Why Color Is Matter for a Camping Tent- Here is Your Answer

Published on: March 11, 2022
Written by Camila Avery / Fact-checked by David Rowan

The first item we pack for camping is the tent. It becomes the home, lifesaver, resting place and saves up from unfavorable situations. We always pay close attention to all the features of a tent while buying or bringing it to the campground. But only a few know about the significance of the color of a tent. 

You may have never thought of it. Or maybe you did, but don’t know all the pros and cons of choosing light and dark color tents. There is also a difference between camouflage tents and non-camouflaged ones.

Everything you need to know about choosing a tent color is covered here. In the end, we also covered a guide to picking the right color tent for the right kind of camping. 

Why Tent Color Matters for Camping?

Does tent color even matter for camping? How to pick one color for a tent for effective camping in multiple sites? All your questions about choosing the right tent color are answered here.

Light Passing

The first and foremost difference you will notice or experience in a different colored tent is, the lighter tent makes the interior brighter and the darker color tent makes it darker. Of course, the dark one helps to get a day nap, but it blocks light.

If the weather is gloomy, rainy, or stormy then you can play board games of cards in a light-colored tent. With the dark-colored tents, all you can do in those unfavorable situations is, just be sad or sleepy. 

Visibility

An unusually bright color is easy to spot from far away. Colors like red, violet, pink, or any neon shade literally stick out in the woods and snow. So, if you go far, you can always spot the tent from afar and return to it easily. 

An earthy tone tent-like olive, brown or cameo printed tent is equally difficult to spot in nature. There are advantages of those kinds too, but visibility is not an advantage here. 

Impact on Mood

While you are out there, camping, the camp tent is your home. The color of the tent matters to our mood just the same way the interior color of our home matters. A brighter-colored tent will make you feel cheeky, happy, and enthusiastic.

On the other hand, people living in a dark-colored tent will end up making its inhabitants grumpy and serious. However, people who select camouflage tents prefer it that way and spend a minimal amount of time in the tent itself. 

Easier to Find

In case of emergencies. When campers need to be rescued, the rescue team finds it easiest to spot the tent with a bright and light color, in the busy forest.

If you camp in a dark or earthy color, then it will take time to find the tent in the woods for the rescuers. 

Possible Danger

Now, the color of your bright tent can draw attention to humans so as some unwanted guests of the wilderness. Bugs and bears like bright colors like orange, yellow, neon shades, and so on. 

Blending in Nature

Some people prefer blending in the surroundings while camping. If you are camping on a crowded ground, then a camouflage or neutral or hard-to-detect camping tent will help you to pretend invisible to others. 

Solo campers love to pick these shades for their tent. It just helps them to isolate themselves from others in nature and be by themselves, left with their thoughts. 

Temperature Management

We all know that lighter shades reflect light and darker shades absorb it. So, practically cooler shades like light pastel colors. White, off-white, and light grey makes the tent cooler.

And colors like dark grey, dark blue, black, dark olive, and dark brown will make it hotter on the contrary. So, next time you should consider the destination, weather, and the season of your camping while buying a tent. 

Factors Should Be Considered When Choosing a Camping Tent Color

1. Visibility: When choosing a camping tent color, consider its visibility. Bright colors are easier to spot in the woods and will make it easier for you or someone else to locate your camping spot.

2. Environment: The color of your tent should blend in with the environment. For example, if you are camping in a desert you may want to choose a lighter color to help reflect the sun’s heat.

3. Personal Preference: Ultimately, the color of your tent should be a personal preference. Choose a color that you like and will be comfortable using.

What Impact Does the Color of a Camping Tent Have on the Environment?

The color of a camping tent can have an impact on the environment by affecting the temperature of the tent, how visible it is to wildlife, and how much sunlight it reflects. Darker colors absorb more heat and can make a tent hotter, which can lead to more energy consumption and the need for additional cooling. Lighter colors can make a tent more visible to wildlife, and can also reflect more sunlight, leading to a decrease in the amount of energy needed to keep the tent cool.

FAQs

What Color Attracts Bears?

No one has ever asked a bear this question. So, you are not getting an accurate answer anywhere. Actually, bears don’t bother with colors as long as they smell food.

So, keep your tent smell-free to prevent encounters with this visitor. Also, clear out your trash can to keep other animals and critters away. 

Do Yellow Tents Attract Bugs?

Bugs like mosquitos suck blood. They are attracted by body odor, co2, and other human smells. But it is true that dark-colored clothing and tents attract mosquitos because these bugs prefer dark places to hide. 

On the other hand, vegan bugs like bees and similar species mark yellow as flowers. So, these are prone to attack people with yellow clothing. The same goes for bright yellow tents. You can choose a mild shade of yellow like mustard yellow. 

How Do You Blackout a Light Color Tent?

Now you know the pros and cons of light and dark-colored tents. So, what to do? Should you buy one of each color category for each season or a different camping destination? Well, that is quite an unrealistic idea. So, here are some tips that will help you to blackout a light-colored tent when needed. 

• Use a tarpaulin to cover the inside walls of the tent. You can use a binder clip or use the attached hook of the tent wall if you have any. But leave the ventilation areas open for air circulation. 
• You can also use a dark-colored tent shed or rainfly to cover the exterior of the tent. These attachments are sold separately and are easy to find online. 
• Prefer setting the camp in a cool, shaded place to avoid direct sunlight.

With these tips, you can instantly make the interior of the tent darker to give a nap or rest. 

How Do I Keep My Dark Colored Tent Cool?

What if you already own a dark-colored tent and feel like throwing it out after reading all the cons of a dark color tent? There is a solution for a dark-colored tent too. 

• There will be no significant difference in the temperature of a tent no matter what the color is if it is set at night. So, if it is summer, and you are using the tent just for sleeping at night, then be assured that it will be as comfortable as a light-colored tent. 
• Use the mesh covers of the tent during the day and keep down all the covered walls and roofs. So that you can get maximum air circulation. 
• Set the camp at a cool place and keep the rainfly and sunshades away.

How to Heat Any Tent Without Electricity?

Say you have set up your camp in winter and want to save electricity. You can heat up your tent without any device or power source. Here are some ideas to do that without burning power. 

• Set a campfire. When the fire dies, set the camp on the hot ground. 
• Use a thick tent carpet or rug. It will keep the floor warm for hours. 
• If you have a campfire outside, then heat up some rocks in the fire. Then keep those hot burnt rocks inside the tent to keep it hot. 
• Make sure to take necessary precautions while following these steps to avoid accidents and injuries. 

Bonus: Which Color to Choose for Camping Tent?

If you are way too enthusiastic about camping or spend a considerable time roaming outdoors with a tent, then you should have some luxury to get more than one tent in different colors. As most of the tents we get are three seasons. Some are called four-season camp tents, but those are not really functional under blizzards or heat waves. So, try keeping two tents handy for a different season if you can afford them.

• If you are camping in a snowy winter, then avoid whitish color. The white-out outdoors is already exhausting, you should not bore yourself more with a dull-colored tent. Try vibrant colors in this case. 
• Camping in the desert and drylands or rocky mountains has its own adventure. In the desert, pick colors like red, orange, or any warm tone to blend with the surrounding. 
• If you are backpacking or hiking, blending in with the surroundings will not be a good idea here. If any emergency or misfortune occurs, your tent will be hard to detect and reach to send help. 
• In family camping, it is best to camp in a bright-colored tent. It applies if you have kids in the group and you are camping in a safe place, where wild animals are not found. Bright colored tents will make the camping joyful for the little ones. 
• If you camp solo, or hunt then the best option is to get a camouflage tent. You can blend in perfectly in these tents. It will serve your purpose effectively. 

Bottom Line

You have become a tent color expert now, no? Try executing all the ideas you have gathered here while choosing a tent for your next camping trip. You also know if the color of your tent goes wrong, how to function it in a better way. 

A wrong colored tent is not the end of the world, but it surely affects your comfort and functionality in camping. So, why not get the right color and make the most of your time spent at the camping site? 

Read more: 

• 7 Effective Ways to Insulate a Tent for Cold Seasons
• 5 Simple Ways to Make Tent Camping Comfortable
• The 8 Best Trunks for Summer Camp