How to make camping comfortable

Camping doesn't have to be an ordeal. It can be an incredible experience that gives you the chance to strip back to basics, appreciate the outdoors by getting closer to nature and get a healthy dose of fresh air. The trick is to know how to make it comfortable! 

Here are a handful of our favourite ways to make camping comfortable ready for your next expedition...

• Princess and the pea? We don't think so!

There is nothing worse than settling down for the night and realising you have pitched your tent on top of a rock or landed up basing yourself on uneven ground. More than simply casting a keen eye over the area, take time to lay down on the ground (likely with your waterproof layers still on for protection) and check if the ground is comfy terrain. While your sleeping mat will give you some protection, you can still feel lumps, bumps and rocks so testing things out with a quick horizontal check gives you extra reassurance. It also helps you determine which end of the tent your head will be. 

• More insulation, less frustration

Your sleeping mat is there to give you a comfier nights sleep and provides a useful layer of insulation between you and the ground. However you can improve this further by laying out any dry clothes across your sleeping mat. Adding an extra layer of material between you and the ground helps keep you that little warmer and all those little adjustments for comfort add up! 

• Trap that heat in!

Most sleeping bags worth their salt will have handy drawstrings around the neck that you can pull tighter to trap the heat in. It can take a little time to build up that warmth so once you are in, maintain your temperature and pull tight any gaps in the bag. If you're still waiting to warm up, wriggling around or doing your best dance moves inside the bag can help generate some warm energy! 

• Extra chilly? it's time to bring out the hot water bottle!

If your drinking water bottle is safe to use as a hot water bottle - such as the Nalgene bottles - this is a great addition to your expedition kit. Placing a hot water bottle (or safe equivalent) in the bottom of your sleeping bag does wonders and in the morning you have a bottle of drinking water at the ready too! Caution - Only put hot water in the bottle, boiling. Wrap the bottle in a jumper incase the water spills!

• The DIY dry bag pillow

This is a classic trick for campers being resourceful with the kit they have to hand. Select one of your dry bags full of kit, the softest you can find which will likely be one full of clothes. For extra comfort, unroll the dry bag slightly so that it isn't fit to burst and has a little give in it. Voila - you have a makeshift pillow for the night!

• Make the toilet trip as seamless as can be

When the inevitable happens and you need a toilet in the middle of the night, first and foremost, don't hold it in. Rather than tossing and turning and losing valuable rest time, just GO. Once you've left the cosiness of your sleeping bag, its a welcomed relief to have placed your shoes and head torch in an easily accessible location that you can quickly locate. You can be back in the warmth in no time and catching Zzz. 

Let us know if you make use of some of our tips for a comfier camp and share any brilliant hacks you have for getting a better nights sleep in the outdoors. 

Happy camping, folks!