June can be sunny and scorching hot. So, you need to drink water, add electrolytes, use sunscreen and a hat, and know your limits; go slow as necessary under heat.
Make sure you hike and explore outdoors early in the morning and plan to wrap them up by early afternoon.
Thanks to the following summer camping tips that help me deal with hot weather.
1. Use a Cooling Sleep Setup
Hammocks do great in hot weather. No insulation under you traps your body until you put it there.
Air circulation is everywhere to make you cool, even in 50 degrees Celsius. So, get crew hammocks as they are very affordable and an ideal camping gift.
If not, mess hammocks are good. You can also sleep on a cot for better air flow.
Air mattresses are also great for sleeping on when it’s hot outdoors. They stay cold, and sometimes you may need a blanket at night during a Florida summer.
I’m not sure if it works for others, but it suits me well.
I put on my planned clothes and spray myself down with enough water to dampen them. They should be soaking wet; that will be so uncomfortable.
Only a small mist is enough!
Then, I start camping fans. This setup is enough for me to fall asleep for at least a few hours before I wake up and feel hot again.
Besides, you can dampen your bedding or a damp cloth on your forehead or near the fan.
2. Dress for Heat (But Cover Up Too)
It’s no news that you need to wear lightweight, moisture-wicking clothes.
Merino wool is excellent, and merino socks are perfect. If you find merino wool too expensive, you can switch to synthetic alternatives.
Synthetic fishing gear type shirts do well in summer. They are also light and keep you warm enough on the cooler nights in the desert.
Nylon or polyester fishing/hiking shirts and zip-off pants are a great combo. You can get them in the thrift stores for around $10.
They come with long sleeves and hoods, as well as UV protection.
I’m really fond of long-sleeved baggy sun in the summer trip. Many like Patagonia Capilene cool shirts in the desert. They block the sun and provide you with a hoodie.
What about a bandana? Yes!
Cargo plants turned into shorts, tank tops, UV-blocking over-shirt or hoodie, and a broad-brimmed mesh hat is all that you want to start a trip in the hot weather.
Double rupped tank tops help you cool throughout the day. You can also wear them under your shirt to stay warm in the evening.
Capilene, birddog shorts, linen, pants, shorts, and button-downs are also nice recommendations for the weather.
3. Plan Summer-Friendly Meals
I enjoy eating Cowboy caviar in the summer.
Cut up a watermelon into pieces and put them in a ziploc bag at home. Keep it in the freezer. You can simply enjoy the chunks in the canopy or use the excess juice for a cocktail or juice.
I have also tried black bean dip (that’s called Texas caviar). It’s filling and refreshing!
If you love fruits, why don’t you try ice-cold grapes? Just throw them in an icy cooler, which is the most refreshing thing in the heat. Oranges and bananas also serve well.
Use coolers with ice blocks or solar fridges.
When it comes to hot weather, you would love to bring some hard cheeses and summer sausage.
Focus on no-cook or minimal-cook meals. Pasta salad, hummus with crackers and veggies, and sandwich stuff rolled up in a tortilla are also nice recommendations.
Wraps, grain bowls, empanadas, and mini frittatas are great options for non-camping or when out on the trail.
If you want to prepare some delicious meals for dinner, try making veggie and steak skewers.
Who doesn’t want chicken BBQ over a campfire? You can also prepare bacon, diced and cooked with a bit of sugar. Add some ground turkey or beef and prown.
Drain liquids and add baked beans and some diced white onion.
My go-to meal plan is:
- Breakfast – Oatmeal and instant coffee
- Snack – Nuts or Cliff Bar or veggie with hummus or Snickers mini bars or jerky
- Lunch/Dinner – Ramen with a can of chicken, any wrap with a can of chicken, and rice with instant potatoes and either ramen or a can of chicken.
4. Use Bug Control Strategies
As summer arrives, mosquitoes, ticks, and flies increase in numbers aggressively.
To protect your skin, you should wear a head net, long-sleeved shirts, pants, and a bug net.
My friends often use a sansbug, which you can put in your sleeping bag. There is a strip of solid material at the top, allowing you to sit up in it.
Besides, you can use Thermacell and picaridin lotion. Treat your camping tent and clothes with permethrin. I often spray my hammock, tarp, and the outside of my underquilt with picaridin.
You can also bring a mesh dealio to go under the tarp when bugs are fierce.
If you pitch the tarp right under the weather and get a bug-proof campsite, bugs will be no issue. The worse the weather gets, the lower and flatter the pitch becomes.
Many campers also recommend DEET, but only 30%.
If you want to make DIY bug repellent, you can try Lemon-Eucalyptus oil-based repellent, which is as effective as 30% DEET.
Besides, you can set up citronella candles, thermocell devices, or bug screens.
5. Prep for Sudden Summer Storms
Summer often brings thunderstorms and flash rain.
Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the potential hazards, including lightning, falling trees, and flying debris, during summer camping.
Don’t camp in a ravine, arroyo.
Therefore, select a location that remains dry and is not drenched. A high land on a hill can be an ideal place to pitch a tent.
After pitching a tent, dig a small trench 1-2” deep around your tent. This helps divert rain runoff from entering your tent. Also, consider getting some extra parachute cords if you need to secure something down.
I recommend having some sort of out-of-tent cover that will withstand the wind, as well as smaller, more heavy-duty tarps that are well guyed.
Also, make sure you set up the rain fly properly and stake down the wind straps.
To prepare for bad weather, bring extra clothes for warmth. I often get a set of clean shorts or sweats, underwear, socks, and a shirt sealed in my backpack.
A heavy-duty poncho with a liner also helps keep spirits up.
This helps you stay dry and safe when bad weather arrives.
Final Thoughts
I think the most vital thing is your mindset of comfort over carry-weight. So, don’t bring heavy items; only multi-use case tools and lightweight gear are sufficient.
Some essentials, I would say, are camp chairs, a cooler, battery backups, and enough hydration.
Always track the weather conditions and proceed with a plan.
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