A SIMPLE camping trick can make it much easier to sleep in bad weather.
With summer holidays and festival season upon us, it’s prime time to crack out your tent.
However, this being a British summer, there is always the lurking threat of a shower or light thunderstorm as you pitch up.
Indeed, just a few weeks ago, Download Festival descended into a mudbath amid heavy rain.
Fortunately, experts from Winstons Beds are on hand to give their top tips for sleeping peacefully through the night even though your walls are made of polyester.
Rebbecca Swain, mattress boffin for Winstons, said: “If you’re new to camping you may be wondering how good of a sleep you’ll get.
“Sleeping somewhere new can be tricky so it’s important to make the experience as comfortable as possible.
“Where you decide to pitch your tent is also really important.
“Ideally you want your tent to be on flat and even ground.”
Rebecca also emphasised the importance of making sure that the entrance to your tent is angled away from the wind, adding: “This will help prevent the cold air from blowing into your tent making it too cold to sleep in.”
Once you’ve set up, there are also a few things you can do inside the tent itself to make yourself comfy.
A set of earplugs can be a lifesaver when it comes to blocking out the rush of the wind, animal noises and the general sounds of the night.
Likewise, a Bluetooth speaker to play some calming music or quiet sounds can be a great option.
Another problem with tents is that they don’t often do a good job of blocking out light.
If you’re camping in the summer then sunrise might be a little earlier than you like so it’s best to invest in an eye mask to allow yourself a lie in on sunny mornings.
Rebecca also recommended waiting to change your clothes until just before you hop into your sleeping back to make sure you go to sleep in a clean, dry outfit.
Finally, make sure to check the weather before you go and pack accordingly.
If it’s going to be 15C overnight you won’t be needing your thickest winter sleeping bag.
However, those brave enough to camp in the colder months may want to bring a few blankets along as the mercury can drop rapidly overnight.
It comes after Sun Travel gave readers a look at the pretty island campsite where you can enjoy sea views and get up close with turtles for just £6
David Scotland owns camping equipment retailer Outdoor World Direct and knows all about how to make a camping trip run smoothly.
When visiting any campsite this summer it’s important to make sure you’re not making simple mistakes that could ruin your holiday.
Check your tent
David recommends putting your tent up a couple of weeks before you’re due to travel to give you enough time to repair or replace any damaged parts.
He told Sun Online Travel: “You’d be surprised how many people turn up with broken tents.”
Test the ground
Picking a good spot to pitch your tent is difficult, with lots of things to consider.
One of those should be the condition of the ground you’re putting your tent on top of, according to David.
He said: “Once you’ve found the perfect spot, test the ground with your pegs before you commit to camping there to make sure the ground is soft enough.”
Don’t nap in your tent
It may seem the perfect place for it, but a nap in a tent could end badly, if it’s done at the wrong time of the day.
David explained: “If the sun’s shining and it’s hot inside your tent – don’t do it!
“One of our friends nodded off in his tent during a heatwave at Glastonbury and ended up at the medical tent with heatstroke.”
Instead, he recommends finding some shade outside or somewhere well ventilated.
