Camping in the Rain; How to Camp in the Rain and Stay Comfortable! 

Thanks Craig, I couldn't agree more. Generally speaking it is more important to have warm dry clothes to put on at the end of the day.

yes your right on that

He reminds me of a TV talk show host with his constant and maddening clapping....lol

Thats funny

☠

I am now drunk

Because of your comment, I just went to the fridge and got one.

Thanks so much!

Awesome, thank you!

Thanks, much appreciated 👍

Great experiences to get out and do camping early in life!

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback.

Thanks Riley, yes wet boots are a 2-4 day commitment. :)

Thanks Mama! Rain is probably what keeps most people from going camping in the first place.

Glad it was helpful!

Glad it was of some use!

Much appreciated Crazy Horse Johnny!

That is awesome, have fun with the projects!

Glad you like them!

Have a great trip!

Thanks Rob, wise words!

Thanks Don!

Very interesting question Makoto. I appreciate the perspective on nature that Japanese culture has given you. I have had a rural Canadian upbringing and so I see rain in a little less poetic and more utilitarian way, hence the content of the video, but I still find rain beautiful. When I was younger I had lots of camping in the rain experiences. Many of which weren't good. Waking up in the middle of the night with a wet sleeping bag isn't pleasant. But I have learned that unless it is cold it is just water and won't hurt you. And, I have learned how to stay dry. When I was young I went to a summer camp and I remember going on an overnight camping trip. We hiked all day in the rain and were mostly miserable. The leader of the group heard us complain and took a moment to talk about how warm the rain was and that it was a good rain, good for the crops. I stopped complaining about the rain after that. You can't have pleasant without experiencing unpleasant. Rain is just part of the experience and it may take time but being in nature during rain can be enjoyable. Thanks! I hope I came close to answering your question.

Thanks for the comment. Dislikes seem to come whenever something gets popular. Admittedly not my best day in front of the camera and many said I clapped too much. But should that generate a 'dislike' LOL

Thanks Arcana!

Thanks Paul, Wow the famous JMT! Have a great trip! All the best and Merry Christmas to you.

Thanks!

Thanks for watching!

Great story! Thanks for sharing it.

The Tilley is the best hat I have ever owned for rain or sun! Sleeping bag inserts are completely worth it! Thanks Abe!

Excellent comment. If I was to re-make the video I would add that. Poncho's aren't as common as they used to be in outdoor stores but the online cottage industry has many to offer.

You are welcome.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Ponchos make a lot of sense as they provide excellent ventilation.

Glad it was helpful!

You are welcome!

Thanks for the excellent question Papp! I keep a spreadsheet of gear I bring on many of my trips and I isolate Base Weight from Consumables (food, fuel, water, toothpaste etc.) Here are some base weight values of various trips (relating to videos I have). I have also included the camera gear weight as that is something anyone can do without... Isle Royale total 22lb (camera gear 2.1), Superior Hiking Trail 29lb (camera gear 1.9), Lake Superior Provincial Park 23.6lb (camera gear 1.6). I am clearly not an 'ultra-lighter' but I do keep my pack weight in check. Finding the right balance for you is what you want to achieve. What are the goals of your trip? What do you enjoy about backpacking? Location? Scenery? Comradery? Experience? I have met folks on the trail who have talked my ear off about how their base weight is 12, or 11, or even under 10 lbs. All the while looking at my gravity water filter with envy as they proudly describe their sawyer straw - The most boring people I have ever met! :) There is such a thing as stupid light. I guess that is what they are out there for, to tell others that they have figured it all out and know better than you. Food is about 1 lb per day dry weight. I try and keep my total pack weight under 30 lbs but I will do 35 or more if it is a longer hike. Look, if you pack your own bag and you are having fun you are doing it right! Don't let anyone else tell you different. I have a number of items on a 'wish list' that I swap in or out depending on conditions. If it looks like good weather the GORE-TEX socks, and Tarp sometimes get left behind. Also Bear Spray is something that I bring religiously in the Rockies or in Northern Ontario but on the Superior Hiking Trail I don't bother with. Trips in the shoulder season or at altitude will include a down jacket, and a sleeping bag liner. I hope this helps. Somehow I would like to make a video about this in under 10 min!!

Thanks Quinn, much appreciated!

LOL, I have never seen one up here either. There might be some store somewhere that sells them in Canada but they are certainly a rare item.

I saw one in 1973 and have not seen another one since. Those bags are kinda hard to locate but Amazon has them.

@@KevinOutdoors I think they are the same or very similar to "contractor" bags in Canada. www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/frank-insanely-thick-contractor-bags-5-pk-1421556p.html#srp

Yes, I think it's the kitchen garbage disposals that are more common in the US than Canada. A trash compactor is more of an industrial machine than a household item, I believe.

Glad it was helpful!

Great tip!

Thanks!

Makes sense to me!

Glad it was helpful! Good luck!

Absolutely!

Thanks Mike. Much apprecaited. My goal is to break 10k. I should be able to do it in a year or two. Hopefully less :)

Thanks, much appreciated!

That's exactly how I do it.

I haven't switched to trail runners yet. Those who do say it was the right decision. Boots and keeping your feet dry could be another whole video. Usually on a hiking trip I prefer waterproof boots but when I am on a canoe trip there is a big decision to make. Do I try and keep my feet dry getting in and out of the boat and portaging through swamps or do I bring a lighter non-waterproof pair of hikers and just get them wet.

Good plan!

A ground sheet/footprint is completely useless. It won't stop any type of water/condensation nor will it do anything for warmth. If your tent gets punctured or anything like that, then you didn't clean the area or clean it well enough.

@@360Investigations This was a super old comment, so I’m not even sure what I was thinking when I wrote it, but I believe I was saying the a ground sheet will extend the life of the floor. Even if the ground is free of sharp objects, just plain dirt is a grit that will wear down the material. Also is it starting to seep a little, it’ll help. Having said all that, I’ve never actually bothered with one. 🙂

@@jimf1964 Thanks for the reply. My reply comes from a place where I've been verbally attacking the entire camping/hiking/backpacking community. I'm really sick and tired of their shit information, and pushing overly expensive gear by companies that are clearly price gouging. I've been making videos lately calling out their complete BS.

Thanks you so much!

Thanks!

Number 1, bring a tarp. A tarp provides great refuge in rainy conditions and will take the stress out of a lot of situations. Regarding fires and although I don't feature a lot of bushcraft on my channel, I think it is important to know how to make a fire in the rain. Bringing a dry fire starter and a lighter is a good idea for a beginner. If you have time you should practice making fire in wet conditions and have and learn how to use a good quality fire steel. When you know how to use one it is more reliable than a lighter. Lern the skills and how to gather good burning material. Birch bark will usually burn even when wet and it can be pulled apart and scraped to reveal dry layers. You can also find small dead twigs, still dry, and still on the tree under the canopy of large conifers. Also finding standing dead trees and splitting them open is very effective as the wood will be dry on the inside. Making feather sticks from the inside of a split dead stem is ideal in wet conditions.

You've been busy! Thanks Phoebe!

Patrick, excellent question. Generally, No. I do use good quality tents that don't need a tarp above them. And, I do use a tarp to make a separate dry area that I often refer to as my outdoor 'living room'. But, sometimes I do pitch my tent under the tarp. I might do this because I expect heavy dew and don't want to carry a heavy tent the next day. Or because I think it might rain sideways and the tarp might keep the rain out of my open door that allows for better ventilation. Usually if I pitch the tent under the tarp I am solo tripping and the size of the tarp can accommodate both the tent and outside living space for one person.

@@KevinOutdoors awesome thank you

Not every tent leaks but even a top of the line new tent will leak if it is pitched in the wrong place or the wrong way. Often new campers will pitch the tent by accident in a place where water collects. They wake up and realize the floor of the tent is wet. I can't say for sure but it sounds like that may be what happened.

Thanks and welcome!

Humm, hard to say. If it is forming as small droplets I would guess that it is condensation but condensation will usually form on the inside of your fly first. If it is forming small puddles of water on the floor I would suggest that the floor probably isn't watertight. Fabric waterproofness is measured in terms of the pressure required to push water through the fabric. A fabric may be waterproof in that water falling on it won't penetrate but if you lay on a spot and there is water underneath it may still push up through the fabric. I would experiment a bit. Perhaps place the fabric over a bucket and clip it in place then pour some water on the fabric and leave it there overnight. If water is leaking through then it is your fabric. A silicon spray may help. Also double check the seams, they are usually the first thing to cause leaking.

@@KevinOutdoors yeah it definitely collects in small droplets. This has occured even in non rainy or non wet conditions so I'm suspecting it's condensation. It is just odd that even with the ground sheet it seems ot be happening

That will work. 😀

Thanks! Sorry for all the clapping. I seem to develop a unique manerism for each video I do.

That is a challenge. If it is raining and you really need it dry a fire can help but of course there is the issue of sparks potentially destroying your pad so you will want to keep it well away from the flames and sparks. And I recognize fire isn't always an option. If I had to use a wet pad before I got a chance to dry it properly in the sun I would probably sacrifice a t-shirt or something and just wipe it off as best I could. There is no great answer here except to keep all your sleeping gear dry. Dry bags or even simple trash compacter bags can keep you comfortable.

They certainly are.

That isn't a wrong answer 😃

Ha, well good thing I don't live in the U.K. I don't normally do that, most of the time I am perfectly comfortable in front of the camera. Something that day gave me a nervous clap.

Thanks Gerard, yes definitely goes for skiing too.

Learned: Roof line for tent need to extend past inside tent Consider buying ankle gators

Ha, we do.

Hi Isadora, I have a 'Guides Tarp' from MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop) here in Canada, it is 2.9 x 3.9 m and is great for small groups or solo canoe tripping. I also have a Sil Nylon 'Scout Tarp' also from MEC which is 2.9 x 2.1 m. It is much lighter and great for 1-2 people backpacking. I don't own any, but have camped under tarps made by Cooke Custom Sewing. CCS is a small cottage industry tarp manufacturer in the U.S. They make great quality tarps of different sizes and have multiple loops to support the tarp form above. Good luck!

Stay dry! :)

Thanks Gerard, I'll take that as it is. ATB on Easter!

That is tricky. I do it under the tarp but on a wet rainy and humid day they won't dry. Only a good fire will dry wet clothes on a wet day.

Yep, I don't know if I mentioned it but that jacket I am wearing has nice large pit zips. Very important!

Hi Scottie, I did mean compactor bags. Trash compactors aren't a thing here in Canada so you won't find those bags in local stores. You can find them online from American sellers. Garbage bags work too but it hard to find a light coloured bag that is also heavy duty.

@@KevinOutdoors Gotcha! On the BWCA forums online a lot of us talk about bringing a portage pack lined with a contractor bag. That kind of heavy duty, 55 gallon bag usually meant for construction debris. I absolutely have been LOVING your channel and have turned on a few friends to it. A dehydrator, a vacuum sealer, and your book are the only things on my Christmas list this year! Keep up the great dehydrating videos!

@@scottiebaldwin Thanks Scottie, much appreciated. I will have to check out 'contractor' bags. Anything heavy duty will work a light color is handy to see stuff inside.

Hi Devin, (my nephew) I would but, know what? The folks who watch my videos are not the same folks who will watch yours. My audience tends to be older folks who like to camp, canoe and hike. Your audience is younger people who like 4 wheelers (and Chevrolets). :) I have an idea for a video about 'RU-vidrs I Watch'. If I make that one you will definitely get a shout out! K?

Kevin Outdoors yes bud

It depends on the quality of the tent and how old it is. Usually tents start leaking through the holes in the stitches and that is why they are sealed with a tape. The tape can deteriorate over time. And the fabric can also simply wear out over time from UV light.

@@KevinOutdoors thank u for replay. Which tent is best to buy ? Mine was cheap one from asda made wanted to try camping ...

Hi Monika, that is a tough question. There is no such thing as a 'best tent'. First consider your use of it. Are you a car camper or do you aspire to do long backpacking hikes? Then the season, do you need a three season tent or a 4 season tent. Then consider your budget, even cheap tents can be good tents. When I started out I bought inexpensive tents but treated them with silicon spray and sealed the seams myself. But generally speaking more expensive tents will be better. Consider how much room you need and how you will use it, I have some tents that tall people can't use comfortably and I have some two person tents that my wife and I are very tight in. A tent is a big purchase but it is one of your most important pieces of gear. Do lots of research and visit multiple stores and talk with the sales people. Also like I said before where you pitch the tent can be as important in keeping it dry as how good a tent you have so learn to find sites that don't collect water. Good luck! and welcome to backpacking! We all learn best from failure so don't get discouraged because you had one wet night!

@@KevinOutdoors thank u for your replay . I am thinking to get tent 2-3 bedroom for 6-8 people's lòts of space to specialy with kids 😊looking for tent which will be for sure waterproof better to have strong one suitable for any weather and any time ...maybe you can recommend some Please?

Thanks Andy!

Kevin Outdoors No problem pal, I enjoyed it.

harduckn I think - Sealskinz - is one of those brands!

The brand I have is 'Rocky' 'Rocky Stretch GORE-TEX Oversocks'. Their sizes are terrible. I wear a size 9 boot and a size 12 Rocky.

Thanks!

That's too bad. I just hit 50, my adventure days are numbered.

@@KevinOutdoors you can, but some of us 50s can't over bone peobpems.

Thanks, I don't know what was wrong with me that day :)

Because I am happy and I know it.

LOL, OK I'll make a 30 min video of rain just for you.

People who work hard. Is a rain jacket and a tarp really 'spoiled rich gear'?

I don't know what got into me that day.

👏👏👏 sorry can't help myself 👏 👏 👏