What to choose for sleeping on a camping trip?
Planning a camping trip and wondering how you will spend the night? You can choose between a tent as the most popular form of wild camping overnight, sleeping outdoors in a hammock or setting up a tarp. In this guide, we will focus on tents and what to throw inside to sleep comfortably. Some of the suggested solutions will also be useful for occasions other than camping.
However, if you are interested in spending the night outdoors, we refer you to our hammock guide.
Sleeping pad for tent
The first suggestion is a sleeping pad. Due to its popularity and accessibility, it is a good option for camping or other spontaneous trips - especially ones where you will be moving around and leaving your accommodation. All you need to do is roll it up for a quick trip and attach it to your rucksack, for example. You can easily purchase one at any sports and hiking shop.
A sleeping pad is a foam mat made of non-water-absorbent plastic. Most of the available pads on the market will be rollable, so you can easily attach it to your backpack or just throw it in the boot of your car. A good choice may be a military-grade pads, which will also come with aluminium foil. This addition is a better form of protection against chilling at night, as the foil insulates the chill of the ground.
What kind of tent sleeping pad will be ideal? First of all, consider what you expect and how long your outing is expected to be. For a single night, in warmer weather, a basic pad made of thin foam may be enough for you. However, if you are also planning to camp outside of the summer season and for longer than one/two nights, it is essential to choose a thicker military-grade sleepind pad with an additional thermal insulation film.
Rolled or foldable? Here a lot depends on your preference. A foldable sleeping pad will be a better choice if you are going camping by car and want to have better organised space in the trunk. Of course, whether or not you will be able to roll up a sleeping pad also depends on its thickness. If you opt for a mat made of thick foam, it will be collapsible.
A sleeping pad, however, will not be a good choice for a long, stationary camping trip as it will not be very comfortable. For a longer holiday, it is worth looking at the other accommodation accessories described below. However, why might a sleeping pad be a good choice?
The advantages of a sleeping pad: it is cheap to buy, relatively durable, very light (it can weigh just over 200 g) and easy to use. As well as being able to use it in a tent, it will also work well as a place to sit on a picnic or with friends around a campfire. You can also use it as a replacement for an exercise mat at home.
Disadvantages: sleeping comfort leaves much to be desired. The thin foam cannot provide a comfortable bed. Insulation is also lacking in most models. Even if there is, it is still only suitable for the summer season. Despite its light weight, the sleeping pad takes up a lot of space when folded.
Where to buy a sleeping pad? Its advantage is precisely that you will get it in most sports and travel shops and even markets. However, opt for a reliable source. After all, the sleeping pad is supposed to be responsible for your comfort while you sleep.
A self-inflating mat for camping
If you are considering a different solution to a mattress, you may want to think about buying a self-inflating mat. It has recently been gaining popularity among campers and travellers. What is it about it that has so many people interested in it? The mat is filled with a special foam that inflates when air is available, so that no additional equipment such as a pump is needed. Once the mat is unfolded, simply open the valve to make the air flow available. The foam becomes voluminous and after a few minutes the mat is ready for use. A simple solution that will increase your comfort on a camping trip. To pack it away, simply open the valve and roll it up just like a sleeping pad. The air then starts to escape from the foam inside, so this mat takes up very little space when folded.
Self-inflating mat it's definitely more comfortable than a carrimat. You can also use it in colder weather, but keep in mind that it is still not a good option for winter. A self-inflating mat will be more expensive than a karimata and heavier, but if this is not an obstacle for you, it will definitely be a better choice than a karimata. Pay attention when buying to the material of the mat. A delicate cover can cause it to tear when it comes into contact with small stones or other sharp objects. That's why cheap self-inflating mats are mainly for use inside a tent.
The advantages of self-inflating mats will be appreciated especially by those who like to experience some comfort while sleeping even in a tent. It is an option for those who are not looking for the cheapest camping solution. It will also be an ideal choice if you are going into terrain where a level surface will be hard to find. A self-inflating mat simply copes better with unevenness than a mattress. Remember, however, to choose sleeping accessories from reliable, reputable manufacturers.
Advantages: these mats are compact when folded, taking up less or the same amount of space as a sleeping pad. They are very easy to use - just unfold, unscrew the valve and wait for the mat to reach its full size. You also get significantly better sleeping comfort than its predecessor. Like the sleeping mat, the self-inflating mat also has a wider range of uses. You can use it outside the tent, but make sure it is made of a good foam covering material.
Disadvantages: if you are looking for a great quality mat, you have to expect them to cost more than 200 PLN or even 300 PLN. The insulation does not allow for use in autumn or winter. Such a mat is best stored unfolded, which means that you will need to develop extra space in your home.
Inflatable mattress for camping
A good solution, especially for longer trips to one place, is an inflatable pad. It is definitely more comfortable than mats and offers far better insulation from the ground. You can safely use it in any season - even in winter! In addition, it is very often covered with a pleasant velour, which provides a better grip on your bedding or sleeping bag and of course - extra thermal comfort. You can opt for a single or double mattress. This will already depend on the group you are travelling with.
Remember, however, that the mattress requires additional equipment. You will need a hand or electric pump to be able to unfold such a mattress. However, due to the heavy weight of the mattress itself (it can weigh up to 4 kg) and the need for the necessary additional equipment, this will be ideal for those travelling by car. It would be difficult to move around with a heavy mattress and pump on foot or by bicycle. It will also work best for stationary camping or camping trips, where you won't have to unfold and fold the inflatable mattress every now and then, which can sometimes be time-consuming.
If you are going or planning an extended trip to one place, an inflatable mattress is worth considering. As well as being useful for camping, it can also serve as an extra sleeping place for guests in your home. When, then, should you choose an inflatable mattress?
Advantages: an inflatable mattress is the most comfortable solution for camping. It will also provide adequate insulation from the cold ground and adapts well to various uneven terrain. It can provide an extra sleeping place for guests in your home. You can also take such a mattress for a picnic on the grass or to the beach.
Disadvantages: Higher purchase cost, additional electric or hand pump required. It is necessary to inflate the mattress after a night or two. Takes up more space with accessories. Suitable for camping for people who move by car.
Sleeping pad, self-inflating mat or inflatable mattress - what to choose
What you choose should depend on what kind of vacation you are looking for a solution to spend the night. The graphic above outlines when you should bet on each option. A carrimat is the cheapest, easy-to-use solution, but still has a lot of limitations. A self-inflating mat seems to be the golden mean on warmer days. It is relatively lightweight, comfortable and easy to transport. A mattress is a solution for people who travel by car and plan to spend nights in one place.
In addition to the solutions mentioned above, you can also opt for a hammock or tarp. However, this solution is good for minimalist and more skilled campers. If you are interested in our entire offer accommodation accessories, take a peek at.
