Dealing with condensation while camping

[aeasley10]

Hey guys so I'm headed on my first backpacking hunt this year. I've only camped for fun near the truck, so I've been picking up some new gear.

We camped last wknd on a dry (no rain) night 94 day 65 night. We left our boots, packs, clothes outside the tent to air out....but in the morn EVERYTHING was totally covered in condensation. None of our stuff was covered.

Would a rain fly/vestibule prevent this? Just want to be prepared.

 

[larryschwartz]

Uh, that's called dew. Anytime you put something out overnight you run that risk if there is any humidity in the air.

 

[boom]

put it in the vestibule.

condensation can suck too. nothing fun about a damp frozen sleeping bag with me in it...brr.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Uh, that's called dew. Anytime you put something out overnight you run that risk if there is any humidity in the air.

This

 

[IdahoElk]

What state are you in? Here in Idaho the humidity is so low it doesn't seem to be an issue.

 

[aeasley10]

Ah ok smart guy, condensation/dew (MOISTURE) was the key....even on a dry night. So the point of the question is simply put: if u are tying to allow clothes to dry/air out, how is that accomplished....as dew is always a possibility.

If placing gear under the vestibule would keep dew off, yet allow to air out....that answer would have sufficed.

Thanks Boom

 

[elkyinzer]

It will help keep some of the surface dew off if you tarp it or put it in a vestibule but it's still going to have that clammy feeling when you get higher dewpoints. Good news is out West there is rarely that much moisture in the air.

You aren't going to magically dry your stuff out at night though. The key is to manage your gear to not get too wet in the first place. You can dry your stuff with a fire of course. Cold/wet boots and clothes go hand in hand with backpacking at times. I guess the tipi/stove setups help with that also but I never had the desire to carry one. After 10 minutes or so of walking or hearing that first bugle I'm good to go. I was in Colorado during the rains in 2013 and keeping gear dry was a major challenge and prompted me to bring some extra dry gear to leave at the truck.

 

[5MilesBack]

Your best bet for drying gear without a warm tent and stove is waiting until the sun is nice and warm overhead.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

During a hunt in No. Calif. I fell into a creek and everything got soaked. Drying your boots using hot rocks from the fire doesn't work. <g>

 

[tipsntails7]

Ah ok smart guy, condensation/dew (MOISTURE) was the key....even on a dry night. So the point of the question is simply put: if u are tying to allow clothes to dry/air out, how is that accomplished....as dew is always a possibility.

If placing gear under the vestibule would keep dew off, yet allow to air out....that answer would have sufficed.

Thanks Boom

Never mind....

 

[aeasley10]

Thanks to anyone who gave helpful advice, it will help prepare me for the trip. I appreciate insight based on others experience.

 

[BroodBuster]

Living in the PNW I gave up on dry boots about a day into my first hike .

I always carry a contractor bag and keep my gear in that. Of course that just keeps the rain out and doesn't really dry things. Socks and the boot ensoles go in the bottom of the sleeping bag if things are really wet. My boots tend to dry out from the inside, at least until I go stomping thru a creek.

Gaiters do help keeping feet dry though. That is until the creek is knee deep .