Camping offers a whole range of benefits to those that give it a try, but one area that many people struggle with is that of sleeping.
How do you sleep well when you are sleeping on the ground and are there any things that you can do to help you to get a good night’s sleep when you are living in your tent?
Sleeping on the ground when camping can be uncomfortable and can be the one area that spoils a camping trip. But there are things that you can do. Inflatable mattresses, foam pads, padded bases, camp beds and other options all exist that will help to increase comfort levels and improve the chances of you getting a good night’s sleep when camping in your tent.
Table of Contents
Can you sleep on the ground when camping?
For most people sleeping on the floor when camping is the only option. Unless you have portable camp beds and a tent that is large enough for them then the floor is the only place.
When you pitch your tent you will need to make sure that the ground is level and free from sharp objects such as stones, rocks, tree roots etc – to protect the base of your tent and to make sure that the ground will be suitable for sleeping on.
The other thing that you might have to think about is wild animals getting into your tent at night while you are sleeping and making sure that this is as difficult as possible for them to do.
How to get a good night’s sleep when camping
There are several things that you can do to help you to get a good night’s sleep when camping.
One of the key benefits of being outdoors is that you will get plenty of fresh air, which in it’s own right will help to tire you out and put you on the right track for a good sleep. Other things that you can do:
Equipment – get the best that you can afford. A warm sleeping bag and comfortable kit makes a big difference.
Warmth – Make sure that you are warm before going to bed.
Extra heat – use a hot water bottle to help to keep you warm.
Time – Stay up later.
Relaxation – chill out before bedtime, beers and camping are a good idea.
Hat – wearing a woolly hat, keeps you warm and you can pull it over your ears to keep noise out.
Do I need a sleeping pad for camping?
It is always a good idea to use a sleeping pad when you are camping on the floor. They provide an extra layer of insulation between your body and the ground and this can make a big difference to your comfort and warmth.
Even in the warm summer months you lose a great deal of heat into the ground and a sleeping pad is always recommended.
These self inflating, memory foam sleeping pads on Amazon are an ideal choice.
How important is a sleeping bag?
Unless it is very warm overnight where you are camping, you will struggle to stay warm and comfortable without a sleeping bag.
As well as providing you with layers of insulation to keep you warm a sleeping bag provides extra padding for comfort and a sense of security and protection which can help to encourage easy and restful sleep.
What about an air bed, are they any good?
A good quality air bed can make a big difference when you are sleeping on the ground.
Air beds are available in a range of different sizes and thicknesses and you will need to make sure that the airbed that you choose will fit into your tent.
Needless to say the thick airbeds are the most comfortable and, if you are looking for the best option then we suggest that you take a look at this Coleman Air Mattress which is 18 inches thick- you’ll find it here on Amazon.
Sleep well on the ground – our top choices
[amazon box=”B07RY47PFS,B08FT6FRKD,B085N5TJBH,B08G59H6PS,B08F4SKM6Y,B00358VVFM,B0176ETIUA,B07L9V6521,B00AU6AVLW” template=”horizontal” description=” “]
1. Wellax FlexFoam Sleeping Pad
[amazon box=”B07RY47PFS” template=”horizontal”]
2. Powerlix Self Inflating Sleeping Pad
[amazon box=”B08FT6FRKD” template=”horizontal”]
3. IForrest 4 Inch Thick Sleeping Pad
[amazon box=”B085N5TJBH” template=”horizontal”]
4. Kelty 20 Degree 2 Person Sleeping Bag
[amazon box=”B08G59H6PS” template=”horizontal”]
5. Atarashi 4 Season Sleeping Bag
[amazon box=”B08F4SKM6Y” template=”horizontal”]
6. ALPS -10 Degree Flannel Sleeping Bag
[amazon box=”B00358VVFM” template=”horizontal”]
7. Outwell Double Air Bed
[amazon box=”B0176ETIUA” template=”horizontal”]
8. ALPS Queen Size Air Bed
[amazon box=”B07L9V6521″ template=”horizontal”]
9. Coleman Camping Cot with Air Bed
[amazon box=”B00AU6AVLW” template=”horizontal”]
Final Words
Sleeping on the ground when camping can be uncomfortable if you are unprepared.
With a little bit of planning and the right type of equipment however, you can get a great night’s sleep and enjoy your camping break much more.
Some of the things that we considered when looking at the products above were comfort, ease of use, durability and value for money.
Whatever options you decide on you can be assured that you are investing in quality products that will provide you with the best levels of comfort for sleeping on the ground in your tent.
