Help for those who can't bloody sleep in a tent

[Cloo]

Namely, me. Booked camping for bank holiday weekend, cos, heck it's cheap. But I don't like camping and I have a fairly strong record of failing to get any sleep at all on my first night under canvas. Just the general strangeness freaks me out, I think, and I always worry about what a fuss it will be going to the loo, so I end up needing the loo etc. I'm also not sure sleeping bags agree with me, as I kind of feel 'tangled up' in them a lot of the time.

After last time, I think we agreed not to use the blow-up double mattress, as it means I get thrown around whenever my other half moves, so we're going to a thin camping mattress each, which I don't think I'll find a particular problem in itself.

Has anyone found anything that really helps them sleep better in a tent? And no, not drugs or booze.

 

[wayward bob]

double blow-up mat, double sleeping bag with extra blankets works for us. on a slight slope, head to the top. and earplugs

(edit: self-inflating, not blow up)

 

[19sixtysix]

A 20 mile hike before bed.

 

[quimcunx]

take quilts. as many as you can muster.

/camped once for one night]

 

[danny la rouge]

I'm also not sure sleeping bags agree with me, as I kind of feel 'tangled up' in them a lot of the time.

If you have the rectangular type of sleeping bags (rather than the "mummy" type), you can zip two together to give yourself more room.

I used to camp all the time, but I've decided it's a young person's game. I like beds.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Empty Lenor bottle so you don't have to trek to the loo in the middle of the night.

 

[wiskey]

Hate sleeping bags, always use duvets.

Our blow up air bed divides so that you get over that 'oops I just accidentally shot my loved one into the side of the tent when I sat down' effect - it's two pockets of air which work independently.

Use the kids potty.

Make it comfortable, you do not win prizes for enduring anything.

 

[felixthecat]

Empty Lenor bottle so you don't have to trek to the loo in the middle of the night.

I find a shepee and a regular 2l bottle better.

 

[felixthecat]

Hate sleeping bags, always use duvets

Second the duvet not sleeping bag suggestion

 

[lizzieloo]

A proper sprung mattress, that's what we take, one from a sofa bed so I suppose it's 3/4 size, sheet, duvet. Proper bed innit

If you're in the car stack it high with comfort

And blow up mattresses are shit, they're freezing,if you are going to use one you need a duvet beneath you too.

 

[stuff_it]

Namely, me. Booked camping for bank holiday weekend, cos, heck it's cheap. But I don't like camping and I have a fairly strong record of failing to get any sleep at all on my first night under canvas. Just the general strangeness freaks me out, I think, and I always worry about what a fuss it will be going to the loo, so I end up needing the loo etc. I'm also not sure sleeping bags agree with me, as I kind of feel 'tangled up' in them a lot of the time.

After last time, I think we agreed not to use the blow-up double mattress, as it means I get thrown around whenever my other half moves, so we're going to a thin camping mattress each, which I don't think I'll find a particular problem in itself.

Has anyone found anything that really helps them sleep better in a tent? And no, not drugs or booze.

Falling asleep in the car or someone's van or truck cab.

 

[twentythreedom]

Make sure your tent is in shadow for when the sun rises

 

[lizzieloo]

And take a watering can with a rose and a bin liner to make a warm solar shower

 

[Sirena]

Take loads of drugs and booze. Pee round the nearest tree. Keep your blow-up mattress nice and soft (it firms up once you lie on it). Wallah!

 

[silverfish]

Use a decent aluminium frame camp bed and a decent self inflating mat

Not a traditional air bed

And a pile of hadj fleece blankets to lie on

Its the lying on the floor thats a cold uncomfortable faff

 

[Cloo]

A 20 mile hike before bed.

The notable exception to not sleeping was years ago in the Peak District, when I feel asleep like a rock from about 9pm-9.30am after a day's hike. Also slept OK in Bhutan, again, lots of hiking.

The loo thing was much improved last time by the addition of some croc-type things, which I still have and make it much easier to get out of the tent at night, Frankly, rather have a loo than any she-pee type option.

 

[lizzieloo]

A bucket for night time wees, a sturdy one you can sit on.

 

[kalidarkone]

I have an ace self inflating mat that inflates to 7cm-its really comfortable. Also echo those that have said about taking a duvet-its the dogs.

 

[chilango]

Fully unzip your sleeping bag and use as a quilt.

Take a pillow.

Decent sleeping mat.

 

[Bakunin]

A sleep mask to shut out unwanted light is always worth having, especially if camped anywhere near a floodlight or lamppost or whatever.

 

[stuff_it]

I prefer my option of thinking of any way possible to avoid sleeping in a tent. There's something about knowing it's only thin fabric between you and the world that makes it difficult.

 

[DrRingDing]

Take loads of drugs and booze. Pee round the nearest tree. Keep your blow-up mattress nice and soft (it firms up once you lie on it). Wallah!

Wallah means "really?" in Arabic. Do you mean voila?

 

[lizzieloo]

If you take a cotton throw and put it over the tent it doesn't get hot in the morning.

 

[DrRingDing]

Use a tent with two entrances. So, when the sun comes up and the tent starts to cook you can open both of them to get a breeze and have the outside air temp in the shade rather than being in a greenhouse.

Ear plus & night shades. For the blow up mattress I usually take a blanket to put on the mattress and then the bed sheet ontop. When car camping I take my duvet. Although you may want to take an extra cover as it may get a bit nippier.

Thick socks to sleep in.

Valium.

 

[Sirena]

Wallah means "really?" in Arabic. Do you mean voila?

I do indeed.

 

[geminisnake]

I find an army camp bed and sheepskin rug under my sleeping bag helps me sleep

Like that but three 'legs'
http://www.twenga.co.uk/vango-4-leg-camp-bed.html

 

[StoneRoad]

Pitch tent with orientation as "head upslope" and a decent airbed - one that divides into sides and pillows, decent bedding (square sleeping bags / duvets / blankets) and extra thin pillows.
For personal comfort - visit site facilities as late as you can and reduce fluid intake late evening.
Hopefully your tent has a separate flysheet / awning or you'll need "night shades" and if the campsite is busy or has a lot of early birds ear plugs might help.

I used to do quite a lot of camping, but not for the last two or three years.....

 

[kittyP]

Second the duvet not sleeping bag suggestion

If you get a big double sleeping bag it's ok in my experience. But single ones, even expensive singles have always been uncomfortable and cold ime

 

[kittyP]

Take loads of drugs and booze. Pee round the nearest tree. Keep your blow-up mattress nice and soft (it firms up once you lie on it). Wallah!

Did you read the op?

 

[zenie]

I've got a kingsize sleeping bag, it's awesome. Fleece lined and so comfy

If you're in a car just do it like home from home, proper blow up mattress, not one of the camping ones but the 2 foot high ones.

Drugs help