Getting a good nights sleep in the wild can be a little challenging. Erie silence, whistling winds, and critters running all around. However, there are some tricks to help you sleep well and wake up rested while in the woods.
1. Sleeping Pads
If you are a tent camper, getting a nice solid sleeping pad is a must. Sometimes roughing it and sleeping on the straight rocky ground is not worth it, especially if you can help it. Sleeping on the bare ground can pull away body heat and make getting a good nights sleep pretty rough. Investing in a decent sleeping pad will make a huge difference. Sleeping pads can range in price. My advice would be to not purchase the cheapest pad you can find. There are tons of options out there, but this should be a piece of gear you want to invest a little money in.
2. Camp Pillow
A pillow? Camping? That’s Right! I said the same thing for a long time. To me I thought it was a form of glamping. Not that glamping is a bad thing, its just not for me. With that being said, I was amazed how small they pack down to and how they weigh virtually nothing. Also, if it’s helping me get a sleep better on the trails or at camp I’m all for it. There are many options out there with varying price ranges, sizes, and weight. Do your own research on the type of pillow that will fit your needs and purchase what you can afford.
3. Sleeping Bag or Quilt
Choosing the right bag or quilt could make or break a camping trip. If it’s not warm enough you will be freezing. If it’s too warm you will sweat and, again, be miserable. There are so many sleeping bag and quilts options out there. Choose the right bag or quilt for the situation you are camping in. If you are a winter/fall camper you will want to focus on a bag/quilt under 30 degrees depending on your situation. If you fall into the spring/summer months try looking for something above 30 degrees . Lots of backpackers choose to go with a quilt due to being able to easily throw a leg out if they get toasty. Really consider your climate and needs and then research the many brands to find the right fit. You’ll thank yourself after a good nights sleep.
4. Smart Phone Apps
These days everyone seems to have a smartphone. There are tons of apps to help with sleeping and drowning out noises. If you are like me, you may sleep with a fan on or need some other form of white noise. I recommend downloading an app that simulates a box fan if you need the noise. You can adjust the fan levels.
This also falls into downloading podcasts, audio books, and music. If you need to drown out the erie silence of the night due to light sleeping I would recommend some of these tactics or find similar apps to help you sleep.
I would not recommend anything headphone related if you are in bear or mountain lion country.
5. Rituals
Nightly rituals can help tremendously with getting a good nights sleep. If you wash your face, brush your teeth, or read a book right before bed, don’t stop just because you are in the wilderness. This can affect your sleep if you are used to performing certain rituals and all of a sudden stop doing them.
Hopefully you can take some or all of these simple tricks and apply them to your next camping trip to get a great nights sleep.
