What is the most comfortable way to sleep in a tent?

Let’s be honest, most of us like our home comforts, and getting a good night’s sleep is at the top of the list. When we go camping, there have to be some compromises, so I decided to find what is the most comfortable way to sleep in a tent.

Anyone who’s camped before will tell you that sleeping on rough ground is not very comfortable and how important it is to have something on which to sleep. From a basic roll-up mat to a king-sized airbed, there are various ways of getting a good night’s sleep while camping. The most important consideration is to isolate yourself from the ground, as we’ll explain in this brief article.

Prepare the Tent and Area

Depending on the type of camping bed you have, it makes sense to choose an area free from rocks and stones if possible. A grassed area is the best choice if available, as it gives a little padding under the tent floor. When you pitch your tent, make sure that you will be sleeping with your head higher than your feet. This aids blood circulation and will make you more comfortable.

Find Some Shade

When camping in hot areas, finding some shade for your tent will make the conditions inside much more bearable. Read our previous article for tips on keeping a tent cool without electricity.

Keep the Bugs at Bay

One thing that will keep you awake all night in a tent is the buzzing of bugs, particularly mosquitos! Fortunately, there are numerous ways to keep the bugs away, and our article on keeping mosquitoes away while camping will give you some valuable tips.

Camping Bed Options

Roll-up Foam Bed

The roll-up foam mattress was the first attempt at camping comfort after using blankets laid on the floor. Blankets gave you a little insulation from the cold ground but didn’t provide much comfort from the hardness of the land. 

Roll-up foam provided improved insulation properties over blankets but also added a level of padding. The significant disadvantage of the foam mattress was its size. This leads us neatly onto the following type of camping mattress.

Self-inflating Camping Bed

The self-inflating camping bed is a step on from the foam mattress primarily because of its size. When deflated, the bed rolled up or folded into a very small size and packed in your backpack. They are also extremely light, so perfect for camping. There is no need to carry a pump or spend ten minutes blowing it up as it’s self-inflating.

Camping Cot

If you are not hiking but driving between campsites, then a camping cot can give you a very comfortable night’s sleep. These have a distinct advantage over foam mattresses because they lift you off the floor.

Blow-up Mattress

These give the ultimate in sleeping comfort, with comfort levels almost equivalent to your bed at home. The significant disadvantage to these is their size and the time required to inflate them. You also need a pump, of course. These mattresses are available in a range of sizes and styles to fit all budgets.

Conclusion

Camping is great fun, but getting up in the morning after a restless night sleeping on the floor won’t put you in a good mood! Luckily, there are ways to improve the situation without breaking the bank.

This article was last updated on May 13, 2021 .