12 Tips for a Good Night Sleep in the Tent

As typical city kids, we look forward to every camping holiday in nature. The simple life is appealing but unfamiliar for beginners—sleeping problems when camping are therefore common. The unfamiliar terrain, ambient sounds, and varying temperatures can disrupt even the most seasoned camper’s slumber. However, with a few essential tips and a touch of preparation, you can transform your tent into a sanctuary of comfort and tranquility.

Today, we will unveil the 12 invaluable insights to help you master the art of sleeping soundly in the great outdoors.

1. Learn where the tent is set up in daylight

This tip applies to festival campers and wild campers alike. My experience has taught me that pitching a tent in the dark is stressful – even if I know every move. Stress before going to sleep can significantly increase the time it takes to relax and fall asleep. A lack of lighting and a reduced ability to concentrate on the other can increase the error rate when setting up a tent in the dark.

As a festival camper and campsite holidaymaker, you should arrive early to secure the coveted parcels. In daylight, the assembly is also much more fun. In daylight, it is much easier for beginners to find friendly fellow campers who can help set up their tents if something doesn’t work out. Also, pay attention to the weather forecast for the night and pack appropriate things for camping in the rain.

2. Find a suitable place for your tent

Preparation is crucial when setting up your tent. Take the first tip to heart and have enough time to find a suitable place for the tent, so you can crawl into the sleeping bag calmly and relax.

The subsurface should be as level as possible, without any depressions, holes, or noticeable slopes. Pay attention to sharp stones, branches, and other debris in your chosen installation area. If present, remove them, as they can damage the tent floor. These factors can significantly affect the quality of sleep. Sleeping on uneven or rough ground may lead to painful experiences, causing pressure points or back problems the next day.

Consider the wind and the dangers of camping with thunderstorms and lightning. Choose a place that is sheltered from the wind as well as possible and safe from lightning strikes. This is the only way to have a restful sleep in the tent when the weather conditions worsen. A tunnel tent is prone to crosswinds. If you set up a tunnel tent, put up the narrow side in the direction of the wind. This will increase the stability enormously, and the tent will not collapse in the middle of the night.

If you pitch your tent in daylight, it is also much easier to unfasten the tent cords and storm lines. The tensioning cords should be done in a way so that they don’t end too close to the neighboring tent. Otherwise, the tent neighbor may stumble over your guy ropes and rudely wake you up with a loud outcry.

3. Illuminate your tent and surrounding area

Camping in the middle of nature has become rarer because of legal requirements. If you set up your tent camp in the middle of nowhere, you will be amazed at the magnificent starry sky and how dark the night can get.

It is even more important that the appropriate light sources in our luggage! A handy flashlight is the easiest way to go to the toilet. The smartphone’s flashlight on the other hand is not the best choice. Many tripping hazards are recognized too late or not at all.

However, we recommend a suitable camping lantern for the inside of the tent, which can be attached to hooks on the ceiling in modern tents. When moving, assembling & dismantling at night, you need both hands. Holding the lighting in one hand is not an option. The processes will be made unnecessarily difficult. Therefore, a rechargeable LED headlamp is the best choice.

4. Make a routine to fall asleep

The usual bedtime routine you follow at home should be maintained during a camping trip if possible. This helps create a sense of normality in an otherwise unfamiliar environment, which can aid in relaxation and falling asleep. For example, brushing your teeth should be the final step, and this should be done away from the tent before settling into your sleeping bag. Children can bring their favorite cuddly toy or another familiar object from home to help them fall asleep comfortably.

5. Wear dry clothes in the sleeping bag

Before getting into your sleeping bag, always change out of wet clothes, including anything sweaty. This is especially important for socks, as having cold feet can disrupt your sleep while camping. A good outfit for sleeping in a bag includes long underwear and clean socks. However, avoid wearing too many layers, as this can reduce the sleeping bag’s ability to retain body heat!

6. Stay warm inside the tent

• Tent Heating: In damp and cold conditions, a compact electric tent heater can help dry wet clothes and boots while reducing condensation on the tent walls.
• Choose the Right Sleeping Bag: Select a sleeping bag suited to your destination’s temperatures, opting for a model rated below the expected lows. Mummy sleeping bags are lightweight and effective for warmth.
• Use Air Mattresses or Air Beds: Air mattresses or elevated air beds provide insulation from cold ground. If you’re car camping, weight isn’t as much of a concern, making comfort a priority.
• Keep Your Head Warm: A pillow helps retain heat, and there are inflatable options if you’re short on space. Wearing a hat inside your tent can also keep you warm, allowing you to remove it if needed.
• Light Exercise Before Sleep: Doing sit-ups inside your sleeping bag can warm you up without excessive perspiration, making it easier to get comfortable and fall asleep.

7. Light meals before bed keep you warm

A light snack or a smaller meal right before going to sleep will keep you warm inside. Your body is busy digesting, producing heat that helps you fall asleep in the cold. Drinking hot tea right before going to sleep keeps you warm inside. Thermos flasks help: this means you can prepare the hot drink long in advance. On the other hand, you should avoid any form of alcohol, as it expands the capillaries and even accelerates the loss of heat.

A hot water bottle or heated water bottle is a useful addition for camping in the cold. Take them in the sleeping bag for at least a few minutes. It helps if the bottle is placed in the middle of the body. This area of the body produces most of the heat.

8. Increase your body temperature before going to bed

If you ever get a bit cold before going to bed or are planning a fairly cool night, we recommend trying to raise your body temperature (without sweating) before going to bed – ideally not to lose it. This will allow you to fall asleep faster and it is usually easier to do this before you get into your sleeping bag. All means are good, you can run in place, jump, dance, gesture, etc.

9. Go to the toilet before going to sleep

In general, we recommend going to the toilet twice if possible before you make yourself comfortable in the tent – first about 20-30 minutes beforehand, then again immediately before lying down. This technique can help reduce or even avoid using the toilet at night to a minimum.

A shower tent makes sense, especially for festival campers who plan to camp far away from the toilets. This can be equipped with a portable toilet, closed opaque, and thus save a lot of time. On the other hand, if you have a long hike to the toilet facilities in front of your chest, you will be wide awake again after your return – then it can be even more difficult to fall asleep.

When preparing for a nighttime trip to the toilet, make sure to have a headlamp or flashlight ready. Keep your shoes handy on a mat, doormat, or towel to prevent mud and dirt from getting into the tent after your visit.

10. Reduce noise

Camping noises can impact sleep, especially for those unaccustomed to the sounds of nature. While soothing sounds, like a nearby brook, can be calming, noises from wildlife can be unsettling. Here are some tips to minimize disturbances for better sleep:

• Use Earplugs or Wax: Earplugs or wax can significantly reduce unwanted sounds, helping you relax. These simple tools are especially beneficial at busy campsites or festivals and are a staple in our camping gear.
• Consider Tents with Magnetic Doors: Tents equipped with magnetic doors close quietly without zippers, reducing noise when someone needs to exit. This feature is useful in shared tents, like the Coleman Tent Galileo 5, allowing for a more peaceful night’s sleep.

11. Darken the inner tent

Floodlights on campsites, neighbors’ lighting, or flashlights that shine into your tent are just a few of the possible scenarios. All of this can significantly delay falling asleep in the tent.

Modern inner tents are equipped with darkened polyester tent fabric. The tent manufacturer Coleman won an award for their technology called “BlackOut Bedroom”. This extra dark bedroom absorbs up to 99 percent of the daylight. The Coleman Air Valdes 6XL air tent that we tested has such a blackout bedroom. Other manufacturers also have darkened sleeping cabins in their range.

12. Don’t go to bed too late

Life tends to start a little earlier at the campsite, so it’s best not to stay up too late if you want to be well-rested for the next day. Also, if you stay active throughout the day, you’re more likely to fall asleep earlier at night.

Conclusion

Achieving a good night’s sleep in a tent is essential for an enjoyable and successful camping experience. There are numerous ways to ensure comfortable sleeping conditions while camping. By following these 12 tips based on our practical experience, you can significantly enhance your comfort and restfulness.

We hope this guide helps you enjoy warm nights in your sleeping bag and start each day refreshed. If you found this article helpful, feel free to share it with your friends on social media!