When it comes time to cool your tent during hot summer days, the first options that come in mind are a box fan or an air conditioner. However, you should also have a look at camping evaporative coolers (also known as a swamp cooler).
You may wonder whether investing in an evaporative camping cooler is worth it, and, in short, our response is – yes, it is worth investing in!
An evaporative camping cooler is a good option for any camper who doesn’t want to buy a tent air conditioner because of budget or other personal preferences, such as health
conditions.
The good thing about camping evaporative coolers is that they are energy-efficient and eco-friendly since they don’t use cooling chemicals, making them a better choice than air
conditioners.
Below we have a guide to help you understand more about evaporative coolers for camping.
Camping Evaporative Coolers - What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Like tent air conditioners, evaporative coolers for camping also have advantages and drawbacks worth keeping in mind. Before buying your equipment, have a look at the following points.
Advantages
- Because most of them have wheels at their base, you can place them at any position you want to cool
- They are energy efficient when compared to air conditioners. Therefore, they don’t use much power to offer effective cooling and might require a simpler electrical infrastructure
- Evaporative coolers are budget-friendly
- Evaporative coolers act as humidifiers in dry or semi-arid areas. They increase moisture in the air while blowing, keeping your tent cool.
- They are eco-friendly and safe for your health. Evaporative coolers for camping don’t use harmful cooling chemicals.
Disadvantages
You have to refill the tank regularly whenever it is empty. This might be annoying sometimes, and it can get even worse if you are camping in a drought entire area
Sometimes, they can be less effective in humid regions (camping evaporative coolers are more effective at humidity levels below 60%). It might no work well because of too much moisture in the air, which can lead to condensation or corrosion when used in humid areas.
Some of the running motors can be noisy. Therefore, before buying them, check their operating noise levels.
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Even though generally easy and cheap to maintain, these devices might require more regular maintenance when compared to ACs. This because their material usually have lower resistance to rust and damage.
How does a camping evaporative cooler work?
To understand how an evaporative cooler works, you must know its components. An evaporative cooler has:
- a fan/blower
- a water tank,
- thick pads, and
- extra controls that enable you to adjust the temperature.
As detailed in the figure below, It cools your tent by pulling dry air and moving it through the water-moistening cooling pad.
Some coolers have an ice compartment for chilling the water temperature inside the cooler to offer extra cold air. Other than that, others include filters that improve air quality by reducing airborne odors and allergies.
Camping Air Conditioner Tip: When using the cooler indoors, ensure it has access to a constant air supply of fresh air to function effectively.
Best Camping Evaporative Coolers
We have reviewed three evaporative coolers options to help you on your camping days. Each of them has unique features, and we picked them considering the best value for money outcomes for you.
Ultra-portable evaporative cooler
This model combines a humidifier and air cooling fan that helps keep your tent cool. This portable cooler has a fan with three wind adjustments, where you can adjust to the best setting according to your needs.
It has an atomizing and humidifying function that allows the fan to have the function of a humidifier simultaneously. The portable cooler has a heavy-duty motor and fan that operates quietly even at the highest setting.
Using the cooler is easy, where you can connect it to a power supply at home or use it when there is no power supply when camping after charging. If your tent is compact, this is the best to purchase because it is compact and it doesn’t take much floor space.
Pros
- The cooler is compact and portable
- IT is robust and suitable for small and large tents
- Great for indoor and outdoor use
- Energy-efficient
- Budget-friendly!
Cons
- Not suitable for large tents
Hessaire MC18M Evaporative Cooler
HESSAIRE Evaporative Cooler is one of the best coolers in the market because of its ease of use, better performance, and durability.
It is powerful enough to cool rooms measuring up to 500 square feet, and it works well for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Despite being compact, it is a powerful cooler that provides 1, 300 CFM of excellent airflow.
It is fitted with fans that save up to 50% on electricity compared with other air conditioning systems. Using water instead of refrigerants prevents the release of harmful chemicals into the air.
HESSAIRE evaporative cooler has an ABS construction and UV additives that enable the
cooler to serve you for years without discoloration when exposed to sunlight. It’s a compact cooler, measuring 22 x 22 x 12 inches; you won’t require much space.
Plus, it has four sturdy and strong casters that make it simple to maneuver. In addition,
the cooler has a 5-speed fan and two cooling modes that provide you with more control over this evaporative cooler. You can select the perfect mode easily using the manual control dial located on the top of the cooler.
Pros
- Available in 3 colours
- Extremely robust construction with excellent durability
- Easy to operate and maintain
- Compact, yet powerful!
Cons
- Make sure that you are comfortable with the noise level
Honeywell 470-659 470 CFM Portable Evaporative Cooler
Here is a modern cooler from Honeywell designed to cool small to medium tents or rooms.
It uses energy-efficient technology to ensure your tent gets cooled within minutes. The
cooler has an ice compartment that can be loaded with ice to lower water
temperatures and enhance cooler airflow.
It has rhythmic wind sounds, where you can choose normal, natural, or sleep modes for a relaxing wind pattern. Still, it has three settings that regulate the moisture density, ensuring constant humidity levels for your tent to combat dryness.
Honeywell evaporative cooler has a large water tank with a wide opening that prevents
spillage and makes refilling easy. Programmable up to 7.5 hours with an auto-off feature, you can set it and forget.
Furthermore, it has a remote control for user convenience, and there is a built-in holster that helps you avoid misplacements.
Pros
- Suitable for cooling small to medium tents
- Comes with washable carbon filters that protects against contaminants
- Delivers between 470-760CFM and it has a low power consumptions
- The water tank is large and easy to fill
- Waterproof and durable
Cons
- Compared to more expensive models from Honeywell, this one is noisier. However, its noise levels are acceptable.
Which camping evaporative cooler option should you pick?
Evaporative coolers can be a great alternative for those who don’t want to carry a air conditioner unit around.
Our preferred camping cooler unit is the Honeywell 470-659 option. It is extremely easy to use and install and it is programmable with a remote control that eases operation. Further, its cooling capacity it is ideal for small and medium tents (which is our case – we normally camp in four people).
If you are camping in large groups with big tents, the Hessaire option might suit better. It provides you with up to 1300CFM and can cool down areas of up to 500 square feet within minutes.
If you are using a small tent and want a budget-friendly option, we highly recommend the ultra-portable evaporative cooler device. It has different adjustment settings to suit your need. Even though is compact, it is powerful and able to cool down your tent easily.
FAQ
Is it safe to use a evaporative cooler inside my tent?
Yes – there are no problems with using this equipment inside your tent. However, pay attention to installation and operation instructions provided by the equipment manufacturer in the users manual.
What is temperature drop can you expect from a evaporative cooler?
This will depend on a number of factors, such as: the equipment, air humidity, outdoor temperature, and room size.
The graph below shows the indicative temperature drops according to outdoors temperature (celsius degrees) and relative humidity.
To simplify the table above and facilitate your understanding, we have rearranged the data for different conditions:
a) Outdoors temperature of 20C, 30C, and 35C
b) Air humidity of 10%, 50%, 80%
With the rearranged data, we created two tables and one graph to help your understanding.
Table 01 shows the initial and final temperatures after using the evaporative coolers in one room.
Table 02 details the indicative temperature drop provided the equipment.
The graph below summarises the information of table 02. As expected, the higher the humidity levels (more water in the air), the lower the temperature drops provided by the equipment.
On the other hand, we expect significant temperature drops when the equipment is used in drier conditions.
Will my evaporative cooler work in all weather conditions?
Overall, the higher the humidity the less effective evaporative coolers will be.
To facilitate your understanding, we are going to explain why using the picture shown above.
If the incoming air (hot air) already has a high level of humidity, the water sprayed the equipment will not cool down the air using its cooling pad.
On the other hand, this kind of equipment will work better in drier areas, where the water introduction will effectively reduces the air flow temperature.
This equipment will be better suitable for areas with less than 60% humidity levels. You can use the map below as a reference for the average humidity globally. For example – if you are based in the US, the western coast looks more favourable for evaporative coolers.
How often should you clean and maintain your equipment?
Ideally, we recommend cleaning after every camping trip. This will save you a lot of money in the long term.
However, we are mindful that you might not be able to stop and clean the equipment after every trip. Therefore, always pay attention to the accumulation of sediments in the water tanks and clean the device when you notice material accumulation.
If you are camping in dusty areas, your equipment might require higher maintenance levels. When maintaining your equipment, have a look at:
– Intake area and fans
– Clean up the equipment cover
– Check cracks on the cooling pads and substitute them, if needed
– Always wash the water/ice tank (avoid using any kind of chemicals when doing so)
Evaporative Coolers - Quick Tips
Tip #1 - Air Circulation
As you have seen above, this kind of equipment requires air circulation to work better. Therefore, place it close to your tent openings.
Tent windows should be open sufficiently to ensure constant fresh air flow.
Tip #2 - Cooler works before the fan
Let te cooling part work before you turn the fan on. Overall, this will help more water circulate in the cooling system and make the cooling pads wet.
If you turn fan device on straight away, it will blow hot air inside your tent and might worsen tent’s temperature. We recommend waiting for 10 minutes.
Tip #3 - Pick the right spot for your tent
When arriving at your camping spot, make sure you assess the perfect location to pitch your tent. Are there areas covered with trees available? What is the best ventilation spot in the camping site?
We have a prepared smart tips on how to keep your tent cool without electricity, which might be useful for your trip planning stage.
Conclusion
We hope this article has been helpful for you and you are now comfortable choosing the most suitable camping evaporative cooler option for you.
If, after reading this, you are not 100% sure about this kind of equipment, you might have a look at our tent air conditioner buyer’s guide. There you will find numerous options and things that you should pay attention before buying your device.
