OZ Tent Feedback needed

GGA
Waterproof spray would only make it worse. Condensation is caused by the difference in the air temperature inside (body heat, breathing etc), and the temperature outside. It is a common problem in canvas tents. It is actually water condensing from the air inside the tent - it does not not sneak in from outside.The best way to avoid it is to have some form of flow through ventilation to get rid of the warmer air inside. This of course makes the interior colder, so it is a catch 22 situation. Should you spray with your waterproof spray you would reduce the already minimal amount of breathing that takes place through the canvas. The best thing to do is to put up with it and have a towel handy in the morning to wipe it off.

teege

Not sure where you have found all the negative feedback about condensation.

I own an Oztent which has travelled with us around Australia and in all sorts of weather. To avoid condensation (which is not exclusive to Oztent) you use the fly, and open windows to get some ventilation through.

I think condensation is probably your own breath trapped inside the tent. You could avoid it by stopping breathing, but it does tend to ruin your holiday. Waterproof spray won't do much.

Jack

You will get condensation under a fly (no walls) strung up between trees (water vapor escaping from plants will contribute to this). The best method to avoid condensation is as others have said, have another piece of material above the tent (ie. fly). Overnight you will expel over a litre of liquid from your body (2L or more with 2 people). This vapor hits a cold surface (tent roof) and changes to a liquid. The larger the volume of your tent and the more vents you have open the less effect it will have on your well being during the night and early morning. The fly covering the tent helps to keep a warm(er) layer above and around you and the vents allow some of the water vapor to escape, but does make the interior somewhat cooler (a warm sleeping bag helps to negate this). Canvas, being a slightly breathable material also allows some of this excess liquid to escape. Breathable nylon tents with waterproof flies generally have a dry-ish inner tent, but the fly will be saturated. I have found the Oztent's fly is rarely saturated underneath (due to minimal vapor penetrating the tent, but the top surface will be be saturated (as will your car and anything else left out in the open)
Hope this makes sense.

I have had the situation where it was cold enough for the condensation to freeze on the inside of the tent....thus making a lovely little snow shower INSIDE the tent upon waking...... Lucky for sleeping bags with goretex shells!!

Happy camping.....

Cheers,
Mark

Gidday

You won’t get any condensation in the tent, at the very least a couple of drops. Don't worry aout it.

Regards

Kim

In the appropriate atmospheric conditions you will get condensate in ANY tent

I would suggest the easiest/cheapest way to dramatically reduce if not entirely eliminate condensation is to use an "el cheapo" silver tarp/flysheet over your Oztent.

That way you are layering another temperature band between the inside of your tent roof and the external atmosphere.

Worked for us with our trailer tent. Don't believe any suggestions that dripping condensate is restricted to Oztents. Over some forty odd years I have had any number of tents and a camper trailer, they all had condensation problems at particular times of the year. We have now progressed to a caravan and guess what? Yep! In cold weather we get condensation on the ceiling and pop top skirts.

Ian

Hi Gotta Get Away

I have two RV4 and yes we do get some condensation at certain times of the year and have with all my tents. We use the flys and leave the two high vents near the door open during our time away to help this.

Cheers Rob

OK, so everyone has put your mind to rest about condensation, but the overiding thing for me about the oztent, and why WE didn't buy one, when it's packed up it's too long to fit in the back of our 4WD!

Gotta Get Away
We have the RV4 and is the best tent that we have ever had, including a Southern Cross that now lives permanently in the shed. If condensation is a concern, buy the fly. We always sleep with the back window fully open, as well an the front side windows and have not had any problems.

They are true to claim with their ease of erection and stores out of the way on the roof bars.

If you buy one, you will not regret your purchase.

Cheers

Stephen

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We have a RV2
We use a fly - no, or very little, condensation with windows open at the top
We have a Rhino rr, with flat panels/tie downs to the right and a 2.2m basket on the LHS.
Basket great for other things as well, including collecting firewood when off for day trips away from camp
Regards
A

We have an RV4 - do not own a fly, but cross-ventilate the tent by keeping corners of side windows open if cold and always using the back windows tied away from the edge of the tent but still closed. We have never experienced condensation in this tent - we usually sleep all 4 of us, sometimes just 2 but neither camping in cold damp areas such as in tasmania, high-country, nor when camping on the coast, on the sandy beach through all conditions - leaving the tent up for 4 weeks. We vary the bedding, sometimes just swags inside, sometimes with airbeds so not sure what causes condensation for some and not others. It must have something to do with heavy breathing !!! LOL

Thanks to everyone who replied, you guys have a good thing going on with this site. I think we will start with the windows down a little, a fly or something similar and some new thick sleeping bags. Cheers for the advice. Happy travelling.

If you want to try before you buy the guys at Go Bush Camping in Lara have a Oztent hire service

Thinking further on this thread caused me to wonder ...

Putting a towel over the roof struts and under the canvas could possibly absorb much of the moisture that could collect on the roof.

I have not tried this (never had the need) but it strikes me that it could offer another solution if you were not keen on opening vents and windows.

Jack