The KEY to Great Sleep Outdoors
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 พ.ค. 2022
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Therm-a-rest Compressible Pillow: geni.us/VYHy
S2S Aeros Premium Pillow: geni.us/Ap8l
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What is the worst part of backpacking? I bet most people would say it is the sleep. And that's not right! That's why I set out to determine how to get the best sleep in the backcountry. And I think I may be on to something!
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Never heard of that geni site, and I'm damn sure not clicking a link that takes me to Amazon, where I have my CC on file.
It only got a 62.2% from scam-detector. That's not bad at all, but not good enough.
You should include straight Amazon links as well.
Pa
I appreciate you getting to the point and not making this video 30 mins. Great stuff.
This!
Hear here - thank you :)
Still a long commercial. 🤣
Just kidding 👋👍
Exactly
The whole video was an ad… He could at least claim that he was an affiliate or sponsored by these companies..
One very important aspect to consider when backpacking with others: noise. I can’t believe how LOUD most of these pads are these days. My dad kept me up all night because every time he adjusted, it sounded like a clown was making me a balloon animal.
I guffawed at the imagery. Thank you for that.
I’ve slept on sleeping pads, blow up mattresses, and many others. But the best sleep for me personally that I have ever had was literally sleeping right in the dirt under a tarp with a wool blanket.
Oh gosh yes. I do not understand why people buy those pads. They’re more noisy then you trying to open up a bag of chips in the middle of the night as a kid while everyones sleeping. I’ve always wondered how people can sleep on those pads when every breath sounds like you just swiped a foil ballon with sand paper, all to get you 1/2in off the ground.
😂😂😂
True
One of the roughest parts of working as a wildland firefighter is getting a good night's rest. You made so many great points it actually relieved some of my anxieties for next season. Thank you for the recommendations, I know that gear is going to bring me some much needed rest.
I’m glad it’s helpful!
REST, not sleep. As a lone camper I agree, I prefer to rest and be aware and ready to react.
As someone who lives in an area that deals with wild fires frequently, thanks for doing what you do! It’s got to be one of the hardest jobs ever and to try to do it without proper rest between shifts must be horrible. You and your fellow wildland fire fighters are much appreciated. 💕
@@lapdogg2575 thank you for your kind words and support!
The speaker can sleep on his beard.....
Agreed. Also try a sleeping bag liner. It makes a HUGE difference in comfort. It acts like a base layer and keeps the cold, slick sleeping bag material off your skin. Makes it feel like your sleeping in cozy sheets instead of a ski coat burrito.
Yes, I have several wool blankets of various weights. I just pick an appropriate weighted blanket to put inside the bag. With wool base layer, cap, gloves and socks I sleep comfortably in any weather, including winter camp below 0F.
My Mountain Hardware bag is silky soft and INSTANTLY warm where ever my skin touches it. No liner needed at all!! I LOVE my sleepinj bag!!
A silk liner helps with turning in the bag as it slides way better than the base layer you wear.
Like for the 'ski coat burrito'
@Willie Wonka I'm shocked you can sleep with all that on!! I cannot sleep with more than a pair of boxers, yes even at subzero in the rockies at 12,000ft in January. In my hammock. In a summer sleeping bag 😂 I think something is wrong with me, I'm cold until I confine myself into a sleeping bag. Then it's sweat city
For a ~7 minute video, this was densely-packed with information. I appreciate you keeping the value of your viewer's time in mind. Great video - I'll be getting a thicker pad and better pillow myself. Might even start substituting a few things so I can bring my pillow from home.
If you masturbate well, sleep in the backcountry should not be a problem.
@@bastogne315 thank you for that nugget of information
@@bastogne315 < moron.
@@romeobenvolio4145 welcum..
and also pretty stupid because he does not care about size, then just bring your whole bed with you
A PILLOW! Not a rolled up jacket or the end of the backpack, but a dedicated pillow. Everything after that seems secondary. Even my most ultralight kit includes a comfy pillow. Maybe for one night you can get away without it but bad sleep adds up fast. Thank you for summarizing in minutes what it took me 25 years of backpacking to truly understand. I try to be ultra minimalist in every other respect, but to me the pillow is the bare minimum.
I actually sleep better with a rolled up jacket than with any small pillow. It really depends on the person.
@@yourTuBaer Same. but I'm not very picky on that aspect of comfortability. Ultimately warmth and mosquito defense are the non-negotiables for me.
Agreed. Got an Exped mega and never looked back. Sleep so soundly.
Well stated! I remember when I first was going light I had many of sleepless nights but soon learned it doesn’t matter how light u get if u don’t sleep your not going far the next day. Ultralight on my gear BUT PURE COMFORT on my sleep system👍
My sleeping improved immensely with a Fillow Pillow.
I think it’s fascinating that we can have the same challenges but come to different conclusions. I had a Big Agnes q-core for years, it worked quite well for most applications, but when I started bikepacking across the US I came across a problem: gnarly spiked items that would deflate my pad. From goat weed to burrs I found myself battling a flat air pad in the middle of the night more often than I liked, and ended up changing my pad for one of those close cell foam pads. While it wasn’t nearly as thick, it was very warm, and I learned that I could make a very comfortable bed if I padded my sleeping area with pine needles or leaves.
If you have the chance try padding it with about 1metre/1 yard long birch or similar saplings or spruce branches. Layed out in strings with the new layers tips halfway on top of the previous layers roots.
Takes some time and only dooable with landowners permission but was how people slept warm outdoor here in scandinavia even in winter and still how the swedish army does it. A reinder hide is the ultimate sleeping mat on top but they do not like beeing directly on the ground, spread hairs and are bulky. Only about 120cm/4feet so you need 2 unless you rest your head on top of the backpack and the feet on top of the shoes or clothes.
In the Australian outback, where similar spines were a risk, we carried a separate closed-cell foam matt each, to go underneath our tent floor. After all, those same spines going through your tent floor are going to create LOTS of problems in future. WE had no punctures in our Exped mattresses.
@@petesig93 We used that system 50 years ago and still do
1:00 thick + wide
nemo tensor : warm + comfy
seattosummit ether light : best compromise between warmth and comfort
q-core slx : most comfy but colder
2:30 quilt > sleeping bag bc you can move around
zenbivy 7L sleep system : sheet + quilt + pillow holder + loops to hold the quilt in place
4:40 pillow : nemo fillo
I like how you described your journey towards good sleep. For me, it led me to a hammock-based system. It’s not for everyone, but once I learned the skills needed and figured it out, it’s the best sleep I’ve ever gotten outdoors. It really does make all the difference.
Same here. For me it's a bridge hammock. Combining that with a good fitting underquilt (Warbonnet Ridgerunner and Lynx) makes the best solution for me. No sleeping mat needed. Add a big tarp with doors and you are good to go for every weather condition.
@@z6t6z6d what hammock and quilt do you use?
Well i have been thinking about getting q hammock for a long time but... I find a big problem that there are many places where you can't put the hammock. In some places very high there are not trees
@ yeah. As great as they are, hammocks aren’t a fit for all situations. But when they are, oh man!
do you live in bear territory? I want to sleep in a hammock but always think hmm a bear could technically just come right up to me and take a bite
The other thing I learnt, is that going an extra size up (if it is an option) is also a good idea if you are an active or wide sleeper when it comes to sleeping bags/quilts, seems completely obvious but I have always gone for the smallest size possible to save on weight and cost, only to learn that my sleep always seems to be crap.
Yeah good tip, nowadays i dont mind getting1 more kilo or even more if it will mean a better sleep
this can be good and bad - if you are in cold weather or are a person that is just generally cold at night, extra room in your sleeping bag means more space your body heat has to warm up. just something to keep in mind! but personally i'd rather have the freedom to toss and turn and be slightly cold than to be hot and mummified :D
I came here to say this. I'm a side sleeper but love my sleeping bag, it's my dad's old sleeping bag and he's a good 30cm taller than me, so the bag is big enough for my side sleeping tendencies and still feel warm and cozy during those -10c camping nights!
For my fellow unhoused people who learn from these videos but contrive cheap/alternative gear: 1. Fuzzy blankets are more lightweight/compact relative to the warmth you get from them when compared to average non-fuzzy blankets, & also when used underneath you they keep you from feeling annoying dirt/debris against your skin.
2. A spare hoodie is great to have (can tie it around your waist or otherwise tie it to things so it doesn't take much inventory space) because you can wear a primary hoodie while using the secondary one as a pillow, a face covering when sleeping during the day or in serious cold, a warm wrap for your feet (stick 'em in the sleeves!), a light moisture shield over your stuff, a knee pillow, or tie it into an extra bag for holding things, among many other uses.
3. If you're trying to sleep okay at night in an urban environment, cardboard & free newspapers aren't just stereotypes, they actually work for insulating you from the ground. Don't be afraid to look like a cliche, trust me, once you try these you'll wish you'd used them sooner. Also rolled up free newspapers inside a spare shirt can make a half decent pillow. Very belated edit: Also, concrete absorbs a lot of heat from sun during the day in warm enough seasons/areas, so it can be a nice thermal bank at night. Sure grass is a little softer but all that soil & moisture transmits cold very effectively. If you're using a thin bedroll anyway it may be worth feeling some cement for a moment to see if it's warm & setting up on that instead, it's usually not all that much harder (compared to dirt in areas I've been in anyway) & you might sleep a good deal warmer for it.
For anyone unhoused, don't even bother with these videos. It's mostly for glamorous weekend warrior types from cities and have too much money.
Want REAL suggestions that is also affordable? Look for videos from thru-hikers who are on the trail all year round. They cut down on the gimmicks and also use what's on their backs.
Personally, I have used all these sleeping pads and fancy things, but after a couple months of "roughing" it, I mostly just have my tent, a hoody, and a couple extra blankets under me and my bag as a pillow. It's cheap, works pretty damn well, and not at all fidgety like all this high tech stuff.
Unless you need to stay light because you're going on some extreme hikes, none of this ultralight expensive stuff is necessary
@@user-tz9jh6pv2j I agree yeah. I think videos about the high-tech stuff can be great inspiration for brainstorming, and _rarely_ a piece of particular gear may be worth investing in depending on one's resources and exact circumstances, but yeah in general the hobbyists with fancy gear live in a whole different world from those who are outdoors for lack of safer options, right there with ya
@@user-tz9jh6pv2jThank you, I was gonna point out how unnecessary all the purchases in this video are. I suppose if you're truly backpacking, these things are a bit more compact and lightweight compared to fuzzy blankets stuffed in a backpack but as long as your pack is big enough and you're not backpacking for a month
Yup. This video should have been titled, “How to be a wuss outdoors”.
@@NoahSpurrier I don't think there's anything especially virtuous about subjecting oneself to discomfort without a practical reason. Nothing wrong with people harmlessly accommodating their own preferences. Some people may have pain conditions or other pragmatic reasons as well
I went through the exact same progression. Started with a closed cell pad which led to back, hip, and knee pain. Tried my buddies inflatable and slept awesome. Went with a quilt for versatility... an improvement both in sleep and weight savings. Then discovered wide pads for keeping my arms from falling... another game changer. I've stopped short of the zen bivy and fancy pillows as adding more crap is not in the cards. I love my solid 8 hours in the backcountry.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I bikepack and I'm also, like you, a side sleeper. And I have noticed the very same issues you did with traditional sleep systems. I'm currently using a Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed which is a cross of a sleeping bag and a quilt and find it works for me. But a larger thicker pad is definitely on my shopping list along with a better pillow. Thanks again for a well-thought-out video.
Consoooom more
It's going to be quite hard to adopt this huge and bulky quilt solution to bikepacking, don't you think? I mean, it's about twice as big as my cheap 2p tent
@@vasiliipopov416 Thought the same also this kit will cost u 300€ or something. My last bike pack I did (4 weeks) with a simple Therma-Rest (40€) a ALDI Sleepingbag (40€) and a broken self inflating pillow (20€) that wont stop inflating. whole cost ~100€ in total and I would not say may sleep quality was an issue. But I have to say that I am tall and skinny side sleeper, I like hard matresses and beeing in Sleepingbag is quite comfy.
bikepacking is by far the most demanding when it comes to size and weight, so the sleeping system proposed here is not an option at all. In my experience, the NeoAir X Lite has been great so far (as long as you keep all punctures fixed), but I have to say, i'm a skinny 180cm guy. I can fully side sleep and keep my arms in the entire night. Either way, I've found that after a few weeks my back will start asking for a bed, but I think we can't expect less after all that time sleeping outdoors. For long haul trips (8 months or so), I use a nice liner (Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme) which provides great comfort. Also, I stretch before sleep and get into the liner with as few clothes as possible.
@@jonnykidnap4082 yes but was it also in the snow/rain/wind/winter? In summer almost everything is possible
22 about to be homeless but still want to do good and achieve in life so watching you’re videos to learn how to survive the best I can so I can still work hard and get after it no mater what.
Thanks man you help all sorts of people in all deferent times of need in there life.
You should be proud.
How are you doing now brother?
Yes, you doing okay?
How are you?
I've been into camping for 8 years. The points you presented in this video are exactly spot on! I agree with you 100%. The only thing I didn't use is a quilt + sheet, I just used bigger sleeping bags
Honestly a quality pillow is the key to a goodnight sleep anywhere and I’m glad you brought that up. As someone who has broken their neck in 2 different places I’ve been picky about pillows since then and it’s been like a quest to find the best pillow I can regardless of where I lay my head. I do plan on doing a lot more camping starting at the end of this month and I’ve been searching for the right gear to be able to get the best out of my adventures so I am so glad I stumbled across your video. I also like the idea of using a quilt vs a sleeping bag because I am a side sleeper as well and like to kick up my knee, which my old Marine Corps issue sleeping bag doesn’t really allow for. I still use it for now but things might change after seeing this really useful video. Thanks for the excellent video with quality, concise information. 👍👍
After approximately 30 years of camping in various forms, seasons and styles, l agree with everything you are saying, having learned the hard way through experience.
As l grew older, sleep became even more elusive so l added one more piece to my camp bedding. I was always responsible for not only my sleep systems, but of my companions, wife and children so a simple and inexpensive solution to comfortable sleep was the addition of a simple fleece blanket to everything you mentioned in the video. The fleece blankets are inexpensive, can be purchased almost anywhere, are often made from recycled plastic bottles, and add that warm feeling of being home, in your own bed. They are also easily washed and compactable. Simple solution to a comfortable sleep in the bush.
Yes! Fleece blankets are the best
i haven't tried a fleece one, but sometimes costco sells these nice down ones that are super packable and now go everywhere with me!
@@jlt131 :- Actually l also have a fleece blanket from Costco...l call it my "comfort blanket" and take it with me when l do overnighters when visiting family.
Sleeping in a hammock has given me the best sleep over any sort of tent. You can't always get a big sleeping bad to shove in your pack. With a hammock you don't have to try and negate the cold ground if you just have a pad to flatten out the bottom and a sleeping bag to curl up in, that's optimal imo. Of course if you have no trees around you, youre sort of out of luck.
Agree with hammock, but 12yrs Army Ranger I can sleep anywhere.
A hammock is a perfect solution for warmer places. But can you use it in cold weather?
@@caiofernando Absolutely, you buy a down under quilt and you can sleep down to 0°. I sleep in a Warbonnet black bird XLC hammock and I bought the Warbonnet wookie under quilt . I’ve never been so comfortable in all my life
If you are car camping, you can build yourself some turtle dog stands. There are lots of TH-cam videos on using them. I made four of those stands fairly easily and I sleep on the beach all the time in my hammock with two turtle dog stands. Just search for them on TH-cam
@@stampede963 Being from Brazil, I had never heard of "under quilt" in my life until yesterday. I love hammocks, and now I know they're even more versatile than I thought.
Thank you!!! Your comments about the width and thickness of the pad make me realize this is why I've been struggling to get a good night's sleep while camping. I feel relieved that I'm not the only one who can't sleep on a thin/narrow pad!
Dang, that video was amazing! You mentioned specific products, you described what worked for you specifically, but discussed it in a way that I think anyone can put into practice, when putting together an outdoor sleep system. Can't wait to try this out!
You put into words all the many little things that annoyed me when I was trying to sleep. Thank you SO much for finding solutions AND sharing them!
Good info. I found switching to a quilt made a huge difference, as did switching to a self-inflating pad. They just seem to handle side-sleeping a bit better. And here is a little tip, particularly for big guys that struggle with any camp pillow. You need a pillow high enough that your head stays in a straight line with your spine if you sleep on your side. That is just an anatomical fact, there is no getting around it. So no camp pillow you will be willing to take backpacking will ever be high enough on its own. But you can make a crappy pillow out of your spare clothes, then put a more comfortable pillow like the small therm-a-rest on top of that thing, and voila, you have a pillow that is high enough to be comfortable. It doesn't matter that the lower pillow is crappy if the one above it is comfortable.
Almost 2 decades in the military and this video has taught me a few things. It’s not completely compatible with some of the things I have to do while on exercise or OP’s but it does give some useful information and specific items for me to look into
Before I even complete the video, this is by far the best video talking about outdoor sleeping system. Right to the point. Thank you very much!
Great if you have a fortune to spend.
I’ve always used a sleeping bag unzipped like a quilt, except if I’m out in winter, best of both worlds then .
One thing for a pillow, a home cushion in a vacuum bag, the pump is tiny to pack it back up too.
yeah, this video felt like a man that cannot enjoy anything unless he'll get himself $1000 worth of equipment
It sounds like he goes back country very often, in which case why not spend a bit more to ensure you’re enjoying your time?
Sleeping bags usually are much (!) better insulated on the top part than on the part thats underneath you when you sleep in it zipped up. so when you unzip it and use it like a quilt you might get cold unter the part of the sleeping bag that´s not well insulated
What really helped me is having a soft/natural fabric between the cold and clammy nylon or polyesters from my pad and sleeping bag. I've used a bed sheet sewn into a sleeping bag and I've used a yak wool blanket which feels pretty nice.
I've also ditched the inflatable pillows and just stuff my puffy jacket in my neck gaiter for a quick pillow.
I normally sleep with +2 pillows in my house but for the outdoors the clothes-pillow always works for me
i cut a cheap walmart pillow in half, sewed it up, and also stuff in a wool gaiter
I have tried multiple fancy pillows mentioned here and they would take a night hike from under my head every time.
Forgot mine last time and used my puffy and a few clothes rolled in the puffy and because of the weight they stayed in place and it was actually the most comfortable because of that.
For me it's the ample nape of a female Bigfoot's neck or nothing for a great backwoods slumber.
those natural silk sleeping bag sheets/liners feel amazing, super lightweight and compact aswell. in warm summer night you dont even need the bag, just the sheet.
This video transformed my camping life. I made immediate changes starting with ditching my sleeping bag in place of a regular bed sheet on my inflatable pad, a blanket, and a decent pillow. As I upgrade my gear, sleeping while camping has improved measurably. Thank you for breaking this down so effectively!
For the guy who prefers winter hikes even more than summer ones, warmth is a key for me. After I've got myself Therm-a-rest Xtherm pad and TNF Inferno -28C sleeping bag, I can say I've reached the level of comfort which allows me to sleep 9-10 hours straight in temperatures down to -20C in my underwear only. "Going outside" (for pee) almost naked in -20C and be confident that I am going to feel warm and cozy 10 seconds after I jump bag to my sleeping bag is priceless. As of the pillow - stuff sack still works perfectly for me (I've tried inflatable pillow and it is okay, but not in winter time definitely).
I’ve found using a fleece jacket or pair on long under wear wrapped around the inflatable pillow helps keep it warm
Once I got a sleeping bag with a quilt option, it changed everything. I have a thick, wide pad too and I am able to move around, which was impossible in a mummy bag. My wife, on the other hand, loves to sleep wrapped up in a cocoon.
The downside is the pad is bulkier and heavier, but I now use an external frame pack and that carries weight MUCH better than an internal frame, imo.
Does not all sleeping bags have that?
In addition, I also recommend a sleeping mask and earplugs.
Something that makes it darker as you're drifting off that can easily be shed the moment you need to see; could be a mask (like I use at home) or something like a hoodie (which I wear back to front while sleeping camping.
Earplugs are a quality of life thing because when I'm out and about I'm much more alert, so the slightest noise is a _oh crap, is there something out there?!_ reaction. Eventually I might get so paranoid that I have to check outside (hint: on a Scottish island, there's nothing that can get you aside from the midges) and be assured that no, there definitely isn't anything to worry about. Earplugs reduce the worry of those noises _just_ on the periphery of hearing, which makes it ever so much easier to get to sleep.
I've slept outside in many remote locations (albeit neither were particularly hostile wildernesses, and only in a single country), but the thing I have found over the 15 years I've been doing it is that apart from the occasional crickets, the countryside is virtually mute at night; but it might might have something to do with the fact that I've also been sleeping in a bedroom with window view to an arterial road, so my night time audio threshold has creeped way up over the year.
@@vale.antoni aye, I think that's my problem, my ear is used to noise, so the absence of it sets it on edge desperately trying to parse out _anything_. With so little info to work off, it misinterprets innocuous things like "wind in grass" as "maybe there's a sheep coming down by the tents. Maybe. Just *maybe*. Are you sure it isn't? Maybe it is actually out there" etc etc
Imagine going into the wilderness to sleep lol
That the sound of nature that doze me off
Sure.. Mask and earplugs so anyone could sneak to you a go through your stuff
Probably the best video I have seen covering sleep systems. After a couple years of trying out things on my own, I've settled in on a Nemo Tensor wide pad, Enlightened Equipment quilt, Therm-a-Rest Synergy Luxe Mattress Sheet, and a Therm-a-Rest Compressible pillow. Then I stumbled across your video. I was SO close to your exact recommended setup! I only missed it by a Zenbivy sheet... I can attest to your setup; it works! I choose to carry the extra weight in exchange for a good night's sleep.
As for the Compressible pillow losing loft - what I do to combat that is toss it in the dryer for 20 minutes or so (no heat) every so often. That restores its fluff in a BIG way, and then I store it unrolled. I only roll it right before I pack it, and unroll it as soon as my tent is set up. I'm kinda bummed that Therm-a-Rest has changed the design of the pillow recently. It used to roll into itself and cinch up like a taco. The newer ones fold in half, and don't appear to have the loft the original one had. The new design is a big fail, in my opinion. Probably explains why the old ones are now selling for 2x their original cost.
WOW! It feels like you're the first outdoor buff to talk honestly about comfortable sleep - I too need to have one knee up - otherwise I get back pains... and I can imagine there are way more people out there who feel the same.
This is video is really helpful, thank you!
maybe because others sleep totally different?
I mean I watched the whole video but you know what? I dont move in sleep and I actually sleep like I am in a coffin so on my back and arms and hands folded , I laugh at pillows since I was a child. The interesting thing is the quill but that is it but then again if I sleep only under the stars this would worse then a sleeping bag :D
A combo of overhanging tent + hammock + mat + sleeping bag with a hood + airplane pillow that goes around your neck + any sort of a blanket inside of the sleeping bag for added warmth has been the best for me so far, honestly.
Update: aparently it's totally suitable for both cold weather and large wildlife, but maybe not for insect/snake ridden places.
i'm in bear & cougar territory and prefer sleeping in the hammock so i can see out when there are sounds of prowlers in camp. But I suppose if you're somewhere with things like giant venomous spiders and snakes it might be preferable to be in a tent!
I've definitely slept in the hammock in the winter, you just need a warmer bag/blanket setup and make sure that pad or underquilt stays put.
@@jlt131 that's really cool info, thank you :)
Nothing beats an informative yet concise video like this! Thank you! 100% fully agree with your endorsement of the Fillo. Changed my sleeping game. I have two versions and got one for my wife.
I’m now likely going to pull the trigger on the zen bivy core sheet and Big Agnes mattress. Time to pass my NeoAir Xtherm on to a younger camper
What version of the Fillo did you find worked best? - they seem to do many different sizes
@@jamietratalos1261 The two I own are the standard Fillo and the Elite. The standard is great for general use camping and weekend backpacking. I reserve the Elite only for longer backpacking treks where I'm trying to shave every ounce I can spare. It's great for that, but sacrifices some comfort due to its size and fill. I haven't tried their Luxury or King versions; I'm sure they're likely more comfortable though likely add bulk and weight
100% agree with all you said. I went to large (but extra light) air mattress with excellent R and a high end quilt many years ago and It was amazing the difference! The pillow and other stuff makes perfect sense. Great info! Thanks
I bought a cocoon pillow a few years ago and I’ve been very happy with it. I even take it on planes because it’s so packable. I totally agree about the thick pad. Last backpacking trip, I was willing to haul the extra weight to get my exped megamat lite up the hill, but I don’t regret it because I actually slept in the backcountry.
Very good option for sidesleepers - sleeping pad for a hammock. It has "ears" to put arms-legs on it, which can also be bent to keep warmth at the sides. Klymit hammock V is a great example
Haven tents are awesome as well
Finally a camping video that has good cuts, interesting personality and I can watch without skipping at all
I agree with just about everything you said in this video. The one thing I do differently is the cover on the pad; I use an over-sized cover/sheet that over-hangs the edges of the pad by quite a bit. In this way I can stick my legs out without having them on the ground. I can stretch out all the way and not worry about the cold shock. I strongly agree, also, that the proper pillow is absolutely critical for a good sleep that does not put a kink in your neck overnight.
Nice video and great ideas. Thanks.
For fall and winter camping under your air mattress spread out a tarp one side waterproof upper the other side shiny reflective. Place the shiny side up so it reflects your body heat back at you. Over top your spacious air mattress place a 1/4 inch foam pad. This will add some more comfort and you are less prone to slide off slippery surface of air mattress while you sleep.
Bring an infinity scarf or woolen toque or generous size neck warmer, one only uses for sleeping. Nothing more annoying than having cold nose or ears when you are trying to rest. This comes from 11 years in the infantry.
Be well
I am an extremely toss & turn-y side sleeper, and every issue you talked through is exactly what I've struggled with sleeping backpacking. The zenbivy light bed is especially the type of thing I'd been wishing my quilt provided and I am so excited to find it! I'll definitely be giving it a shot next
That was one of the best intros I've seen on TH-cam in a while. Great job, Steven!
One of the top informative no B.S. videos on what I was looking for. None better. So good I had to subscribe! And I purchased the Big Agnes Q-Core pad & Nemo Elite Luxury pillow! Next is the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 Mtnglo 3 person tent and footprint to replace my Mountain Hardware Skyview 2 person tent that I've owned & used for almost 20 years!!
I really dig this channel , I’m a long time backpacker and constantly learning, but recently my 13 and 10 year old have decided they’d really like to try backpacking ( we’ve family camped since they were little) my biggest challenge I think is going to be shelter fir the three of us. Great job keep up the good work.
Nailed it. A couple of years ago I resigned myself to carrying the extra weight of a thick and wide pad. Invest in sleep.
So glad to have found this channel! Nowadays, even though I'm still a young dude, I've found out that I've gotta have a good sleep set up due to developing back issues. I miss my teen years of going on FTX's with nothing but a thin bag and crap mat, but somehow sleeping like a baby the moment I crawled into the hoochie tent.
Saw some folks recommending hammocks in the comments, and as a person with anxiety who gets paranoid from noises outside my tent, having that ability to see my surroundings would definitely help! Big bonus for being off the ground and no zipper fumbling required.
Super duper agree! My best sleep while hiking was with a sleeping pad and use my sleeping bag as a quilt, plus a comfy small pillow. I slept like I wasn't even outdoors. 🙌
There speaks the voice of experience - thanks! The pillow is no.1 for me and the Nemo is the best I've found. A tip is to make a bit of elasticated webbing with velcro to make a strap to hold it in place on any air bed - works a treat. Packing a warming bag than you need allowing you to unzip it partially also gives that bit more freedom / comfort. Yet to experiment with wider pads ... but yes.
For the best sleep and the lightest weight, go with a hammock and under quilt. Great video, appreciate the rapid pace with good info and visual examples. I'll definitely be watching more!
I’ve backpacked hundreds of miles in the UK and have almost never camped amongst trees. I’m sure I could if I planned it that way but that’s not how I’ll ever choose routes. I envy those who have the hammock as a choice…but that seems to often be in bear country. I’d never be on foot where there might be bears. I’m sure that’s partly due to living where there’ll never be but….
My sleep system must weigh less than half this guy’s, even when there’s been snow. Tho I’m always a side sleeper at home, I’ve trained myself to use short, narrow everything and to sleep on my back, elbows resting in my shoes…a tip from a US book. It works.
@@peterdelmonte9832 True, there are usually bears about but only black bears and they are basically just large raccoons that run away when yelled at. I have yet to camp in grizzly country, though I'm sure I will eventually, those guys are another story!
I've also backpacked a number of miles, I was a field guide for a year and I spent more time in my hammock than I did my real bed. It would feel weird to me to not have trees around! Though I'm sure the scenery in the UK would be wonderful and I'd happily sleep on the ground to experience it! If you have the opportunity to backpack the States don't let the bears scare you away!
Just got my new Nemo insulated from a warranty claim. Real comfortable pad. For years and years I used a stuff sack stuffed with my spare clothes,, I have since upgraded, and you are not wrong. A pillow is very important. Great video
A pillow is such a small thing but it makes a big difference. Thanks for watching
One of the greatest informational videos on TH-cam to ever exist
I have avoided camping out for decades because I didn't think it was possible to get a good nights sleep. This video opens up a whole new world of hiking possibilities for me. Thank you!
Something I've found that's worked really great for me, is I'll put my inflatable pad INSIDE my sleeping bag. I use a Klymit Static V and some Kelty bag I can't remember the name of, and putting the pad inside the bag made a world of difference. I'm a very active sleeper that tosses and turns, so my mattress pad would always slip out from underneath me, but my method completely eliminates this issue.
I'll have to try that pillow you recommended. Right now I use a generic camping pillow that compresses down pretty small, but I swapped out the stuffing with some from a "squishmallow" (a type of stuffed animal with a proprietary stuffing that's very, very dense but still soft and malleable). The stuffing is like halfway between memory foam and a bean bag in consistency, and it's been super great (though it's much too warm for summer nights).
I’ve been backpacking since i was a kid and i did a stint in the marines. Never had any trouble sleeping in the field. It’s something i often look forward to now that i live in the city
Exactly. Save the pads for the panties and who really needs a tent? Just a good bag and poncho liner is really all that’s needed. I sure don’t miss carrying all that weight and my armor plates, though!
I figured the same things out myself early this year, and my backpacking trips were far more enjoyable throughout 2022 as a result. Great advice, I agree on everything!
For anyone curious: personally I have a Nemo wide air pad and Nemo sleeping bag, I love both as the has extra space for people who like to curl their legs up and the pad is wide but also lightweight. I have used quilts as well and can’t recommend them enough
A free and pretty effective alternative to an air mattress is laying down soft needled bows like pine before setting up the tent, it adds a cushion under you and some space for air to insulate
Not great for LNT though...
Yes!! I was waiting for a review on the Zenbivy Light Bed. Just finished an overnight with the Light Bed 10 and a Nemo Tensor and I was more than warm enough on a 40F night. Super comfortable and definitely packable with the dry sack and compression straps.
At 30 degrees above the rating I would certainly hope so
400 bucks for a blanket???? I just zip my sleeping bag up about 2 feet and use it like a quilt with a pocket for my feet…works perfect for me.
That's some serious money for a blanket though fecking hell
Hey Doug - quick question.... since you´ve slept in the light bed 10 on a 40f night - would you say the light bed 25 would be the better pick for those temps. Was it "too warm" at any time? Trying to figure out if i should get the 10 or 25 zenbivy
I came across this now, and I've just subscribed. I'll add on to what has already been said, appreciate you valued time-keeping and managed to condense into a well-produced video!
I’ve found that having a decent pillow is the biggest factor for sleeping through the night. I always wanted a pillow that was part inflatable part cushion!! Thank you for showing me one exists!! And the quilt idea seems 👍😉
My favorite setup for side-sleeping might be a little expensive and slightly heavier but I take it on backpacking trips and I think it’s totally worth it - is a thermarest backpacking cot to level out the ground and give a little flex and an *under*-inflated Exped mattress on top of that to create amazing comfort and then my rei magma sleeping bag sometimes used as a quilt and a good pillow. I’m going to check out the fillo, that looks like a nice improvement.
I use this exact setup, zenbivy + S2S ether light square pad + thermarest compress pillow and a Nemo Fillo on top of that. Slept in 20 degrees for two nights in a row and was warm, comfortable and refreshed in the morning!
Hey Robert - do you have the ether light as the long version? (201 cm) cuz i wonder if the big s2s will fit the zenbivy bed though. Thank you in advance!
@@brzmow I have the Large version - Large: 78 x 25 x 4 inches and it fits my Zenbivy just fine!
Awesome video, great to know good sleep is possible and that suffering isn't just part of the experience. Would love to see a follow up video talking about how much pack weight these extra comforts add.
Thank you addressing being a side sleeper. My hips and back are always achy after camping.
Dig a hip hole.
I also recently realized how big a difference a good pillow makes. I had tried a stuff sack with clothes (soft, but is pretty much always compressed already with no loft) and inflatables (different shapes and sizes, but never actually comfy even when inflated to the right height), and I just ended up with the Thermarest compressible pillow. It still packs down acceptably small but it's made a huge difference to my sleep
Hello! Great video and I agree with 99% of everything you pointed out. With regards to the pillow - I do agree that finding the best for YOU is the most important last part of your sleep system which in the end is the final and most important component. For me, I got a small cotton pillow case with a zipper and then I stuff my light weight down jacket into it and it seems to be the perfect amount of loft to match my pillow back home. In the end I don't add any real weight onto my overall backpack weight and it gives me great sleep results results.
Interesting sleep setup! I suffered forever trying different pads and sleeping bags. I am 6’3" 260lbs. I settled on an ExPed Megamat Lite 12 LXW. I pair that with an Enlightened equipment XL max fill quilt and 2 large size Thermarest FunGuy compressible pillows. I sleep on my side and use 1 pillow between my knees. That’s all about 5-6lbs for my sleep, and worth every last gram (and $ lol).
For car camping I got the Teton XXL cot and pad for it. That thing is a beast. I sleep like I’m at home on it. Happy camping!
I haven't been out there in a long while. But I'm looking at getting back out there soon, this is helpful thank you.
My old favorite setup (for the summer time) was a sheepskin rug, a thin wool blanket, my regular pillow, and a tarp but only if it's more than a drizzle. For the mild winter time I just throw on a thicker wool blanket, and a little hotties hand warmers.
This was SO helpful. Even just knowing that all of this stuff exists makes me hopeful that I can get back into backpacking after avoiding it for so long because I sleep so badly on the ground!
Great insight to a comfortable nights sleep in the back country. I’d like to add a few tips. First, a comfortable pillow is key. One of my luxury items is a very soft pillow case. Plus it reduces the slip factor off the pad that most people battle… Second, I love using a silk cocoon liner. I’m not a fan of wearing pajamas/long underwear. I’m much more comfortable wearing a soft cotton teeshirt and shorts. Plus the liner adds warmth, protects the quilt from body oils, prevents you from compressing up against the quilt causing cold spots, and gives you a comfortable layer between you and the pad. Third, in order to increase the R factor of your pad and to reduce the cold from seeping up from the ground I recommend using a 1/8” foam pad to put under your inflatable pad. This foam pad can also replace your sit pad. I have a 20”x40” foam pad, 1.7oz, by Mountain Laurel Designs that I use. It has many uses, I can use it for yoga, to lay out all my gear on when the ground is wet, to nap on at lunchtime. And lastly, it’s important to wash the grime off your body. I find a clean body is imperative to a comfortable nights sleep! Happy trails…
Yeeesss!!! Yess to all!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
So, back country back packing, how do you wash all the grime off for a comfortable night's sleep?
@@judylloyd7901 you need 3 things. Campsuds Soap, available at REI, or any biodegradable soap, a microfiber towel 12”x12”, and water. You can figure out the rest from here… Hope you sleep well in the back country!
Baby nappies are great for wiping sweat off your body if a shower or bath isn't an option
Great video.
My old NeoAir not being repairable, I bought the new model, the NXT, large version.
Since a few years I am also using quilts. The one I use now I made it myself, and it has a lot of straps.
Thank to your video I now know that the only thing left is a proper pillow 🙂
One of the best, to the point backpacking videos I’ve seen. Thanks for making this
HOLY MOLLLLYYY!!!! The opening was way toooo epic to kick off the sleeping system of the backpacking video!!!! I'm in love with your edit!!!!
I always struggled in mummy-style sleeping bags and contoured pads, but mostly with the bag.
However once I got a double pad (Exped duo LW) and sleeping bag (Sierra Designs backcountry duo) to share with my girlfriend, I slept very well. Even better when we car camp and bring our down pillows from home.
Your tips here should set those with sleep issues on the right track 👍
Great video. I just got back from a backpacking trip with a Zen Bivy, Filo and Tensor based on your recommendations and had the best sleep ever in the backcountry. Keep up the good work.
this entire video was so relatable. Incredibly helpful thank you!
I can highly recommend checking out the Klymit Pillow X Large. The design is so simple but clever that it solved my issues better than anything else i tried, including the fillow.
Having an indentation in the center keeps your head cradled there, which was my biggest issue with anything inflatable. The material is soft and less rubbery than most so you don’t go deaf from readjusting your head. It works with setups like your zenbivy but also sticks to the not-velcro tabs that come with the etherlight xt pad to keep it in place. i recommend deflating it just a touch after filling it.
Another small tip is if you’re looking at the etherlight pad, consider getting the womens model instead, especially if you’re a side sleeper. The shape is better for knees and elbows to stay on, the R value is slightly better, and the cost is the same. It’s fairly misleading calling it a woman’s design when imo it’s just a BETTER design, regardless of who’s using it.
@@thegreenman6216 Yikes! I know about elitists out there, but my impression is more people are gravitating towards a balanced approach: save major ounces wherever you can (like a dcf shelter) to afford weight that adds major enjoyment elsewhere (like a plush sleep system, or a fancy coffee setup). You still get the benefits of keeping your overall weight down while tailoring it to your hiking style. That’s what makes it a fun hobby for me.
I’m actually experimenting right now with using the X pillow as the internal air bladder for the fillow, to have the best of both designs. i just can’t find my fillow after moving house 😭
I have that same pillow! I also love how small it is packed up.
Regarding quilts: be sure the quilt's straps that hold onto the pad are ELASTIC to give the quilt flexibility of movement. Regarding pillows: a good cheap pillow (self made) is egg crate 1.5 to 2 inch open cell foam cut to desired size inside a regular pillow protector (also cut to size with the cut side sewn closed.
I love my Q-Core, I took a similar journey as you and the width and QUIET of this pad is unbeatable, I recommend it to everyone. Big Agnes knows what they're doing.
Inspired from this video i bought Big Agnes Los Dog 0, Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core Deluxe Wide and the Nemo Fillo. Slept in tent last weekend with my daughter and the scouts, never been so comfortable in a tent before, thanks!
On a most recent section hike I took 2 inflatable pillows and no 2 do not work under my head but I discovered as a side sleeper the smaller trekology I had worked perfectly between my knees and took some stress off both knees and back while the off brand bigger pillow worked for under my head. I had never tried a quilt until 2 trips ago and I’ll not go back to bag I think until I hit below freezing temps and even then I’m not sure. Thinking below that it maybe my 15 degree bag and 25 deg quilt as a combo we will see.
I love the Paria down pillow. Best part is, you can insert your down jacket in the lower bottom to make it even thicker. Wonderful purchase of a clever design.
THANK YOU. You're recommendations may have just saved my backpacking experience
To help with my back pain( I’m disabled from an old motorcycle crash) I use the Amok Draumr hammock with an air mattress with insulation and you can still sleep on your side comfortably.
This video is great 😊 I will be looking into those products. I only hammock camp solo but mostly tent camp with my kids.
The best change in my sleeping set up was when I started wearing a thin merino wool layer to keep myself not horribly sticky. I went on a 3 week hike last September, and I had several brilliant nights sleep
I'm still working on fine-tuning my sleep setup, but the first game changer I figured out was to under-inflate my air mattress. Makes it feel squishier and conform better to my body's angles.
The best compressible pillow is the my pillow travel pillow. The patented fill can be compressed and is very comfy and when adjusted the fill actually stays in place. Think of having a shredded memory foam mattress in your pillow. Love them!
I tried your tip ref sleeping bags and now, along with two Thermarests one on top of t'other, I leave the bag open like a quilt and it works very well. I keep a Snugpack blanket handy if the temperature drops overnight, but otherwise, good tip - ! 😊
I don’t sleep outside often but still, this was an incredibly informative video and I will definitely take some of that info into account when buying new equipment in the next few months.
Thank you
What I've learned on two thruhikes and a lot of shorter ones is that the key to sleeping well with any system is to spend enough time on it to get used to it. After a while on a thruhike I'll sleep better on my pad than in the occasional motel bed. That said I've also found that something like a Z-rest works OK for me on softer ground, but not on the wooden floors of AT-shelters or on stony/uneven ground.
My favorite (even after trying thicker air mattresses) is the thinnest self inflating pads like a Prolite (but trying a NeoAir UberLite is tempting). The thing with the self inflating ones is that they are soft and warm enough (for me) with less height which makes it easier to sit up in the tent and (slightly) reduce the chance of the sleeping bag touching the end walls. They also only need a couple of breaths to be fully inflated, but that's not a super important to me.
Personally I find mummy bags preferable to quilts although I often unzip the bag completely making it almost quilt like. When it's cold though I think the mummy bag still works better and that's the main advantage. Just one item that extremely versatile and just works.
Conclusion: It's not one system that works well for everyone. Take what advice fits your needs from this video and other advice on sleep systems. To see the other end of the spectrum take a look at the "JupiterHikes" channel.
Same experience. For long-distance hiking, I prefer a 3/4 zip mummy bag. It is quilt-like most of the time, but can zip up tight for a survival situation, paired of course with a light silk liner for extra warmth and keeping the bag clean. I also like a short closed cell for tent sleeping and also for breaks. Shelters are kinda hard, so a mid-length narrow inflatable was best to maximize shelter occupancy and comfort. Guess I'm lucky I like a thin pillow, since my down or fleece vest makes for a fine pillow.
I can already tell this is going to be my go to page for hiking/gear tips. Thanks for making this video!
I have reached a similar conclusion. Life's too short not to have a good night's sleep while backpacking. I'm currently saving up for a quilt and the Big Agnes Rapide SL pad. Nice and comfy!
Pillow is, by far, the most important component of my sleep system! After trying ~10 pillows (including fillo), I kind of settled for Exped large down pillow. Not perfect, so the search goes on.
For me the best has been a DIY pillow I made from Apex insulation leftovers from a quilt I made. It’s like a real pillow but miniature in size.
i’m on that journey with you, brother. currently trying to find my fillow so i can use the klymit x pillow to replace it’s internal air bladder, since the fillow is just a sleeve with a pouch for some thin foam and anither for the air bladder. i have high hopes for this one.
Interesting. As a backpacker for 50 years, thanks for your video. I agree that more room and a better pad help sleeping immensely. The idea of a light down blanket in lieu of a traditional mummy bag is intriguing for mild climates. I would point out that in colder weather a sleeping bag is essential, though a mummy style is not for everyone. For me anyway, staying warm is very important to good sleep. I found that wearing a pile pullover cap helped alot. In later years, I switched over to a light rectangular down bag in lieu of a mummy bag. Lots more room to spread out feet and legs. Also unzips for use as a blanket in milder temperatures. For a pillow, I stuffed my down jacket into a stuff sack, but always covered the nylon sack with a cotton T-shirt. Nylon is too cold and doesn’t absorb any moisture.
For summer I take a cheap light synthetic down puffy blanket, fold in half lengthwise and sew up across the bottom of the foot area and maybe a foot up the side to make a home-made top quilt for under $30 and about 1 pound weight, yet it sleeps roomy and warm enough. I make a lightweight 3/4 length underquilt from a smaller synthetic down quilted blanket. Together the two weigh under 2 pounds, pack tiny, and cost maybe $50. Just right for summer backpacking with a hammock.
I think I may have invented the air pillow. Back in the late Eighties I hiked the Appalachian trail, and had by that time enough experience to know that you go light or you don't go. So I sewed a small pillow case (maybe 8x12) with an opening just big enough to squeeze in a bladder from a boxed wine container. Come bedtime I'd blow it up and throw my jacket over it (mainly to quiet the noise of the bag). It worked pretty well, and served as a second, emergency water container (in case the primary one got a puncture. Wine bladders also are great for fetching your nightly water supply. It too needs a protective (nylon) cover.
I love seeing products that have been designed really well
A cheap and lightweight option that provides cushion, insulation from the ground, and squeezes down to a tiny tiny size, but has no problem fluffing back out when you pack it, and can have multiple uses, is a car washing sponge from the dollar tree. Been doing it for years now with no issues.
Like the oversized yellow sponge 🧽?
You mean as a pillow?
@@Arenpat No, no. They use it as a mattress. It was written by Stuart Little.
@@rp8164 In the UL scene nothing's impossible :-D
@@Arenpat True....UL mice dock their own tails to save on weight :D
Great video, I’ve arrived at these same conclusions myself over the years.
The Nemo Fillo was an absolute game changer, as is the quilt. I have a Nemo Tensor also, and it can’t be beat for weight & comfort, packs down small. However, for comfort alone, I found the Air Rail to be superior. Just doesn’t pack down as small as the Tensor, weighs a little more.
So glad I stumbled across this video - I'm about to start motorcycle camping, and have picked up my preferred tent, mat and pillow, but I've been waiting on dropping my hard earned on a sleeping bag - now I'm going to look at the zenbivy quilt option cos I'm also one who side sleeps and likes freedom in my legs and feet. Thanks dude!
I am so glad I finally found someone doing a video review on the Zenbivy!! I have have slept in sleeping bags multiple times from Kayak camping on a river. So i wanted more comfort so i started researching for 6 months before my first week long camping trip to Maine. I bought the extra wide Term-a-rest since i am a side sleeper as well as the Zenbivy light bed 25. This was the first time I ever camped with a sleeping pad because my bf said we never needed one kayak camping on the river- so it was always just a crappy sleeping bag.And freezing my.. well you know. I slept comfortably in Maine at Mount Desert Campground between 35-65 degrees. We knew it would possible get to the 30's in mid September. Which it did. I would never camp without the Therma- Rest or the ZenBivy. You can roll all around and bump into your partner comfortably. After seeing my set up he wants one too. I highly recommend the ZenBivy! My question is since Pads, Sleeping gear and tents are the heaviest for backpacking are their lighter options for pads with a high EN rating that you would recommend for quality sleep? Thank you so much for making this video!!!!