The secret to a good night’s sleep in the tent is to blackout it, especially in the summer. But How to blackout a tent? It’s a method to stop the external light coming inside the tent. The sun can be up early in the morning; people want to sleep in and relax when they go camping if they wake up as soon as the sun rises because it’s too glossy.
They will never get up with new enthusiasm. They devote a tired and hectic day ahead. A blackout tent is a tent that uses light detecting quilty, so the purpose is to keep inside the tent as dark as possible, so they don’t have to rise when the sun does.
The blackout tent is perfect for those with babies and children who wish to get better sleep on their trip. Remember, it’s not the sun that can disturb your sleep; torch or car headlights and clear nights with a full moon can also light up your tent. In this article, we share the best tips and tricks with you.
Pros and Cons of Blacking Out the Tent
Following is a summary of the pros and cons of blacking out a tent.
Pros of blacking out the tent
- A blackout tent is best for longer sleep; you can feel comfortable in the dark.
- It’s excellent for fewer sleepers and those who don’t want to get up early, like 8 am.
- It stays more relaxed when it becomes hot.
- It gives more privacy and is good in noisy places.
- Blackout tents protect you from sun rays and burning, providing a cool morning.
- During the day, they work great to keep your tent cool.
- You are applying after some easy rules you consider your simple dark-colored tent to be blackout style.
Cons of blacking out the tent
- Heat is the main factor, especially during the evening; heat will be stuck inside the tent throughout the day.
- In this situation, you can’t sleep due to being uncomfortable rather than sunlight.
- It is more effective when you are camping in warm weather.
- Darker tents are hotter than light ones. During camp, please don’t use a dark tent where there are a lot of wild animals; it can harm you.
How to Blackout a Tent? Here are 10 Best Methods
There are some essential points to blackout the tent during your camping journey.
1. Using of eye mask
During camp, it’s essential to get a good night’s sleep. A simple and affordable way is to wear an eye mask. Even in the daytime, wear it if you want to take a nap or dark space. Eye masks can provide you with an effective way to improve your quality of sleep.
2. Using a blackout liner
Blackout liner is a thicker fabric than the cotton lining, and it is used primarily in bedrooms or living from blocking the daylight. It works like curtains and keeps light in and heat out through the summer.
These shades will reduce the heat and allow you to use your heating and cooling system more effectively. It saves energy. However, it will let some light get in. The material used is robust, lightweight, and best for good ventilation.
3. Wrapping the exterior
It is a technique to protect from incoming light. It covers all parts of the tent densely, and you don’t touch the inner part of the tent. It should be water-resistant material to defend you from the sun rising.
In this case, you need a giant tarp to drape outside the tent, you can use a lightweight nylon tarp, but it must be in a dark color to block much light.
4. Choose a shadier location
Find a spot blocked with hills and trees. It is an excellent method. So before you select the pitch of your tent, it will be shaded as long as the sun rises. You may not get a shadier location from trees; look for natural sunblock like bolder and pitch your tent where the sun’s light will be blocked. Instead of using a tarp to cover your blackout tent, you can use the shade to blackout the tent.
5. Blackout only sleeping
It is another easy method to keep your tent blackout; you don’t need to blackout the entire tent; you cover the sleeping area called a bedroom pod. If you have enough space or a large tent, you can divide it by hanging a dark piece of cloth inside the tent where you want to sleep.
6. Use a dark color tent
Dark-colored tents are not as expensive as blackout tents. If you are regular and light-sensitive campers, then it’s a fantastic investment. But it didn’t work like a black shade tent. It is ideal for daytime naps, especially if they have kids.
7. Use a Reflective blanket
A reflective blanket is the best condenser for absorbing heat. You can attach it to your tent. It’s more fantastic than blackout panels and reflects some heat away from the tent. It will surely make your tent darker and don’t insulate as much. It should be a part of every hiker and camper’s equipment, and it is also called a survival sheet and a space blanket. It is an excellent blackout material and blocker for blocking a lot of light. There are many ways to set it up and attachment points, but it depends on your blanket size.
8. Set up the tent to face west
On a camping trip, you don’t need a blackout material, and now your tent has darkroom technology and much more. If you don’t want sunlight at the entrance of your tent in the morning, then setting your tent in the opposite direction means setting your tent
where the sun sets. Doing this, make sure to put it up, opening facing west of your tent, and you can use the current side of your tent; if you will set up your tent in a shady place and hide from the brightness of the sun, even you chose the west side for sleeping.
9. Use darkroom technology
You can have a tent or purchase a darkroom technology like the Coleman series. These blackout tents block almost all sunlight while not heating your tent as much as regular tents. It provides good ventilation. That way, you don’t bother the sun every morning; your whole tent will be blackened.
10. Dye your tent
Light color tents allow light to pass through your tent, so the darker one will help to block all light. So you must buy the dark color tent or blackout tent, but if you don’t have both, you can dye them inside your tent; their purpose is to blend with the surroundings. You never dye the outside of your tent; if you want to dye your inner tent, you will need a few packets of dark-colored dye.
Why To Not Choose A Darkened Or Blackout Tent
Because some people want more privacy and some people used to sleep without light. They could not even take a nap in the afternoon due to the sunlight. That’s why their preference is a blackout tent or a dark-colored tent.
1. Too Much Heat
We all know black color absorbs heat, it’s suitable for creating darkness, but on the other side, it produces heat in the tent. A black tent is hotter than a light or dark color tent.
2. Less Aware Of What’s Going On Outside The Tent :
If you are camping in a public place and hidden from others, then it’s hard to be aware. Because due to the black color you can’t see and hear properly. So it’s necessary to be mindful of what is happening outside your tent.
3. More Susceptible To Sun Damage
When you purchase your tent, make sure it is of good quality and material. Sunlight can damage your tent, which is harmful or stressful for you. Most probably, cheap ones can melt with sun rays, so be aware when to buy them.
4. Hard To Find Tent In The Dark
Lighting your tent is the main and best part. You should hang one small light or torch in front of the tent. In this way, you can find the camp way. Camping in the dark can be scary, but after attaching the light in front of the tent, it will be just relaxing for you.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoy this article about ow to blackout a tent. Now you have a lot of tips and tricks about how to blackout your tent. It is the best data to keep your tent dark for a night’s sleep. Those who enjoy camping at the campground and have a family should have no problem using a blackout tent.
Remember it is totally up to you what and where you decide your camp. Camping with restless nights gave us no entertainment, memorable trips, and no fun. So if you are frequently camping, buy a tent with darkroom technology. Nowadays, tent technology is a trend; blackout tents have been designed to address this problem.
Read More: How to Sleep Outside Without Tent?
Frequently Asked Questions
Following are frequently asked questions about how to blackout a tent.
Q1) Are blackout tents worth it?
Answer: For those who could get a better and longer night’s sleep during their camping trip, it is worth considering the blackout tent, especially if they have children.
Q2) Do black tents get hotter?
Answer: The darkened tent is usually considered hotter than a regular one, especially in summer, when you are at the mercy of the sun. It is cooler than a non-blackout tent; it will be impossible to create a fully darkened atmosphere.
Q3) Can you truly blackout a tent?
Answer: Using a blackout liner, cover the inner side of the tent with absorbing material. That’s a pretty way to make your tent blackout. Blackout tents absorb the heat; a black canopy catches more heat than the other color tent because it does not reflect the sun’s rays.
Q4) Are blackout tents cooler?
Answer: Yes, blackout tents are cooler than other tents. It is considered the best for ventilation and used for controlling climate or temperature during camping trips.
Q5) How do you sleep comfortably in a tent?
Answer: The most fundamental thing to do is to set up your tent on a flat surface as much as possible. Because without it, you cannot have a comfortable sleep. Moreover, invest in a good sleeping pad and a pillow. Use the sleeping bag, which keeps you warm in winter and cools in summer. You can check the sleeping bag’s temperature rating to ensure that.
As you are in the open, you will hear all types of animals, wind, water, and many more noises. Ear plugs are essential to control it. Also, use an eye mask so that the early morning light doesn’t make you uncomfortable.