Frost/dew protection

[y not]

It's all about the relative humidity (RH) and temp, which together give you dew point.

And it's not just about the ambient RH number you get on your local radio or TV forecast, but the micro climate where your camp is set up. If you're near a stream or a meadow with moist soil, *no wind* to speed evaporation and cool enough temps, you'll get some dew — or a lot! — based on these factors.

interesting.. i was just googling DEW formation

[Norfolk Yeti]

Appreciate the replies everyone, makes the learning curve shallower!
I’m surprised no one has mentioned winter socks or similar, that could show my inexperience though....are they not for that purpose?

[Shug]

Appreciate the replies everyone, makes the learning curve shallower!
I’m surprised no one has mentioned winter socks or similar, that could show my inexperience though....are they not for that purpose?

For me the condensation is then on the inside with me.
Your results may differ though. I'm a moisture machine.
Shug

[Norfolk Yeti]

For me the condensation is then on the inside with me.
Your results may differ though. I'm a moisture machine.
Shug

I see yes, I’ve experienced similar in goretex bivi bags...same deal

[Pop_Eye]

It's all about the relative humidity (RH) and temp, which together give you dew point.

And it's not just about the ambient RH number you get on your local radio or TV forecast, but the micro climate where your camp is set up. If you're near a stream or a meadow with moist soil, *no wind* to speed evaporation and cool enough temps, you'll get some dew — or a lot! — based on these factors.

So all those years I used a psychometric chart for my job, I forgot about how ambient temp and relative humidity were totally related to dew point.

So what did I do last Thursday? I hung my hammock in the middle point of a river bend. Moving water less than 30’ on 3 sides of me and no breeze. About 3 am I woke up to see if the dew on the lilly needed shaking and started contemplating wet bulb temps but I knew it was too late to move camp.

All in all, seeing the sunrise and being able to capture this image made the bit of condensation I did get on my TQ worth it.

B95EAFED-2458-4572-9D79-0FED7B5670B8.jpeg

Moral of the story, do your best to not camp where %rh will approach the 100% point.

[cougarmeat]

I often use a sock in the winter - using a spindrift with a Ridge Runner these days. It adds warmth - I can really feel the difference in the morning when I unzip it wide the the outdoors. It also adds privacy, or rather light blocking because we have a bright - no longer required by code but I can’t get the city to remove it - street light that shines like the sun at night.

Frost on the inside - condensation is one of the challenges of winter camping. Not enough ventilation and it’s snowing inside when you move in the morning. Too much ventilation and you’ve lost the heat capture benefit (and that frost might form on your quilt instead of the walls of the sock.

I started using socks before I was introduced to tarps with doors. Maybe this winter I’ll find out if a tarp with doors is almost as warm while keeping “inside the walls frost” further from the quilts.