Any tent looks good on a calm, sunny afternoon. Wind and rain are where good technique makes the difference between a dry, quiet night and a flapping, soggy one. The skills are not complicated, and practicing them on a nice day means they will feel natural when the weather turns.

Here is how to choose a site, pitch for the conditions and stay dry. Find weather-ready shelters in our tent collection and spare stakes and guylines in tent accessories.

Choose the right site

• Use natural windbreaks: a stand of trees, a boulder or a rise in the land can cut the wind dramatically.
• Stay off low spots: hollows collect cold air and rainwater. Look for slightly raised, well-drained ground.
• Look up: avoid camping under dead trees or broken branches, which can fall in strong wind.
• Avoid exposed ridges in storms: they are windy and dangerous in lightning.
• Use established sites: durable, existing tent pads usually drain well and protect vegetation.

Orient the tent into the wind

Most tents are more aerodynamic from one end. Point the narrowest, lowest end into the prevailing wind so gusts slide around the shelter rather than hitting a big flat wall. Keep the door on the downwind side so rain does not blow in when you open it.

Pro tip: in strong wind, stake the upwind corners first. The tent will not take off while you finish pitching.

Stake it like you mean it

1. Drive stakes at roughly a 45-degree angle, leaning away from the tent.
2. Use every stake point, not just the corners.
3. Use the right stakes for the ground: longer stakes for soft soil and sand, sturdier stakes for hard ground.
4. In rocky or sandy ground, anchor guylines around rocks or buried stuff sacks filled with sand.

Guylines are not optional

Guylines are what keep a tent stable in wind. They add tension to the fly, stop poles from flexing too far and keep the rainfly off the inner tent. Run them out in line with the poles, tension them evenly and recheck them after dark as fabric stretches when it gets wet and cold.

Pitching in the rain

Have a plan before the rain hits: know which parts come out of the bag first and practice at home. If your tent supports a fly-first pitch, set up the fly and footprint first and clip the inner tent in underneath. Otherwise pitch fast and get the fly over as soon as the poles are in.

Make sure your footprint is tucked fully under the tent floor. A footprint that sticks out collects rain and channels it underneath you. Read more in our guide, Do You Need a Tent Footprint?

Manage condensation

Even a perfectly waterproof tent can get wet inside from condensation. Your breath and damp clothes add moisture, and it collects on the cool fly.

• Open vents, even when it is raining.
• Keep the fly taut so it does not touch the inner tent.
• Store wet gear in the vestibule, not inside.
• Never cook inside the tent.
• Carry a small towel to wipe the walls in the morning.

Packing up wet

If you have to pack a wet tent, keep the fly separate from the inner tent so dirt and water do not soak everything. Most importantly, set it up or hang it to dry completely as soon as you get home. Storing a tent damp can damage coatings and cause mildew.

Bottom line

Pick a sheltered, well-drained site, face the narrow end into the wind and use every stake and guyline. Ventilate to beat condensation and dry everything at home. Practice once on a nice day, and bad weather will never catch you out.