I don't always use a groundsheet if the grass is good. A tent flysheet acts like a big umbrella, water runs off it into the ground. However if there's ground flooding this will gather in the dips, it's best not to pitch in a dip or at the bottom of a slope because of this!
If you do use a groundsheet, do not allow any part of it to poke out beyond the flysheet. This will act as a water scoop and you will end up with a flooded groundsheet.
If you do use a groundsheet, a small picnic rug by the door makes a good transition zone where you can take your shoes off and leave them. Use easy to take off shoes, Crocs are ideal. You can wear furry slippers indoors if cold!
Keep your sleeping area dry at all costs. Do not go in there with wet or damp clothes, change in the main area. Air out your bedding every day, to get rid of condensation. Air out the whole tent every day for the same reason.
Keep any air vents open 24/7. This may sound counterintuitive but good ventilation cuts down on condensation and keeps your tent drier.
Wear lots of layers. If the forecast is cold, wear thermals, you can sleep in these too. Take a hat.
If sitting outside on a camp chair remember your back can get cold. Drape a fleece blanket over it first.
Have a GOOD sleeping bag. For the UK this means a quality brand, three season one, not some supermarket tat. Your sleeping bag should be your second most important purchase, after the tent.
If using an airbed put some insulation between you and the airbed. A cheap fleece blanket held on with a fitted sheet is ideal.
Cheap fleece blankets (Ikea?) also make good snuggle blankets, and can be used in bed as well.
If the tent does not leak and has a decent hydrostatic head (HH) value of 2000 or higher, then one should be able to stay dry inside when it is pouring down with rain.
Need to remember to check the guys though, as rain makes the ground go soggy, and even good pegs like Delta Pegs can lift.
That's what happened overnight when it chucked down, woke up to discovered 2 of the Delta Pegs had lifted, one for the guys holding up the tarp, and the other was holding one side of the front of the tent.
I double-pegged for the guys for the main poles of the tarp, and triple-pegged the front frame for the tent.
Stay dry and warm as the others have already mentioned, carry spare clothes in case you need them.
Have fun!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We took our Filey last weekend, and after a lovely, dry day out on our new bikes, we returned just in time for the forecasted showers..... that actually ended up being rather heavy!
As it was at such an angle that, in our open canopy, our feet would get wet, along with our low table, and the vodka's there-on, we simply opened the whole front up, retreated back to the carpeted lounge area, and continued to stare out at the site, as we would normally do from the canopy.
T'WAS PURE BLISS!! :-)
The sound of rain on pollycotton is soothing, to say the least.
Coupled with the fact that, due to the rain, there wasn't a soul out and about... no doggies doin' the doo-doo dance, and not a screaming child could be heard!
By chance, rather than skill, we were also well sheltered from the wind, whilst all ahead, each and every tent seemed to dance and sway in time to the rustling, creaking trees beyond.
We were still there after dusk, continually clinking our glasses, in time to the poetic beat of our contented hearts!!
And all this without that "closed in feel"!!
It's one of the best feelings ever, especially when you are tucked up in your sleeping bag, I'm disappointed if I don't get a little rain while we are camping, the heavier the better lol
------------- May/June - Spring Valley
Aug/Sept - Leekworth
I don't mind the odd bit of rain pitter pattering on the tent...As said can be quite soothing when in bed etc...But to be truthful for me it can drive me bonkers if it goes on too long...Rained overnight on my holidays and kept me awake most of that particular night...Needed a few power naps next day to catch up...
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
I've just been lucky enough to spend a few weeks in Dorset and at the beginning the weather was to say the least 'exciting'. My tent has a sewn in tray groundsheet and I didn't have any trouble but I did see parts of the site where water pooled and it would have been bad news to pitch there. So have a good look for low lying areas before you pitch.
Now I'm back home, I rather miss the sound of rain on canvas but I've arranged to visit the Lakes in October for a week (more sketching). So I will probably have some rain. I have both a blanket on the tent floor and a long piece of karrimat material under an airbed. I might be upgrading my sleeping bag for October though. I love camping so much I'm tempted to try in December!
The only weather we don't like is high wind,its so dangerous .I came back last weekend from the Peaks,one minute it was brilliant sun,the next pouring down.I didn't save a sewn in groundsheet so I rolled my groundsheet back from the doors and put a rug on the remaining part.At the entrance,as soon as I stepped in,wet clothes off and hung on the back of chairs or pegged on a
tension support band if u have one.I just bought a good outwell sleeping bag so wrapped myself in that and it was lovely listening to the rain being warm and snug,a dram or two helps lol,good luck
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Topic: What`s it like when the rain is heavy?
