Isn’t a black tent hotter inside ?
Isn’t a black tent hotter inside ?
Seeing as we are continually asked this question we decided to write a blog about it and how from our own tests the answer is no.
When we first decided to produce the tent in black ( so it stood out from the crowd in a sea of green, blue and brown tents that manufacturers seem to choose to produce in) we started by asking why no one else had done it , the initial searches in google seemed to indicate that black would absorb the heat and therefore make it hotter inside. We were confused though because when it comes to clothes its clear that black makes you feel cooler in the sun hence why people in hot countries wear black clothing.
We decided therefore to conduct our own ( unscientific ) tests by producing identical Pod’s one in black and one in blue , we then set them up in a field and placed a thermometer in both and recorded the readings over the day and we found that the black tent actual stayed between 4-5 degree’s centigrade lower than the blue counterpart and so we decided that black was the colour for us !
All our fly sheets also have a silver lining to them which may reflect some of the adsorbed heat back ( we aren’t scientists so we are just guessing) which further lowers the internal temperate of our tents and that combined with the extensive ventilation we have on the tent walls and roof means that according to our customers the Pod is cooler inside than their friends non Pod tents.
Whilst the tests we conducted aren’t under any lab conditions and we can’t comment on anyone else’s tents we have found that our black Pod’s are not hotter inside that a comparable tent in a lighter colour and indeed could be cooler. This is also the findings of customers who have purchased the products .
I suspect that your black fabric is actually getting hotter in the sun than other color fabrics, but the resulting heat rises off the surface on the outside of the tent and causes a convection current, drawing fresh, cool air into the tent through the vents. Black further had a cooling effect by providing higher quality shade.
Such a current would never bring in cool air quick enough to replace the hot air inside unless the vents were positioned strategically and were extremely numerous. The reflective lining is helping tremendously, but I can’t imagine taking a dark colored tent to an area with high intensity sun light.
I just received my masters in physics. Ill happily run some (truly scientific) tests of my own and post said results (in video form so the customer can make an informed decision on the methods used) should the manufacturer wish to supply me with a tent.
All in all, really cool product for a shady camping spot! Can’t wait until they release a light colored one!
Please supply Tony, above, with the tent or 2 tents, one black &,one white, made the same way.
Sounds like an inexpensive way to get an unbiased opinion & could really sell some black tents!!
If you don’t respond or let him test them, it appears there’s something to hide, which of course there is not.
Debra , I wish it was that easy , the material we use on our tents is to such a high specification that it’s custom made for us and requires 1000’s of meters of fabric. Firstly our material is a 210T ripstop Nylon 75 G then it has a silver coating added to the inside and its then treated with a UV and flammability treatment and then a PU coating to give it the high 5680mm Hydrostatic Head rating.
We therefore cannot just manufacture enough material to produce one tent for testing purposes i’m afraid although we are taking peoples concerns and comments on board and are considering a silver version for the 2017 season in addition to the black so watch this space !
If you’re in a climate where the weather is hot during the day and then the temps drop at night, if the tent holds heat inside, its a good thing! I recently returned from Standing Rock ND where the weather was like that. Got into the 90s on sunny days and dropped to low 50s-lower 40s at night We didn’t spend too much time in the tent during the day, and retained heat would have probably helped make an extra blanket over the sleeping bag unnecessary.
I really love the Pod connectivity idea! We have a large family and love to camp together but tents that connect are almost impossible to find. i have read the (what I call fair weather) tents that we currently have referred to as 90-day tents, meaning that they are only good for about 90 days of constant use and that for extended living we need to have something heavier. How does your product compare to the 90-day tents and how dry are they in rainy weather?
I really love the Pod connectivity idea! We have a large family and love to camp together but tents that connect are almost impossible to find. i have read the (what I call fair weather) tents that we currently have referred to as 90-day tents, meaning that they are only good for about 90 days of constant use and that for extended living we need to have something heavier. How does your product compare to the 90-day tents and how dry are they in rainy weather?