“So…you want to try camping without a tent.”
That was how I opened the first ever blog post I published for Barefoot Cas. I was 19, visiting my aunt, and did not pack my tent when I flew to Washington to meet up with her.
Inevitably we went camping while I was there. The caveat: my aunt’s travel van is really only outfitted for a single, short person. She got the van, I got the ground, and this post was born.
BEFORE YOU PROCEED…
You really should just pack the tent, okay? If nothing else, it will save you from mosquito bites. But hey, if you’re 19 like I was when writing this post, it really isn’t so bad.
1. Put a tarp under your bed
Unless you want to wake up wet and soggy, this is a non-negotiable. Otherwise, your bed will start wicking up moisture from the ground while you sleep. The next morning you’ll be sitting on a log, sipping your coffee while waiting for your bedding to dry out before you pack it up.
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. Or sand. 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
Honestly, terrible idea.
Hammocks are a lot of fun…for about two hours. I love the easy setup, and they’re great for naps or reading thrillers. But 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! 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, keep in mind you may need 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 setup camp
If you’ve never camped without a tent before, you have no idea how distracting it is when the moon is like LED headlights trained on your face. It makes it almost impossible to sleep.
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. This is one instance where it actually helps to know your lunar cycle.
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 and wear layers
You don’t realize how much a tent helps keep heat in until you try camping without it. 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.
When 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 nice to have it there if the temperature starts dropping.
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.