough it out – bring cards and games. The goal here is not to survive, the goal is to experience the outdoors, so, as much as you can be active.
Tip number 10: Air your gear out
One of the most important of the tips is when you get home, open up all your gear, including packs, tents, chairs and sleeping bags and air it all out.
It’s very easy to get home, and want to just leave the stuff in a big pile, but taking a little time to air out your stuff, will keep away mildew, smells, and rot in your stuff.
Take what you like and leave the rest, and as we say in Woodbadge, feedback is a gift, leave yours below in the comments, with the hope we can all learn together.
I’m Scoutmaster Dave, and this was 10 tips for camping in the rain.
