15 Smart Tips for Camping in the Rain (What and Why)

Published on: January 23, 2022
Written by Camila Avery / Fact-checked by David Rowan

End of summer and cannot go hiking, or camping due to heavy rains? Well, lying in bed, or sitting beside the window to listen to holy rain sounds is kind of an extremely enjoyable moment. Yet nothing to compare with camping, even by maintaining smart tips for camping in the rain. Most people may not support it, but this challenging aspect of improving other skills and bonding between friends and more than that with family is very potential. 

No matter what, camping in the rain in any part of that country, like camping in the rain in Scandinavia, is one of them. However, pre-planning results in good camping further and avail encouragement in low temperatures as well. Whether it is the rainy season or in low temperatures, tips for camping in the rain are never denied indeed. 

What and Why with Camping in the Rain?

Rain is happening, still, a genuine camper should not waste his/her camping excitement. Though camping is one of the vital aspects to create and strengthen relationships between friends, whether it is an outsider, it must be very good. Spending time camping is a type of building physical time without the distraction of other things. However, whether one camper is a skilled RVer or off on his/her very first tent camping trip, then the fun comparison is unbeatable by similar group tours. And yes, that reason also makes sense to sort out several good points to turn camping moods on. 

Similar to camping, even hiking in the rainy season with a camper’s Waterproof Tent, Sleeping Bags, kindling tools, and more are very helpful under the stars to decrease depressive thoughts with natural circadian rhythms. Either for drop camping or camping in rain, one needs to follow such smart tips and hacks to avoid unnecessary troubles, below you can find these out. 

What Kind of Waterproof Gear Should I Bring When Camping in the Rain?

A good waterproof jacket or raincoat, waterproof trousers, waterproof boots, gaiters, a waterproof hat, and a waterproof backpack cover are all essential pieces of waterproof gear to bring when camping in the rain. Additionally, a waterproof tarp or shelter, a waterproof sleeping bag cover, and waterproof gloves can also be useful.

15 Tips and Hacks for Camping in the Rain

Find Right Tent Spot

On the campsite’s first arrival, take enough time to scout out and well balance your camping or hiking or current survival area that you are going to use for the next few days. In particular, the right location for such outdoor exciting activities is all about fun, and yes, ideological not to ruin family or friends get together. In that case, a flat and almost clear area is much more ideal to better-off large tree roots and rocky areas as well. 

Apart from that finding, campers should tempt to a direct set up under a huge tree shade. Though this location is far from the ideal spots like hunker down during wet climate. As if, the close enough trees might let the tie-up of traps very fast, however, far better for elevating the risk of storms. One can even pay attention to either the ground dips or higher elevation campsite.  

Outdoor Living Room

Another biggest complaint, even overwhelming to get in tarp almost during such a flimsy rainy season. Apart from that wet weather, to keep yourself enjoying, you need an outside sitting area, even the sky star to know its real revealed beauty. In that case, wherever is your living area, or your set up tent area, create a dry living room.

How? Start with a string up of a couple of tarps or a single one. To build a single outdoor rooftop, keep the raindrops outside from your head by noticing the wind blow. If there is a slight cold air blow, position the tarp with a strategy to protect yourself from blowing rain. 

However, the sensor makes the roof go down. Well, that stupid thought set up this space even for saving from sunlight either to provide shade while sun is out. After that, hanging out will become a real fun, besides, do not let yourself with a folding chair and a ham radio.    

Pack Rain Gear

One’s packed clothes either can make or can break that expected wet weather adventure. For example, simply avoid cotton clothes. Why? The most annoying answer you can guess from its in-built materials. These never get dry at ease, even though they get more damn day by day. Unless feeling more wet and cold wavy on the campsite, leave those at home. In that case, trade-in cotton or rexine or parachute material made clothing are very lightweight and let themselves dry at rapid speed. 

Never wear any wet clothes, which can not only be intense for skin irritation, but also can lead to hypothermia and other acute diseases further. So, in other outdoor activities, for instance, canoeing or kayaking, wearing a waterproof and moisture-wicking base layer is a must. 

Use Gaiters

Let’s be frank and honest, what can a camper think of clothes packaging in that small backpack? Of course, nothing much, right? If this is a costly matter, then you should wear those gaiters covering your feet to save them from fungal disease, as well as hookworms or something similar to these insects in water. Whether because of hiking trails or simply doing chores regarding setting up tents and the camping stuff, beating those dense gaiters is never gonna be possible.  

Severe waterproof footwear may not serve the best while passing through wet campsites or trails. A pair of thick-layered hiking boots, in combination with moisture-wicking socks, will make a camper’s day. However, a pair of lightweight, yet powerful rubber boots are damn awesome.  

Creating a Trench to Redirect Water

Most situations may not be available as per the required extensive measures. If one is in a low-lying space, it becomes exceptionally hard, however, redirecting waters can abort such disgusting feelings. How? The only way is to dig trenches from the tent to the outside. By digging it around the tent, no water can pool around the camping stuff until it comes up with a heavy rain blow. 

However, extending trench lanes following the land farmers do as per the natural drainage pattern, for instance, Bangladesh winter seasonal crops cultivations. The key pinpoint one must ensure is what already exists to help in each setup. However, leverage is a fact then, and yes, no overdo like deep trench needs. 

Add a Bivy Bag

This tip for camping in the rain is very preferable at this time. Why? Because after arranging an outside sitting area this is very useful, even though the ground is wet in such weather. Such an extra layer of insulation provides all comforts like being warm and sleepy within such moisture weather outside of your tent.

However, the little retaining heat will get produced from the integrated sleeping pads inside, as well as outside. But for best usage, call up a superior waterproof mat under the nest for a single night. 

Arrangements to Night Light Up

All about day time camping arrangements which are in your pre-planned listing, yet what about night time? Whether you have arranged stuff, you have to collect stones, logs, tricky spaces, and more for firewood making and later light it up the whole night. 

Either by the pre-arranged stuff, for instance, LED lights with batteries, or handy torch lights powered by a similar power source is a real booster of the ambiance. On one side of a tree canopy or under a tarp, camper’s can cord lights to illuminate around the campsite as a tip for camping in the rain.

Either lithium battery-powered good camp lantern and flashlights, and never forget the extra-reliable numerous batteries to use those lanterns every night you stay. Else, mason jars are also kind of draped around stuff in package listings. 

Power Up Campers

Compared to cooking, having brought up required little to no cooking meals in tight air jars are very helpful to power up campers in such wet weather. After longer tasks, or in between relaxation, you should need good additional food. In such challenging areas, a little pre-planned dry food can avoid those challenges and tasks. Including meals without making in need of fire, for instance, without BBQs or propane stoves. 

However, the possibility of moving with fire making stuff you can use around a big enough tarped area by throwing all campmates together. Though this is not very easy, either an option like taking kindles inside the bag can help in BBQ vegetables and collecting fish from the site in addition to warming up all mates. 

Preheat to 98.6-degrees

Avoiding cold clothes is one of the biggest tips for camping in the rain, as if getting wet almost. But yes, if you want to avoid seasonal flu, cold, cough, and similar diseases, you can take on 2. A magical hack like preheating all those to 98.6 degrees before packing is a wearing breeze. 

However, taking these inside a breathable and small bag keeps this wormy. And later hiding inside a sleeping bag will take all itself to a great consideration point, as well as it will keep warming by staying next to one’s body. Then the next morning will become very fresh and chilly for the next step forward. 

Layer Up

It sounds like clothes’ packing, yet almost important for a waterproof good quality tent which has a zipper-lock, even though having water under it. Whether the zipper lock makes the trench safe from heavy blowing, also not allowed the water in. Whatever no relief in sight, a wet and cold, zipped sleeping bag instead of a puller tab, locks you in warm after preheating that. 

Even if searching for quick-drying options, yes, it almost helps pack enough for layers. On the purchase list, including moisture-soaking base layers buddies, local sporting stuff, for instance, waterproof spray from outdoor stores is a working breeze then. However, a seam sealer is also helpful whether the camper is regular in such situations.  

Whip Out Hand Warmers

Hand warmers, poor circulation-type stuff, and rather fab while the outside of a nested night is very soggy. Varies into different sizes and materials, for instance, DIY flannel made of fabric and regular cotton. Some are inside rubber made sheets holding waterproof materials inside made pockets to warm up your hands as one of the perfect tips for camping in the rain. 

Stuffing a few in your rubber boots, similar to flipping a water bottle at night can make food a little cozier. And then, step forward with those happy and warm feet for the next hiking episode. 

Pack Footwear in Newspaper

Shoes or boots, might have got wet when you passed any trails in between camp time. What about these? Want to throw it out? Nope, why let those expensive pairs for silly reasons? Well, wrapped up wet gears or rubber boots or fancy shoes like waterproof ones with big and lightweight newspapers are good enough to dry out. 

These hack campers may forget while organising backpack like a tool organizer, because they forgot the newspaper, but should not. Even to start a big campfire and enlighten up with big logs. Startup with a few dry clumps or even fired up and later dry ones inside your shoes. With that newspaper will draw humidity out like rapid medicine.   

Waterproof Containers to Seal Hot Food

Like watching campers footing on wet ground, they need to ensure the seal of pre-planned hot food inside aluminum containers. Other materials made, like Steel one is well enough, but not as the Aluminum ones. Why? Similar to Aluminum foils, it keeps food hot and germ-free till the hours you spend searching for a campsite. Before that, take the time on planning which foods possibly can hold their freshness longer, either just a waste of time. 

What will happen in case of opening up a humid package of crackers? For example, a damped loaf can turn your mood off, as well as cases of fungal infection in several body parts. Rather than not dragging it, using Tupperware containers is a breeze.  

Hang Up, Hang Out

While campers are busy entertaining themselves in such rainy and stormy weather, they can hang out wet clothes on the burning fire. Despite your best efforts, even if it is the most expensive rain gear, you can get wet to some degrees. After changing into a dry layer, are you going to leave those rained drained clothes? Of course, not. Before going for an outing or opting out of orange, either join the most entertaining activities, instead of throwing clothes in a corner pile, hang those on the knots you have tied first within big trees. 

Stringing up wet clothes lines under your tarp is the most noticeable matter where it’s rain-free and of course at that moment it should not happen. Because the fact in between exists to remove mildew, as well as allows rewearing clothes and packing up in return. 

Keep the Campfire Burning

This is one of the last but not forgettable matters at every camping night. However, we know that rainy and cold weather often leaves campers chilling. Rather than suffering in that weather, one should keep the enjoyment level high by that fire rolling all night long. Even so, a good place for cooking and BBQ, or to dry out string up clothes. 

Compared to dry camp weather, it is quite challenging. Because unexpected rain can ruin your most effortful burning fire. However, placing large logs to allow these for enough space for enough Oxygen to hold fire, and even to protect from unexpected falling rain. On day time, place all those firewood underneath the tarp to keep drying. Unless a lighter or matchbox should get stored in a Ziploc bag or a waterproof case.

Is It Possible to Stay Warm and Dry in Wet Weather Conditions?

Yes, it is possible to stay warm and dry in wet weather conditions. To do this, wear appropriate clothing that is waterproof and insulated. Layering your clothing is also important for keeping warm and dry. A waterproof outer layer, such as a raincoat, is essential for keeping you dry. Also, wear a hat and gloves to keep your head and hands warm. Lastly, make sure to wear waterproof boots or shoes to protect your feet from getting wet.

Is It Worthless?

Of course, it is a big NO! Well, there are definite and smart tips for camping in the rain, so making it impossible or feeling worthless makes sense of being a gutless person. Though it varies from person to person, health and self-concern as well, yet nothing is impossible. 

Keeping yourself dry camping in the rain is the foremost concern even after enjoying your next hike. Most of the time, even to regular hikers, 1”/hr steady rainfall is very prudential.

Then tarp up, hammock camp, groundsheet package, and other important factors are not forgettable. Though tents do not remain as long as possible dry. A few steps, like DWR coating over the pre-used tent or a new tent with waterproof spray as a spray gun can make that possible. Whatever happens, stepping backward is great stupidity, is it or not?  

Wrap Up

The Rainy season and rains are a common part of nature, right? If you are planning to camp the next morning and the morning starts with heavy rains, the possibility rises to turn the mood off. As an adventure lover, will you let that? Of course, no. 

So do, the above-mentioned tips and hacks for camping in the rain not only helps to keep dry.  But also increase the advantages and let experiencing something different than the summer times.

 Relevant Resources:

• Hiking Shoes VS Boots : What is the Difference
• 11 Important Tips for Tent Camping