Camping as a tall person is not easy.
I have tall friends and family members, and I’ve seen first hand the struggles they go through when they’re in the wilderness.
In this guide I hope to help tall individuals have a comfortable trip in the great outdoors so they can love it just as much as short people.
Enjoy, you weird giants!
The Reality No One Tells You
Your tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad is going to be your biggest pet peeves on your camping trips.
When you’re shopping for a new outdoor product, you’ll struggle to find a “perfect” match – you’ll most likely settle for something you don’t want but had to get anyway.
And yes, that usually means doing extensive research instead of purchasing the first one you come across out of frustration.
However, with the help of this guide you will have a better understanding of products suit you and your needs, what you’re getting yourself into and how to prevent uncomfortable trips in the future.
Don’t Resort to a Hotel Room or RV Just Yet
As frustrating as it is to find the right equipment, do know there is hope and you do NOT need to resort to a hotel room just yet.
You’ll probably be shooting yourself in the foot anyway, as most hotel beds are only 5’8″ in length.
Furthermore, sleeping in an RV might sound good right now because obviously you’ll stand upright without feeling squished, but that DOES cost lots of money, even when you rent one.
Lets slow down and see what our options are first my friend 🙂
Choosing Your Tent
Are you after a tent that you can stand up in without hunching over, a tent to sleep comfortably without having to sleep diagonally, or both?
Keep in mind that your choice of tent will determine what type of trip you’re going on.
If you’re backpacking, you’ll need a lightweight tent with a long length – there are 12 of them here.
Therefore, if you plan on car camping you might want to go the route of a heavy tent with a tall center height.
Choosing Your Sleeping Bag
Again, finding a tall sleeping bag is even more difficult than a tall tent.
Your options are very limited for the simple reason that manufacturers don’t have tall people in mind.
Fortunately I have already done the groundwork and discovered 7 tall sleeping bags for you to use and benefit from.
Choosing Your Sleeping Pad
Now here’s where you’ll probably have to sleep with your feet hanging off of a sleeping pad and onto the tent floor.
I’m not even exaggerating – long sleeping pads are really hard to find and I’ve currently only found ONE viable option.
Yes, that is correct. It is called the 5CM THICK Sleeping Pad.
It comfortably fits people up to 6’6″, so if you’re even a little taller than that, good luck finding one with a longer length 😛
Conclusion
I created this article because I literally couldn’t find anyone talking about this highly important topic.
It’s funny because so many people are struggling and it stops them from going on camping trips altogether because of it.
Well I hope I have showed you that you are not alone and at least ONE person is out to help you (yes, that is me).
Thanks for reading.
Have something to add? Talk to us in the comments below!
As a large person being 6’6″ and 290lbs it is very difficult to participate in quite a few outdoor activities. I enjoy camping, hunting, fishing and Kayaking. Finding the correct equipment is the most difficult part. Not only is the height an issue but the weight as well. These articles are really helpful. The one thing that usually stops me is when you do find that item it is the extra cost that really sets you back, especially when compared to the higher rated less expensive items that would fit a 6′ and under person or the under 200 lbs. I can’t tell you how many camping and hunting chairs I went through until I found one rated properly. I will say that instead of a camping tent, I have opted for a hammock with rain-fly for backpacking/kayaking and a cot, for car camping and hunting trips.
I definitely agree that finding the correct equipment is hard. Sorry to hear about your experiences with the hunting chairs but super glad you found one you can use comfortably in the end.
I like your ideas for backpacking and kayaking, especially because there are many large hammocks on the market these days.
Thanks for the comment! I hope to see you around here more often.