Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Keeping dry
Rain can actually be one of the great pleasures of
camping. Lying in a warm tent, inside a warm
sleeping bag, being lulled to sleep by the sound of
raindrops on the flysheet is heavenly. However, that
requires your tent and your sleeping bag to be dry.
The first commandment
If you're car camping, there's no reason why your
sleeping bag should get wet in the first place, and if
you're backpacking then it's almost the first
commandment to keep your sleeping bag dry.
Test it first
The main thing to remember is that the time to find
out there is a weakness in your equipment or how
you've used it is not when it's actually started
raining. You don't have to be obsessive about it, but
just checking on the condition of your tent as it
ages, and how well it's pitched after a few days' in
one place is worth the trouble. If rain on a tent is
romantic, rain in a tent is just plain depressing. Here
are some tips:
• Keep the rainfly taut. This will stop it lying against
the inner and allowing water to join you.
• Fix holes wherever they appear. Check the tent
floor periodically for punctures.
