Do you actually sleep when camping, or is everyone just pretending they do?

[NaciGeorgopoulos]

we went camping last weekend and everyone keeps saying how “restful” it was. Meanwhile, I’m there lying awake at 3am listening to every rustle, zipper, and owl within 5 miles.
Kids slept fine (of course), my partner snored through a thunderstorm, and I’m wondering if I’m just not cut out for “peaceful nature”.
Do people genuinely sleep well in tents?

Yep, sleep fine generally, even on slightly crap airbeds.

First time we took DS he was 8 months old and it was the first night he slept through!

Oh same here! Got woken up the other morning by my neighbour’s DIY at 7am and had a headache all day. Definitely time I stock up on earplugs too!

Haha that’s wild, maybe I need whatever tent you’ve got! If camping gave me 8 hours of sleep, I’d pitch one in my living room.

Ear plugs, a decent self inflating mattress and more layers than you ever thought possible. I always sleep beautifully camping, but only if I'm warm.

Hot water bottle. Absolutely swear by it.

Aviemore in April a couple of years ago I had three hot water bottles. Tent leaked. Didn't care.

I don’t usually for weekends, by third day I am so exhausted sometimes I sleep. I did the last time though, unusually, but unlike normal I had a comfortable mattress, pillows and duvet (usually we have hiking mats and sleeping bags as we motorcycle.)

I always sleep like a log when camping. So much so that I’m sometimes tempted to get my sleeping bag out at home!

I always sleep like a baby. We have a really good self inflating mattress so I have a duvet rather than sleeping bag (sleeping bags make me feel too constricted), I fill my hot water bottle from the camping stove and chuck it under the duvet half an hour before I get in bed, and I'm usually out like a light. I'm a terrible sleeper normally too. Maybe some of us are just wired that way!

i tend to sleep better when camping than in a bed possibly.
I don't like the wind, strong winds can get on my nerves.

I can’t sleep so we don’t camping.

Same with the ears! We have a Campervan now and I sleep really well in that.

Air beds are not real camping! As a kid we’d literally be in our sleeping bags on the groundsheet. Wake up so stiff from the cold!I also slept in a bivvy bag up a mountain- so literally outside.
Now I have a yoga mat type thing but that’s it. You got to be close to the ground to call it camping.
I’d never camp in a proper campsite though, noise of other people would keep me awake.
Bats, owls, coyotes- all good!

I love the outdoors, love being in nature, fresh air, wildness, always sleep with windows open at home through all weathers. so in theory I should love camping. In reality, sadly, I feel really vulnerable in a tent. The idea that anyone could crack the zip or cut the fabric and be in my tent within seconds is just too much of a risk for me to relax enough to sleep.

Yes, I sleep better under canvas than anywhere else!
But - I spent a lot on a super comfy bed, and have heating to make sure I'm warm enough 😆

I don’t go camping now, but when I did, the only way I got any sleep was thanks to wine!

Like a log

Yes but we have invested in excellent air beds/roll mats

I love camping but always wake up to wee and then can’t get back to sleep as I’m freezing, always exhausted by the time I come home

Why? The only reason I can think of is so that you can feel superior?

What would you call sleeping in a tent but more than a yoga mat off the ground?

Don't sleep a wink and that's not due to noise. It's just too darned uncomfortable. Airbed or roll up mat, neither work for me. And nor does a sleeping bag. Any tips? I've got to endure a few days again next year.

I never sleep well at camping, ever! It’s too light early, too loud, need a wee, want my own bed etc. I make sure I get enough Prosecco to knock me out but I wake up so early. I don’t actually like camping,

I do it multiple times per year though for my DD, she LOVES it, we go with a big group
of friends and all the kids go on night bike rides and stay up late & play games! I love that she’s happy do I forfeit my sleep!

What's enjoyable about waking up stiff? Doesn't sound much of a holiday....

Yes, I sleep really well. But we tend to camp in less "organised" sites and we always get out and about for the day so I'm tired by the time I go to bed.

I do sleep well. I like to be super comfy so I take a thick mattress topper to go on the air bed and my big duvet from home. I find a good few drinks around the camp fire helps as well.

The trick to sleeping while camping is, ideally, not to sleep on the ground. The coldness of the ground causes moisture to form wherever your body is in contact with it, however, even a thin air bed gan mitigate against this.