The 2024 No Bake Tent is currently in production! Going into our 8th year of making heat reflecting, blackout, dust proof tents we are proud to say that the 2024 No Bake Tent is the best we’ve ever made. We can’t wait to share the refined design and enhanced features that will help make your next camping trip even better.
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The sun rises East by North East around 6:20 am and sets West by North West about 7:30 pm.
Interestingly the 4:30 street points North, not the 6:00 street.
The Answer is: It doesn't matter! Assuming you have a No Bake Tent you can set it up facing any direction and it will work great. We prefer to set up our tents with the front door and front vestibule pointing North when it's convenient. We also like to put our cooler inside the vestibule to keep it out of the sun and keep the ice ice longer (Yes, this makes a difference).
If you have a normal tent try to set up in the shade of a RV, under a shade structure, or next to a box truck that blocks the Sun to the East of your tent.
If you're setting up a shade structure the first priority is minimizing South facing Sun. Because the Black Rock Desert is at about 40º North Latitude and it's late August the Sun only reaches a peak altitude of 58º above the horizon. So a lot of light will get in under you shade structure. Late afternoons around 3-5 pm feature the hottest temperatures of the day so you might want to bias your shade towards keeping cool in the afternoon. The sun is also at a lower angle early and late in the day - so a bit of extra shade cloth hanging off your shade structure on the East and West sides will help you stay cool when you're not in your tent.
Solar Panels should be set to an angle of about 35-40º (from horizontal, 37º is considered optimal). Early morning light is filtered through more atmosphere and delivers less power to your panels. As the sun gets higher in the sky you will get more power - picking an angle that maximizes the time the panels are closer to perpendicular to the sun will result in more power to your batteries.
The best AC or evaporative cooler for tent camping is hard to find. There are two main options: 1. Build a 5 gallon bucket evaporative cooler -OR- 2. Buy a dual vent portable AC. There are now very compact, but pricey, portable AC units designed for camping.
1. They take a lot of power – get ready to buy or borrow a generator. 1000-1500 watts AC is a common power requirement. Generators start around $400 and go up from there. Honda EU2200 and EU3000 generators are favorites for their low noise level and reliability. But they aren't cheap – the smaller EU2200i goes for about $1,000. Then you need fuel – about 1 gallon per 8 hours of run time. Thankfully that’s only about 3-4 gallons for a week (8 days at 3 hours day for 24 hours run time). Don’t forget a proper fuel canister and containment basin (both required at Burning Man).
2. The only off the shelf AC unit that works easily with a tent is a dual vent portable model. Expect to pay around $350 or more. Also the tent needs to have dual vent ports (The No Bake Tent has these.) You will also need additional air intakes for the tent so it doesn't collapse – with filters to keep out dust (the No Bake Tent also has two of these 4x12” ports that take standard 4x12” register filters).
Notice the Dual round Vent Ports on the back - One fresh air intake and one hot air output. There's also a second rectangular air intake.
You can't tell from the front if the AC has dual ports
Here is one AC that meets the basic requirements: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Whynter-Eco-Friendly-11-000-BTU-Dual-Hose-Portable-Air-Conditioner-with-Dehumidifier-ARC-110WD/204146581
Here is one designed for camping and that comes with optional batteries: https://www.zerobreeze.com/collections/mark-2-portable-ac-for-tents
Once you have a generator, fuel, and a portable dual vent AC you are set. You can make a normal tent cool enough to sleep in (but probably not take an afternoon nap on 100ºF plus days), or to make a No Bake Tent cold at any time of day (Thanks to the dual layer heat reflective material the No Bake Tent starts off about 30ºF cooler than a normal tent at midday – and heats up much less quickly in the sun so you won't have to run your AC nearly as much).
Evaporative and Swamp coolers are the same thing with different names. They take warm air and run it through a wet membrane. This causes liquid water to phase change into water vapor which cools the air. In dry climates the difference is dramatic – up to 30ºF cooler. This isn’t a cold as an AC, but the swamp cooler uses a lot less power. Commercial swamp coolers use about 1/10th the power of a similarly sized AC. Homemade swamp coolers can use as little as 1/50th the power of an AC. You can make a 5 gallon bucket cooler for as little as 70 bucks and some elbow grease.
1. You must draw outside air into the swamp cooler anytime it’s running - so leave the swamp cooler outside the tent. Then use one of the ports on the tent for the cold air to flow into the tent. If the swamp cooler is inside your tent it mostly won’t work (unless you have a fresh air intake rigged up).*
2. You must open vents on the opposite side or the top of the tent. Swamp coolers only work when you are turning over the air inside the tent. Aim to replace the air every 3-5 minutes or faster. The tent should inflate slightly (i.e. show positive pressure like a balloon) when the swamp cooler is running. Adjust the vents in your tent to achieve this. Start by closing all of the vents and watching the tent inflate. Then start opening vents until the inflation is just barely noticeable – this is the ideal amount of venting for your swamp cooler.
There are a lot of plans out there, but perhaps the best are from a burner who goes by the name FIGJAM. Follow the directions closely - even small deviations can make the design fail. Check out this post on eplaya for details: https://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?f=280&t=33842&start=1560#p869218
Unfortunately we haven't found any evaporative cooler that are specifically designed for camping tents. You can buy a commercial swamp cooler and rig up tubing to take the cold air into the tent - just make sure it's air tight. You could also rig up a window AC unit - again the trick is to manage the air intakes and outputs. So get your MacGyver skills ready.
*A small personal sized evaporative cooler will work for a while in your No Bake Tent - until the humidity rises too much. All evaporative coolers work by taking dry warm air, adding water vapor to drop the temperature through the magic of phase change, and delivering cool humid air. Once the supply of low humidity air is gone you’ll have to open a window to draw in fresh warm dry air. This helps but isn’t nearly as effective as a evaporative cooler as described above.
We compiled this chart for you to better understand your options:
| Tent Cooling Options | ||||||||||||
| Ready off the Shelf | Cost (5) | Needs Generator | Needs Water | Power use per hour | ||||||||
| Dual Vent Portable AC | Yes | $350-500+ | Yes | No | 1050-1500+ watts AC | |||||||
| Single Vent Portable AC | Maybe (1) | $350-500+ | Yes | No | 1050-1500+ watts AC | |||||||
| Window AC | Yes with caveats (2) | $125-200+ | Yes | No | 1050-1500+ watts AC | |||||||
| Commercial Swamp Cooler | Yes with caveats (2) | $150-300+ | Maybe | Yes (3) | 100-300+ watts AC | |||||||
| Homemade Evaporative/ Swamp Cooler | No | $70-100 | No | Yes (3) | 1.5-3+ Amps 12v DC (equals 18-36+ watts) | |||||||
| How much solar power needed to run? (6) | Can be run on a battery? | Works in the Desert? | Works in Humid places? | Might cause tent collapse? (4) | ||||||||
| Dual Vent Portable AC | 1300+ watts (13+ 100 watt panels) | No | Yes | Yes | Low | |||||||
| Single Vent Portable AC | 1300+ watts (13+ 100 watt panels) | No | Yes | Yes | Med-High Risk (1) | |||||||
| Window AC | 1300+ watts (13+ 100 watt panels) | No | Yes | Yes | Low Risk | |||||||
| Commercial Swamp Cooler | 130+ watts (1 100 watt panel plus a smaller 30-50 Watt panel plus batteries) | Maybe (9) | Yes | No (8) | No Risk (7) | |||||||
| Homemade Evaporative/ Swamp Cooler | 30-50 Watts (1 30-50 Watt panel plus battery) | Yes (10) | Yes | No (8) | No Risk (7) | |||||||
| Notes | ||||||||||||
| 1. May need to have an additional improvised intake vent added if it isn't a dual vent model | ||||||||||||
| 2. Will need to have improvised venting or set up added to work properly | ||||||||||||
| 3. Between .5 and 2 gallons of water per hour depending on model | ||||||||||||
| 4. Air Conditioners work by drawing in air - this can cause negative pressue to form inside the tent. For example let's say 2 cubic feet per second is drawn into the AC unit. Part of that air is cooled and sent back into the tent - 1 cubic foot, the remaining air is sent outside - 1 cubic foot. The 1 cubic foot of hot air that was expelled has to be replaced. If the tent is well sealed and air cannot get in then tent might start to be sucked in. If the pressure becomes too great the tent might collapse. Dual hose AC units avoid this in part be sucking in outside air. Single vent AC units do not do this. You MUST have additional air intake. The No Bake Tent has 2 4x12" filter pocket vents to allow fresh filtered air in. This reduces the negative pressure inside the tent. Depending on the power of the AC you use you may need to partially open a window. | ||||||||||||
| 5. Cost doesn't include power source (i.e. generator and gas, solar panels and batteries) | ||||||||||||
| 6. Assumes a 80% conversion rate - i.e.. 100 watt panel nets 80 watts after transmission and conversion power losses. | ||||||||||||
| 7. Evaporative/Swamp Coolers create positive pressure so there is no risk of the tent collapasing. They also will prevent dust from entering thr tent when they are unning due to the positive pressure. | ||||||||||||
| 8. Evaporative/Swamp Coolers work by adding humidity to the air - which can be quite nice in low humidity environments like the desert. | ||||||||||||
| 9. Would need many large deep cycle batteries or the ability to recharge regularly | ||||||||||||
| 10. One 100+ Ah deep cycle battery will last 8 days of 3 hrs a day use | ||||||||||||
Let us know if you have better solutions in the comments below!
We just got the 2nd part of our 2022 tent order in. We sold out Round 1 so order now if you’d like to get a tent in 2022. We ship same day for orders placed before 1 pm Pacific (2 pm Mountain) Time Monday through Friday. If you have already pre-ordered - Thank you! Your tent should ship out on Monday August 8th.
Update August, 3rd 2022 - Our tents have cleared customs and are enroute to our warehouse in Boulder, CO! We are on track to meet our goal of shipping by August 9th.
Round 1 sold out so if you want to get a tent from Round 2 (the last round of 2022) we recommend pre-ordering now for shipping next week.
We’re temporarily sold out again, but we have more tents arriving soon - our ship is approaching the coast of California and is due to dock on Friday July, 29th. We will be getting the tents offloaded, cleared through customs, and sent out as soon as possible.
Pre-order here to guarantee you’ll get a tent from the final shipment of 2022:
https://shops.nobaketent.com/
We have gotten the first part of our 2022 shipment in!
We have a limited number of tents now in stock. We expect that these will sellout quickly. There is a second round of tents arriving at the beginning of August. Pre-orders are now available for the second round tents with an estimated shipping date of August 9th.
Chick this link to buy or pre-order today: https://shops.nobaketent.com/
Our summer ‘22 production run is almost here! We will have a first batch of tents available in Mid-July with a second shipment arriving in the first days of August.
Production has been challenging this year with supply chain issues but we are making it happen with time to spare before that lovely thing in the desert at the end of August.
The No Bake Tent at home in the desert. Shown with added vestibule poles.
It’s Summer Camping Season!
Record heat is blistering the Western US and the No Bake Tent is here to help. Out Patent Pending technology keeps your tent about 30ºF cooler inside than a traditional tent at noon. An added plus in the desert is that our tents actually stay a few degrees warmer in the middle of the night. Comfortable sleep is always in style.
Festivals are making a comeback and there is no tent that will keep you cooler than one of ours. We have a limited number of tents available for 2021. Get yours today, or be one year older when you do!
We usually ship tents the same day they are ordered if the order is placed before 1 p.m. PDT. Ground Shipping takes 3-5 days for most locations in the Continental US. Next Day and 2 Day air shipping are available.
Order early enough so you can set up your tent at least once before you head to the playa. Trust us, while our tent sets up easily it’s different than other tents and you will save yourself 20-30 minutes doing the initial setup at home. The setup instructions are located on our site at: https://www.nobaketent.com/tent-setup
We know a lot of our customers already have rebar, lag bolts or other heavy duty stakes. If you don’t we recommend using heavy duty nail type stakes like these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091BZSXXZ/ref=twister_B091C4QGN7
Remember to order the stakes at the same time as your tent so you have them before you leave for the playa.
Rebar special note - Remember that rebar is the #1 cause of soft tissue injuries at Burning Man - unprotected rebar can impale you if you fall on it the wrong way! So remember to cap every piece of rebar with protective caps, tennis balls or something else (you can bend the top of your rebar into a ‘candy cane’ shape - just remember that the bottom of the cane is often razor sharp and needs to be wrapped in duct tape or filed down carefully). Every year people slash their feet and lower legs, sometimes requiring stitches. If you don’t own rebar - don’t buy it. Get the above recommended stakes, lag screws, or another heavy duty option.
The sun rises East by North East around 6:20 am and sets West by North West about 7:30 pm.
Interestingly the 4:30 street points North, not the 6:00 street.
The Answer is: It doesn't matter! Assuming you have a No Bake Tent you can set it up facing any direction and it will work great. We prefer to set up our tents with the front door and front vestibule pointing North when it's convenient. We also like to put our cooler inside the vestibule to keep it out of the sun and keep the ice ice longer (Yes, this makes a difference).
If you have a normal tent try to set up in the shade of a RV, under a shade structure, or next to a box truck that blocks the Sun to the East of your tent.
If you're setting up a shade structure the first priority is minimizing South facing Sun. Because the Black Rock Desert is at about 40º North Latitude and it's late August the Sun only reaches a peak altitude of 58º above the horizon. So a lot of light will get in under you shade structure. Late afternoons around 3-5 pm feature the hottest temperatures of the day so you might want to bias your shade towards keeping cool in the afternoon. The sun is also at a lower angle early and late in the day - so a bit of extra shade cloth hanging off your shade structure on the East and West sides will help you stay cool when you're not in your tent.
Solar Panels should be set to an angle of about 35-40º (from horizontal, 37º is considered optimal). Early morning light is filtered through more atmosphere and delivers less power to your panels. As the sun gets higher in the sky you will get more power - picking an angle that maximizes the time the panels are closer to perpendicular to the sun will result in more power to your batteries.
The No Bake Tent, A heat resistant, sun resistant, wind resistant camping tent. Perfect for desert camping, festivals, Burning Man, and campoing with kids.
Check out our real work testing data and user reviews.
Still have a question?
Email us at info@nobaketent.com
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