Sleep Gear

Don't Skimp on Sleep Gear

When camping, nothing matters more than sleep—here’s why.

My extensive camping experience has taught me an important axiom: A good night's sleep can overcome just about anything. If you’re outdoors and sleep well, you can handle rain, mud, hunger, or other discomforts with resilience. But if you sleep poorly, even the most enjoyable campouts can feel miserable and leave you wishing you were home.

Key Points to Consider

1. Invest in sleep gear first. Save money on cooking gear, backpacks, or extras—but buy the best sleep gear you can afford.
2. Test gear in-store. Go to an outfitter shop where you can set up the gear, stretch out, and actually try it before you buy.
3. Trial run at home. Sleep on it overnight on your floor. If it doesn’t work for you there, it won’t work “out there.”
4. Focus on essentials. Dry. Warm. Circulation. Movement. Comfortable. If your setup checks those boxes, you’re on the right track.
5. Think in threes. Have something to sleep on, something to sleep in, and something to sleep under.

Learn From the Experts

Don’t just take my word for it. Two well-respected outdoor instructors share excellent tips on this subject:

• Dave Canterbury – on prioritizing sleep systems in your kit.
• Matt Shafter – on practical setups and comfort in the outdoors.

Dave's knowledge is a tremendous resource.  I reviewed that particular video in more detail here:  Cold Weather Sleeping.  Also, take a good listen to Matt, when he says "Good sleep to me means tossing and turning so blood can move through my tissues."  He recommends wider sleep surfaces and quilts to achieve this.  He wraps up with saying "Full comfort means not skimping on sleep gear."  He's right.  I posted a full review of this video a few years back here:  Summary: Camping Gear 2021 - 7lbs Full Comfort Ultralight w Budget Backpacking Essentials.

Bottom line: Don’t skimp on sleep gear. It’s one of the most important investments you can make for enjoyable, repeatable outdoor adventures.