If you’re looking to make tent camping much more comfortable for you, you are in the right place.
Too many times have I had a difficult time getting to sleep while out camping in the woods.
I want to show YOU how to be more relaxed, warm, and ultimately as comfortable as possible as you lay in your tent (both daytime and nighttime).
Let’s get started.
Comfort Techniques
1. Your Tents Location
If you pitch your tent on uneven surface (rocks, sticks, bumps), you’re asking for a bad nights sleep.
Remember to choose a flat surface for your tent. Clear the area from rocks, sticks, pine cones, forest duff, etc.
Having a nice, flat area to sleep on is the very first step to a peaceful nights sleep.
2. Choose The Correct Tent
If you’re camping with another person, consider a 3-person tent instead of a 2.
The extra room will provide more headroom and livability.
Furthermore, a tent with a vestibule will do wonders for you as well. This means you can store your gear outside the tent and have more room to move around inside.
Being all squished up just makes for an awkward nights sleep in my honest opinion.
3. Choose The Correct Sleeping Bag
You’re likely going to have a bad sleep if you use a sleeping bag not designed for the conditions you’re camping in.
A temperature rating of 0-20 degrees is good for the summer (won’t be too hot or too cold).
It’ll be even better if you can get one with a zippered foot box, or at least a semi-sculpted hood.
Cinching the sleeping bag around my head always makes me feel warm, cozy, and most of all relaxed and comfortable!
4. Choose A Good Sleeping Pad
When searching for a sleeping pad, make sure you are well off the ground.
Earth actually sucks warm temperature out of us, so if we can get enough space between the ground and our bodies, it will have a much harder time doing so.
Pro Tip: If you can’t afford a high quality sleeping pad, place a lot of clothes and a blanket or two under a cheap one. You’ll gain the exact same benefits much easier and save some coin. The only downside is carrying extra gear
5. Use Your Favorite Pillow
We all have our favorite pillows that we like to take everywhere, so don’t avoid taking it on your camping trip just because you “don’t want to get it dirty”.
Don’t settle for any old pillow, one that’s been sitting at the bottom of the wardrobe for the last 10 years.
You’re far more likely to enjoy your time by using a pillow you absolutely love.
If there’s one simple way to be more comfortable in your tent, this is it!
6. Bring A Duvet
I can not stress enough how comfortable duvets are, and I bet I don’t need to tell you either.
For the very best results, sleep inside your sleeping bag and have a duvet over top of you.
Doing this provides immense warmth and comfort, which is what you’re after, isn’t it?
Pro Tip: A cheap, single duvet with an old cover works best. Keep it JUST for camping so you don’t risk dirtying or ripping your good ones
If you don’t have a duvet, any old blanket will still work – just not as good.
7. Clean Yourself & Wear Dry, Comfortable Clothing
You’ll be surprised at how good you’ll feel after you wash all that dust, dirt, and grime your body accumulated over the period of the day.
Washing all of that off and getting into your comfortable pajamas can do wonders when climbing into your sleeping bag at night.
A clean and warm body is a relaxed one, that’s for sure!
Another key point here is to ensure you pack the right clothes for the experience. You may need what to wear hiking should you find yourself hitting the trails.
8. Wear A Warm Hat
Because we lose a lot of heat through our head, it’s essential to wear a hat if you want to stay comfortable and warm for the entire night.
And the best part is that if you start warming up, you can just remove it, no dramas.
But that doesn’t mean you should spend all week trying to find a good hat to buy. All of them work just fine.
Calming The Nerves
9. Eye Mask
If you’re in a public campsite, eye masks are a great option, considering all the outside lights they have on at nighttime.
Eye masks will block out all the ambient light and help you sleep.
10. Ear Plugs
Take it a step further and use ear plugs as well.
Using both the eye mask and ear plugs will either make or break you.
It might help with the paranoia or simply make it worse, so you will have to try it out for yourself to find the result.
This is also a great way to block out all those “scary” nighttime noises (animals, wind, etc)
11. Keep A Flashlight At-The-Ready
One good way to calm your nerves and help you feel more at ease is by having a flashlight right next to you.
Some campsites are overly too light and some are pitch black.
So if you’re camping somewhere where it’s completely dark, just knowing that you have a flashlight next to you will help calm your nerves.
12. Camp With Somebody You Trust – 100%
Boyfriends, girlfriends, cousins, friends, etc – if you want to feel more at ease and comfortable while you sleep, you need to camp with someone you trust!
There’s no point in camping with your boyfriend of 7 days, because you have no idea if you can trust him or not yet.
If you go camping with your cousin or BFF, someone you have known your whole life, you know they will keep you safe at all times.
They are a great choice to go camping with, not someone you just met!
13. Expand Your Horizon – Decoration
This might sound silly, but consider decorating your tent!
Let your imagination run wild. Hang ribbons or streamers at the door of your tent and ceiling.
You can even cover the floor with puzzle mats. You’re trying to feel more comfortable inside your tent aren’t you? Then don’t overlook this step.
14. Play Music
I HIGHLY recommend playing music as you drift off to sleep.
I don’t know about you, but quietly playing soothing music always helps me relax and feel comfortable while in the great outdoors, and I have no doubts that it will work for you as well.
It can either be from a speaker or through some earphones.
Just choose one that you like the most and go with it.
15. Use A Hot Water Bottle
Snuggling up to a hot water bottle is both warm and comforting.
My favorite is to keep it on my stomach as I lay on my back. However, you can choose the most comfortable for you.
The only downside to this is that it won’t stay warm all night, but a great choice nonetheless.
Conclusion
Feeling calm, comfortable and relaxed inside your tent is very difficult to achieve when you don’t know what you’re doing.
Luckily for you, I’ve already discovered what works and what doesn’t work, which I’ve outlined in this article.
But if that wasn’t enough, here is another article that shows you how to sleep well while camping.
You’ll enjoy it if you have trouble nodding off to sleep while in the great outdoors.
Thanks for stopping by and reading this article 🙂
Don’t forget to share it with your friends and family before you go. I bet they want to know how to stay comfortable while inside their tent as well!
But don’t go anywhere just yet.
Leave a comment below.
1. Do you have anything to add to this list?
2. Have you had any bad camping experiences? (Who am I kidding, we all have :P)
Until next time…
-Brandon
Camping Mastery