Central West Virginia's Guide To Life

ROUGHING IT:
The BASICS of TENT CAMPING
By Lisa Minney

10/07  The Basics of Camp Bedding

If you plan to camp in perfect conditions, you can pack your own blankets and quilts and sleep soundly. However, if you wish to camp in different climates and temperatures, you will need the proper sleeping gear.

Don’t assume the most important piece of your sleeping gear is the sleeping bag, it’s not true. No matter what you use as bedding, beneath it all, you must place a sleeping mat. The sleeping mat helps keep the ground from absorbing your body heat as you sleep, and keeps your bedding from absorbing moisture from the earth. In your camping castle, where proper ventilation and limited condensation are critical factors, the sleeping mat is essential.

In fact, a sleeping mat ensures the proper function and life-span for the rest of your sleeping gear. Sleeping bags are rated for temperature based on the assumption that they are placed on a mat, and pads and air mattresses can easily rip or puncture if set upon an uncovered tent floor.

Foam makes the best sleeping mat, and can be purchased at many craft and sewing supply stores. Even better, closed-cell foam mats are available at many outdoor supply stores.

If you are camping near your car, and want the upmost in comfort, you will likely consider an inflatable air mattress. Unless you purchase a quality mattress, and consistently take great care of it, you will be disappointed with your purchase. Air mattresses often fail to last more than a single summer.

To make sure your air mattress serves you well for a long time, only consider air mattresses that have a double sealing mechanism at the inflation hole. (All Coleman brand mattresses have this double “air-lock” system.)

For your convenience, buy a battery-powered air pump -- one that is quiet. No one wants to hear your air pump humming loudly when you arrive at the campground and set up late in the evening.

Keep all hazardous objects far away from your air mattress at all times. This includes: sand, pine needles, stones, jewelry, knives, pets with claws, excessive heat, etc. Keep your tent floor free of dirt and debris, and keep your air mattress on some kind of protective mat.

Store the mattress in a cool place, folded as few times as possible.

If you’re sleeping single and want a mattress that is light, portable and less of a hassle, invest in a self-inflating term-a-rest mattress made of nylon and foam. They are a little more expensive, but worth the investment.

Once you have selected your sleeping mat and padding, you can consider your sleeping bag purchase. The main purpose of a sleeping bag is to keep you warm, so this is directly related to the choices in bag style, shape and rating.

Sleeping bags come in two main styles, the rectangular bag and the mummy bag. Mummy bags provide the most warmth, closely covering the whole body, including the head. For many, the mummy bag feels constricting, but they are the bag you want if you camp alone in the frozen wilderness.

Rectangular bags are more practical for the casual camper and for couples. Most are zippered all the way around, and can be joined together. Rectangular bags tapered at the foot end are great for single campers. The tapered area serves to keep feet warmer at night.

Sleeping bags are stuffed with down or synthetic material. Down bags are expensive, but last longer if cared for properly. Synthetic filled bags are more resistant to dampness. All bags are rated according to seasonal temperatures.

A ‘warm weather’ bag is rated for a 40 degree low, and a ‘three season’ bag is rated to a 20 degree low. Cold weather bags come rated to 0 degrees, or to 15 degrees below zero. If you think you’ll be camping in temperatures below freezing, get a mummy bag.

If you think you’ll only encounter cold, cold temperatures on occasion, purchase “liner bags,” thin sleeping bags made of polyurethane or fleece, as an extra layer inside your sleeping bag, or just bring along some extra quilts. Liner bags are good for hot summer nights as well, as they are much lighter than a normal sleeping bag.

No matter what sleeping bag you choose, you should allow it to air out every day following a night of use. Never store your sleeping bag in a traveling bag for long periods of time, and store your sleeping bags flat, not rolled.

When your sleeping bag gets dirty, try to spot clean it whenever possible. To wash the bag, when needed, use a commercial machine that spins clothes and doesn’t use an agitator blade. Use mild soap. Dry, on low, with some tennis balls thrown in to help it fluff properly.

Down bags can be washed and dried in this manner as well, but each washing session will diminish the bag’s ability to insulate.
Buy a camping pillow or travel pillow if you wish, but unless you have limited packing space, it isn’t needed. Most people prefer their normal bed pillow, no matter where they sleep. Some folks don’t need a pillow at all.

Not all this sleeping gear is necessary. Mattresses and sleeping bags are nice to have, but require special care. For a simple summer weekend away, a sleeping mat and household bedding will do. Just make sure you have what you need to be comfortable, or you could, literally, lose sleep.

And a lousy night’s sleep in a tent is worse than a lousy night’s sleep at home.

Next time: The First Aid Kit