by Patrick Sills

Created on: June 08, 2010

Tent camping is by far the cheapest and most economical way to enjoy the outdoors. There is no need to pull a trailer or to drive one of those gigantic motorhomes that burn as much fuel as a semi tractor or muscle car out of the 1960s. Moreover, camping tents come in many different sizes. Some are made to sleep just one person while others can accommodate entire families.

How a person sleeps or what he or she chooses as a bed will depend on not only the size of the tent involved, but also personal preference. The simplest way to sleep in a tent is to lay a sleeping bag directly on the floor. However, this can be quite uncomfortable; especially if the ground beneath your back is uneven or riddled with rocks or for that matter; tree roots. The kids may enjoy sleeping directly on the floor of a tent, but as for adults? Most of us would rather not. By placing a pad or mat (such as those used for excersising) underneath the sleeping bag, much more comfort can be realized. In either case, setup will take less than a minute.

Another popular option is an air mattress. These generally come in twin, full, or even queen-sized dimensions. They can be inflated either the old-fashioned way by blowing them up by mouth like a balloon or by using a foot pump or 12-volt setup that attaches to your vehicle’s cigarette lighter or power outlet. Setup time will depend on the size of the mattress. When inflating one of the larger-sized ones, it is best to place it inside the tent before you begin, because once it’s inflated , it can be difficult if not impossible to get the mattress through the tent door! Some fancy air mattresses are available in tall heights; such as 3 or 4 feet above the ground and even come with self-contained pumps, but in order to use these, you’ll most likely have to select a campsite with electrical power, which sort of negates tent-camping in the first place!

In the opinion of this author, the best option for a bed in a tent is an Army cot or even a folding lounge chair. For starters, you’re above the ground. Secondly, you don’t have to spend time inflating a mattress. Either a full-sized cot or lounger will fit inside just about any tent, including small ones made just for two people. Both sleeping bags and blankets with pillows can be placed atop either one, and in less than five minutes, you’ll have a bed nearly as comfortable as the one you use at home. To add a nice touch; especially if you like to read before falling asleep, place a small table beside the cot or lounge chair with a battery-powered lantern on top.

Obviously, using a cot or folding lounge chair as well as any type of air mattress will be slightly more expensive initially, but well worth it. By using any of these types of sleeping devices above the ground, your tent will serve you well.

Just make sure that the restrooms are relatively close.

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