Please help me sleep! (in the bush)

peripatew

peripatew

Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
1,421
I don't know if I have a bad back, or if I'm just a picky sleeper, but I've never been comfortable sleeping outside. I can never seem to get a good nights rest, even when going to bed early, I just can't sleep through the night.

What do you use to sleep comfortably? I have trouble going to sleep not on my side, so I've been needed to get a thicker, more supportive sleeping pad for a while, as my hip just digs into the ground.

Any thoughts or advice?

L!
 
Some sleeping pads are just foam where you blow a little bit of air into them and this would allow you to feel the contours of the ground and rocks more easily then if you use what I use which is an air only pad. There is no foam. It is just essentially an air mattress designed for camping. Other than that, bring along a good pillow. I find if I have an actual pillow I always sleep better than if I rest on balled up clothes. Other than that, all I can suggest is hike all day or do other strenuous activities because then you won't care how uncomfortable you are, you will just be too tired to care.
 
You not not tired enough lol... I like to sleep on my stomach when im backpacking. I also always carry a book so if im not tired enough to sleep i just read for a couple of hours. I just use the basic foam pad. It might be worth to carry an extra pad for the few OZ to get a better sleep.

Sasha
 
Go and lay down on your living room rug, flat on your back, till your body starts to hurt, and remember what hurts. This will simulate sleeping on the ground, in a sleeping bag.

For me, it is the shoulders, rear end, and heels pressing into the ground. You can totally relieve this uncomfortable pressure by (going outside first:foot:) and digging a shallow hole where your shoulders(?), rear end and heel go. You would be very surprised how much this will help.
 
Personnally, I don't expect the first night to be great; the night after, though, I sleep like a baby! Change in sleep habits/environment, I guess...
 
Try some thicker sleeping mats/air mattresses. I used to be fine sleeping on a thin 3/4 length 1" thick lightweight Therm-A-Rest. Having worked nights at a very physically demanding job the last 8 years though, has made getting a good nights sleep outdoors much more difficult. Because of my job and our young kids we haven't been backpacking in quite a few years, mostly just car camping lately, and for that my wife and I usually use an inexpensive full-sized air mattress and it has been wonderful. When I start backpacking again, I'm going to try a full-length 2" thick Therm-A-Rest mat and that will hopefully take care of things. I also occasionally will take a couple of Advil PM tablets when sleeping outside to help with the aches and pains and knock me out. If possible try several different models of sleeping mats in a camping/outdoors store before buying.
 
defaultuser said:
Personnally, I don't expect the first night to be great; the night after, though, I sleep like a baby! Change in sleep habits/environment, I guess...
Click to expand...

I have found this to be the same for me. I just know that first night will be tough, and after that it gets easier.
 
I've never slept so good as since I've had a 2.5" Big Agnes pad. Other than that just make sure you're tired enough.
 
Hike more to get yourself tired. Hot cocoa works too! The more comfortable you get with the outdoors the more you will sleep like a baby.

-RB
 
andrew7978 said:
if you use what I use which is an air only pad. There is no foam. It is just essentially an air mattress designed for camping.
Click to expand...

i agree, get an air only sleeping pad. they're lightweight, compact and work well. not bombproof though - a sharp rock or fire ember would not be good. but inside a tent they are perfect.
 
naked said:
I don't know if I have a bad back, or if I'm just a picky sleeper, but I've never been comfortable sleeping outside. I can never seem to get a good nights rest, even when going to bed early, I just can't sleep through the night.

What do you use to sleep comfortably? I have trouble going to sleep not on my side, so I've been needed to get a thicker, more supportive sleeping pad for a while, as my hip just digs into the ground.

Any thoughts or advice?

L!
Click to expand...

My short answer is drugs! I also have trouble sleeping outdoors so I take a Gravol or a Benadryl and this helps to put me to sleep. Although I like KuRUpTD's answer, booze that used to do the trick for me, doesn't any more. I don't get a restful sleep (apparently alcohol prevents you from getting REM sleep), it also dehydrates you possibly contributing to having to get up in the middle of the night :rolleyes:

The other thing is comfort. NeonLight mentioned air mattresses. Obviously they are too heavy for backpacking, but I don't backpack anymore. While canoeing, the extra weight is no big deal when compared to the extra comfort. One caution, however, is in cold weather, an air mattress can be very heat draining due to convection air flow in the mattress. My solution is to place an Ensolite (closed cell foam) pad on top of the air mattress and this works just fine for me.

JW mentioned hammocks. They might work for you too. Unfortunately, due to a bad back, I can't use them. I really like the idea, though.

Doc
 
Ever tried making a browse bed from pine boughs? Best night's sleep I ever had outside, easily. It usually lasts 2 nights max, and cutting down trees isn't for everyone.
 
my first night out is always rough after that I can sleep on nails... Try a debris bed 1-2 foot bed of leaves contained in a frame work of wood or rocks.. lay your sleeping pad on top of that... i
 
I combine a closed foam half length pad, and an inflatable thermarest, and a Tylenol PM. Helps with the pain and sleep.
 
You need to pad your resting spot, whether its under your tent, or wherever with a thick layer of soft leaves, etc. Nowadays, most public places make you put your pad onto a dam gravel pad, but you can still bring stuff to pad beneath you. This is a key to a good nights sleep IMO.
 
One thing REALLY improved my sleep on camping trips: a good pillow! I found that by carefully stuffing a lightweight dry bag with just the right kind of clothing, I end up with a comfortable pillow that made my nights' sleep more satisfying. A few of my camping friends actually pack a small pillow.

I also started using my 3/4-length lightweight Ridgerest pad in addition to my thicker pad for more comfortable sleeping with only a very small weight increase.


Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
Strenuous hike + good sleeping pad + heavy wool blanket + crackling fire near by = goooooood sleep.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top