9 Tips for a good night sleep in the tents while trekking
As we all know, sleep is crucial in every aspect of our life. But, it becomes a bit difficult to maintain your good night sleep while trekking or while going to any other trip, because night after night after night you sleep in your own bed at your own house, and, whenever you're taken out of that norm or habit and you're put into the middle of the woods, it can keep you awake.
Thus, It is both essential and beneficial to have a better sleep while trekking as it helps you to rejuvenate your spirit for the next task, for example, you are going to hike for a long day tomorrow, you need to get some good sleep to do that otherwise you're going to be miserable the next day, and nobody wants to be like that. Isn't it? Another reason, it keeps your mind at ease to tackle any kind of adversity while trekking.
As trekking demands various kinds of physical abilities such as to walk on ascends and descends, or to climb up at high altitude, which means you have to be physically fit and healthy so that you can easily cover the trail type. And you should be able to feel fresh and active so that you won't have to face high-altitude sickness and these can only be achieved with a good night sleep. A good night sleep eases the muscle tensions and thus improves your body's tissues that usually get tired while leveling up on a trek, and boosts your mood to remain vigilant throughout.
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We all are well aware of the fact that we get the best sleep at our home as we are most comfortable at home. But, what while trekking?
So, if you struggle to sleep while hiking, below are some of the best tips on how to get a good night sleep in a tent.
9 TOP TIPS TO SLEEP COMFORTABLY IN A TENT:
1. Make sure your tent is well built and waterproofed
First of all, you need to make sure that you've got the right tent. Your tent should be ventilated but not to the point where you have got wind and weather whipping through all night.
Make sure that you have a double wall tent. The single wall tents are great, if you want to save weight. But, the double wall tents help you from getting water on the inside of your tent. Because, one of the biggest problems with tents is that condensation does build up on the inside of the tent, especially when it's warmer inside the tent than it is outside. And, then you are likely to wake up in the middle of the night, thinking how the water got inside the tent, when it's not even raining. Well that's condensation.
To avoid condensation, get a double wall tent.
2. A good footprint underneath the tent
A good footprint is essentially a big tarp that goes underneath your tent. You need to make sure that the size of the footprint should be the size of your tent or a bit smaller. The reason is quite simple, if the size of the footprint is bigger than the size of the tent, then it is most likely to stick around the outside of your tent. This means, the rain can easily get on it and then it will slide in between the footprints and the bottom of your tent. This can then soak up inside of your tent causing a lot of problems throughout the night.
So many people ask, how can I sleep better in a tent? The answer is a good footprint. It protects the bottom of your tent makes it a little bit more comfortable inside, which can help you to sleep better in a tent.
3. Sleeping pads
You should always look for a wider and thicker sleeping pad for sleeping in a tent. A thin and narrow sleeping pad would be of no use as those tent pads are usually uncomfortable to sleep on. It is usually noisy and crinkly. It will be a huge switch from sleeping at your home to sleeping in a tent.
A wider, lighter and thicker sleeping pad can easily be filled with air and would be the best thing to sleep on when camping. And this is also the answer of your query regarding how I can sleep better at night when camping.
4. Sleeping bag
There is always a doubt regarding how to sleep in a sleeping bag. If you're using a sleeping bag for the first time, it's not easiest to figure it out.
First of all, never sleep inside the sleeping bag without a sleeping bag liner. It helps you keep the bag clean from perspiration and maintains temperature. As it is easy to wash the liner but not the bag. And it's best to keep your sleeping bag as clean as possible.
Always keep a mat underneath your sleeping bag. It will give you one layer of insulation on snowy days or any other days. Also, the people who ask what is the most comfortable thing to sleep on in a tent, the answer is the sleeping bag.
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5. Best pillows
Pillows that are too thin do not provide enough cushioning, while excessive thick pillows can interfere with spinal alignment and lead to more pressure points.
You should always carry highly compact and outdoor-friendly pillow for camping. Well, any fill can work, as long as the pillow is thick enough to support the neck.
Side sleeping in a tent also becomes better when you choose the pillow accurately. Side sleepers need a thick, firm pillow to keep their head and neck aligned when lying down. But, how do you sleep on your side when camping?
Just find a perfect spot to lay down, and as long as you don't roll around and toss and turn all night, you're good to go.
6. Choose the ground accurately
Avoid placing your tent on sloppy, rocky or path filled with small boulders, as they will poke in your back and will make the night troublesome. Always, go for a stable ground or for a "tent spot".
Make sure to watch out for red ants or insects lingering on the ground that might invade and bug you at night. So, it becomes quite essential to select the ground correctly for a better sleep in a tent.
7. Empty your bladder before sleeping
Imagine if you have to go to the washroom in the night, i gets even more troubling when you are sleeping in a sleeping bag. Because, to get inside the sleeping bag itself is a task.
So, if you can relieve yourself by peeing before sleeping then you can sleep peacefully during the night in a tent.
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8. Warm your extremities before sleeping
On a trek, if your hands or feet aren't warm enough then you probably would not be able to sleep well. Before sleeping, keep your hands and feet warm by either covering your feet with your hands or covering your hands between your legs.
9. Always check your surroundings
You need to make sure that your tent isn't placed near the water or an area that is prone to wild animals. As, whole night you will end up feeling scared as to what might invade, and wouldn't able to sleep well.
10 THINGS TO AVOID WHILE TREKKING TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP
1. Never compromise with drinking water
Lack of water can cause body weakness. And, body weakness will make you insomniac. As trekkers require stamina and energy, it is essential to remain hydrated and feel fresh in order to sleep well during night.
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2. Never sleep early
Make sure you sleep only when you feel sleepy. Because, if you go to bed early, when you are not sleepy or tired, you will end up just lying awake there. Also, sleeping in a sleeping bag will make the situation even worse, as it is not easy to unzip the sleeping bag whenever you want.
3. Don't forget your ear plugs and eye mask
There's always one person who snores, or tosses and turns, and makes the night miserable for others. You definitely wouldn't want to hear snores, tosses and turns, or the weird cranky sounds or noises in the middle of the night. Always carry ear plugs to sleep better in a tent.
4. Avoid starvation at night
Never ever go with an empty stomach before sleeping. Food is essential to keep your body warm and to provide the basic nutrients and proteins, and hence they provide energy for a long time. If you go with an empty stomach before sleeping you will end up feeling hungry in the middle of the night and will not be able to sleep well.
Also, avoid taking sugar or late night snacks as they can cause you to be insomniac.
5. Avoid listening to horror stories
Usually, some people love to talk about ghosts and stuff while camping as for them it is fun. But, it can affect the sleep system of an individual who gets scared easily. Also, you wouldn't want to have weird thoughts popping up in your head while sleeping anyway.
6. Avoid covering your nose/face with a sleeping bag
Covering your face in a sleeping bag will lead to moisture penetration in a bag, which further can cause dampness. And, it will affect your sleep as damp or wet sleeping bags lose the ability to keep it warm.
7. Avoid carrying foam pads
Foam pads are usually not well built. You can easily roll around and fall off of it, which would be a hindrance in your sleeping. Also, there are some insulating values on the inside of foam pads that would crinkle and would therefore be noisy.
8. Avoid wearing wrong clothing
You will end up being frustrated when you are not prepared for the weather. For example, lack of warm layers will lead you to having trouble sleeping in night. Always make sure that you are pre-planned for the clothing range of the particular weather conditions. As weather usually fluctuates, make sure you carry atleast three to four warm layers with you.
Also, avoid over layering of clothes before sleeping as sleeping bags are warm enough. Over layering of clothes will make you feel uncomfortable and hence leads to sleepless nights in tents.
9. Never ignore poisonous plants
An accidental brush of any poisonous plant will leave you uncomfortable and in a terrible situation. It can also cause rashes on your body. You will end up being in pain. And nobody can sleep peacefully in pain, which eventually will create problems in your sleeping system.
10. Never forget your torch or a light
Keep your torch at handy. It usually gets darker in a tent at campsites. And you will only feel left out, alone or scared. It will lead to safety issues during sleeping in a tent. And no one has ever slept well in a tent with an intuition of insecurity.