Hot Tent Drying Tricks

[Dougfirtree]

I'd love to hear the tricks people have come up with for hanging/drying clothes, boots, etc. in a hot tent. Are you just tying dry lines up in the top of the tent? Building little racks on the ground? What has worked best for you?

 

[LopeHunter]

Rule 1 is to try and use performance fabrics and wool. The former tends to dry fast and the latter can hold warm even if damp.

Rule 2 is to shed layers as build up core body heat as hike. Sweat makes my clothes damp more than rain/wet snow.

Here are my methods. I use stiff cord if in a wall tent with a metal frame. If have a stove going then will put damp items near the stove. Heavy coats, gloves/mittens and hats are challenging to get dry.

If forecast is for dry and windy or sunny then I hang wet items I don’t need that day from limbs or lay on big rocks. I have done the same to a sleeping back turned inside out as benefits from some drying after a few days.

I have swapped socks then put the damp ones hanging from my pack as hiked.

 

[marksjeep]

I just string a line. It helps to circulate the warm air with a fan. Cheap heat powered fan on top of stove or small USB powered fan running off a charge pack. Helps keep condensation down as well.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

Couple sticks or poles and some chute cord. I have hung lighter stuff off my liner loops.

 

[Salmonchaser]

My wall tents have internal frames. Along the ridge pole I hang a series of S shaped hooks, (6inches long). Perfect for hanging boots. Soaking wet, think insulated Kennetreks and no choice but to wade the North Fork kind of wet, they’ll be safely dry by morning. I also run a bunch of these hooks along the hips of the tent, about 4 per person. Hang packs, binos, what ever up and out of the way and drying as well.
At the back of the tent I run an 8 foot closet rod from the ridge pole.
Haven’t melted anything down, or burned anything up since we started doing that.

 

[JAG]

Use the stove to boil water and pour it into water bottles. Place the hot bottles in wet boots, sleeping bags, gloves, etc., to accelerate drying.

I tried wearing wet clothes in my sleeping bag this year and was pleased to see that it does work. The hot bottle speeds up this process.

For people who may sleep cold or those who winter camp, the hot water bottle in your sleeping bag stays warm all night. Also, it helps dry out the condensation drip.

I have an 8-man tipi. This year, I found the upper guy-outs on the outside useful to pull out the sag from extra clothes being hung up. I've always liked the lower ones to create more space for sleeping, but never knew the reason for the upper ones until this year. Perhaps another purpose exists that I haven't learned yet.

I also used a flexible green aspen to shove out two sides of the upper peak for more space/reinforcement. I tied the stick to the tent pole. In addition to propping the walls out, it created more space to hang our wet clothes.

 

[JAG]

Just before my trip, I met a guy who uses a candle for winter camping to add a little warmth. I did a deep dive and learned all about 'wet heat' versus 'dry heat'.

If you have a hot stove in your tent for warmth and/or condensation control, do not kill its benefits by using a candle, Buddy Heater, or similar heating device that releases its combustion (smoke or exhaust) inside the tent.

Yes, the CO poisoning is an issue that's solved with proper vents. Yet, even the vents aren't enough to prevent condensation. This approach creates 'wet heat' where moisture builds up and diminishes the benefit of hot stoves that create 'dry heat'.

 

[Bighorner]

If you are in a tipi take a 30" stick and tie a 5-6' cord to each end so that of you hold the center of the cors it makes a triangle with cord on two sides and the stick on the bottom. The tie the cord high on the center pole and hang gear off the stick. That way you aren't sagging one wall with damn gear.

You can also put dry rocks in boiling water to get them hot, let them air until the water evaporated and throw them in your boots. Obviously don't throw the rock in when it's hot enough to damage the boot.