Family camping is always fun and exciting but how about if you go camping with your family members in the rain? Is the forecast bad but you got a few days free and want to spend some quality time together in the outdoors?
Camping in the rain is possible if you prepare and think things out. The most important is to pack the gear that will help you to stay dry and comfortable. In this article, I will discuss the camping gear that you should take along and what can you do to have fun.
Camping gear for rainy conditions
There is camping equipment that you use all the time, throughout the year. However, which gear you must have when it rains? Let’s see which items are necessary to keep you satisfied.
Waterproof camping tent
Do you know that you have different kinds of tents on the market? One of the most important factors when choosing a new tent is to know how waterproof it is. Does a tent have a high waterproof rating? Does it have a rainfly?
A waterproof camping tent is a unit that has a waterproof rating from 1000 HH (hydrostatic head) up. Tents with higher HH are more reliable in the rain because the tent is impregnated with more coating than those with lower HH.
I recommend a tent that has at least a 2000mm waterproof coating to stay dry in the normal rain.
Waterproof clothes and shoes
What clothes to bring on rainy camping? The most important is to pack waterproof clothes such as synthetic shirts and pants. Make sure you pack waterproof outerwear so the rain won’t soak you to the skin when you will be outside the tent.
I suggest packing a raincoat, rain jacket or a poncho, waterproof boots, leggings, and a hat as the most important items. You can take cotton clothes to wear under the outerwear but know that cotton absorbs moisture quickly and is hard to get dry again.
Bring a tarp
I never miss telling campers to bring a tarp with them. A tarp is a piece of camping gear that is versatile to use and comes in handy in any situation.
You can use it under the tent to prevent groundwater to sip inside the tent, above the tent to provide additional rain protection, set it up to have a place where you can cook, eat, store the equipment and dry your wet clothes. It is also good for wind protection if you set it as a wall.
Pack Ziploc bags and other plastic bags
If you will take gadgets along you should place them in the Ziploc bags to stay dry. Technology can easily get wet and destroyed if you don’t have them properly stored.
Ziploc bags are great for keeping your technology devices dry and safe from moisture. You can use them for storing clothes, food, and other things that you want to stay dry.
A clothesline
As you will be jumping in the rain your things will get wet sooner or later. I recommend bringing a clothesline so you will dry your wet clothes fast. Make sure that you change clothes and put them on the clothesline that you installed under the tarp or inside the tent (vestibule).
Get quick dry towels
Quick-dry towels are great if you camp in the rain with kids as you will be able to wipe the inner side of a tent with them. The condensation builds fast in the bad weather so make sure you have at least one of these to wipe the excess moisture.
It is also useful if your tent will leak as you will place the towel where the water is gathering. Also, open the vents on your shelter to keep the air circulating.
Rain activities
Rain can be a mood destroyer, I agree. However, if you find a way to make things more joyful you won’t even notice the rain. Here are some of the ideas to make your camping trip more joyful in the rain.
Tell stories and revive memories
Why don’t you go in the tent, light a candle or a lantern, and tell stories? You can tell what happened to you in the past, interesting events that you attended, make plans for your family in the future, ask your kids what they wish to become when they will get older, etc.
Read books
Books are also a great way to keep the mood up while it rains. Each member can read his favorite book or comic or you can read to your loved ones. I suggest that you bring nature books as they are the best way to reconnect with nature.
Play games
By playing games I don’t mean video games. Pack board games, cards, and other fun toys to play with your family. Pick games that all of you can play and don’t be too competitive while playing them as you might get other players annoyed with your attitude.
Make comfort food
Comfort food and meals that will warm you up are the best while you camp in the rain. Invest in a camping stove and camping cooking gear to make your family warm meals like pancakes, scrambled eggs, tortillas, French toast, fruit oatmeal, and other desserts that will make the group happy.
Rain is your opportunity to bond
Don’t let the rain stop you to have fun and bond. In fact, the rain is a great opportunity to bond as you can stay inside a tent and do activities that you didn’t have time to do while staying at home.
Consider my suggestion of camping gear and activities to make your outdoor trip worthwhile. Also, think of other activities that you can do in the rain and have a wonderful family time.