For many people, camping is the perfect opportunity to get away from it all, and spend some quality time with your friends, your family, or even yourself. Getting back to nature is often an awesome, unique experience and that's why so many of us choose to do it again and again. Unfortunately, being out in the wilderness means we have to abandon some creature comforts, but that doesn't mean we have to sacrifice a good night's sleep.
Our mission is to help people sleep better, no matter where, so here's some of our top tips for sleeping better when camping.
1. FOLLOW YOUR NORMAL BEDTIME ROUTINE
Got a routine that helps get you ready for bed at home? Do your best to bring it to the bush (or wherever you've decided to pitch a tent). Camping sets a completely different context for your sleep, and you'll no doubt find yourself approaching bedtime very differently. With the night sky above you, you might find yourself packing in at a much earlier hour than usual, but your brain might not agree. Help it understand it is, in fact, bedtime by following your normal nightly routine as closely as possible.
Breaking off from your normal hours of sleep can also have a negative impact, so it pays to try to stick to your schedule. At the very least, do your best to have a regular sleeping pattern for the duration of your trip.
2. BLOCK OUT THE NOISE
Nature is beautiful and amazing and... really noisy. It's a great idea to bring along a white noise machine, or even download a white noise app on your phone, to help block out the random noises that keep you up all night. The tired mind in the middle of the bush will probably convince you that every bit of wind or rustling bush is hungry animal trying to eat you, so sometimes it's better to just block it out. If the white noise isn't cutting it, bring earplugs and get ready for a night of peaceful dreaming.
3. USE THE INSERTS FROM YOUR MACODA
Pretty neat, huh? The foam inserts from your Macoda can be removed just by unzipping the top quilting. These comfortable layers of body-hugging sleep magic are great bedding options for a tent, car or even the back of a ute for when you have to leave the mattress at home. Roll mats and air beds are other popular options for bedding on the road, as they don’t take up much space and are better than hard ground. They do have drawbacks, however. Roll mats are hardly comfortable, and air mattresses tend to deflate through the night, leaving you and your partner tumbling towards each other or off the bed in the middle of the night.
4. BRING YOUR BEDDING WITH YOU
Comfort is essential to a good night’s sleep, and just because you’re sleeping under the stars doesn’t mean you can’t get comfy. Bring your favourite pillow, or think about investing in a camping pillow. If you’re a serious camper and space is limited, stuffing your spare clothes in a bag is a manageable alternative. Your blankets also deserve a spot in your tent, and can often have some advantages over sleeping bags. Sleeping bags and other camping-specific bedding is great, and for more adventurous campers, absolutely essential. Sometimes though, that duvet or quilt from home will make all the difference. It also makes regulating temperature much easier, as you can roll yourself up for extra warmth, or stick a foot out for a bit of cooling on warm nights.
5. KEEP THE BUGS OUT
There is nothing, nothing worse than the buzzing of a mosquito in your ear when you’re trying to sleep. Follow that up with a nip on the leg and you’re in for a bad night. Keep your tent closed at night until it’s time to hope in, and avoid leaving items in there that might attract insects – food, smelly clothes, etc. Mosquito netting is also an option for the pampered camper, and things like bug spray are essential. Leaving a citronella candle or torch outside by is also great for bed time, just remember to be mindful of where you are and any fire hazards or rules. Don’t leave out any enticements, making sure you properly dispose or store food and other things.
6. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.
Choosing the ‘X marks the spot’ will make a big difference when it comes to getting a proper night’s sleep. Find somewhere free of any roots, rocks and preferably on softer ground. Also keep in mind things nearby that might make falling asleep a little harder (don’t pitch your tent under a waterfall, for example). You ideally want be out of the wind as much as possible so your tent isn’t flailing around all night. Much like at home, there’s also a risk of noisy neighbours – some people might not be as serious about their sleep as you, so don’t park up right next to them. Orientation is also a big player here, and almost always overlooked. Even on a relatively flat surface, your tent will usually have some slope. You want to position yourself so your head is uphill, as doing the opposite will have all the blood rushing to your head which is generally not great, and will impede your ability to fall asleep. This may impact the way you face your tent, as depending on the shape/size, you’ll want your head closest to the door so you don’t have the angled wall of the back in your face all night.