How to reduce the annoying sound of falling raindrops on a tent?

Question

Every time I go camping and it starts to rain, I can't sleep anymore because the raindrops that fall on the tent causes a really loud and annoying sound. Is there any technique or tool to avoid or at least decrease that sound?

Answer 1

To me it's one of those sounds that can be soothing initially, but start to grate on you after hearing it for hours. You could try ear plugs. I don't wear them because I like being able to hear my surroundings, but I often see people camping with mp3 players, so not everyone appears to feel the need to be aware of their surroundings!

Answer 2

I usually throw a tarp above my tent. (an additional tarp, not the one that comes with most modern tents). I find that it usually muffles the sound of the rain. You will definitely still hear but not as intense. They are relatively cheap too ($15+ CDN).

Answer 3

I would throw some type of foliage over the tent, to "break" the fall of the rain... so long as your tent is strong enough to support the weight!

Answer 4

Sometimes just choosing the location of your tent can make a huge difference in the amount of rain it receives. For example, you can protect it by placing it under thick foliage, or near a cliff if the wind is in the right direction.

Answer 5

Sometimes if you just can't stand the sound of nature, an mp3 player or other source of noise that you CAN stand may work.