Tent Camping Hacks for a Dreamy Night’s Sleep

Tent camping isn’t for everyone, but it could be for you!

Sure, you’re basically sleeping on the ground, but if you follow a few tips, you’ll hardly notice that you’re not sleeping in a cozy bed at night.

The tent camping hacks below may just make you a convert, and you’ll fall head over heels for sleeping outdoors.

I didn’t start camping until I was in my early twenties, but after my first night in a tent, I was all in! There’s so much to love about sleeping outside — the night noises, the damp air, and the morning serenade from the woodland birds.

Back then, I used a simple and lightweight foam camp pad, a thrift-store sleeping bag, and a pile of bunched-up clothing for my pillow, and I slept like a rock. Campfire cocktails probably contributed to those blissful nights as well. 

Fast forward to modern times, and how things have changed since those carefree days of throwing whatever in a backpack and hitting the trail with a smile plastered on my face.

Choose Your Perfect Sleep System

For years, I’ve believed that it’s not the gear that gets you outside and that anyone can enjoy camping, whether you can afford high-end gear or not.

I guess I’m backtracking on that a bit, as having the right gear for your adventures is actually pretty important, and while I hate to throw stuff out, that 25-year-old sleeping bag probably wasn’t pulling its weight anymore. 

Fine-tuning your camping gear to meet your changing needs is critical to enjoying your time outside, and what you used as a young adult will be different when you have children and will change again as you age, and your camping style evolves.

Here are some tent camping tips to help you choose the best sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and pillow for years of camping comfort.

What’s Your Camping Style?

Are you a backpacker, a car camper, or both?

Do you camp in the winter or just on warm summer weekends?

Do you fly with your camping gear?

Ideally, you want to figure out your camping style and choose a sleeping bag and sleeping pad combo that can overlap across different outdoor adventures. 

If you know that you will be putting in lots of miles backpacking, then weight and packability will be paramount.

If you are primarily a car camper, then comfort might have more of an edge. Thinking about how you will actually use your sleeping bag and pad will help you figure out the features you need most. 

I am primarily a car camper, but I do want to be able to bring my gear on a few weekend backpacking trips each year. I also do a lot of flying to visit national parks out west, which means my gear has to pack up pretty small.

For me, camping is doable in three seasons, so anywhere from 20 degrees up to 90 degrees. Using this information, I was able to narrow down my choices to a lightweight three-season bag and pad. 

What’s Your Sleeping Style?

Do you sleep with a partner?

Are you a side sleeper or a back sleeper?

Do you sleep warm or cold?

If you know that you like lots of extra covers at home, then you should also opt for a warmer sleeping bag and a sleeping pad with good insulation.

A thicker sleeping pad will be helpful for side sleepers, and if you think you will be sleeping with a partner or a child, then it might be useful to look for a sleeping bag that can double up with another. 

I sleep cold, often camp with my husband, and do a lot of tossing and turning at night.

For these reasons, I chose a three-inch-thick sleeping pad that I could deflate slightly to make it softer but still warm. I went with the Ascent sleeping bag from Sea to Summit because it can be zipped together with another Sea to Summit bag to sleep two comfortably, and the extra insulation in the toe box makes me feel warmer all over. 

Down or Synthetic Sleeping Bag? 

This is an age-old question that I can’t really answer for you. There are many advantages to using a down sleeping bag, including weight, packability, and more efficient insulation, but synthetics are generally cheaper and more waterproof than down.

I have used both synthetic and down bags at different points in my life and down is definitely my choice for superior comfort and warmth. Sea to Summit bags use down that is certified according to Responsible Down Standards (RDS).

The RDS requires independent, third-party assessments of all aspects of animal rearing and handling throughout the entire supply chain, providing confidence that each phase of the collection process has been completed with the welfare and ethical treatment of waterfowl in mind. 

How to Make Sleeping in a Tent More Comfortable

You’ve got the gear, now what?

The sleeping bag, pad, and pillow you choose for your camping trip will go a long way toward a more restful night in your tent, but it’s just the beginning.

Where you pitch your tent, what you wear to bed when camping, and even what you drink before turning in will affect how well you sleep. Want to ensure a restful night under the stars? Follow these tent camping tips.

• Pitch your tent on flat ground. Nothing is worse than rolling off your sleeping pad into the wall of your tent because it’s pitched on an incline. Oh wait, I can think of something worse — you spend the night with jagged rocks sticking into your back because you didn’t take time to clear your chosen patch of dirt. Find a flat piece of land, clear it of rocks, sticks, and other debris, and pitch your tent. If you have to pitch on a slight hill, make sure your tent is aligned so that your head is positioned at the top of the hill.
  
• Pack designated sleepwear. There’s a distinct mental shift that seems to happen when you change from your campfire clothes to your sleep clothes. Sleeping naked in a sleeping bag, at least without a liner, is the worst. Sleeping in the clothes you wore all day is a close second. Choose comfy sleepwear that isn’t too tight, even regular pajamas if you’re car camping. If you’re backpacking, you may need to make do with a set of lightweight thermal underwear. 
  
• Pack a camping sleep kit. If you’re not sure where you’ll be sleeping on your camping trip, be proactive and pack a little sleep kit that includes a set of earplugs, an eye pillow, and a small bottle of lavender essential oil. Lavender helps erase stress and promote a calm and peaceful state. Add a few drops to your pillow before bed. 
  
• Don’t drink tea, coffee, or alcohol before bed. Caffeine is obviously no friend to a good night’s sleep, and drinking tea and/or alcohol before bed will mean that you’re constantly sneaking out of your tent to go pee. My goal when tent camping is to spend the whole night inside my sleeping bag without having to use the woods.

Tent Camping Tips: Keeping Warm Through the Night

I honestly can’t get a good night’s sleep if I’m cold, and I imagine that most people feel the same way. You want your camping trip to be memorable for all the right reasons, and for that, you need a measure of climate control.

Staying warm in your tent will start with the sleeping bag and the pad that you choose for your camping trip. If you know you are a cold sleeper, then definitely pack a sleeping bag that is rated well below the forecasted temperature and a sleeping pad with a high R-value. 

This Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Sleeping Pad is rated for four seasons of use with an R-value of 5.1. It’s been toasty in cold conditions, although I haven’t tried it in the winter.

Because I’m not much of a winter camper, the Sea to Summit Ascent Women’s 15-degree sleeping bag is perfect for the coldest conditions I will likely encounter.

I would also suggest inviting your favorite sleeping partner along, whether it’s your husband, your child, or your dog. An additional warm body in your tent will keep you warmer.

Here are a few more tips for staying warm while camping.

• Tuck a hot water bottle into your sleeping bag. Before bed, heat water over your campfire, pour it into your Nalgene bottle and tuck it into the foot box of your sleeping bag for toasty toes. 
  
• Exercise before bed. You may think you’re warm sitting around the campfire before bed, but as soon as you walk toward your tent, you’ll be shivering. Make your own heat by doing a minute of jumping jacks before climbing into your tent. That warmth will last until to get into your sleeping bag.
   
• Wear wool to bed. If you know it’s going to be chilly on your next camping trip, pack merino wool base layers and socks. Wool regulates your temperature, won’t make you stinky, and feels super soft next to your skin. Woolly makes affordable Merino base layers, and Darn Tough Merino socks come with a lifetime guarantee.

After investing in the right gear for a good night’s sleep while camping, I can honestly say that I still love sleeping on the ground.

If you are on the fence about purchasing that high-end bag or pad, I urge you to take the plunge. Finding the gear that suits my camping needs has been a total game changer and well worth the price tag. 

Are you a tent camper? What tent camping tips do you have for maximizing comfort for a good night’s sleep?

---

Want to read more camping tips? Check out these posts: 

• Avoiding Ticks That Carry Lyme Disease While Camping and Hiking
• 6 Reasons Why Spring Camping is Perfectly Awesome
• Your Amazing Car Camping Kitchen

---

Follow us on social media for more camping and road trip tips:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Pinterest