I didn't say condensation from the ground was non existant I said the primary source of water vapour in the tent comes from the occupant
|
 |
 it actually comes from the air and the ground. the occupant contributes very little overall to the amount of water vapour. the occupant does however change the, very simply, state of the vapour i.e. warms it up so it will condense on the cold outer. it's less about the amount of vapour and more about what is happening to it.
|
 |
Condensation from ground evaporation may seem to some as a thread shift, however it directly addresses the OP's desire to reduce condensation.Try this.Set up side by side a fully enclosed tent (the usual two pole freestanding type , IE BD Lighthouse) and one with an enclosed but uncovered vestibule (like the Akto) . Leave them there for a few days. Most mornings you will find the inside of the "Akto" wet whilst the other will be dry. Franco(Yes I have done that, several times with many tents...)
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
 the answer to the OP's question is... no.
|
 |
.JPG) Just spent first night in my new Akto and woke up nice and damp... it was a coldish night, probably touched freezing, so slept with the end vents closed which I assume might reduce the problem, but one thing that occured to me was that I slept with my head away from the door, and therefore the inner vented section, and perhaps this made the problem worse? Should I be sleeping with my head at the door end? Any other advice on reducing the condensation?

The OP believes that the condensation is mostly from the breath despite others advice.
- Try pitching 2 similar tents - in the same field - one in open grass, the other under a tree canopy - only a few metres apart - In my experience, on a clear night the one under the trees will suffer much less condensation than the one with a clear sky - so breath is not the major factor?
|
| Edited: 20/02/10 16:26 |
 Oooh I love doing science! Take 2 Akto's both in the middle of the field. In one put a live camper (breathing) and in the other a dead camper (not breathing) with an electic heater, on very low, to mimic the heating effect of live camper. Over a week measure the morning condensation. Then re-perform with groundsheet under tent vestibule to test effect of evaporation from bare ground. Can't say fairer than that!
|
 |
 condensation i.e. water vapour changing state is dependent upon temperature and pressure. it is unconcerned whether you are breathing or not or where your tent is pitched. much as the small cloth you use to mop it up isn't.
|
 |
When you find your car body completely wet after a non rainy night, it has nothing to do with the brand of car nor the direction the car was pointing. That is what some have been trying to explain...Franco
|
 |
 Position is relevent though. Radiant? cooling from the sky can mean the surface of a shelter is cooler under an open sky than under trees.
|
 |
 This is all too complicated for me, i'm selling all my gear and taking up golf. Condensation is very important in golf. It's much better to have a later round when the dew has evaporated from the greens. 
|
 |
MikeYes, that makes a big difference. What Mole has described is spot on.Unfortunately most of our bush is gum trees (AKA widow makers) so we tend to camp in the open .As noted above ventilation is also very important, but of course it does not work on a still foggy night.One exception is a PTFE fully enclosed tent. The difference between the internal and external temperature will force water vapour through the membrane, particularly with eVent (Rab).Franco
|
 |
 Most of my camping is in tree-less terrain Franco, so the 'tree thing' doesn't really apply to myself. I agree about eVent though. My ID all eVent bivvy bag is the best i've ever used, and i've had a few. I've never had condensation in it.
|
 |
|
|
 |
 under trees will generally be warmer than under open sky. as would be the joy of falling branches. you get condensation in a tent. live with it. it's totally beyond your personal control other than trying to shed any warmth inside the tent. then it would be called a tarp. my golf was always better in the dew. says lots about my golf.
|
 |