How to Sleep When Backpacking
I have been backpacking for over 30 years, and my biggest challenge is always sleeping.
To have a successful backpacking trip, you need to figure out the best sleep system for you.
There are many options to consider, and sleeping in the outdoors is a different experience for everybody that does it.
Here are several considerations when planning your trip: 1.
Where are you going on your backpacking trip? What is the climate, and the expected weather.
How about elevation? These questions all deal with the particular location you are planning on camping at.
You must know the expected temperatures at night.
Keep in mind the need to be flexible on this, which means layers that can be added or removed.
2.
What is your budget for camping overall and for this trip? Backpacking offers a tremendous selection of equipment in different price ranges.
You can buy a sleeping bag anywhere from $10 to $500.
Probably the two areas where you do not want to scrimp on are your sleeping bag and tent.
Almost any other equipment you can compromise on, but these two are show-stoppers if they are not done right.
I remember several trips with leaky tents, where we stayed wet all weekend.
Never again will I buy a cheap tent! 3.
How comfortable to you need to be when sleeping? This varies by individual, and you need to know you can sleep using your system.
Age, extra weight, and conditions like arthritis all add greater needs for comfort.
I graduated from sleeping on a thin mat on the ground to a super-nice cot over the years, just to enable me to fall asleep at night.
4.
Is the weight of the equipment a factor? Depending on where you are going and how far you are hiking, your equipment weight can be a factor.
Sleeping bags way anywhere from 1 pound to about ten pounds.
THis makes a huge difference if you are walking ten miles.
When buying your bag, also consider what you are sleeping on, a mat or cot.
You can usually get by with a bag that has less padding if you have a good sleeping platform.
Whatever sleep system you decide on, try it out at home.
This will help you identify what factors are the most important for your particular needs.
A comfortable sleep system is the most important factor in determining how well you sleep on your backpacking trip.
Once your system is comfortable, it is easier to overcome inconsistent temperatures and other environmental factors.
To have a successful backpacking trip, you need to figure out the best sleep system for you.
There are many options to consider, and sleeping in the outdoors is a different experience for everybody that does it.
Here are several considerations when planning your trip: 1.
Where are you going on your backpacking trip? What is the climate, and the expected weather.
How about elevation? These questions all deal with the particular location you are planning on camping at.
You must know the expected temperatures at night.
Keep in mind the need to be flexible on this, which means layers that can be added or removed.
2.
What is your budget for camping overall and for this trip? Backpacking offers a tremendous selection of equipment in different price ranges.
You can buy a sleeping bag anywhere from $10 to $500.
Probably the two areas where you do not want to scrimp on are your sleeping bag and tent.
Almost any other equipment you can compromise on, but these two are show-stoppers if they are not done right.
I remember several trips with leaky tents, where we stayed wet all weekend.
Never again will I buy a cheap tent! 3.
How comfortable to you need to be when sleeping? This varies by individual, and you need to know you can sleep using your system.
Age, extra weight, and conditions like arthritis all add greater needs for comfort.
I graduated from sleeping on a thin mat on the ground to a super-nice cot over the years, just to enable me to fall asleep at night.
4.
Is the weight of the equipment a factor? Depending on where you are going and how far you are hiking, your equipment weight can be a factor.
Sleeping bags way anywhere from 1 pound to about ten pounds.
THis makes a huge difference if you are walking ten miles.
When buying your bag, also consider what you are sleeping on, a mat or cot.
You can usually get by with a bag that has less padding if you have a good sleeping platform.
Whatever sleep system you decide on, try it out at home.
This will help you identify what factors are the most important for your particular needs.
A comfortable sleep system is the most important factor in determining how well you sleep on your backpacking trip.
Once your system is comfortable, it is easier to overcome inconsistent temperatures and other environmental factors.
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