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Last Updated on April 8, 2025 by Paul Clayton
Table of Contents
10 Tips on How to Make Your Tent Camping More Comfortable
While tents provide privacy and protection against bugs and harsh weather conditions, they may not be the most comfortable.
Key Takeaway
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You should bring proper sleeping gear: a sleeping bag, pad or cot, inflatable or foam pillow, earplugs, and eye mask.
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Choose a flat, dry, shaded campsite for better rest and temperature control.
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Keep food and scented items outside the tent to avoid attracting wildlife.
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Leave wet gear outside to prevent condensation inside the tent.
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Establish a bedtime routine to help your body relax and fall asleep faster.
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Wear warm, breathable sleepwear—avoid overdressing or tight clothing.
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Eat a solid dinner to refuel your body after a long day outdoors.
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Keep a flashlight and water bottle close to avoid midnight scrambling.
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Use the bathroom before bed to reduce night trips.
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Vent your tent slightly to reduce condensation without letting in bugs.
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Your camping experience doesn’t have to be miserable, though. We have some practical advice to help you improve comfort when camping!
If you are looking to make your next tent camping trip more comfortable and enjoyable, here are some tips and tricks to use:
1. Invest in Comfy Sleeping Accessories for Camping
The nights will feel long and highly uncomfortable if you don’t have the right sleeping gear for camping.
While camping is about simplicity and getting intimate with nature, throwing a blanket on the ground to sleep on will not provide comfort.
These sleeping accessories should make your sleep comfortable and ensure that you don’t want to wake up feeling tired and irritated when tent camping:
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Sleeping Bag
Whether you are camping in the winter or summer, temperatures can be extremely low at night. So, having a sleeping bag will protect you from the cold weather. You may not need a heavy-duty sleeping bag for hotter months, but it pays to have one while out there.
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Sleeping Mat/Pad
Although this may not be necessary for all campers, it can significantly affect your comfort when sleeping in a tent. A sleeping pad will give you a soft place to lay on and improve your camping experience.
Inflatable pads are compact and warm but can deflate while sleeping, especially if you weigh 200 lbs and above. A closed-cell sleeping pad will go a long way if air pads don’t work for you.
If a sleeping bag, inflatable mattress, or sleeping pad feels uncomfortable, you can bring a hammock or a camping cot. Hammocks and cots usually work great for heavy adventurers and individuals with back problems.
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Packable Pillows
Pillows are optional for many camping enthusiasts but necessary to enhance their sleeping experience.
You don’t have to bring your perfect feather down or microfiber pillow, but something compact and packable. In this case, a simple foam or small inflatable pillow will do the job.
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Ear Plugs
When camping, the only barrier between you and nature is a thin tent wall. So, outdoor sounds like bird chirps and falling branches can easily distract your sleep.
If you want to get a good night’s sleep when sleeping under a tent, you should wear some earplugs to block the outdoor sounds.
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Eye Mask
The beautiful morning sun can become distractive if you want to extend your sleep and get more rest. So, instead of groaning over it and losing your sleep early in the morning, you can get more sleep by wearing an eye mask.
2. Find a Leveled Camping Ground
The best way to have a comfortable night is to find a flat, dry surface to set up your tent. A rough and rocky surface will need more cushioning to ensure a good night’s sleep, and your camping gear may not have enough.
When choosing your camping spot, consider other factors like the weather, proximity to the bathroom, a fire ring, and anything else you need.
If you are camping during the summer, choose a shaded tent site, as the sun can get uncomfortably hot during the day.
It’s also important to check the landscape before pitching your tent, as exposed areas will have strong winds, which could blow your tent away, leaving you exposed.
Even so, if you expect rain, a higher campsite will keep you safe from floods and water pooling.
3. Always Keep Food Outside the Tent
Sneaky animals like mice, raccoons, and squirrels can sniff food from afar. If you keep food in your tent, such animals will come poking near you, distracting your sleep and scaring you at night.
Bears also have an exceptional sense of smell, so they can roam around your tent and bother you while sleeping.
So, you should avoid storing your food in the tent when sleeping to prevent all these distractions and probably tent damage.
If your vehicle is nearby, you can store your food in it or use the campsite’s metal boxes or food lockers, which are usually locked at night to keep critters and bears away.
Hanging your food on a high tree branch is also a great way to keep it safe and have a distraction-free night.
Besides food, you should also eliminate scented items, including trash, when sleeping in a tent. Keep them several meters away from your tent to ensure a peaceful night.
4. Keep the Wet Stuff Outside
If you’ve just washed your camping valuables, such as towels, boots, and waterproof clothes, you might be tempted to bring them inside the tent for safety.
However, it may lead to condensation in the tent. Instead of bringing them inside, use a tarp or other covering to protect your wet gear at night.
5. Come Up with a Bedtime Routine
Creating a bedtime routine will make your camping experience feel like home and lead to better sleeping. You can come up with several activities that will help you feel comfortable and fall asleep faster.
For example, brushing your teeth after dinner will help you feel better and prepare you for the night.
You can also incorporate some gentle workouts to raise your body temperature, but not vigorous exercise, as this would leave you sweating.
Alternatively, you can drink warm tea before bed to boost your body temperature and stay warm throughout the night. Remember, your sleeping gear is for preserving warmth and not generating it.
6. Bring Warm Sleeping Clothes
Your sleeping clothes are just as important as the sleeping bag and mat. Instead of sleeping with the clothes you’ve been wearing the whole day, bring some warm and cozy camping pajamas.
Warm merino wool, breathable and highly insulating socks make a huge difference in warmth and comfort.
However, it would help to avoid putting on excess layers, as this can make you sweat and feel uncomfortable in the tent.
Overly tight sleeping clothes will also hinder proper blood circulation. Instead of wearing too many layers, you can place an extra layer of protection, like a blanket, over your sleeping bag.
7. Have a good Dinner
After a long day of adventure in the wilderness, you’ll want to rewind with a healthy meal and perhaps some drinks before sleeping.
Some campers will be satisfied with hotdogs roasted on a campfire, but if you are camping with your loved ones, you’ll want to give them more than that.
You can cook delicious dinners using a camping grill grate, cast iron, or gas camping stove. If you don’t have these cooking tools, roast your food in aluminum foil packets over a campfire.
8. Keep Your Flashlight and Drinking Water Close
When getting ready for bed, keep a flashlight or headlamp near your sleeping bag so you can easily access it in case you need it in the middle of the night.
You might feel thirsty at night if you had grilled steaks for dinner or any other spicy meal. So, keeping your drinking water close will save you from unpleasant night trips to your gear or nearby water source.
9. Use the Bathroom Twice Before Sleeping
This one may seem obvious, but if you are camping with your kids, they may forget to use the toilet before sleeping. Be sure to remind them and even have them go to the toilet twice before bed, especially if they had too many drinks or water in the evening.
If you still have to use the toilet at night, confirm the location before sleeping so you don’t have to look for it while everyone else is asleep. A flashlight or head torch will come in handy in this case.
10. Open the Vents to Prevent Excess Condensation
If you usually feel uncomfortable in a tent due to condensation, you can open the vents to release the stagnant air and get some breeze.
A little fresh air will not get you as cold as condensation if it builds up in the tent. Provided you have warm clothes and the right sleeping gear, you’ll feel rejuvenated and cozy.
Nonetheless, you don’t want to leave huge openings as this will allow bugs to enter the tent.
When camping with friends, ensure everyone has their tent for comfortable sleeping. Otherwise, you and your buddies will get sweaty and rough when sleeping in the same tent.
Couples and large groups looking to spend the night together should invest in spacious tents and open some vents for ultimate comfort.
FAQs
Q: What is the Most Comfortable Thing to Sleep on in a Tent?
A: For adults, air mattresses and camping cots are the most comfortable sleeping in a tent. Kids will be more than content on foam sleeping pads.
Q: How Can I Make My Sleep Comfortable While Camping?
A: Bring a sleeping pad or air mattress to make your sleep comfortable while camping. Then, set up a tent and sleep in it to protect against bugs and harsh weather elements.
Apart from the sleeping pads, you’ll need a sleeping bag to trap heat and stay warm throughout the night. An inflatable or foam pillow will also add comfort when staying in a tent.
If you find air mattresses and foam pads uncomfortable when sleeping in a tent, you can hang a hammock and sleep on it. Hammocks are an excellent option for hikers and backpackers, as they are lighter and more compact than tents.
Q: What Clothes Do You Sleep in When Camping?
A: When camping, the best sleepwear is a long and warm top and pants. Then, add a pair of woolen socks to keep your feet cozy and warm.
You may be tempted to overdress in low temperatures, but this will leave you uncomfortable and compromise the sleeping bag’s ability to trap heat efficiently.
Final Thoughts
Every year, people leave their comfort zones and set out to the wild to sleep in a tent and soak in nature.
While it’s impossible to achieve the comfort level you get with your soft and cozy bed at home, you can still find some comfort and have an incredible night when tent camping.
Camping is a great experience but can still be terrible if you don’t plan well, especially for your sleep. That said, these tips should help you enjoy your tent camping experience!
