How to keep cool in your camper van or tent

Heading out into the great outdoors in warm weather sounds like perfect freedom.

Whether at a campsite or on a trekking trip in the wilderness, if temperatures rise, you may want to keep your tent or camper van cool.

Make sure you have the right equipment, plan ahead and bear these tips in mind for a relaxing camping experience no matter what the weather brings.

We polled travel specialists in order to keep you cool and comfy.

What counts when it comes to tents

Think about where you want to set up your tent. If you don't want to be woken up too early in the open countryside because the rising sun is shining on the tent and it's getting light and warm inside, first check where east is using an app or a compass and then pitch your tent behind a rock. Ideally, find a generally shady spot – under trees, for instance.

If you mainly camp in summer, consider the fabric when getting a tent. "Consider buying a tent that isn't made of polyamide or polyester, but of a cotton-polyester blend," says Boris Gnielka from Outdoor magazine. Polycotton tents ensure a significantly airier climate – yet are still waterproof.

Ventilation is also key to staying comfortable. Keep your ventilation openings in the outer tent open to create a draught. Breathable mosquito net inner tents then let fresh air through, but keep mosquitoes out.

Useful items: Fan and silk

You can't really use a portable air conditioner in a tent as they're too noisy and need too much power. But you could bring along a small USB fan that you can recharge with a power bank. "That really makes a big difference," says Gnielka. "They don't cost much, they don't weigh much, and if you hang or clip them to the tent, you get a gentle breeze."

If you're camping in warm climes, opt for a light blanket or a thin blanket-style sleeping bag. Many find ones made from a cotton-polyester blend comfiest as they feel less sticky on your skin.

If you already own a sleeping bag, you could get a silk liner. It weighs next to nothing, takes up hardly any space in your rucksack and has a slightly cooling effect on its own, without a sleeping bag, if you use it as a blanket, Gnielka says. If you put it inside your sleeping bag, however, these liners will warm you up.

Keeping cool in a camper van

As with tents, location is key when it comes to heat protection, so if you can, park your campervan in a shady spot.

If the sun shines on your vehicle, you can use special insulating mats on the windscreen to prevent overheating. There are two types:Simple UV-protection mats for the interior and more sophisticated, aluminium-laminated thermal mats you attach to the exterior, says Dominic Vierneisel from trade magazine Promobil. The latter reflect sunlight and keep the heat out much more effectively.

Although vehicles mainly heat up due to the sun's rays penetrating through the windows, the paintwork also affects the temperature. "White is a colour that absorbs significantly less heat," says Vierneisel.

If you use an awning, that will shade the area outside your vehicle entrance, making for a more comfortable climate inside.

If the air inside is stagnant, ventilation helps – so open everything, from the sliding door and tailgate to the driver's cab doors. With camper vans, the great thing is you can swiftly get air flowing right through the interior, which is important "not only for the air quality, but also for the temperature," says Vierneisel.

Useful extras: Roof vent or air conditioning

A fan roof vent will give you fresh air even without you having to open the doors and windows. "It ensures air circulation very quickly and effectively, even with the doors closed," says Vierneisel. This has a measurable effect, he says, having carried out tests himself for his magazine. Of course, it works even faster if you open the doors at the same time.

You can fit larger motorhomes or converted panel vans with air conditioning systems for the living area. You usually mount them on the roof. Vierneisel says if you are really sensitive to heat, these air conditioning systems are recommended.

But don't leave the system running while you are out and about so that the motorhome is nice and cool on your return, to reduce the energy you use and for courtesy reasons.

"There's a certain amount of operating noise all the time, and that naturally affects relations with your neighbours at a campsite, where pitches are right next to one another."