Camping in the great outdoors is a terrific way to disconnect from technology, escape the stresses of daily life, and enjoy yourself. However, nothing can ruin a camping trip like a bad night’s sleep in an oppressive, cramped, and uncomfortable tent.
Therefore, we’ve produced a list of the most useful suggestions to ensure you have a pleasant night’s rest to enjoy your camping adventure!
The 10 Ways To Sleep Comfortably In A Tent Include;
- Choose The Right Tent
- Choose The Right Mattress
- Bring Lots Of Warm Blankets & Pillows
- Wear Comfortable Clothing
- Pick The Perfect Location To Pitch Your Tent
- Bring Bug Repellent
- Invest In Sleeping Pads
- And more…
Are you preparing for a camping weekend getaway? Most people are so excited to go camping that they tend to overlook one of the most important things; sleeping comfort! This article will discuss some of the greatest tips to ensure your tent’s sleeping accommodation is comfortable and sufficient.
Want to find out the most comfortable way to sleep in a tent? Read on!
1. Choose The Right Tent
First and foremost, if you desire a comfortable camping experience, you should choose a tent with ample room for you and anybody else who will be sharing your tent. The key is to always have a tent 1 size bigger than you need.
For instance, if you are two people, pack a 3-person tent like this Coleman Sundome 3-person tent. This additional room is useful for storing equipment and for sleeping even comfier. Furthermore, check that the tent you choose suits the camping location’s climate.
You require a tent with great ventilation in hotter regions, whereas tents with insulation are required in colder ones. Please take our word; spending a little extra on an ideal tent will enhance your camping experience.
Related: Looking for a great tent for the family? Find out what the best 8 person camping tent is.
2. Choose The Right Mattress
It would help to search for a light, collapsible, comfy, and well-insulated mattress. Inflatable mattresses will provide all the aforementioned benefits; however, they take a while to inflate. Many inflatable mattresses have an inbuilt air pump that allows for quick inflation.
Self-inflating mattresses combine ease of materials with thermal foam insulation, which are simple and quick to inflate with only a few breaths. Some are also topped with foam for an even more comfortable sleeping experience.
An inflatable mattress is the comfiest sleeping mattress alternative for individuals who do not mind investing a little extra for the ultimate comfortable sleep in their tent.
For a luxurious camping experience, the King Koil Luxury Twin Size Air Mattress is a great choice. If you want to elevate your camp mattress, you should consider getting a camping cot or a camping cot combo.
3. Bring Lots Of Warm Blankets & Pillows
Bringing a few extra warm blankets to wrap around you and plushy, comfy pillows to camp will come in handy and provide a sense of familiar comfort from your bed back home. Extra pillows and blankets can help you enjoy your camping experience even more.
Those extra blankets keep you cozy and warm when it’s chilly outside, and your pillows create a comfy and inviting sleeping area. If you are serious about your tent’s interior “design,” you could always bring fancy pillows and create a comfortable and aesthetically appealing space.
A space that you can’t wait to get into after a long day of hiking and to do other outdoor activities. If you are camping in summer, remember to pack thinner blankets and thicker ones for winter.
4. Wear Comfortable Clothing
Going to sleep in the attire you wore during the day will make it difficult for you to have a good night’s rest. Because your clothing was exposed to sweat, pollens, campfire smoke, and dirt throughout the day, you are likely to suffer from rashes and allergies and let’s face it, it doesn’t smell good.
So, it’s best to change out of your clothing and into something loose-fitting, clean, and weather-appropriate before going to sleep to feel cozy, fresh, and ready for bed like you would at home. You should select clothing based on the current weather.
Mittens and stockings, in addition to the appropriate attire for the season, are appropriate winter accessories. However, in the summers, you should wear something lighter and airier to ensure a pleasant sleeping experience.
5. Pick The Perfect Location To Pitch Your Tent
Sleep quality largely depends on the spot you select to pitch your tent. It is important to walk around and take your time while deciding on a location for your tent. Set up the tent in a shady spot to prevent sweating or overheating while camping in summer.
It’s also best not to pitch a tent under a tree in winter since a heavy snowfall can become a problem. Make sure you set up a tent near the restrooms, especially for those midnight trips to the toilet when you don’t want to walk too far alone in the dark.
Neighbors that make a lot of noise might keep you awake at night. Pitch your tent far enough away from them to avoid unwanted disturbances. Avoid rough and uneven areas at all costs. Also, make 100% sure that no dangerous creatures are lurking in the area.
6. Bring Bug Repellent
Remember that there is bloodsucking creepy crawlies that lurk in the wilderness, and they may wreak havoc on your entire camping experience. There are various ways to keep bugs and mosquitos out of and away from your tent and yourself.
Prevent bugs, mosquitoes, fleas, and other insects from “bugging” you with the help of essential oils. Essential oils are recognized as some of the most effective insect repellents. While cedarwood and eucalyptus protect you against fleas and bugs, citronella, lavender, peppermint, thyme, and lemongrass, are effective repellents for mosquitoes.
7. Invest In Sleeping Pads
You will sleep extremely uncomfortable in a tent on a rocky or uneven surface. However, sometimes the terrain isn’t as accommodating as one would have hoped, and there are little to no surfaces to pitch a tent. Thankfully, you can use sleeping pads to cover the rockiest spots to smoothen the surface for a more comfortable sleep. There are various types of sleeping pads;
- Self-inflating pads
- Closed-cell foam pads
- Air pads
Regarding sleep aids, air pads are more favorable and the most comfortable. However, due to their hefty weight, campers prefer closed-cell foam pads. The lightweight Therm-a-Rest Z Lite is a closed-cell foam pad highly recommended by backpackers. Tent camping might be more enjoyable if you choose the correct sleeping pad.
8. Regulate The Temperature
The temperature should be comfortable for campers to get a good night’s sleep. You might want to choose a tent with sufficient airflow for a cool night’s sleep in the heat, and one features a rainfly and a mesh roof in case it rains unexpectedly.
You can also pack a portable air conditioner instead of buying a brand-new tent. It is also nice to stay in a tent fitted with a screen window in the summertime. In contrast, if you’re camping in the dead of winter, you’ll want a fully insulated shelter because sleeping when it’s freezing is as bad as sleeping in the hot summer.
9. Find The Perfect Sleeping Bag
When planning a camping trip, ensure you have a 3-season sleeping bag for all weather conditions. There’re several things to remember when shopping for a sleeping bag, such as durability, insulation, size, and water resistance.
While camping, your sleeping bag is like your very own cocoon. During winter, a mummy-shaped sleeping bag is an excellent alternative since it provides excellent insulation. Alternatively, square sleeping bags are better suited for the summertime.
There are several multi-season sleeping bags to choose from if you’re willing to invest some extra time to find the one that will be perfect for you. Trust us; it will be well worth it!
Camping In Different seasons
A sleeping bag must be clean, well-maintained, and suitable for the season if you want to obtain a decent night’s rest. If you want to ensure you don’t overheat in summer or get hypothermia in during winter, here are some qualities to look for in a sleeping bag.
When deciding what kind of sleeping bag to buy, it’s important to consider the temperature ratings.
- Summer: 40°F and higher
- Spring, Summer, & Fall (3-season sleeping bags): 15°F to 40°F
- Winter: -10°F to -20°F
- Polar (freezing temperatures): -15°F & lower
To meet your individual requirements for the different seasons, sleeping bags come in a wide variety of shapes, including:
- “Cocoon” sleeping bags – They’re tight at the feet to keep more heat in and cut down on bulk, and they provide exceptional warmth. They can be rather cozy, but they may not be the greatest option for restless sleepers.
- Barrel sleeping bags – more spacious than the cocoon style but also more cumbersome. If you want to be warm yet have a bit more space in the shoulders, this is the best option.
- Rectangular sleeping bags – A “big size” sleeping bag, ideal for milder climates. These are your most common type of sleeping bag.
10. Heat Your Bedchamber!
If you are camping somewhere very cold, you must ensure your sleeping area is warm enough to get you through the night. One of the best feelings is getting cozy in a warm sleeping bag or bed after spending the day in the chilly outside air. The feeling is nothing less than heavenly!
There’re several simple ways to remain toasty in chilly situations. The best way is to place a warm water bottle in your bed before you get in. Additionally, you can bring a portable air heater and electric space heater with a thermostat so your tent stays warm throughout the night. Don’t forget to drink a lovely cup of hot cocoa or tea to warm you up from the inside.
11. Visit The Bathroom Before You Go To Sleep
So, you’re all toasty and comfy, and suddenly you feel the urge to relieve yourself. The worst camping situation is getting up at night to use the restroom. This frequently happens, and the ladies usually have to suffer.
It is bad enough to get out of bed at home to use the bathroom, but it is ten times worse in the wilderness, where it is so dark you can barely see your hand in front of you. And not to scare you, but who knows who or what is lurking around in the dark!?
To avoid this horror show, rather relieve yourself before calling it a night. However, always ensure you have a flashlight on hand if nature calls.
12. Pack A Portable Cot For Your Baby
If you are taking a baby or small child camping, it is a good idea to pack a portable cot like this Graco Pack ‘N Play On The Go Playard. Sleeping comfortably by sharing a camping mattress with a baby isn’t the best idea.
Firstly, chances are good that your camping mattress is smaller than your one at home, so there will be less space for you, your baby, and your partner to sleep. Secondly, you can place a mosquito net over your baby’s cot to protect them from getting bitten.
And finally, you can move the portable cot outdoors and use it as a playpen for your baby while enjoying the fresh air with friends and family.