see also:

• bushwalking in Australia
• keeping warm when camping or hiking
• better sleeping when camping - sleep naked or not?
• how to sleep comfortably and healthier at 7deg C without a sleeping bag
• pillows for camping and hiking
• sleeping mats for hiking
• air beds, mattresses and stretchers for camping

• first the bad news:
  • whenever you sleep in a new environment, your brain apparently stays half awake (seems one hemisphere does) at least on the first night as an evolutionary survival mechanism
  • you are probably not going to sleep better than at home (unless you are physically exhausted, or the issues that stop you sleeping at home are not on camp)
  • DON'T HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF A GREAT NIGHT SLEEP unless you are habituated!
• the main other issues impacting sleep are:
  • inadequate warmth or excessive warmth
    • the ideal temperature for sleep in a normal bed with a blanket and sheet is 18.3C (ranging between 15-19C)
  • sleeping mattress too narrow, too noisy or too cold
  • using a sleeping bag instead of a quilt cramps you up, and can over heat you if temperatures are above zero degC (but on cool to cold nights you do need to tie the quilt edges down to reduce drafts)
  • pillow inadequate or keeps falling off your sleeping pad
    • consider a Nemo Fillo which is a combined foam plus inflatable - see pillows for camping and hiking
  • breathing in very cold, dry air - see the problem with cold air whilst camping and how to remedy this
  • pre-existing sleep problems
  • getting a nice temperature to sleep - usually your body needs to cool a little but not be too cold
  • sensory distractions - full bladder, noise, lights, smells, discomfort or pain
  • fear of what may be out there, or what weather may bring
  • over-thinking planning for next day, etc

• check the temperature ratings of the sleeping bag
  • “comfort level” should be below the temperature you expect but not too far below otherwise you will be hot and sweaty although you can layer down if getting too hot or convert it to a quilt
• ensure the sleeping bag is the right size
  • you need to be able to roll over whilst keeping the sleeping bag in the same position assuming the sleeping bag has more insulation on the top than underneath (underneath gets squashed and inefficient)
  • however, too much air inside the sleeping bag wil take longer for you to heat up
• ensure the sleeping mat is insulated enough and not too noisy when you roll over
  • if sleeping on snow you may need a R rating of 6-9
• ensure sleeping mat is wide enough for you
  • too narrow and your knees fall off when you sleep on your side, and your arms fall off when you sleep on your back
• ensure you take a repair tape for your sleeping mat - just in case!

• BEFORE YOU LEAVE, PLAN FOR THE EXPECTED WEATHER AND TEMPERATURES AND TAKE THE APPROPRIATE GEAR and CHECK THERE ARE NO WATER SEAL DEFECTS especially in the floor and the fly
  • you need to be able to trust your gear will keep you warm and dry
  • double check you have everything you need - and especially the correct poles for the tent - it's easy to get them mixed up or forgotten!
  • if in doubt, use a small lightweight tarp under your inner tent and clamped to its corners so rain does not get between it and your inner tent
• choose a camp ground you feel safe in
  • the far majority of campers will be there to help you if needed as long as you are respectful and friendly, but if you feel uneasy about a camp ground (a very hot night with lots of drunk strangers is probably not the best place to be as aggressive disputes can arise between camps quite easily) then perhaps try a different one - no point spending the night worrying!
• consider sleeping in your own tent
  • sleeping with a restless fellow camper, especially one who snores or is constantly making noise turning over on a noisy air mat, is not conducive to a good night's sleep!
  • if sleeping with someone, ensure your tent has a door on each side so one can exit without disturbing the other
• choose a safe, sheltered and comfortable camp site
  • if you are camping alone, consider camping relatively close to other campers as this will generally increase your feeling of safety from external threats
  • make sure your head is not lower than your body - choose your slope wisely!
  • if it is a windy night:
    • choose a sheltered spot with minimal risk of branches or trees falling and reduced risk of dust being blown into the tent
    • ensure your tent is pitched well and storm guy ropes tightened as appropriate
    • closing the fly fully will increase tent strength and reduce wind noise from parts flapping
• avoid caffeine at least 6hrs before sleep
• avoid alcohol intake - yes it may help you get off to sleep but it destroys REM sleep, increases snoring, and you tend to wake up during the night and not be able to get back to sleep
• avoid high adrenaline levels before bed
• avoid bright lights / smartphones / laptops / etc 1 hour before bed - where possible use red lights as this will maximise your night vision and not disrupt your sleep clock
• avoid drinking fluids 1 hour before bed as you will end up with a full bladder and have to get up in the cold and possibly wet night to empty it
• ensure you pass urine just before going to bed
• ensure you keep warm and dry
  • ensure your tent is adequately ventilated or heated to minimise condensation (see condensation in tents)
  • pitch the tent with consideration for expected wind directions to minimise wind chill by using your vestibules and windows well.
  • have a comfortable, thermally insulated sleeping pad, that is not too noisy when you move and is relatively wide so your knees and arms will fit
    • self-inflating foam mats are generally nicer albeit heavier and bulkier than the ultra-compact hiking inflatables which tend to be very noisy and too narrow
    • tip: use a thin foam mat under your air mattress to provide more insulation, more protection from puncture of air mattress by pine needles, etc and reduces your mattress from sliding around on a slippery tent floor. Ideally should weigh < 100g, and be about 1.8m x 50cm which will allow folding to about 50x28cm which should fit into most medium to large backpacks and will add an extra R0.8 to insulation
      • these have additional uses such as cushion or sleeping pad for midday naps on hikes when tent is not set up or as a yoga mat
      • eg. Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad - 1/8“
      • you could use an expensive Thermarest Z lite sleeping mat which is R 1.7 but it is much heavier at 410g and MUCH thicker, packing to 51x13x14cm but for some this may suffice instead of an air mattress for when it is not cold
  • sleep in the least amount of clothes that will keep you from getting cold as you would when you are home - you don't want to get hot and sweaty and clothes are restrictive
    • consider sleeping naked for better temperature control and comfort
    • as it gets colder you may want to add a layer or two during the night
    • don't sleep in your dirty socks or underlayer (eg. thermal top/longjohns) you have just hiked in - have a clean warm pair of socks and underlayer reserved for sleeping
  • following are guides to sleeping naked so you can more easily ascertain needs with or without clothing:
    • if temperatures are more than 23-25degC - sleep naked with adequate air flows (eg. mainly mesh tent if there is no breeze) otherwise you will be too warm
    • if temperatures are 20-23degC - sleep naked with a satin sheet covering you
    • if temperatures are 16-20degC - sleep naked with a summer rated quilt (or cheap sleeping bag opened to a quilt) to cover or wool blanket or both
    • if temperatures are 10-16degC - wear head and neck protection, a long sleeve top, warm socks and a warmer quilt or sleeping bag opened as a quilt
      • also it helps if your tent is a small a volume as possible which should add 4-5degC if no breeze through it eg. a swag or 2P tent will be warmer from your body heat than a 3P or larger tent which is near impossible to heat up without heaters
    • if temperatures are 5-10degC - in addition to the above, wear thermal long johns or trackies and a thin merino jumper and a warm beanie / scarf
      • it helps if your 2P tent is full fabric inner rather than mesh to keep the warmth in better while small vents near the top reduce condensation
      • eat some nuts before going to bed - digestion creates heat
    • if temperatures are 0-5degC, in addition to the above you need a warmer sleeping bag or multiple layers or an electric banket
• ensure you are protected from insects and other creatures
  • avoid having food or smells in your tent that would encourage insects and animals such as wombats to try to gain entry
    • do NOT have any OPEN FOOD in the tent!
  • if you wish to sleep with the tent door open:
    • you may want to do this to:
      • connect closer with nature and see the animals outside on the ground
      • be able to better see the beautiful Milky Way when you wake up during the night
      • avoid waking everyone up during the night by having to unzip the noisy tent door!
      • to ensure a rapid exit in an emergency - if you use electric blankets or other items at risk of catching fire, finding a zip at such a time may take too long
    • keep items of value hidden and away from the door (or preferably not in the tent) just in case opportunistic thieves are around
    • to avoid mosquitoes in this scenario, you can hang a high visibility double mosquito net from the tent roof which will allow better vision of the night sky than a tent mesh whilst giving good mosquito protection
    • to avoid wombats walking in, just clip a ground tarp to about 40-50cm up the doorway
    • Victorian snakes are diurnal so they don't go hunting at night except on hot nights so the risk from these is very small, and can be further reduced with elevating the door entry
    • you may still get the odd bull ant and millipede coming in so consider having a small house brush to sweep them out of the tent but that's the price for sleeping in nature
• have a comfortable pillow - rolled up clothing doesn't quite cut it
  • strongly consider augmenting with a U-shaped foam travel pillow - it will also keep your neck warm and you can get these with a thin hoodie to keep your head a bit warmer
• organise your gear so you know where to find it in the dark - especially your headlamp!
• avoid very noisy cheap polyethylene tarps if possible - but polyester instead if you need a tarp
• consider using adjuncts to reduce sensory inputs overnight:
  • ear plugs, noise cancelling headphones (music may help)
    • tents and tarps make a LOT of noise in the wind, not to mention noise from fellow campers (music, talk, snoring, creaking of their thermal air beds, etc) and wild-life
  • eye masks

• place batteries and power banks inside a sock and place at bottom of your sleeping bag so they don't get too cold and fail
• place your water filter inside a ziplock plastic bag and place this at bottom of your sleeping bag so it doesn't freeze which will destroy the filter
• if you wear glasses, always put them in the same elevated spot so you can find them - an option is to hang them on a door zipper if they are crucial to your vision