Ventilation
Ventilation is the airflow through a tent that lets warm, damp air escape and fresh air come in. In a tent it comes from vents, mesh panels, opening zips and any gap the maker leaves between the flysheet and the ground.
Where you'll see it
You will see ventilation described in tent specifications and product photos, with words such as vents or mesh. It matters most in warm or damp weather, when breathing and wet kit add moisture. Good airflow helps reduce condensation, but it does not stop rain getting in, so read the maker's description of both. Airflow also does not make cooking inside a tent a good idea.
What to check
- How many vents the product lists and where they sit, such as near the roof or along the walls.
- Whether the inner tent has mesh panels that can stay open while the flysheet keeps out rain.
- Whether the maker explains how to set the vents for wet or cold nights.
- Whether the flysheet is pitched with the base gap the maker directs.
Related terms
- Condensation: the water that forms when moist air meets a cooler surface.
- Porch: the covered area at the entrance, which can affect airflow.
- Flysheet: the outer layer that shields the vents from rain.
Read more: how to pitch a tent and carbon monoxide and camping.