How to Avoid Tent Condensation

It’s important to remember that condensation occurs in all tents. Read the advice below to learn how to avoid tent condensation, and the best methods to use:

The amount of condensation will vary depending on the prevailing conditions. From water only apparent on touching the inside of the tent, to droplets extending over the whole upper canopy. In really heavy rain, condensation can be mistaken for leaking as the condensation bounces off the inside of the flysheet.

Best practices

• A person can produce more than one litre of perspiration in a single night, so maximising ventilation is the key to reducing condensation. There are various ventilation systems designed into Terra Nova tents. You can see product information here on our website, or if you have any questions, please contact your retailer or our sales team.
• On still, dry nights, leave the flysheet doors and vents open as much as possible. On windy, dry nights, it should be possible to have no condensation at all if the tent is well
  ventilated – the action of the wind on the flysheet pumps out the damp air.
• In freezing conditions, condensation can form as hoarfrost inside the tent. Again, prevention by maximum ventilation is the answer.
• Generally, the best method of dealing with heavy condensation, assuming dry conditions in the morning, is to remove the flysheet, shake off condensation and replace it.
• If the condensation is slight and conditions are windy, simply venting the tent will soon dry out the flysheet.
• You can sometimes get a damp section between your sleeping mat and the groundsheet, this does not necessarily mean that the material is leaking it can just be a build-up of
  condensation.
• Single skin tents and bivi bags will suffer more from condensation than conventional tents. For maximum safety and comfort, we always recommend the bivi bag zip be left slightly open when in use. Tents fitted with snow valances are also likely to suffer more due to reduced airflow.

Figuring out how to avoid tent condensation can be tricky, but the key is always good ventilation. Ensure you pick a tent that has plenty of air vents and to make full use of them.