I have had a few comments lately about tent camping in general in the south, and some specific questions regarding equipment suited to it (mainly tents and sleeping bags), so here goes (and those of you in the north may find this amusing, or may even plan a winter family tent camping trip down here, so go ahead and read on)…

Here in the subtropical lowcountry of South Carolina, which qualifies as “deep south,” we really only have two seasons: Unbearably Hot & insect-infested (usually May-September) and Mild & relatively insect-free (the rest of the year), so a  family could get by beautifully with two tents for year-round camping– the first, a roomy, light-colored, 3-season tent for use during the heat, and the second, a smaller, dark-colored, 3-season tent for use during the coldest period, usually January and February. Since most people simply don’t camp during our extreme heat (for example, we’ve been in the upper 90’s with heat indices in the hundreds-and-teens for the last couple of weeks) or during what passes for deepest, darkest winter (we make it down to freezing some nights and every decade or so we get and inch or two of snow), one decent-sized, light- or medium-colored, 3-season tent would work for most families. We tent camp year-round, so we do have the two tents, with the larger one getting the most use (actually, we have a bit of a tent collection, including my husband’s old Cub Scout tent, but most of them see no use at all anymore).

What is “decent-sized,” you ask? Good question. Never go by the manufactures numbers– if a tent says it sleeps four, they mean four petite children, with no room left over for any gear. If you are a family of four, you could get by nicely with a tent rated for six, and be really comfortable with a tent rated for eight. Seriously– double the manufacturers’ estimates if you want room to breathe and stow your gear. “Yes,” you say (I hear you out there), “but we have a toddler and a baby, and they are really, really small, so we could make do with that less expensive four-man tent.” No, my brave souls, don’t be seduced by lower prices! Imagine your first torrential all-day rain storm, when you’re confined to your tent– toddlers need room to toddle, and you’ll want room for baby’s exersaucer, believe me! And bear in mind that your children will take up more room bodily as they grow, and your tent could last a lifetime.

Speaking of prices, you’ll notice they’re all over the map. As with most things in life, higher-quality items demand higher prices, and you’ll notice that a higher priced tent has closer stitching along the seams, for example. But I am not ashamed to say that we paid $75.00 for our big summer tent (”big” being relative, as there are only three of us), and we’ve used it countless times over years now, because we take good care of it, and because even the least expensive tents can be good companions for a long time. Now, I have my eyes on a couple of Kelty and Northern Face models with vestibules and several rooms, and one year, when we have disposable income (it could happen), we’ll get one. For now, our inexpensive, reasonably well-made tent is still going strong. The best advice: get the best quality tent you can afford, take good care of  it, and you’ll use it for years upon years.

But remember– here in the south, you won’t ever need a four-season tent, because we simply don’t have four real seasons.

Now, as far as sleeping bags go, I’m probably not the best example. Logically, I’ll tell you that you’ll never need a zero-degree mummy bag, and believe me, normal people wouldn’t. But if I were to ‘fess up (and I’m getting ready to), I’d have to tell you that I use one during the summer, because anything under 86-87 degrees, and I’m freezing. Yes, I am odd. (And yes, I do have a thyroid problem, but I’m being medicated for it and I still freeze!) So when it gets down into the 70’s at night, I’m in my mummy bag– just not zipped up and snugged around my head. But that’s my problem– most of you can skip the expense of a bag like that and go for something rated for three seasons, once again. I have a post on sleeping bags here, if you really are a novice and need more info. (I discuss children’s sleeping bags here and continue my rant here, if you’re interested.)

So, in a word, for most people down here (very much the opposite of the rest of the country), if the heat and humidity and heat indices well into the hundreds bother you, just say no to camping during the summer months. We’ve got a good eight or nine months of beautiful camping weather that most Americans don’t have that we can play in. Having said that, if you do camp in the heat, as we do, be sure to stay hydrated, be prepared to take cover during our frequent afternoon thunderstorms (see NOAA’s potentially life-saving advice about that here), and don’t over-exert yourself. Summer camping down here should be a languid affair; save the hiking, extreme rowing, etc., etc., for the rest of the year.

Now, my Northern pals, why not plan a family camping trip down our way for the winter sometime? By February and into March, we’ve got azaleas and wisteria blooming rampantly and very mild temperatures, so maybe during your children’s spring break from school… or maybe over Christmas break. Many years we’re in the 80’s on Christmas Day…

Hope to see you then,

Jean B. in SC