5 Tips for Camping Without a Tent
So…you want to try camping without a tent.
I’ll start off by saying it’s not my favorite method of camping. Still, sometimes I want to go to sleep watching the stars, without a screen getting in the way.
There are three main reasons you might want to try camping without a tent:
To save money
To save time
You just really like being outside
Whatever your reason is, here are a few tips to help you safely get started…and still get a good night’s sleep.
1. Put a tarp under your bed
Unless you want to wake up with moisture soaking through your bed…use a tarp. Otherwise, there is a good chance your bed will start wicking up moisture from the ground while you sleep. You will have to let your bedding dry out before you can fold it up…unless you want it to mold of course.
Even if you are camping out in a really dry area, you don’t want to wake up and find that the bottom of your camping pad is coated in a layer of dust. Good luck getting it clean before you pack your bedding away!
So yeah, use a tarp. Putting a tarp under your bed also gives you a small (mostly) bug-free zone on either side.
2. Try hammock camping
A lot of people have turned to hammock-camping in lieu of tent camping. Hammocks are a lot of fun, and I love the easy setup. But hammocks aren’t for everyone. Personally, I have a hard time getting a good night’s sleep in a hammock.
If you don’t have a problem sleeping in hammocks, then go for it! Sleeping in a hammock is much nicer than sleeping on the ground because you don’t have to worry as much about spiders or ants crawling over you while you sleep. Hammocks also stay a lot cleaner…meaning you can pack up faster.
If you aren’t camping in a forested area, you might want to invest in a hammock stand so you can set up your hammock wherever you go.
3. Bring mosquito netting or bug spray
If you are camping without a tent, the mosquitoes will find you. I’m not big on bug spray, but sometimes it is necessary. If you camp without a tent, you will get eaten alive…unless you’re in a bug-free area. (The Arctic maybe?)
If you opted for sleeping in a hammock, it’s easy to throw some mosquito netting over the hammock and shield yourself from the mosquitoes. But if you’re sleeping on the ground…well, mosquito netting isn’t so helpful anymore. If you are really dedicated, you can poke some sticks in the ground around your bed and drape the netting over the sticks, creating a nice little netting tent for yourself.
Otherwise, just bathe in bug spray and pray you won’t get cancer.
4. Find a dark area to set up camp
If you are like me, you have trouble falling asleep when it’s still light outside. Sleeping in a tent is okay, because the tent blocks a lot of moonlight, especially with the rainfly on top.
Without a tent, there is nothing blocking the moonlight and stars. Pray for a cloudy night, or you’ll spend more time stargazing than sleeping.
If possible, save yourself the struggle. When you get to your campsite, find the darkest corner to set up your bed. At least try to be out of the moon’s path, so you don’t have a bright light shining directly in your face. If you’re lucky, the moon won’t come up until really late.
And if you are one of those people who can magically fall asleep anywhere at any time…I don’t want to hear it.
5. Dress warm & have extra layers on hand
You don’t realize how much a tent helps keep heat in until you try camping without a tent. Always dress warmer than you expect, or at least have some extra layers on hand so you can pull on a sweater in the middle of the night.
For sleeping on the ground a sleeping bag is always a good idea, even if it’s warm. If it’s too hot, you can just leave it unzipped or sleep on top, but it’s there if the temperature starts dropping or you want to feel cozy.
Layers are especially good for hammock camping, because there’s a good chance you will get twisted up in your blankets, or end up accidentally dumping them over the side. Even if you drape a blanket over your front, you have to consider that there is only one thin layer of plastic between you and the air at your back. In other words…almost zero insulation. So go light on the blankets, and layer up your clothes instead.
Oh, and please be safe
Use common sense. Like, don’t go camping without a tent if you are in an area with lots of bears. That sort of thing.
If there is rain in the forecast, bring a tent. If it’s really cold outside, bring a tent. You get the idea.
Above all, don’t stress and have fun!
For more camping tips, go to my blog post on kitchen box essentials for camping.
