On two separate occasions (with 2 different tents) this year I've camped in biblical levels of rain, so much so that the ground has been completely waterlogged for days on end. Both times, when I've woken in the morning there has been considerable moisture under my sleeping matt. I don't ever remember seeing this in the past.
My 1st thought is that the tents are past their sell by dates, and have started leaking. Then I thought that maybe it had just been condensation, perhaps caused by the groundsheet resting on cold waterlogged ground. Anyone have any light they can shed on this?
For reference the tents were a Wild Country Sirocco, well over 10years old, used often and never with a footprint. And a Vango Equinox 250 TBS, new to me but second hand off ebay so don't know the history thought looks in tip top condition.
Cheers for any insight. I'd also welcome any recommendations for 2 man tents with large porches 😉
Inside the tent, or under the groundsheet?
If it rains a lot water seeps under the tent, so your groundsheet needs to be completely waterproof. I once got wet like this in a tent that seemed fine. When I took it down I held the bottom up to the light and it was covered in tiny holes twinkling like stars at me. Caused by pitching on those hardpack campsites they like in the US.
It was repaired excellently and cheaply though by Scottish Mountain Gear.
Condensation would be affected by the temperature of the groundsheet by the way, not what's under it (if you assume it's watertight). It can happen if your tent isn't well ventilated, but would happen in any cold weather. I've only had it in my old North Face tent when sleeping without any vents open - most of my other tents have had acres of mesh in the inner so all condensation ended up on the inside of the fly.
Probably a mixture of both.
Not that many groundsheets are 100% waterproof (particularly on mountain or lighweight tents).
Plus, when it's very moist outside/on the tent skins it's not surprising that the moisture in the tent isn't escaping.
Have you tried keeping as much airflow through the tent as possible?
Also, stick a bit of tarpaulin under the tent.
Failing that, I can recommend a [url= http://www.professionalwreckhead.com/?page_id=105 ]Terra Nova Quasar[/url] 😉
Don't get a different tent*. It's not the design or quality of the tent, it's the condition of the groundsheet.
* and definitely don't get a Quasar unless you are going on a high altitude or arctic expedition!
The moisture is between the thermorest and the tent groundsheet. On both trips the weather has been so wet that I expected the ground to be sodden under the ground sheets. Its just the water in the tent I'm thinking of. In reality if its leaking I could solve it with a waterproof footprint of some form. I'm just trying to work out if its water coming in or coming from inside.
On the vent front, both tents aren't bad, but the weather was such that even outside the humidity was way up. That's really what made me think it might be condensation.
Not looked for holes in ground sheet like that, but will give it a go later. What did Scottish Mountain Gear do to fix it, sew in a new piece of material?
Thanks for the TN Q recommendation. Porch too small for my liking, but look forward to reading the blog 🙂
Don't get a different tent*. It's not the design or quality of the tent,
It [i]is[/i] the design and quality of the tent in many cases.
The hydrostatic head for groundsheets varies MASSIVELY, from something that wouldn't stop a midge spitting, to something that would block up a river.
I agree that it could be made worse by a degredation in the groundsheet, but most tents aren't 100% waterproof to start with.
We have a Wild Country 3 man well over 10 years old (16ish) and considering the price/quality at the time, the groundsheet is really flimsy sh1t and for years having the same problem as yours, so IMO it's the tent material/age. I also have a well used Macpac Olympus well over 10 years old (16ish) and the groundsheet is still superb (some sort of neoprene impregnated material).
So, if I was in the market for a new tent, one feature I would be looking for is a neoprene groundsheet.
You could use a footprint (sheet of plastic) or try treatment of some sort (liquid Nikwax or something) you've nothing to lose.
Probably condensation! Warm Thermarest, cold floor.
Happens with my Multimat.
Here's another option, Scottish Mountain Gear put in replacement neoprene groundsheets to lightweight mountain tents for £50
[url= http://www.imagescotland.com/scottishmountaingear-repairs-lightweighttent.asp ]http://www.imagescotland.com/scottishmountaingear-repairs-lightweighttent.asp[/url]
What did Scottish Mountain Gear do to fix it, sew in a new piece of material?
Yep, they cut out the old one and sewed in a new one, flawlessly too. The only way I could tell was that the new fabric was a bit stiffer than the old one and it seemed heavier although if it was, it wasn't enough to register when I weighed the whole tent.
For clarification - when it leaked, it was pitched on dirt in the US and it rained so hard that water ran into the hollows under the tent and pooled, so we were lying in water and hence needed a 100% waterproof groundsheet - which it wasn't.
The tent in question is a North Face Westwind from about 1994, so not exactly cheap, and it had been used quite a few times on US ground which is a lot sharper and more abrasive than grass UK campsites.
Nice one, that repair place looks good. I've also got a couple of rucksacks that need zips replacing, so wonder if they do bulk discount!
We were camping last week in Cornwall, in rather lovely warm weather - warm to the point that 8am was about as late as you could stay in the tent without cooking!
Thing is, on 3 days the inside of the tent was quite literally dripping with condensation, yet outside was bone dry and rather warm.
Tent is a Vango 500 4 person job, any ideas why it was so full of condensation?
UrbanHiker - that sounds like condensation.
muddydwarf - if it was still/not breezy then it was simply condensation. Open up opposing doors or vents to get some air flowing through.
Problem with that Druidh, was if we left any doors open the farm cats came and slept on us! 🙂
My mate has a Vango Equinox 450 and it's the same. IMO it's because there isn't much of a gap around the bottom of the tent flysheet, if any at all, so not much air flow.
druidh - Member
UrbanHiker - that sounds like condensation.
It possibly is. Thing for me is, I have the same make in the Wild Country, same age(ish) and the groundsheet is now useless. Any wet ground and it's wet inside, it's been like this for quite a few years now, we always use a footprint these days.
As far as the Vango Equinox 250 is concerned, see my post above re the Equinox 450^
Bodies release loads of water vapour, and most of it ends up on the inside of the fly. That's why tents have two skins.
Incidentally, in the US most tents for everyday family camping have a partial fly over the top and sides that you can unzip to mesh. This is because they have reliable warm summer weather and it eliminates condensation.
The shape of the fly affects airflow and whether or not the condensation ends up on the inner or runs down to the ground. Also how you pitch it. If it's not tight enough and it's a large dome tent then the fly can touch the inner and whatever touches the inner at that point.
Condensation, common with airbeds. Is it Only under the air bed ?
Yep, just under the air bed.
Thanks everyone for you input, looks like the general consensus is condensation. Darn it, removes my reason for buying a new one!