You’ve decided to go camping or backpacking, you’ve bought your tent and are ready to embark on a new and exciting adventure. But have you got all the sleeping equipment you need to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep?
What do you need to consider when buying sleeping equipment?
- Where are you going on your trip? – Depending on location you may want to take more layers to sleep in at night if the location is somewhere cold
- How long are you going for? – You may need to bring more sleeping equipment to increase comfort if you’re staying for a longer period of time
- How many people will be sleeping in the tent? – You may consider bringing extra items in case another member on the trip forgets their own and ends up underequipped at night
- What are the forecasted weather conditions? – Sleeping in cold weather can be rough, ensuring you have warm and insulated sleeping equipment will make the experience a whole lot easier
So, what kind of things should you look for when buying sleeping equipment?
- Sleeping bag – ensuring a comfortable and warm night’s sleep is most likely your priority when camping or backpacking but how do you know what kind of sleeping bag to get? There are so many different types out there that differ in size, weight, season rating to different types of insulation. There are 3 main types of sleeping bag to choose from:
- Square: providing you with that home comfort feeling with zips on either side that can turn it into a duvet. This is ideal when you have a little more room to spare! Although you may have to sacrifice a little bit of warmth to achieve that home familiarity.
- Mummy: This is best when carrying in a rucksack, with a close to the body shape that follows the natural contour of your body you will find that this option retains a lot of heat and makes for easy transport!
- Pods: Something for the less experienced who want a sleeping bag they can move freely in. This is perfect for summer use!
- Quilt: This adds a different level of comfort to camping, is lightweight and create more versatility especially for side sleepers or those who turn a lot in their sleep. There are differentiated weights for different seasons but are ideal for warmer weather.
- Pillows – When camping, comfort is key! Getting a good night’s sleep will help you wake up feeling well-rested with enough energy to face the day’s activities. You may wish to bring a pillow from home or purchase an inflatable camping pillow
- Air Bed – If you want a comfortable night and have a larger tent, or are bringing children along with you it may be a good idea to get an air bed so you do not have to sleep on the floor
- Extra layers and headgear – Sleeping in a tent at night can get very cold! Making sure you have extra layers to hand will help you achieve the best night’s sleep possible. Purchasing earplugs may be something you wish to purchase to block out outside noises or your fellow campers snoring!
You know what you need, but how much will it cost?
Sleeping equipment varies in price, with some sleeping bags costing as little as £15 ranging all the way to the pricier amount of £200. When buying a sleeping bag, it is important you consider how long you intend to go for and what type you need.
If your trip is going to be a longer period, you may wish to invest a little more money into a sleeping bag you can rely on. But if you’re going for a night or two with the family buying something cheaper will work just fine!
Bringing pillows from home is a good way to save spending any additional money on your trip but if you intend to buy a camping specific one, they range from around £5 – £30.
Air beds have a similar pricing range to sleeping bags, many can be found in retailers such as ASDA and Tesco and sites like Amazon for roughly £20-£30. If you intend to use the air bed frequently or want to ensure the best night’s sleep, leisure outlets sell higher-priced ones up to around £200.
My Join Davina South-West Coastal Walk
Sleeping equipment is extremely important when camping and backpacking. For my 700 mile walk along the South-West Coast of England it is crucial I always have enough energy throughout the day and what better way to ensure this than a good night’s sleep! Here are three of my chosen sleeping equipment:
-
Sleeping bag – sleeping quilt
This is becoming more popular for more serious campers, especially for side sleepers. It’s lightweight as there aren’t any zips but the straps go under the mattress, as well as the poppers allowing you to move around but still stay covered.
I went for the Thermorest 32 down quilt, weighing only 588g, which is comfort at 0^ but still allows me to kick my feet out if I want to cool down if gets warmer.
-
Silk liner
For hygiene reasons and an extra layer, I went for a very lightweight silk liner, which wrapped up really small. This one is approximately 130g.
-
Mattress
I went for ultralight again as every gram counted and went for Thermorest Neo Air Uberlight Mattress at less than 160g.
If you want to find out more about camping equipment such as what to consider when buying a tent or are thinking of buying a rucksack be sure to check out my recent blogs.
You can find out more information about my trek, keep up to date with my progress and even donate to help Ocean Generation, my chosen charity here.