Best Tips To Sleep In A Tent The Most Comfortably

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There’s no need to fear sleepless nights during your next camping adventure.  There are many preparations you can make whether you’re car camping or backpacking to ensure that you get a good night’s rest.  These tips will help you choose the best gear, set-up your tent properly, & have a good bedtime routine so you have a great night of sleep in your tent.

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Best Way To Sleep In A Tent

The best way to sleep in a tent is to choose a sleep system designed for your temperature range.  You want your tent, sleeping bag, & sleeping pad to all be rated for the weather conditions that you’re camping in.  

Along with having the right sleep system, you should focus on how you set up your tent, the type of clothes you’re sleeping in, and having an optimal bedtime routine to make sure you’ll have a good night’s sleep.

This guide will focus on the best ways to sleep in a tent while camping, including:

• Tent set-up
• Choosing your sleep system
• Best night clothes
• Bedtime routine
• Additional sleep gear to consider

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Best Way To Set Up Your Tent For Sleep

One of the first things you can do to have better sleep while camping is setting up your tent properly.  You want to make sure to choose a good campsite & properly set up your tent so it can perform well.

The way you set up your tent can make or break your sleep.  You need to make sure the surrounding area is optimal for good sleep, as well as the actual setting up of your tent.

Choosing The Right Campsite

Choosing a good spot to set up your tent is the best thing you can do when setting up.  Take time to look for a good campsite.  The most important thing is to look for a flat spot.  Nothing is worse than sleeping on an incline where your body slides off your sleeping mattress.  

You also want a large enough spot so you can fully stretch out your tent.  Your tent won’t perform as well if the walls are slack, plus you won’t have as much room inside.

Along with a flat & large area for your tent, here are a few other things to consider:

• No Rocks or debris under tent
• Away from other noises (RV generators, loud groups, etc.)
• Proximity to restroom & water (if camping at a campground)

You need to make sure it’ll be easy to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, whether that be setting up closer to the bathrooms or finding a remote campsite with privacy.

Choosing the right campsite will make or break your sleep.  You really want to pick a prime spot to ensure that you’ll get a good night’s rest.  

Setting Up Your Tent

The best way to sleep in a tent is to set it up properly.  There are several things to focus on while you’re setting up your tent for maximum performance.

First, you want to stretch your tent fully out when you set it up. When your tent is nice & taut, it will perform the best for both cold temperatures and warm temperatures.  You want the fabric to be stretched perfectly so it will perform well in the season(s) that it’s designed for.

The best way to do this is to make sure the doors and windows are zipped up before you set up the tent.  If your door is unzipped, then it will probably cause your fabric to stretch too much once you go to zip it up after set-up.

You also want to use stakes to secure your tent.  We’ve tried to forego stakes before in our Gazelle tent and have strongly regretted it.  Even if it doesn’t seem windy at the time, one strong wind can pick your whole tent up while you’re not in it.

After your tent is stretched out properly and secured to the ground, then you want to determine if you should set up your rain fly.  If there is no rain in the forecast, you might decide to leave the rain fly off for some extra ventilation during hot weather.  If you’re camping in cold weather, then it’s a good idea to put your rain fly on to help trap some heat in the tent while the sun is out.

Choosing Your Sleep System For Good Sleep

Another way to make sure you’ll get decent sleep while tent camping is to choose the right gear for your sleep system.  

Your sleep system is made up of your sleeping bag, sleeping mattress, & pillow.  These items need to be carefully picked out to make sure you’ll have the best night of sleep while camping.

Sleeping Bag

Choosing the right sleeping bag can seem daunting since there are so many different types. The main thing to focus on is the different temperature ratings of the sleeping bags.

We always choose sleeping bags that are rated for about 10-20 degrees below our camping conditions.  For instance, if we camp in nights around 30 degree fahrenheit weather, then we use a 20 degree sleeping bag.

You also want to decide whether a mummy style or rectangular sleeping bag is best for your camping trip.  If you’re backpacking, you will almost always choose mummy bags.  If you’re car camping, then you might opt for a rectangular sleeping bag for a bit more room.

You can also consider bringing a sleeping bag liner to get some extra warmth while you’re out camping, if necessary.

Sometimes, when we are car camping, we just bring a big down comforter for some extra comfort while sleeping instead of using sleeping bags.

Camping Mattress

No matter what type of camping you are doing, it is always a good idea to use some sort of air mattress or sleeping pad.  This gets you off the hard ground to give you better sleep.

Air beds are a great option when car camping.  You can purchase an inexpensive air mattress at a box store for an easy night of sleep.  My one recommendation is to keep it pretty thin if you’re sleeping in colder temperatures.  If you have a deep air mattress, then all of the air underneath your back will cause you to be colder.

You might also choose a small sleeping pad to get you off the cold ground instead.  These smaller air pads are great if you’re backpacking because they pack down small and don’t weigh much.  They’re usually not quite as comfortable as a big air mattress, but it is better than nothing.

Having some sort of mattress under you while you’re tent camping is going to be the most comfortable way to sleep in a tent.

Pillow

You should always bring a pillow (or two!) when you’re camping.  Don’t try to “rough it” in this area.  A pillow is one of the best ways to ensure you’ll have a comfortable night of sleep while tent camping.

We like to bring our own pillows from home if we’re car camping.  This ensures that we’ll have a great night of sleep. 

If you’re backpacking, you can use an inflatable pillow.  They are lightweight and pack down really small.  They aren’t the most comfortable pillow, but they are definitely better than nothing.  Your neck will thank you for it!

Best Clothes To Sleep In For Camping

Another way to make sleeping in a tent more comfortable is to wear the right night clothes.  You want to wear clothes that will keep you warm, but not make you too hot.  You also want to make sure the clothing fits comfortably.

Base Layer

Depending on your temperature, you’ll almost always want to sleep with a base layer.  This might be your only layer if your temperatures are moderate or warm.

Base layers should be made from fabrics that easily wicks away moisture.  You obviously should go to bed dry, but you want to make sure if you sweat at night, then your clothes aren’t going to stay soaked all night.

Some great materials to choose from are either merino wool or a synthetic blend made for dry wicking.

If you’re sleeping in hot weather, then obviously you don’t want to overdress.  The goal is to keep yourself from sweating while you sleep.

Mid & Top Layers

If you’re sleeping in colder temperatures, then you can add extra layers, called a mid-layer & top layer.  A mid layer could be something like a warm sweater and an extra layer of pants.  Your top layer might be a down jacket, hat, & gloves, depending on how cold it is while you’re winter camping.

If you’re still cold with these layers, then you could always add extra blankets to your sleep set-up.

Socks While Camping

I’ve read mixed reviews about socks.  Some people say that socks make you sweat too much, so leave them off unless you’re in really cold temperatures.  I personally lose a lot of heat through my feet, so I always wear socks when sleeping in the great outdoors.  David, on the other hand, sleeps better without socks because his feet sweat easily and they can turn cold very quickly.

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Other Optional Sleep Gear For Tent Camping

There are other items that you can bring to help you get the best sleep in a tent.  This includes:

• Ear plugs
• Eye mask
• Noise machine
• Headphones

Ear Plugs & Noise Machines

We personally try to avoid ear plugs & noise machines while we’re camping.  We’d hate to miss the noise of nature. But we also don’t want to miss hearing if there are any predators or dangers near our tent while we’re sleeping.

If you’re sleeping in a safe area or in a crowded campsite, then you might use ear plugs for a better night of sleep.

Eye Masks

Eye masks are a great way to help you sleep in while you’re camping.  When you’re camping in a thin tent, the sun can become blinding pretty early in the morning.  An eye mask is an easy fix to this problem so you can easily sleep until you’re well rested.

Headphones

Headphones can be a great distraction to help you fall asleep more easily.  Sometimes it’s nice to listen to music, a podcast, or an audiobook as you unwind in your sleeping bag.

All of this sleeping gear is optional, but it might just help you get the best night of sleep in your tent during your next camping trip.

Bedtime Routine While Camping

Having the right bedtime routine can really help you sleep more comfortably in a tent.  Not only will the routine ensure you have all of your comfort items, but it will prepare your body and mind to help prevent a sleepless night.

Eating & Drinking Before Bed

Regardless of the season that you’re camping in, you want to prepare your body for the night ahead.  This means you should eat a bit of food and not drink too many liquids before bed.  Sleep comes more easily when your belly is full, plus you don’t want too many nighttime bathroom breaks.

Prepare Your Nighttime Gear

If you do need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, then it’s also a good idea to prepare your gear accordingly.  Keep your headlamp & toilet paper nearby, and have an easy pair of shoes to wear right by the tent door.

Prepare Water Bottle For Bed

It’s also a good idea to keep a bottle of water in the tent to drink at night.  If you’re camping during colder nights, then you can boil water to put into your water bottle and use it to keep you warm in your sleeping bag.  

Many people will fill a Nalgene bottle with boiled water and put it into the sleeping bag to warm it up for 10-15 minutes before bedtime.  Then, you can snuggle up with the hot water bottle to help keep you warm during the night.

Conclusion

The best way to sleep in a tent more comfortably is to set up your tent properly, use the right sleep system, wear proper clothes, & have a good bedtime routine.  If you do these things, then you will definitely have a comfortable camping experience.  Camping doesn’t have to mean bad sleep.  You can get a great night of sleep in your tent while camping in the great outdoors. 

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Basic Camping Packing List

If this is your first time camping, or you need a refresh, then here is a free download for our Basic Camping Packing List.  It is a full list of the basic items you need to bring for a successful camping trip.

Favorite Camping Gear

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