What To Sleep On When Camping

Ahhh, camping.

While your makeshift bed may be a far cry from the mattress, blankets, and sturdy frame you’ve come to love, there’s no reason you can’t still enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep while camping.

Camping is beautiful, but if you can avoid all of the tossing, turning, and back pain, you’ll increase your experience tenfold. Thankfully, cushioning yourself effectively isn’t all that complicated.

Let’s take a closer look at some of our favorite things to sleep on while camping.

What Should You Sleep On When Camping?

The ground beneath you is notoriously rough, so quality cushioning and insulation are essential.

If you turn up with just a sleeping bag and hope for the best, spoiler alert: you won’t get it.

Here are some of the most effective components of makeshift camping beds:

• A camping mattress with mattress topper
• An air bed
• A quality sleeping bag
• Blankets and pillows
• Camp sleeping pads

As you can see, you probably won’t need ALL of these things. However, if you want a comfy bed, using a few of these together will create a cozy and comfortable nook for you to sleep on.

So let’s explore a few setups you can create using the above equipment.

Air Bed, Blankets, And Pillows

Even air beds that are built for home use can be great for camping. Although air beds aren’t designed for long-term support (what makeshift bed is), they can give you a comfortable sleeping experience in the short term.

They’re also convenient to transport: when deflated, most air beds are easy to compact and pack, even if you’re tight on space.

If you decide to sleep on an airbed, bring plenty of blankets and pillows with you.

Although fitted sheets aren’t a must, they may make you feel a little more ‘at home’ when you’re immersed in the great outdoors.

Although air beds are portable, convenient, and versatile, you may struggle in cold weather.

During a cold weather campout, their materials (usually vinyl or PVC) can become even colder, trapping the cold air and making you, well, cold.

If you’re using an airbed on a cold camping trip, you’ll need to put a barrier between you and the top of the mattress.

This could be separate sheets or blankets, or even a mattress topper. You can also make your air bed warmer by not placing it directly on the ground.

You could use a foam mat, such as a yoga mat or a camping mat, to create an extra layer.

Camping Bed, Pillows, And Blankets

Camping beds are a pretty popular choice for backpackers and hikers. These beds are between 5-15cm thick and contain rebound foam for a comfortable sleeping experience.

However, they can be pretty heavy, so you’ll usually need a car to transport them.

Camping beds serve the same function as airbeds. However, they’re designed to cope with the elements far better.

For example, most camping beds have great r-ratings, meaning they can be used the whole year round in a tent while providing adequate insulation and preventing cold.

If you want to use a camping bed, simply inflate it, throw on some blankets and pillows, and you’ll be ready to hit the hay.

Sleeping Bag, Camping Mat, And Pillows

Although camping equipment has come a long way from what it used to be, some campers still prefer to sleep with traditional sleeping bags.

Sleeping bags have been doing the job for years, so there’s no denying they work. However, don’t expect to be *as* comfortable as you would be with an airbed or a camping bed.

Still, making your sleeping bag a comfortable place to rest your head after a long day is possible.

You’ll need one important piece of equipment to get you there, though – a camping mat/sleeping pad.

If you’ve ever thrown your sleeping bag on the ground, snuggled down, and tried to fall asleep, you’ll be aware of how uncomfortable the experience can be.

Placing a camping mat beneath your sleeping bag and body provides some extra cushioning between your body and the ground, functioning as a sort of ‘mattress.’

These pads can be placed either underneath the sleeping bag or inside the sleeping bag, depending on your preference.

We’d recommend putting your camping mat INSIDE your sleeping bag. When you place them beneath, they tend to migrate in the night.

Sleeping pads can also curl up at the ends, exposing your extremities to the cold. Keeping your pad or mat inside your bag can prevent this from happening.

Getting A Good Night’s Sleep When Camping

If you want an enjoyable camping experience, comfortable sleeping arrangements are a must. However, a cozy bed is just the starting point.

Here are a few extra tips to help you get the best night’s sleep possible when camping.

• Open your vents: The vents in your tent are there to circulate air and reduce condensation – believe it or not, this can make you colder than having your vents open.
• Bring ear plugs: The great outdoors isn’t exactly soundproof. If you want to tune out the birds, bugs, and people, be the master of your own sleep quality, and bring yourself some earplugs.
• Stay up late: This might sound counterintuitive, but hear us out. Forcing yourself to sleep when you’re not ready will only lead to a LOT of tossing and turning, and if you naturally wake up early when you’re camping, your day times will be filled with exhaustion. Stay up late, and hopefully, you’ll be instantly ready for some shut-eye when you climb into bed.
• Invest in quality gear: This is a no-brainer. Ensure everything you’re sleeping on and with is high quality. Scrimping on your kit is a poor decision.

Final Thoughts

Nothing beats being in the great outdoors and falling asleep beneath the stars. Camping is one of the purest experiences on earth but remember: camping equipment has come a long way, and there’s no need to sleep with uncomfortable gear if you can help it.

So do your research, make wise investments, and you might not even miss your bed!