Does Camping Tent Color Matter? 

Camping tent color is not just about the look of the tent. Tent colors can have a function as well as be beautiful to the beholder.

Dark tents are warmer. Light tents are cooler. Some colors attract critters. In some situations, it’s best to be seen. In others, being unseen might keep you safer.

So does tent color matter? Don’t be fooled by pretty colors. Choose a color that is going to be the best in your camping situation because believe it or not, tent color can matter! Read on to find out more!

Stay Happy – In A Bright-Colored Tent!

When the weather turns bad and you are stuck in a tent for longer than you want, a light colored tent needs fewer lighting resources than a dark colored one and basic color therapy tells you that bright colors make people feel happier!

Do Darker Tents Get Warmer In The Sun?

Yes, is the short answer as dark colors such as black, brown, dark green, blue, and purple colors are great at absorbing heat and poor at reflecting light.

These colors are great to pitch in winter, however, as they will heat up during the day and retain some of that heat into the evening allowing you are naturally warmer environment to get ready for sleep in.

Dark colored tents make it easier to get a good night’s sleep if you are sensitive to light. A dark tent color makes it harder for people and animals passing by to see in the dark. Often that will make you feel safer.

Sleeping In Dark colors and Blackout Tents

Blackout tents are designed to ensure very little light gets into the tent so you don’t have to wake up when the sun does! Great for people sensitive to light or with young children or babies.

Blackout tents are usually cooler first thing in the morning as they are darker and usually made of thicker material.

It’s Easier To Find A Bright Tent Color In A Campsite

You’ll find your bright pink or orange color tent in crowded campgrounds far easier than a dull color tent that may look like a shadow. Of course, everyone will have the same idea so maybe use a flag raised on a pole to flag where your tent is!

It’s easier to see a bright tent color from a distance too if you happen to be the only people for miles and miles around. A camouflage color tent in unfamiliar surroundings can lead to some stress and anxiety until you get your bearings and find it again!

And Bright Tent Colours Keep You Happier

Something that is rarely mentioned is that bright colored tents keep you happier than dark tents. When it’s pouring outside and you just want to stay inside your tent, a bright tent color will let in plenty of sunlight. Dark tents, and particularly green tents, can start making you feel a little low after a while.

Are Mosquitos And Bugs More Attracted To Some Tent Colors?

Yes – Mosquitos especially like the darker colored tents!

Bugs and insects are also attracted to lighter-colored tents in general especially at night when they are lit from within. Mesh doors and windows are your best defense against bitey night creatures.

Beach Camping: Which Tent Colors Prevent UV Rays?

Darker colors can block UV radiation but make your tent quite hot. Blue is the best color for blocking these dangerous rays.

Light colors like white and yellow reflect the light and don’t absorb heat which keeps them cooler but they do let UV rays through and so offer the least protection.

 

If you are camping at the beach, look for as much shade as you can to stop the UV rays from damaging your tent’s fabric.

Camping in an area that is open for the hunting season isn’t the best thing to do but having a bright orange tent is going to allow the hunters to spot the tent much sooner and not mistake it for anything else.

Don’t camp in hunting areas with camouflage tent colors or ones that blend into the scenery. You want to be as visible as possible when camping in an area where people are walking around with loaded guns!

Best Color For Getting Rescued And Staying Safe

From a safety point of view, a bright-colored tent can be used as an emergency beacon whether it’s pitched or you are waving it to a medical chopper from the ground.

If you are camping away from the beaten track, bright-colored tents will help you find your way back to the tent in unfamiliar territory too! Backpacking and hiking tents are often bright colors for this reason.

White tents seem like a great idea for all the reasons above except that some wild animals, like our big cats and bears, seem to find white and very light colors attractive and sometimes, come to investigate. Check to see if this is a possibility before you set up camp in a nice white shiny tent!

Use A Heat-Reflecting Blanket To Cool Any Colored Tent

No matter what color your tent is if it’s too hot inside, then getting a heat-reflecting blanket and placing it shiny side up on your tent will reflect a lot of suns and keep it cooler inside.

The downside of shiny tents is that they attract seagulls (as do green tents). Shiny things can also attract curious bears, cats, and some birds, just because of their attention-getting sparkle and shine.

Want To Change The Color Of Your Tent?

You can buy paints and dyes to change the color of your camping tent but the simplest way to change the color is to buy a new fly! Get one in the color you need or the color you love and always enjoy looking at your tent!

The reality is that the tent of your dreams is going to come in a small range of colors. Unless you are going camping near a hunting area or off into the uninhabited wilds, most colors will cope with most situations with small workarounds like a heat-reflecting blanket, camping in the shade, or a different colored fly.

Unless you think you could be in danger and need rescuers to see you and your tent, pick the color that makes you happy when you look at it. That’s what camping is all about – being happy and enjoying yourself!

FAQ

Wrapping Up On Tent Colors

In conclusion, the color of your tent can have a significant impact on your camping experience. From providing comfort in hot or cold weather to attracting or repelling insects and critters, the color of your tent is an important factor to consider.

From light colors like white and yellow that reflect light and stay cooler to darker colors like black that absorb heat and offer privacy, each color has its own benefits and drawbacks. So, choose wisely and pick a color that will serve you best in your particular camping situation.

Remember, don’t be swayed by aesthetics alone, function and comfort should be at the forefront of your decision.