Sleeping (while camping)

You will not have a good time at an event if you weren’t able to sleep well over the night. Ensuring you are warm and comfortable at night is vital.

The number one most important thing is what’s under you. You can use an air mattress, a sleeping pad, a cot, or a full-out bed. When making your choice, consider how long you are going to be at the event, how easy it is for you to get up off the “bed”, and how much storage/transport space you can use. An air mattress collapses well, but is it firm enough, will it stay inflated, can you stand up from the edge of it. Is a cot too firm? What if you put a foam mattress on it?

Once you have figured out the structure of your bed, next look to bedding. One word: Wool. Regardless of the bed you choose, you should have a thermal layer between you and the bed. Otherwise, that air mattress will be a heat sink and the cot will just expose your poor bottom to the whole of the air. Sheets like you use at home will go a long way to keeping you comfortable. A variety of blankets will ensure that you are warm when the temperature drops, but not too hot if it doesn’t. Wool makes the best thermal under layer, and should be the top most blanket on the bed. The wool will keep the humidity out during the day (always make your bed at camp!) and will keep you warmer at night. Your tent will not keep the heat inside the same way your home does. Even 20 degrees at night can feel frigid when it was 30 during the day and there’s only a thin fabric between you and the open air.

Pillows are a must. You sleep with a pillow at home, don’t expect to go without for four days just because you’re camping. Bring a pillow or pillows similar to what you use at home. There are camping pillows that are inflatable, or compressible, if packing space is limited.

Set up your tent mindfully. Pitch your tent on flat ground, if possible, removing any rocks, sticks, or debris. If the terrain isn't perfectly level, position your head uphill to minimize discomfort.

A tent isn’t as light proof as your bedroom. By a long shot. If you need darkness, consider taking an eye mask to sleep with.

Similarly, a tent is hardly sound proof, and events are loud late into the night. Plus your camp-mates probably snore. I know this because I’ve camped near most folk of the Althing and trust me, they all snore. Ear plugs are your friends. If you haven’t really used any before, do a couple of test runs some nights before the event to get used to them.

Anything you have next to your bed you should consider taking as well. I, myself, always have Kleenex and lip balm on my bed-side table, so I make sure I have these things when I go camping. Sleeping is highly ritualistic and your routines are fundamental to a good sleep.

SCA camping can be anywhere from minimalist to “glamping”. Your comfort is paramount, if you need to sacrifice some other “more period” gear in order to be comfortable while sleeping, do it.