Tents DO Keep You Dry in the Rain when Chosen and Pitched Well

The other day when I was watching the news, one of our local weathermen made a comment about his most recent camping experience that made me shake my head.  He said that "tents aren't waterproof," that rain flies don't help, and only a plastic tarp strung over the tent will keep you dry. 

Cabela's cabin tent.

Although I'd hesitate to call them "waterproof", a good tent will keep out the rain as they're designed to do.  After 30 years of camping, though, I can safely say that while not all tents are created equal, a good tent will keep out the rain without a tarp over the roof if it's pitched and used correctly.  Case in point, I'm currently typing on my laptop in the middle of a downpour with a stiff breeze - so far, we're high and dry. 

Like I said though, not all tents are created equal.  There are a few things I've learned to look for in a tent if you're planning to be more than a fair weather camper.  After many years of camping with the scouts and the family, we've accumulated four tents.  The best of them have a couple of key features:

1.       A good rain fly does matter -  It's what keeps the rain out and for reason's I'll discuss later, the separation between the fly and the tent is a big part of what keeps you dry.  Choose a tent with a rain fly that goes all the way to the ground if possible, or at least covers the entire roof and a significant part of the side with a generous overhang.  Many cheap tents have a tiny fly that covers half or less of the tent wall.  I wouldn't trust them to keep me dry. It's also important that the rain fly has as little contact with the tent walls as possible.

2.       Waterproof flooring - After the rain fly, the floor is the second most critical feature.  You can't avoid contact with it, and if it's not waterproof runoff will get you wet from below.  Some tents, like our Eureka Timberline, have a lightweight rubberized flooring material.  Others, like the Cabela's cabin tent we're in at the moment, have a poly weave floor like a tarpaulin.  Both of these styles keep out the water well.  Some lightweight backpacking tents are constructed with a nylon floor that is not waterproof like the Hillary 2 man dome I've had since I was a 14 year old boy scout.  When weight matters it's an appropriate compromise. Such a floor makes proper use of a good ground cloth all the more important, but you should be using one anyway.

3.       A tub style floor - Seams are the weakest part of your tent so you don't want them to be in contact with standing water - which could happen on the ground.  If your waterproof floor comes up off the ground a few inches, you'll be less apt to have puddles near the walls of your tent. 

Proper set up and use of your tent also make a big difference.  My wife and sons set this one up because we knew the storm was coming and I was still at work.  They've obviously done a great job. 

Here are some simple steps that can help you stay dry:

1.       Choose a good spot - This should be obvious, but don't choose the low spot in the site to pitch your tent or you'll be in a puddle.  Find a location that is pitched slightly so that water runs off.  You should also make sure the site is clear of sticks and rocks that might damage your tent.

2.       Follow the directions - Your tent is designed to be pitched a certain way.  Doing it wrong will not only make it leak, but could permanently damage it so it can't be used again.  Sometimes the directions are a little cryptic, but if you are patient you'll figure them out.  Take your time and do it right.

3.       Use a ground cloth - This one is very important.  For tents with a good waterproof floor, the ground cloth protects your investment from sticks, rocks and other debris on the ground.  Holes are not a good thing.  Also if you have a nylon floor, it's your only waterproof protection.  Tarps are great if you are carrying your gear in a car and have space.  If you're backpacking, a sheet of 6 mil poly does the trick and weighs less.

4.       Fold your ground cover to fit your tent - Ideally, your ground sheet will be 6-10 inches larger than the tent floor so you can fold 3-5" of it under itself to match your tent floor.  This encourages water to run under the fold and under your ground cloth rather than under your tent - very important with a nylon floor.  Don't leave your ground cover extending out beyond tent walls.  If it does, water can accumulate on top of it - and run between the ground cloth and the floor.

5.       They give you those ropes and stakes for a reason - I see a lot of tents pitched without them, and have been guilty of not using them myself in fair weather.  In foul weather, your tent lines keep surfaces tight and enable water to run off more effectively.  They also provide support to the structure  in winds, and provide separation between the rain fly and the tent - all important stuff.

6.       Don't touch the walls during wet weather - To some degree, my weatherman was right.  The tent walls aren't quite waterproof, but rather are built to shed water.  If you touch a wet wall, you'll get damp.  A good rain fly helps by creating a couple of inches of space between the wet outside fly and the dry wall you see, but only if the tent is pitched so the rain fly doesn't touch the inside wall, and only where your rain fly covers your tent walls.

7.       Make sure it's vented - it may be counter-intuitive, but even in the dead of winter you should leave tent windows open slightly.  Nylon doesn't breathe much and if the moist air from your breath is trapped in there, it will condense and make everything wet - leak or no leak.

It's morning now. I'm outside the tent enjoying a beautiful view of a calm lake with blue skies overhead.  It's a view I'd have missed if we hadn't spent the night here last night.   My coffee's about done and it's time to switch from my laptop to that very good book I brought out of the tent with me before the rest of the family gets up. 

I'll leave you with two other important thoughts:  Don't wash your tent.  It has coatings on it to make it weather resistant that will come off in the laundry.  Also, make sure you remove your tent from its bag and dry it thoroughly when you get home, then put it away neatly rolled or folded.  It will keep away mildew, reduce the temptation or need to wash it, and preserve the fabric for many years to come.

Being a little superstitious, I'm actually a bit relieved that writing this post somehow didn't cause a leak, but I have shared a few of my thoughts on how to select and pitch a tent with a tarp not overhead but underneath so that you'll stay dry when camping.  I hope it's helpful!