My kids have camping bunk beds which are great and a real space saver.
However, every morning the canvas is visibly damp, regardless of the weather and whether or not we have the ventilation parts open on sleeping area (have an icarus 500).
They currently have a think fleece blanket on the bed, with their sleeping bag on top. If it is very cold they sometimes have an additional blanket on the top.
Perhaps this may help :- DRY-Mat anti-moisture and condensation underlay. I have made my front beds into flat surfaces rather than slats I noticed this stuff on canal boat searches, so far it works but it is early days yet.
In the morning are the kids sluggish and zombie like, claiming mild headaches which clear once they are up and out of the tent?
If so they've used up all the oxygen in the tent during the night and you need to partially open the inner door to let in more air and to let out the carbondioxide and water vapour.
If they feel cold during the night get them to wear wooly hats in bed, the head is the bit that sticks out.
If there is a build up of moisture inside the tent your kids are probably quite damp inside their sleeping bags. They are using body heat to dry themselves out which chills the body. So more ventilation and make sure they don't wear their day clothes in bed as they will already be sweaty.
Turn sleeping bags inside out and air during the day if you can.
Some sleeping bag fillings like Dacron and Hollofill still insulate you when they are damp. Wet down just becomes soggy and chills you. Check on what the kids sleeping bags are filled with, go 3 Season if you can.
It is simply condensation due to the temperature difference between the body heat and the bed, a natural phenomenon and nothing to do with ventilation.
Regardless of temperatures, warn them not to bury their heads in the sleeping bag, as every breath will soak into the bag.
We have fleece lined fisherman's bags with a waterproof outer layer, as they are designed for sleeping outside under a bivvy, at the water's edge, hence the risk of catching some rain.
These work very well, as my moist breath left an obvious damp patch on the outside of the bag, all around the neck/chest area. The science of the bags layers ensured all moisture was wicked outwards, and all remained dry inside. I aired the outer each day... until I eventually learned to keep my head out of the bag, and those outer damp patches were no more!
However, not all sleeping bags are equal. Many won't wick it away from the body, and many may hold the moisture within the insulation/filling.
A wool blanket underneath is brilliant. In a hot climate I’ve known a camp bed to develop a pool of condensation even - wool blankets are absorbent and avoid this. In my camper I now use a wool mattress topper, and sleep like a baby! Obviously, important to air your bedding when you can.
We have small fleece blankets for chilly areas. I put mine round my shoulders as I don't like pulling the sleeping bag tight, OH puts his over his head which keeps him warm and blocks early morning light
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Topic: Damp on camp beds
via mobile 17/8/2025 at 9:04pm
