What Color Tent Is Coolest in Hot Weather?

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Tent camping should be about spending time with friends and family, getting closer to nature, and simply getting away from life’s distractions…

And not about trying to survive in a sweltering hot tent!

Luckily, you can easily deal with this problem by simply choosing the right tent color to keep you and your family cool, and in some situations, better protected from threats!

Why Does Tent Color Matter?

Light creates energy in the form of heat, and different tent colors reflect light more or less than others. That means different colors absorb varying levels of heat. Hence, your tent color plays a central role in determining how hot or cool the interior of your tent gets.

Your tent’s color also has other practical uses. Your tent should:

• Blend in with its surroundings, while remaining visible to you in case of emergencies
• Not attract cats, bears, critters, and other wildlife

Bright Color Tents

Bright colors have a high light reflection and a low heat absorption rate. These attributes keep the heat out of your tent during the day, making it more comfortable to sleep in the tent at night.

These tents are easy to spot in the dark. However, they can also attract birds, bears, and other wildlife that may feast on your food reserves. Many biting inspects love brightly colored tents, which can lead to an annoying camping experience.

White Tents

If any color screams summer, it’s white. Many people wear white clothing in sunny weather because this color reflects the most light and doesn’t absorb any. 

If you pick a white tent for your camping trip, it will stay comfortable inside, even during the hottest days. 

However, white tents do have their downsides. Firstly, due to their shiny appearance, people and animals can spot these tents from afar. That can put your campsite in danger, as some wild animals, like big cats, find the color attractive.

White tents are therefore not ideal for camping unless you’re in a secure location free of wildlife. White tents can also prove challenging to keep clean.

Red Tents

Red reflects most light, but it comes with one problem. It absorbs colors on the red spectrum, the energy carrier of light waves. It will absorb red energy, which can heat the interior of your tent.

A red tent is therefore not an ideal choice if you’re camping in tropical weather or at the height of summer. However, it makes an excellent choice if you’re camping in areas with abundant wildlife. Many animals cannot see the color red and won’t spot the tent, keeping your campsite safe. 

Pink Tents

Pink tents have a low light energy absorption rate, assuring you of a cool interior during the day. Plus, pink is the most commonly occurring color in wildflowers, which will enable you to blend into certain surroundings.

Unlike white, dangerous animals are less likely to notice your location with a pink tent. Hence, you can have peace of mind while relaxing inside your tent.

Dark Color Tents

Dark color tents like black, indigo, violet, green, and blue are poor reflectors of light and excellent heat absorbers. They store every heat energy spectrum from the sun, which means that your tent will heat up during the day.

However, a dark-colored tent is an ideal place to spend the night. The deep colors enhance your security as people and wild animals can easily pass by the tent without noticing it. The tent also retains any heat absorbed, which means you have a cozy place to sleep.

Several cooling technologies can help you keep your tent ventilated, including portable fans.  If security and safety are your primary camping priorities, consider picking a dark color tent. Just make sure you know their shortcomings and pack the necessary supplies to make up for them.

The Best Colors for Canopy Tents

Pup and canopy tents are the best tent types for outdoor activities. These tents are lightweight, portable, and have a decorative design to block UV rays. This design ensures that your tent interior remains fresh, no matter the heat levels outside.

Of course, the cooling element also depends on the tent color. Canopy tents have a different set up from other tent types, as their canopy tops block heat and rain. When it comes to colors, consider a silver color canopy top for your tents, unless you camp on the beach, as silver attracts seagulls.

Canopy tents with silver tops reflect a considerable amount of light and keep your interior cool. Also, black canopies make great camping tents as they ensure that no light warmth penetrates the canopy top.

Which Color Tent Is the Coolest for Hot Weather When Beach Camping?

Camping on the beach can be tricky. Beaches lack trees that shield you from direct sunlight, which puts you at risk of UV rays and sunburns. Thus, you need to account for this issue when picking the color of your tent.

Bright colors may sound like a good idea for hot weather, but that doesn’t apply when you’re camping on the beach. To enjoy a refreshing, serene camping experience at the beach, consider a tent with a dark color.

These tents have a high ability to block UV radiation, and dark blue tents rank as one of the best choices, while white or yellow tents work poorly on the beach. These light color tents will reflect light but won’t protect you from harmful UV rays.

Green and silver tents don’t make for smart tent choices since seagulls and other sea birds that could damage your campsite like them.

The Best Color Tents if Camping in Hunting Sites

If you’re camping in a known hunting site, which is generally not a good idea unless you’re a hunter yourself, choose an orange tent. An orange tent functions like a blaze orange hunting vest that makes you visible to hunters in the area.

While orange may not be the best color for camping in hot weather, it will keep you safe without deterring the game. The worst color tent to take camping in a hunting site is dark green since it has low to no visibility for other people.

Final Verdict: Which Is the Right Color Tent for Hot Weather?

What color tent is coolest in hot weather? This question doesn’t have a straightforward yes or no answer.

It depends on where you’re camping and your priorities. No single color stands out as the best color tent for camping in hot weather but start by considering your location to help you to decide on the best options. 

If you’re camping in the hills or forests, aim to strike a balance between staying cool and staying safe with a red or orange color tent. If you camp on the beach, choose a dark blue or grey tent that will keep you cool enough without attracting sea birds. Camping should be a fun experience. While you have plenty of options, choose a tent color you love that keeps you safe outdoors.

And remember, tent color is just one small factor in keeping cool while tent camping. Picking the right tent and keeping it out of the sun are both extremely important. Check out our guide to the best warm weather tents to get started!