This post may contain affiliate links that earn a small commission.
Exploring and enjoying the great outdoors can come with a certain, understandable hesitation from some, but learning how to make tent camping comfortable can give you a much better experience. Roughing it out in the sticks certainly does not sound like the most comfortable venture on earth, but allowing yourself to experience this can be rewarding in its own way.
Of course, that does not mean that you should completely forgo the idea of comfortable living. You may just need to adjust your expectations a bit. With a little bit of keen preparation (the greatest ally any camper can have) and some smart precautionary measures, you can turn your tent into an acceptably comfortable dwelling within which to spend a few nights.
In this article, we will provide you with some helpful suggestions and ideas in order to ensure that your tent-camping experience is as pleasant and as comfortable as you want it to be.
Choose the Right Tent
Your choice of tent can make a huge difference to your level of comfort. You will want to pick one that is suitable for the environment and conditions within which you will be adventuring.
There are three different types of tents, each suited to specific conditions.
- Three-season tents are lightweight and include mesh panels to promote airflow; this makes them well-suited to the seasons of spring, summer, and fall, when keeping as warm as possible is not always a priority.
- Three-season plus tents can be considered as an “upgrade” of sorts to the standard three-season tent. These tents offer additional warmth-retention, and are generally built to be sturdier, and thus more resistant to wind.
- Four-season tents are as durable and as sturdy as they come. These tents are best-suited to cooler conditions and can protect you against heavy winds and snow. They have very sturdy poles and have heavier fabrics, promoting more warmth-retention.
Your tent-type is not the only factor that can determine your level of comfort. You will also want to consider the size of your tent. A three-person tent may not actually be able to sleep three people and each person’s equipment comfortably, for example. We recommend choosing a tent with space for at least one more person than your party size.
Lastly, when setting up your tent, choose a flat area of your campsite and lay a tarp down first. This will help to prevent moisture from entering your tent.
Choosing Something to Sleep On
The ground is a notoriously uncomfortable surface upon which to rest. Because of that, you will want to choose a suitable sleeping pad, which will help keep you elevated from the (often) uneven ground, as well as any moisture it may permit.
Sleeping pads come in three variations: self-inflating, manual-inflating, and closed-cell.
Self-inflating sleeping pads do exactly what you think they do. You open a valve, and the sleeping pad automatically inflates.
On the other side of that spectrum, other sleeping pads require you to inflate them yourself. Beyond that, however, there is no functional difference between them.
Lastly, a closed-cell sleeping pad comes ready-to-use, with no requirement to inflate it. These can be stiff but are certainly very convenient.
Another option would be to get a sleeping cot. These vary in stiffness and size (some of them can fit more than one person) but are cumbersome to maneuver. Like closed-cell sleeping pads though, they are convenient and ready-to-use.
Choosing Something to Sleep In
Now that you have your sleeping surface ready, you will also want to decide what you are going to be sleeping in.
Sleeping bags are the best option here, but it is still important that you choose the right one. They come with different temperature ratings, and you will need to choose one that will be best suited to your camping conditions.
+5 to +29 degrees F sleeping bags are ideal for warmer conditions, where heat provision and retention is not a concern.
+30 to +55 degrees F sleeping bags are a good all-around choice, providing some lasting heat-retention while still being lightweight.
Lastly, if you are camping in more winter conditions, you will want a -40 to +4 degrees F sleeping bag. This type of sleeping bag is heavier than the others, and much warmer, and provides you with plenty of insulation to keep you warm in even the coldest of temperatures.
Along with sleeping bags, you should also pay attention to what you wear when you sleep. Keep your socks dry and free of dampness, and try to wear clothes that are easy to slip in and out of.
Conclusion
Camping in a tent does not need to be as uncomfortable as it seems. As we have said, with a little bit of preparation and foresight, you can experience the great outdoors with an acceptable level of comfort. And what a joy that is. We hope that you now know how to make tent camping comfortable no matter what season or location you choose to camp in. So all that is left to say is happy camping and enjoy your time in nature!