Camping is the answer, no matter what the question is!

How to make your camping experience more comfortable and get a better sleep in a tent?

Looking for some useful camping tips before venturing out in the outdoors? We have got you covered. If you are an ardent traveler and explorer then chances are you have already experienced the joy of a camping trip and you could totally relate to this. However, for many of us going on a camping trip is altogether a unique experience. Although, the idea of spending nights in a cozy little tent in the wilderness sounds exciting, for some it could become a not-so-comfortable experience. Especially when it’s the first time that you are staying in a tent. If you are going for your first camping trip, these camping tips are definitely going to help you. After a long day of trek, a proper sleep is must to give your body the much-needed rest and prepare it for the journey ahead. Hence, it becomes very important to sleep better while camping and staying in a tent in the outdoors.

While trekking in Nepal is mainly Tea house style trek where you get an option of staying in Lodges with proper room, trekking in Indian Himalayas is only possible in expedition style where you carry your tents, ration and all equipment for the trek. In this blog, we have tried to list down some useful camping tips that will help you to have a comfortable experience of staying in a tent and sleep better while camping in the outdoors. These camping tips are based on our experiences and we are sure this blog will help you to have a great experience of camping whether it is your first time staying in a tent.

1. Choose a right tent
Choosing a right tent for the trip is one of the most important things before going on a trek or camping trip. There are various types of tents available for different purposes. However, primarily there are two most common types of tents namely Dome shape tent and A-Frame tent. Depending on the duration of the trek, weather conditions, number of trekkers you want to accommodate in a tent one must choose a suitable tent for the trip.
Dome tent is most common design available today and comes in different capacity i.e single tent, twin sharing tent, triple sharing tent and quad sharing tent. These kinds of tents have decent amount of head room and are very easy to pitch.

A-Frame tent is more popular because of the simple design and stability. However, these kinds of tents are usually bulky and have less head room compared to other designs.

At Adventure-Pulse we usually provide a dome shape tent with the capacity of 3 people on twin sharing basis to make sure there is ample space for two people to easily sleep and also to keep their rucksack inside. There is also an option to get a single tent where we provide tent with capacity of 2 people as a single tent. The tents are weather-proof and protects from the wind, cold and rain in case of bad weather.

2. Carry a good quality thick mattress and a foam mattress
A good sleep after a long day of trekking in the extreme weather and terrain is a must. And it all depends on the comfort of the bedding that is available during camping. To have a good comfortable sleep inside the tent, one thing you should not compromise on is the sleeping pad or mattress. There are usually three main types of camping mattress: Air mattress, Self-inflating mattress and foam mattresses.

Foam mattresses are most basic camping mattress and are very easy to carry due to its lightweight. It can be easily rolled up and carried. Although they provide insulation from the ground and are good option to use in the colder temperature, they are usually not very thick and hence they are not the most comfortable ones.
Air mattress are most advanced type of mattress as they are made from high quality materials and using the advance technologies. This kind of mattress varies in thickness and some contain insulation or refractive layer which is very useful in colder temperatures. These mattresses can be blown up either by mouth or a pump. These mattresses although very costly, are a really good option if you are someone who needs a thick mattress in order to have a good night’s sleep.

Self-inflating mattress are ideal option because of the durability and thickness. However, they are litter heavier than the air mattress.
On our treks we provide a foam mattress as the base layer inside the tent and also a custom made thick and wide mattress to make the bedding as comfortable as possible.

3. Carry a good quality Sleeping Bag
This is probably the most important camping tips that one must follow on a trek. A good quality sleeping bag is without a doubt the most essential thing for a camping trip. Choosing a right sleeping bag ensures you stay warm and have a comfortable sleep inside the tent. There are various types of sleeping bags available which can withstand up to different levels of cold temperatures. They come in different sizes and shape and the material also varies from down filled to synthetic insulation.

We provide high quality sleeping bags made from down on all our treks. A sleeping bag along with a thick mattress and a foam mattress makes it a comfortable bedding for the tent.
It is also important to understand how to use the sleeping get in order to get the maximum comfort and warmth. The sleeping bag insulates by trapping in the heat produced by our bodies. Hence, make sure you cover the entire body till neck and do not leave unoccupied space inside the sleeping bag which may reduce the efficiency of the sleeping bag. Most sleeping bags usually comes with a hood (Uppermost part) which can act as a pillow. However, you can use one or two jackets or t-shirts and use them as a pillow to get the extra comfort. Alternatively, you can also carry an inflatable pillow as well.

4. Use the outer space of the tent to keep shoes etc
The tents have one outer cover which protects it from the wind and rain. Due to its design, there is usually a protected outer space (other than the sleeping area of the tent) which is commonly known as ‘vestibule’. This provides addition space outside the tent where you can keep your trekking shoes and even your backpack to get more free space inside the tent. This also helps to keep the inside of tent clean and dry.

A useful hack to stay warm during sleep:

5. Use a hot water bag inside the sleeping bag
If you are trekking in a region where the night time temperatures are extremely cold then this important camping tip could help you to keep yourself warm while sleeping. Carry a small hot water bag and put this inside the sleeping bag closer to your feet. This will generate heat and the sleeping bag will trap that heat inside making it warmer. Make sure you check the hot water bag for any leakage before you use it to avoid the sleeping bag to get wet.

6. Check the ground before pitching. Dry the tent before packing
Choosing the camping spot is another major factor that will make your sleep comfortable. Make sure the camping area is flat, dry and away from the water bodies. Take a look around and be aware of any insect nests or anthill. The direction of the tent door should not be facing the direction from where wind is blowing. Pitch the tent in such a way that it gets maximum protection from the wind and rain. Whenever you wind up the tent, leave it in the sunlight for some time to dry it completely before packing.

7. Eat light meal and have hot beverages before going to sleep
Never go to sleep empty stomach while on a trek. The digestion process warms the body internally. Always eat some light but nutritious meal before trek. Drink hot beverages to keep the body warm.
On our trek, we provide hot water, hot milk with Bournvita/Boost after dinner.

8. Make sure you complete drinking water by early evening. Follow 4 litres by 4 pm rule.
Base on our experience, we suggest these camping tips on all our treks which helps in reducing the chances of getting altitude sickness. We recommend all the trekkers to follow this simple rule of 4 litres water by 4pm. This helps in acclimatizing better in the higher altitudes and keep you hydrated throughout the day.

According to this rule you divide the daily consumption of 4 litre water into three parts:
Drink total 1 litre water in the morning before and after the breakfast. You should have this before you start the trek.
Drink around 2 litre water while you are walking towards the next camp.
Drink the remaining 1 litre water after you reach the next campsite, ideally by 4pm.
After that you can keep sipping water as and when you feel. This will help you to keep yourself hydrated and also make sure that your bladder is not full before you go to sleep.
Don’t postpone to urinate before you get inside the tent and sleep otherwise you might have to wake up in the middle of the night and make a trip to the toilet tent.

9. Keep eye mask and ear plug
Eye mask are helpful when you are taking a nap during the day time when there is ambient light. Ear plug helps in reducing the noises like snoring of your tent mate, rustling sounds of the wind and bushes or loud campers in other campsites near you.

10. Keep a torch light handy
When camping it is recommended to always keep a small torchlight or a headlamp handy as the nights feel too dark in the outdoors. You can carry a small led light to keep inside the tent while you prepare you bed or re-packing your bags to prepare for the next day’s trek. Solar lights are a good option too.

We hope these camping tips will help you to have a good comfortable sleep while camping. Please share in the comments what other camping tips one should follow while sleeping in the tent.
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