How to set up camp like a pro

Camping is an art. It's not enough to have a good tent – where you pitch it, how you orient it, and how you organize your camp around it will determine whether you wake up refreshed and dry, or stare at the ceiling all night as the wind rips at the canvas and condensation drips into your sleeping bag.

An experienced outdoorsman chooses a camp mat in five minutes and has the tent pitched in ten. That knowledge takes time to build – but it goes faster with the right knowledge from the start. Here is the guide that gives you the basics.

Choosing a tent site – the most important decision you will make

Where you pitch your tent affects everything: sleep, safety, comfort, and how nature feels after you leave. There are a few basic rules that always apply.

Terrain and surface

Choose a flat surface. Even a slight slope won’t be noticeable when you pitch your tent, but will cause you to slowly slide against the canvas throughout the night. Lie down and test the spot – put your hand on the ground and feel if it’s soft, dry and relatively even.

Avoid depressions and low spots in the terrain. When it rains, water collects there. A place that looks dry in the evening may have several centimeters of water under the groundsheet by dawn. Always choose slightly higher ground, or a place with natural drainage.

Also avoid camping directly under trees with large dead branches – wind-blown branches are a real safety risk in high winds.

Distance to water

Public right of way and good practice say that you should stay at least 30–50 meters from lakes, streams and waterways. There are two reasons: firstly, it protects the water from pollution, and secondly, you avoid the cold, moist air that collects near water at night – which causes more condensation in the tent and colder sleep.

Wind and orientation

Find out the wind direction before you pitch your tent. The entrance to the tent should never face the dominant wind direction. In Sweden, the wind usually blows from the southwest, but read the terrain on site – trees and vegetation will tell you which direction the wind usually comes from.

If possible, use natural windbreaks: a rock wall, a dense bush curtain or a small ridge. Place the tent with the short side facing the wind – this reduces the wind surface and makes the structure more stable.

Pitch the tent correctly – step by step

Read the tent instructions at home, not in the rain. Practice setting up the tent in the garden at least once before the trip. You should be able to do it in under ten minutes.

Always start by clearing the ground of sharp stones, twigs and pine cones – they will penetrate the groundsheet and cause leaks. Lay out the groundsheet and attach the tent poles. Tighten all storm ropes, even if the weather looks nice. Weather in the wild changes quickly, and a loose tent in the wind can collapse in the middle of the night.

Make sure the tent fabric is properly tensioned. A loose fabric collects rainwater and creates a puddle that eventually seeps through. A tight fabric drains water away effectively.

Organize the camp – order brings security

A well-organized camp is a safe and comfortable camp. It's not about perfection – it's about having a system.

Sleeping, eating and toilet area

Divide your camp into three zones and keep them separate. The sleeping zone is the tent and its immediate surroundings. The food zone – where you cook and eat – is placed at least 60 meters from the tent. The smell of food attracts animals, and you don’t want a hungry fox or bear investigating your tent at night. The toilet zone is placed at least 60 meters from the tent and 30 meters from water, in a direction away from both the food zone and the water source.

Store food correctly

In bear-rich areas – and Sweden has a growing bear population – food and scented products (toothpaste, sunscreen, garbage) should be hung from a tree at least 4 meters above the ground and 2 meters from the trunk. Use a bear-proof container if you have one. Never store food inside your tent.

Pack structured

Have a fixed place for everything in the tent. Always keep your headlamp in the same pocket. Always keep your shoes by the entrance. Always keep your clothes for the night in your sleeping bag. When you wake up in the middle of the night and need to go out, you should be able to find your headlamp without looking.

The fireplace – safety and respect

A fire is one of the most powerful experiences in the outdoors. But it requires responsibility.

Can you make a fire?

During fire bans – issued by the county administrative boards in dry weather – open fires are prohibited. Always check the county administrative board's website or the MSB's fire risk forecast before your trip. Violating fire bans can lead to fines and large damages.

Outside of a fire ban, the right of public access applies, but you are always responsible for ensuring that the fire does not spread. Never light a fire on rocky ground – the heat will crack the rock. Do not light a fire in dry vegetation or near tree trunks.

Build the fire correctly

Use existing fire pits if available. If you must make a new fire pit, choose mineral soil or sand and scrape away all organic material in a circle with a radius of at least one meter. Build a small hearth of rocks around the fire.

Gather wood in three sizes: matchsticks (thin twigs), small wood (finger-thick sticks), and larger wood. Build the fire gradually – start small and build up. A large pile of wood lit all at once rarely burns well.

Extinguish the fire properly

A fire is not out until the ashes are cold and you can hold your hand in it. Pour water, stir, and pour more water. It takes longer than you think. Never leave a glowing fire pit – not even for a short while.

Leave No Trace – leave nature as you found it

Leave No Trace is an international framework for responsible nature travel. The principles are simple but important:

Plan and prepare well. A well-planned trip leaves less of a mark.

Stick to trails and existing campsites. Avoid breaking new ground in sensitive vegetation.

Take care of your waste. Whatever you bring in, you take out. Excavated latrines should be at least 15 cm deep and 60 meters from water.

Leave what you find. Do not pick up rocks, flowers, bird feathers or other natural objects.

Minimize fire exposure. Use stoves and alcohol stoves where possible. Do not make more fires than necessary.

Respect wildlife. Keep your distance, do not feed animals and store food properly.

Be considerate of others. Keep noise down in the evening, be considerate of other campers and hikers.

Condensation problems – and how to minimize them

Condensation in your tent is one of the most common complaints among beginners. It forms when warm, moist air from your body meets the cold tent fabric. You can't eliminate condensation completely, but you can minimize it:

Ventilate the tent. Open the ventilation openings, even if it is cold outside. Fresh air removes moisture. Never sleep with your head covered inside the sleeping bag – exhaled air is extremely humid and leads to moisture in the sleeping bag and condensation in the tent. Avoid cooking food inside the tent.

Wipe off condensation on the inside every morning with a small towel or microfiber cloth – this will keep the tent drier day after day.

A well-planned camp is not only more comfortable – it’s safer, more sustainable and preserves nature for the next hiker. Take the extra minutes to choose the right spot, organize your camp and put out the fire properly. That’s how a pro does it.