@Paul Taylor A steady drone will block sharp & intermittent noise such as car doors slamming, dogs barking, etc... try it, you may find it to be a sleep enhancement???
The biggest discovery for me was letting air out of my pad. I fill it all the way up, lay on it, then open the nozzle to let air out until its the right firmness.
I've realized I'm a weekender. I've tried living on the road, and hiking 6 miles every day for 2 and a half weeks. And, learned a lot: Gear is essential for what YOU want/need. I went in blind: my gear consisted of a foam roller (to massage my muscles), a 1 ish inch foam pad meant to sleep cool, shorts, leggings, tank top, bedsheets, and a windbreaker. Let me tell you, when the temperature went down on us at 40°. Worst. Sleep. Ever. Of. My. Life. So. Far. I came back with experience and knowledge that: A. I could care less how majestic those beautiful mountains looked if I was tired/sleepy. B. I would choose sleep over being present with other people, took lots of naps, and because of that relationships suffered/ended. C. I get cold, stay cold, and struggle to stay warm. You're right about no one wanting to be around a crabby camper/hiker lol- I started complaining a lot when the pain set in my hip after the hikes. So, I came back, and started doing research and started focusing on the 2 things I find important for me: sleep & cleanliness. I invested in a nemo tensor sleeping pad, nemo tensor alpine, and nemo tensor roamer pad (the roamer pad is my favorite, it feels like I have my mattress from home, but putting it away is a pain, and that's where the tensors come in its an overnight camping trip). I invested in 0° quilts and they have been my favorite blankets since- I love how they feel on my skin and prefer their puffiness aesthetically over my regular bedding. I prefer them over sleeping bags because they remind me of my comforter at home and don't feel claustrophobic. I also invested in no rinse body sponges/wipes that can be wet and they foam nicely, keep me clean, and are super light weight (incorporated the same technology the hospital uses for bed bound patients). I tried the nemo inflatable pillow, but woke up with a crick in my neck, and switched it out to my 2 home pillows (which I use at home also lol) my: purple harmony and my pillow pillow. And, recently decided to get the my pillow go pair (travel sized versions of the my pillow) to test it them out because I like that they can collapse into a small backpack space. Then, the details came after. I started looking at tents, made some poor purchases (Coleman first, it was nice to set up, but it got stuck on the second time I've used it and may have to throw it away unless I tear it). Then, bought a gazelle t4 which I love for the roominess and space and performance in high wind and rain, but it's heavy for short weekend trips. Then, got the shiftpod mini, which is my go-to tent, but it is also heavy, short, even as a 5'1" inch person have to crouch, my cot won't fit in it (it's 6 x 6 feet, and my cot is at 82.5 inches in length). I found out after the fact, size matters lol. Neither gazelle t4 nor shiftpods are bug proof. And, then I bought a nemo aurora tent 2p, but then found out when it talks about 2p, it means 2 SLIM and fit people sardined with sleeping pads. The 2 person tent is really a 1 person tent if i use the nemo tensor roamer pad. And, only has a one way zipper on the doors, which has been a bit irritating to say the least. So, I'm going for a 3 person tent to have the space for 2 and gear even if its one more pound since I car camp anyway. So,, now I'm doing mega research because the aurora tent set me back a few hundreds. Lol not complaining, it's trial and error. I want a backpacking tent and will use that one for now since I really like the color.
I sleep with a fan too.. love it. I’m 56 years old and backpacking gets my sons, my nephews and my brother-in-laws and myself together having fun! Thanks DB Sincerely, DB
I always try out a section of ground before I set up my tent. There’s nothing worse than setting up your tent then figuring put that your feet are higher than your head or there’s a root or rock in your back.
When it comes to tents for guys who either solo camp or camp in an individual tent when in a group...BUY A TWO MAN TENT! They aren't that much heavier then a one man tent AND you will understand why the first night. You need room to reel in your gear from the rain and single backpacking tents just don't have the room for that. People will argue that you can protect your gear from the elements by keeping it under the vestibule BUT it doesn't keep bugs and critters out of your stuff at night. BUY A TWO MAN TENT! You'll be glad you did!
I realized that now. I'm going to try and sell it in the spring I also have one that was gifted to me but I haven't put it up so I guess it will be going back to the old owner.
I haven't started backpacking yet, hopefully soon. Even a 3- person newer tent is gong to a lot lighter. I was actually surprised to see a 3- or even a 4- person rent that doesn't weigh too much.
I hike with a Nemo Hornet 2p and the main reason I like it is the dual doors. So much more flexibility and able to open both for cross ventilation and keep my gear (besides food/smell bag) next to me for easy access. I think the 2p weighs about 3 oz more than the 1p. . . Worth it IMO. Total weight with Tyvek Ground Cloth is about 32 oz.
This is so validating that it’s ok to carry extra weight to be comfortable in nature. There seems to be so much competition and judgment about how lightweight or roughin it you should be able to go. I carried a pillow from home into a campsite and someone said “glamping, are we?”
Thanks Dan, I did a trip last week. Packed what I thought I would need. Test run and found I only needed probably half of what was required. Sleep system, shelter, and cook system. Water and food. Duration 1 night. Sleeping was the best in my hammock, bug net required. The under quilt was a must. I would also suggest any one new to primitive camping you acclimatize yourself to the environment by doing back yard camps.
"You wouldn't want to sleep in the winter with the windows wide open..." 🤔. Why yes Dan I do, lol. I do it all year long except in the heat of summer. I guess it's my way of being outside when I really can't be 🤷. ✌️🤟
Along similar lines to this video, I would advise anyone to practice, practice and practice before you get on the trail. Learn if your equipment works before you need it to work. Even if that means camping in the garden, nothing worse than trying to sleep in a 0c bag to find it's only comfortable to 5c for you. Keep the videos coming, they all help.
This is very important. Especially if you lend your equipment from a friend, like I did. I got a water filter and it was a bit rusty, so I had to clean it first. This is very simple at home when you have access to running water, but would have been very difficult out in the wilderness, when I don‘t have clean water anymore, but need some (-:
Fantastic Video! Things that may seem obvious to experienced campers, but are not obvious. . . Sometimes you have to break it down and explain the "why" and then it all makes sense. You do a very good job of this! Thanks again, Dan!
For me, getting a good pillow was the missing piece of the puzzle. I'm a kayak-camper, was using a dry-bag full of clothes for a pillow and it just didn't work. Finally got a good inflatable pillow from Klymit and it changed everything. I can almost sleep on the bare ground if I have a good pillow.
Try the Nemo Fillo semi-inflatable. It does not pack as small or as light, but the comfort level is amazing. Best of all, you can use it when it's cold as it's insulated.
If using a quilt, carry a (real) silk liner. This can be used in two ways. Use in a conventional way by getting into it and then pull on the quilt foot box covering yourself in the usual way with the top. This keeps most of the drafts at bay if you roll over in the night. The other is pulling it over your sleeping mat and using it as a sheet. This also has the advantage of adding a little more protection to the mat and a little more insulation to your body. On really hot nights, I've just slept in the silk, pushing the quilt back.
I'm also a restless sleeper switching from side to side, need a USB fan aimed somewhat towards my face and a thick pillow (Thermarest foam work's for me). My best sleep is under a tarp set up (Aqua Quest Safari 10X10) as I am claustrophobic..blame it on the military :) The first ground layer is a Tyvek sheet then a reflective blanket over it (winter camping), a Klymit Static V air mattress covered by a Static V fitted sheet; finally my Helikon Tex Swagman Roll (covered with Helikon Tex Poncho if Temps drop below 30). I forego the fan if it's windy or it's raining...love the sound and smell of rain. I've experienced some great sleep in my hammock but I have to be really tired and not roll around side to side. However, now that I'm into my 70's I've begun working on an overland camp set up but have to decide on a roof top tent or hauling a small trailer with the pop up tent. Great advice, Dan!
Yes! Two pillows! At home I sleep with a pillow under my head, one covering my ears and eyes and I lean on one. A mummy bag and two pillows replicates that nicely. It's completely worth the extra weight for me. Great pointers. Thanks for the video.
Hey Dan one of the best tips I would have for sleeping is with one of the Costco quilts I made booties out of the bottom four squares. Make sure you sew first two lines and then cut or you will have feathers every where. The first place while camping that you get cold is your feet. The booties will go up to your knees. The calf has good blood flow so it will heat the bootie and your feet. But is wide enough not to constrict like socks will do. It allows your feet to recover from being cramped into footwear and socks through the day. I never sleep in socks. If it is to hot for booties as a side sleeper they go in a bag that goes between my knees. They weigh nothing. I had six squares left that made a mini quilt for cold nights or a shawl around the campfire and goes in the same bag between the knees for added comfort. Just a thought.
Great advice! I used to use a sleeping pad that was quite narrow and not as tall as my whole body to save weight. Switching to a larger pad dramatically increased my quality of sleep, and I want to second the recommendation of sacrificing a little bit of weight for a huge increase in your ability to catch Zzzzs.
I motorcycle camp, so for white noise I just bring a small battery powered fan, can’t sleep without it. I also take 2 pillows, one for my head, the other goes on top of my clothes next to me to prop my arm on hanging off the pad. Works great for me and makes the sleeping pad feel that much wider.
Dan, this is a subject near and dear to my heart as well. After much trial and error, I love the sleep system I have developed. The key to the whole thing for me was not so much trying to duplicate what I have at home but instead understanding how each piece works and combining pieces that complement each other. I start with a cheap, powder blue closed cell foam pad. It weighs just a couple of ounces and it is excellent at insulating me against heat loss via conduction to the cold ground. Preventing heat loss is a game changer that increases the effectiveness of the other pieces of the system. A piece of reflectix would work too but I have the blue pad so I use it. Then I put a neoair inflatable mattress and a down quilt inside a SOL breathable bivy that I customized by enlarging it with about half of a second SOL breathable bivy and a full length 2 way YKK zipper. The SOL breathable bivy will reflect most of my body heat back at me from 360 degrees but only if there is some space between me and the bag. The loft of the quilt provides that spacing on top of me and the loft of the air mattress provides that spacing underneath me. Since the bag is breathable, condensation inside the bag is not an issue. I have never been anything but toasty in this system. The full length zipper allows me to moderate the temperature if I need to. Zipping the bag up prevents drafts. The whole system weighs just about 3.5 pounds which is still much lighter than many down sleeping bags weigh by themselves. Like you and others here, I use two pillows - a Thermarest foam pillow for my head and a Sea to Summit inflatable to prop myself up when I roll onto my side. Also, I sleep in Thermasilks. As for the tent, be honest, all tents get condensation inside. It’s just that the double walled tents tend to keep you from touching it since it accumulates on the outside wall and not on the inside mesh wall. I use a Zpacks Duplex (a single wall tent) and find that it allows me to adjust the airflow so that condensation is kept to a minimum. And I agree with a previous poster - skip the solo tent and use the 2 person tent even if you are alone. Minimal weight penalty for much greater comfort. Hope this helps someone. Love your vids, Dan. Keep ‘em coming!
Great video Dan. I just transitioned from standard foam pads to an air mattress this summer and it made a huge difference for me. I was fortunate to find a used Big Agnes air mattress on Craigslist for $20 and bought a Big Agnes mummy bag from the REI Outlet that has a sleeve on the bottom side of the sleeping bag for the air mattress. That is the best thing ever! You don't roll off the mattress or slide down if your tent is on an incline. The only thing I am considering adding at this point is a fleece liner for the sleeping bag for those colder nights. I have found that the older I get (41 now) the warmer I prefer to be when sleeping.
I grew up bringing a three-man dome tent for two people. There was plenty of room to sleep head to head. A couple years ago I bought a two-man tent for my son and I to save weight. The first few nights we slept head to head, because that's what I always did. If you're using a two man tent for two people, sleep head to foot. There is more than enough room. Ya'll probably already knew that, but what a moment of enlightenment for me!
I sleep with my pack under my lower legs. After a long day hiking, it helps me get a more restful night's sleep with the pack under my knees and my lower legs slightly elevated. (Also a fan of the two-person tent - I have room to do this with my pack).
I've been camping and backpacking for ages and started out totally uncomfortable, sleep was rare. Slowly upgraded to more comfortable gear, gone through a few pads and pillows, and found that the most comfortable pad is the comfort plus self insulating from Sea to Summit (kind of heavy and bulky though) and a foam pillow from thermarest. Worth the bulk to sleep well.
I camp with my sea to summit SI comfort delux. It's better than my bed though I wish it was a little wider for sprawling. I hike with something smaller and lighter.
@@Angel-hm9so I got the wider version, which is nice. And you're right it's definitely more of a camping pad; I can't even fit it in my pack if I'm backpacking with my family because I'm usually carrying extra things.
I must have spent a half hour in REI trying out camping pillows and wound up with a Thermarest foam one. Loved it so much I bought a second, small one, to double stack with the medium one so I can prop up my head when I read. Best combo.
Great video as always Dan! People really put too much into making packs lighter they forget how important it is to be able to have a good night's sleep.
Hey Dan ,,,swamp gal here ,, 1st of all i AM NOT A ULTRA LITE hiker ,for those that know me ,, here's some of the things i do , if is a long trail, i start at home sleeping on the floor at home to get your body ajusted to sleepin NOT in a bed ,, & i to am a white noise sleeper & the power bank is a must ,,lol & if your in hot weather ive got a micro fan that plugs in to my power bank ,, I dis like the inflatable pillows , But use my clothes bag, As always great info & keep em coming with all your experience,
I actually use an unzipped sleeping bag like a quilt. I love the top bit for when I get cold to pull right over my head. Can’t afford a quilt and it seems to do the trick.
Make your own with a Costco quilt. Look it up on youtube. Not hard I bought two quilts so I could make mine longer. Made booties and mini quilt out of rest of second quilt. It is all I use now. And I live in Northern Utah.
For me it's 2 things. I have to have my pad inflated to just the right amount to achieve a good nights sleep. I'm a side sleeper too so I need it soft, to where I'm just barely touching the ground when i sit on it. Second is a big pillow or 2. I usually use my pack and or clothes bag.
Great video! After 40+ years outdoors and 6 years ARMY INFANTRY- Kelty 1 man field tent with awning- ground tarp 5x7 tarp- klymit recon air matress- military MMSS sleep system as per season- deep winter US ARMY MOUNTAIN bag- HELIKON Swagman roll as a Poncho/ Woobie- US ARMY issue Poly insulated long johns! Sleep like a rock way down to -10 degrees and all temps above that. Great backpacking to you! Thanks
Hi Dan! Thanks for the tips, I have another one. I sleep well with sleep mask (I need some darknees) and earplug (I need some silence). Weighs nothing and offers me a lot of comfort.
Expectations can help....after years and years and night after night, i just accept im not a good sleeper(i can barely sleep in a regular bed).. But expectations are huge, i pretty much have zero expectations of a good night sleep, so anything better than misery is a win... This can apply to basically anything on this earth as well...
New subscriber . Smart , sensible informative videos without being too chatty. Well done Dan. I particularly like that you are not prescriptive in your message. Everyone camps differently and the more tricks one learns the better the experience can be.
Thanks for mentioning that fan app. The changing sounds are what keep me awake (too noisy, too quiet, speeds up, slows down, owls, whippoorwills, etc.). On the quilt v sleeping bag thing - I use a woobie and a wool blanket (in warmer weather) and a woobie and a sleeping bag in cold weather. The bag remains unzipped and thrown on top like a quilt. I can't do mummy bags - I hit panic mode the second my feet feel trapped or confined.
The Nemo Tensor pad is a little heavier than the Neoair, but the 25 inch width makes the small amount of extra weight worth it. Being ultralight is not worth it if one is not getting a good night's rest. Love your videos Dan.
Love my tensor. Keep going back and forth btw thermarest pillow and trekology. Like the comfort of the thermarest, but it is bulky and doesn't always lift in time for bed. Got my daughter a trekology with the strap to slide around the sleeping pad. I used it on a 4 days trip to see how it did and I liked it. Might save the Thermarest for winter trips.
Is the Nemo Tensor a hype in the US? I don't know. I like to buy one. There is non avelable in the Netherlands. Not yet anyway. Not cheap but if it's any good it's OK with me. I can wait. I'm now sort of sleeping (like at home) with an hour interval while tenting. Had about 20 sorts of all sizes and brands in the last 40 years of sleaping outdoors.. Now I ended up with a 3/4 Thermarest S (My body is a L) with almost all air out. With my feed on 2 strips of Thermarest Z-lite. (My sittingpad) Covert by a Cumulus 300 down Quilt. Always wondered why I ended up that minimalistic. It was't my goal. The weight is not a big problem on bike touring. More the volume. I'm still in a quest for a thicker and softer mattres. My bones are getting more sensetive. The Nemo is a good option. Dan has convinst me in a other video. Width and soft. Patience. BTW I use my tent pillow all the time at home in my 'normal' bed :-)
Dan you are a very good guy not only because you allow most anyone to use your backpack/camping equipment. But you explain the reasoning for everyone to be able to have a great night sleep plus important guidance that evolves into fundamental outdoor education in order to make it back from outings. I've learned a lot from you. I'm in the process of putting together everything necessary to make it outdoors. I'm a Wisco native but I currently live in East Tennessee. Bucket list challenge to myself is to complete the Appalachian Trail one day soon. Thanks for everything you do for us all. Go Packers
I have made a life of adventure travel, since I was 21 in 1977. I have traveled all over North America and camped more than 8000 nices since June 1977. I average 9 months a year in my tent. I sleep very comfortable in my tent, on the ground, outdoors in various sleeping bags (winter and summer ones) I like sleeping outside in the fresh air in wilderness more than I do sleeping indoors in a airconditioned room. I travel by bicycle and have never driven a motorvehicle so have learned after 42 years how to go light. All my gear weighs less than 12 lbs. Tent, sleeping bag, cook gear,pad and water bottles (empty).
I swear by my thermarest pillow when I'm camping. Its a bit bulkier than an inflatable pillow but well worth it. If you use a tshirt as a pillow case too then it makes it feel closer to a pillow at home.
Years ago I bought an MKG travel pillow. It is the same size as a regular pillow at home. For added comfort I cut out a 1/2" piece of foam and put it in a tshirt. It's as good as my pillow at home.
I spent many years not taking a pillow and suffering with a hard , lumpy uncooperative stuff sack of clothes for a pillow. I now use an inflatable and it has made a world of difference. Probably the biggest difference since I moved from no pad as a kid (kids are tougher than adults, it’s true😋) to a Thermarest self-inflating pad in my late teens. In my adult years I started feeling restricted by sleeping bags and started sleeping with the zipper open and twisted to the side so it opened up like a quilt, before I even knew quilts were a thing. I still can’t justify the cost of a quilt when my down sleeping bag is still just fine, but when it finally buys the farm I’m moving to a quilt. BTW, that Thermarest pad is still going strong after nearly twenty years. One small hole easily patched last year is all the wear and tear it is showing.
I found that I needed those headphones that just cover your ears, not ear headphones that stick IN your ears when I go to sleep. A little bit heavier but well worth it
thanks for the video. I tent camp and use a pad. I found if you air your pad up to the fullest it can get than lay on it and let out air as you need it works great for me. Its hard to get up at night and put more air in its easier to let it out as you lay on it.
Great tips! Love the "mimic what you do at home". I would like to add that before you buy anything, think of what kind of sleeper you arr. Back sleeper? Side sleeper? And test the things out before you buy.
"You wouldn't sleep with windows open when its cold at night". Me looking at the icicles growing on the inside of my wide open window in the middle of winter because I prefer sleeping in the cold XD
Good video. As a former infantryman, I wouldn't ever leave home without a Gore-Tex bivi bag, a Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp sleeping pad and a ground sheet (i.e., waterproof tarp or poncho to cover your face, rucksack and kit). That's all you need if you're solo. Can't sleep? Keep going!
My favorite camping gadget! I got one at the Christmas Tree Shop for about $10. It's about the size of my outstretched hand, very lightweight. When it's hot in my tent I just position it to blow air on my face and that makes all the difference in the world. It also makes a very quiet and soothing sound. Zzzzzzzzzzzz. Love it.
Great advice from a seasoned camper! I use an Exped xl mat with a single synthetic quilt under a ul mattress cover for extra comfort. Also a cheap 10,000 mAh battery fan from A…….. lasts nearly a week of nights only use in summer car camping 👍
I spent so many nights not sleeping well cause my pillow would not stay put, it slid out from under my head and off my pad. Every. Single. Night. So.... I used Bigfoot’s hack and started using my long sleeve pullover I always carried and put my pillow in it at the hood and pulled it over my pad and boom, best nights sleep I ever had on the trail. It never moved and works very well every time. Secondly I’m a side sleeper, gotta have a bit thicker pad if you are a side sleeper, nothing worse than sore hips and back from not keeping space from your hips and the ground . Great video Dan!
Great video. For those of us that don't like the wobbly effect of blow up pillows and that they slide and roll around... I made a pillow case out of T Shirt material that pulls down over the top of my blow up mat. I stuff it with all my clothes that I have and anything else that's soft in layers. Bonus is I have warmish clothes to put on in the morning.
Great advice! I use the same strategies. I used sleeping bag for years and just switched to a quilt. For me, the quilt feels more like sleeping at home and I love it.
Making it homey is the best advice.. just as you can be in the most comfortable bed in a hotel room, you might have a restless night simply from it not being familiar. Mind-body connection!
I get my best sleeps camping - Macpac made a Neve sleeping bag years ago with no feathers on bottom but a sleeve for a mat - made for foam but the new inflatables fit great - no air gaps, slipping off etc. Plus warm with extra feathers on top instead of below. Also bought a one person Tarp tent with insect mesh inner to keep biting critters out - good ventilation & has 2 vestibules to keep pack etc. dry one side, sheltered cooking area the other & use my walking poles to set up. Best pillow I EVER sleep with is my down jacket or down slippers stuffed in a micro-fleece case - I have neck issues - and spare clothing for a lower pillow type setup in the hood of my sleeping bag - in the morning my warm trou and jacket are right to hand for making breakfast before breaking camp or going on a day walk. I try to multi purpose everything - interesting re knee length nylon usage. Love people sharing their tips and tricks!
I play around with pad inflation. And if I can’t turn the brain off I make sure to download a couple of reruns of tv to fall asleep to. As for quilts. I’m a recent convert and while yes they take some practice. I’d recommend over a sleeping bag but only if you go into the trip with the right mindset but that’s just me. Thank you Dan for introducing me to UGQ.
As someone who has slowly been doing more camping over the years and started off buying cheaper gear, while at the same time is guilty of rushing to buy new sports equipment for other passing fancies that then sits gathering dust until sold or thrown away --- I wish I had invested more on the camp gear right from the start. A good nights sleep is everything, whether you're hiking or just regular camping, and the higher end sleeping mats and bags really are more comfortable, warmer and worth the cost if its affordable. Try and go to a store and look at the mats and bags in person if possible. The cost can be painful, but these items are usually pretty durable and should last several years or more if treated carefully. That warm, comfortable nights sleep can make an enormous difference to the entire experience.
I'm currently homeless and I slept 2 nights in a horrible location bottom of a slope no groundsheet and woke up in a literal puddle tried to do something different next night and it was nearly as bad. Got a ground tarp and wat he'd some VIDS and it's literally the best thing I could have done. The footprints/ groundsheet has made comfort from like a 1/4 to like a 7 or 8
Great ideas for a comfortable night's sleep, thank you DB! In the UK, it's often cold at night. So in addition to your tips, it's important to eat well and to bring extra layers to wear, including thick socks.
Quilts are great even for beginners. It definitely mimicks sleeping at home. The pad straps are a breeze. They're also great if you get claustrophobic in a tight sleeping bag. I helped my buddy switch for that exact reason, and he can't believe the claustrophobia went away just by switching to a quilt.
If weight isn't a concern a wool blanket makes a world of difference as a interior ground mat in a tent. Also if condensation is a problem a light blanket over top of your normal sleep system can mitigate how wet you get, also help keep ice or snow off your stuff when removing a rain fly. I also like to custom make a ground sheet for my tent that fits inside the dimensions of the tent but has a bit extra in the vestibule for keeping your feet and tent clean/dry. I sit pad or dry bag is another good option for this that I've heard of and used. Thx for sharing and inspiring ppl to share knowledge and enjoy the outdoors, be well Dan.
Dan i so agree. I went through many of these issues. I may not be able to go "superlight", but a cozy shelter and a 3" thick, 24" wide pad & comfy pillow is necessary for me & sooo worth the weight!
i really love, and am shocked at the end of this video. telling people with more experience to help out and answer others questions, and being encouraging. excellent job
I wear ear plugs to keep sound out, and have an eye mask I wear to keep light out of my eyes so I do not wake up at sunrise in the morning. Where I live in Canada the sun will rise around 5am in the summer, so I wear the eye mask so it stays dark to me and I sleep more. Once I started doing both of these my sleep improved a lot.
I've got a cheap €10 1-2 man tent from Lidl that's about 20 years old. It's only single wall but it has a small vent on the top that's covered by a little hat that clips on the top. I've never had a problem with ventilation, or condensation, and I've been out on some rainy and windy nights and never gotten wet. Meanwhile most of my friends go off and spend a few hundred quid on large 4-6 man tents just for themselves, thinking bigger is better, but they're much more awkward to carry around and it takes ages to set them up, which they never seem to do properly, and they always end up getting soaked when it rains. Just this weekend I was out camping with one of my buddies and when I woke up in the morning his tent had completely collapsed and it wasn't even windy.. lol A lot of the time I can see faults with their tents after they've set them up, usually the walls sagging and touching each other, or the guy-lines going the wrong way or loose, but for some reason I always forget to tell them about it.
Whatever works for you. I still use a 2-man, backpacking tent with flysheet (i.e. double wall) that I bought in the 80's. I make sure that it's completely dry inside and out before storing it after a trip.
I don't use 2 pillows, but I do stuff my clothes sack and sleep with it between my knees. Sometimes i use my jacket. Waking up to a warm jacket is nice. Dan is right, mimic what you do at home. Another great video!
This is great information. I have the same Big Agnes tent, a thick insulated BA pad, and a nice sleeping bag. It helps me sleep comfortably and I'm not going to be embarrassed by the weight. Another thing to mention is to possibly have dedicated sleep clothes that stay cleaner than hiking clothes and are comfortable to move around in your bag.
I can never sleep after I had snuffling wildlife outside my tent. I sat there silently with a knife in one hand and a hatchet in the other. Whilst hammock camping I have my Ka-Bar on my chest at all times as I am guarding my family. Lots of bears and other predators here in the north of Sweden. But I prefer hammocks as I can see all around me but they can't see me.
I pretty much agree with everything you’ve said. I would reiterate that a pillow that works for you is essential, and worth every ounce. But I would add one thing. Use an insulated mattress. For me a cold mattress is perhaps the greatest impediment to comfortable sleep.
Here’s another way. (1) all tent floors will weep, seep, or leak ground water into the tent - either when new, or eventually. (2) a foot print can delay that eventuality, but only for a time, and they are expensive to buy (3) a footprint is not there to protect the camper; it is there to protect floor - period. (4) the camper can be protected better, cheaper, and easily. At the hardware, buy a piece of visqueen plastic. From it cut out a piece that is 6” longer and 6” wider than the tent floor. Fold up a 3” side along all four edges. Miter the corners, and secure each folded corner with duct tape. Place this bathtub in your tent first, then your sleeping system. If/when ground water weeps or seeps or leeks in, it remains outside of the tub. (Several campsites have greeted me that way.). Any leak in the tub can be temporarily patched with duct tape. (5) CLEAR DEBRIS FROM UNDER THE TENT SITE FIRST. Using the edge of your trowel, scrape away sticks, rocks, etc. Dig out a shallow hip hole and maybe a shallow shoulder hole to conform the ground to your body shape. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
For anyone watching.. I recently purchased a Wellax sleeping pad off of amazon and I HIGHLY recommend it if you’re on a budget.. after years of borrowing gear from dad I thought I would be doomed to buy anything less than a thermorest or other big name brand but I actually love it so much.. it’s lightweight and thick and doesn’t crinkle. My boyfriend bought one for himself after me raving about it and he loves it too and he weighs 270 lbs
I have never slept well in a sleeping bag. I want to move to a quilt for comfort not for weight savings. Although the Sierra designs backcountry bed with the pad sleeve was better than other sleeping bags I’ve tried.
Good advice on quilts for beginners. I carry the extra weight for a wider Exped mattress and a thermorest pillow. I also use the inflatable seat cushion as a second pillow.
If you can find a thick spot of moss. I did this once in the Canadian rockies and it really helped. I just put the tent on the moss and the moss was about 4 inches thick. It was great!
as a side sleeper the rectangular sleeping bag with a hood helps a ton. i can take some of the bag and scrunch it up between my knees for comfort. also, i use a trekology pillow and whatever clothes to cover it and give it just the right height. has been working great this past season.
I live outside year round. I set up and break down my tent every day. Homeless. I use a REI half dome plus one with a Thermarest. I live in Boston so the weather sucks but you get used to it. I get a shower every day at the Y. I'm getting tired of this hard life. I've been out here over 10 years. I also use a north face -20 bag. I'd make a great product tester.
10 years that is not homeless that is a choice. Tell us the rest of the story. You could pick up cans for ten years and have a start. Do you have no skills, addiction , or a lack of drive you just don't want the responsibility? Something don't add up.
I'm very sorry for you. I wish you well, and I hope you can eventually get into any cheap apartment you can afford. I subscribed to your channel as well my friend.
I use to be in scouting, and man I would get good sleep using my hiking bag. Screw blowup pillows that make a lot of noise and have a weird scent. I usually used the shirt I would wear the next day to put over the bag to cover any clips or cords.
Since I only get out 3/4 times a year..long weekends and quick overnights ....I prep a few nights ahead and sleep in my system on my living room floor for the three days ahead ... than I’m ready and once at camp with the extra incentive of hiking all day I sleep like a baby! It takes three nights to get comfy in a new system/place so ai do the three nights ahead and it’s worked very well! I also have a full long Buff on over my pillow and giant safety pin it on the sides to my sleeping bag hood..no real movement and nice and soft on the face!
I also do what I do at home which includes a sleep mask and silicone ear plugs. I didn't in the beginning and had a terrible time sleeping because I'm such a light sleeper and any little noise wakes me up. There is also one thing I do when I backpack that I do not do at home that helps me sleep in a tent. That is a pee bottle. I know it's kind of disgusting, but it's really important for me to super-hydrate or I get severe cramps. An unfortunate side effect is frequent urination. On my first backpacking trip, I got up four times, in the rain, to pee. Each time I put on my shoes, put on my rain jacket and got out of my tent. It was terrible. Adding an empty Gatorade bottle to my gear for this purpose has drastically improved my sleep.
I stuff a actual pillow from my house into an Outdoor Vitals top quilt stuff sack. It isn’t the lightest or the smallest but it is small and give me a great nights sleep.
