Camping Tips And Advice: Sleeping Mats

Tents and sleeping bags are what most people think of when it comes to camping out. They aren't the only things that you might want to consider, though, when it comes to comfort from the elements. Another option is a sleeping mat. These generally go under your sleeping bag so that the bag itself isn't on the ground or on the tent floor. They can add a lot more comfort to a night spent in the wild, because you don't have rocks and sticks and other things poking you. Some people also like to be up off of the ground just a little bit because they feel safer when it comes to insects. It really is only a psychological issue, but if it helps them it's certainly not harming anything - and it does help people sleep better because it provides more comfort. There are different types of sleeping mats, too, so you'll need to consider which one you want to purchase for your camping trip. Some are much thinner than others, some are designed to keep you warmer, and it's always necessary to remember that you have to get the mat to the camping area, so weight and size are very significant. If it's heavy and cumbersome, moving it to a campsite is going to be annoying, and it could present dangers, too.

To avoid that, you want to get the thinnest and lightest-weight sleeping mat that will do the job that you want it to do. Whether that's providing warmth or whether that's providing padding - or both - is something that you'll have to consider when it comes to which mat you choose for your camping adventure. It isn't wise to buy a sleeping mat that will keep you warm but won't make you comfortable, or to buy one that feels good to sleep on but that won't keep you warm in winter. If you're only planning on summer camping, the warmth might not be an issue, but the comfort certainly will be - and so will price, size, and durability. All of those issues are worth consideration, so make the time to ask questions and find out the real answers before you just grab any sleeping mat you can find and take it along with you.