Going Camping? Don't Forget to Pack the Zzz's: How to Sleep Better While Camping
Haven Tents · January 4, 2023
How do you sleep better while camping? Start with a flat surface that keeps you off rocks and roots, insulation underneath you as well as on top, and a sleeping bag or quilt rated for the night's low. Then control the small things: block wind and light, manage noise with earplugs, keep your bedtime routine, and choose a quiet, level campsite. Here's how we put that together, plus how a lay-flat outdoor sleep system like the Haven helps.
Why sleep is hard when camping
When it comes to camping, sometimes sleep is the thing you forget to pack! We've grown used to soft beds with lots of pillows, and that's hard to recreate outdoors.
Ground tents, for example, can be a hassle. First you search for a flat, open space. Then, once you lie down, you find the rock or root you missed jabbing into your back. Or the ground turns out to slope a couple of degrees after all. When it's time to pack up, there you are rolling around in the mud. Been there, done that!
Traditional camping hammocks are another option, but they can be complicated. They usually need a separate rainfly, bug net, underquilt, suspension straps and guylines, which takes work to assemble into one kit. And once you climb in, being wrapped up like a sushi roll and bent like a banana is so unlike sleeping at home that sleep can be elusive.
Why sleep matters on a trip
Sleep is when your body rests and recovers, and a bad night catches up with you the next day. Short on sleep, most of us get irritable, find it harder to concentrate and get clumsier, which matters when you're hiking, paddling or driving home. Good sleep is worth planning for, just like food and water.
Our tips for a good night's sleep outdoors
1. Get flat and off the lumps
Start by packing your bed and mattress. OK, that's not an option, so pack the next best thing. Choose the flattest site you can, or bring a sleep system that doesn't depend on the ground. The Haven Tent gives you a flat sleeping platform off the ground. It's not exactly your mattress at home, but it's the closest thing we've found. We compare the options in The Most Comfortable Way to Sleep Outside, and if you wake up stiff, see How to Stop Waking Up Sore After Sleeping in a Tent. Here's Don sharing his first night in his Haven XL.
2. Insulate underneath you
Cold usually comes from below. On the ground that means a pad with enough R-value; in a hammock it means an underquilt or an insulated pad. Haven's insulated pads cover three seasons, and as temperatures drop you can add the Insulated Pad Cover, which adds insulation under your core. More in How to Hammock Camp in the Cold.
3. Bring the right bedding
Bring a sleeping bag or top quilt rated for the lowest temperature you expect, and maybe a pillow for the deluxe experience.
4. Control temperature and wind
The rainfly is a great tool for regulating heat. Lock down one side to block the wind, or both sides to hold in warmth. Too hot? Guy the rainfly out, or roll it up and sleep under the stars.
5. Keep a bedtime routine
Wind down before bed by reading or doing something quiet, and try to go to bed at a consistent time. It also helps to put screens away for a while before you sleep.
6. Pick a quiet campsite
Choose a spot away from loud noises and bright lights, and pack earplugs or a white-noise app to block out the rest.
Where the Haven fits in
At Haven Tents, we've tried to remove these pitfalls and make a good night's sleep while camping as easy as possible. Our all-in-one hammock tent gives you a flat sleeping platform, an insulated air mattress, a built-in bug net and a rainfly that can be guyed out for ventilation on hot nights. It packs up small and works for car camping, moto-camping, backpacking or backyard nights.
And because it hangs, the ground doesn't have to be even, so rocks, roots and slopes don't matter. It also won't fold you like a banana the way a traditional hammock does. See what Bob thought of his first lay in a Haven Tent!
A good night's sleep makes the whole trip better. Get flat, insulate underneath you, bring bedding for the conditions, keep your routine and pick a peaceful campsite. As you pack for your next adventure, don't forget to bring the Zzz's!
Derek Tillotson Haven Tents Founder
Images and video for this post were shared by Haven customers, out doing their thing. If you have photos, we'd love to see them! Send them to support@haventents.com or tag us on social media @HavenTents.
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