5 Mistakes That Cause BAD SLEEP Outdoors
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- Опубліковано 6 лип 2024
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Bad sleep is the worst part of backpacking. But there are a view things you can do to help you sleep better. Check out these 5 mistakes that cause BAD SLEEP Outdoors.
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Check out Zenbivy: geni.us/zHZGQx
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Tent I’m using in this video: Zpacks Duplex: geni.us/Agxnca
To determine slope better, put your water bottle on the ground like a level
I don't understand this. Wouldn't this level be too small to observe what the slope is over an area as large as your body?
@@poochproductions just to tell which direction the slope is man
Great idea!
GENIUS.
Thats a great tip but it would be for such a small section of ground ....it could lie. if you take them how about laying your trekking poles in the spot close together then put the bottle ontop of that....pure ghetto level.
Most phones have built-in levels: put its edge on a trekking pole and you have a pretty good way to judge how level a spot is.
Now this! This is brilliant idea 💡
I typically backpack with a group of guys and it’s hard finding level tent site for each of our tents. So inevitably I have to sleep on a slope. The solution is to carry a Thermarest Z Lite Pad (1/2 Pad) - 7.2oz and us it as a sit pad, nap pad, yoga mat, (many uses), but in this case use it as a wedge to level out your sleeping area and to prevent slippage to a side or to the foot of your tent. It works great. I never worry about a tent site that isn’t level anymore!
I am still conflicted about the use of ear plugs in the backcountry. The thought of using ear plugs while camping in the backcountry, i feel like i am gambling with safety. Me personally, i would much rather be able to hear any noises near camp, so that i can be aware of any unusual, suspicious, or threatening noises. Correct me if i am wrong, but i suspect that the use of ear plugs was likely popularized more by thru hikers when staying at crowded shelters or crowded campsites to shut out snorers. If not staying in a busy campsite and just camping out in the middle of nowhere in some true backcountry, i would much rather not use ear plugs (even if camping out there with snoring friends). I also feel like i really enjoy the sounds of the night right before falling asleep, like the sound of crickets and sometimes owls. For me, hearing the night is part of the outdoor experience and why i go out there.
I also have the same reluctance about ear plugs. And reading about that lady in glacier national park gives me even more pause.
I would consider using earplugs only while sleeping in a big group of friends.... And not in grizz country. Every other situation I would rather have woken up.
Eye masks on the other hand have been THE MOST helpful sleeping tool ever. Doesn't matter where I'm at, I'll use a disposable face mask as an eye mask, and I'll be able to take at least a "restful sit". Try it if you are having sleep issues.
@@andrewchristie2970 I'm pretty sure if a grizzly attacks your tent while you are sleeping you're done for. If you are sleeping even if the noise wakes you, not much you can do. By the time you unzip the grizzly has you.
@@Derchlands I was thinking the same, too. Call me a paranoid android but I always sleep better in the backcountry with a knife beside me - but it's more for peace of mind sleep, rather than fending off hostile wildlife. 😂
I always use ear plugs and sleep with my pistol
At less than a gram, they are a piece of my kit that I always bring along even if I don't use them that often. I enjoy hearing the wind and the nature sounds when I am going to sleep. But, you can't always prevent other hikers from camping next to you, and not having to listen to other people snoring is more than enough reason for chucking earplugs in my pack.
On my last trip I was woken up by noise. In this case, a whole pack of dingos having a pow wow up the canyon. One of my coolest experiences. But I eventually put my earplugs in because after twenty of howling and barking the magic had worn off.
Keep in mind too that deeply ribbed sleeping pads are designed to allow some amount of loft, so they can be significantly warmer than a flat pad of the same r-value. Made a big difference for me on Denali. Also bears love to dig around in rock piles for moths, one of their favorite treats.
The power of a proper sleeping pad! Upgraded this year to a 25 inch wide with a higher R-Value and it made a huge difference in my comfort level.
Really, hmm, so, well, which pad do you have?
Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm Max, Size Regular Wide. Not for everyone, but seeing that I backpack in cold weather fairly often due to where I live, it made sense for me, despite it being on the heavy side. I'll be using it all year round. I find it comfortable and the noise level doesn't bother me I am a cold, but deep sleeper. I'm happy with my choice and that's all that matters.
@@isabelledrolet4297 Im a light sleeper, but I should rent xtherm for one night for test(when it gets cold) . Warm mat sure makes a difference. Im currently happy with Exped downmat 7 LW.
Yeah a few years back we dished out for some fancy sleeping pads with down feathers in them to really ramp up the insulation value (exped somethin or other like the person above). We were nervous because all the cheap ones we had usually developed leaks, but they've been great! I can lay on my side and none of the cold from the ground gets through. The only thing they're missing is a way to attach them to our sleeping bags, I find that I sleep lighter sometimes because my brain/body is trying too hard to stay on the pad.
I love your channel so much. I watch it for information, entertainment and relaxation, and I find myself 'saving' your videos for the perfect time to fully enjoy and re-enjoy. Thank you!
Earplugs were the game changer for me, I will never camp without them again.
It may sound crazy, but first, I lay my tyvec/pad down on the site I picked, lay on my pad to find my most comfortable orientation, then I pitch my Duplex over the pad. Great night sleep every time!
I camp in weather that is from near freezing temperatures, on up. I use only a 3/4 length pad. I don’t need a pad below my knees. In 65 years of camping, me feet did get chilly 3 times, I placed my seat pad under my feet, and dozed on.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
Peaty single malt whisky is what saved us many times when camping in the Scottish wilderness!
the bonus is the critters think you're unfit to eat when you breathe right on their noses lol, give me whisky over benadryl any day
A buddy and I were backpacking up on the bench country in Jasper Alberta. Full moon, and either a coyote or wolf sashayed up to the front of our tent and relieved itself. Could clearly see it's outline and all that it was doing. Too funny. I guess it wanted us out of there. We laughed and went back to sleep.
lol that's a boss move, guess they know the monkeys in the fabric triangles don't usually carry the boom sticks
Yup, have experienced pretty much all of these things at one time or another. Just recently I was doing some wild camping and there was a pond a bit of a way away from me, didn't think much of it at the time, it was getting late and I needed to get my hammock set up. Well turns out it had toads, large LOUD toads that sound like big wind bags or someone strumming a single note on a bass violin, too late to move camp at that point and did not have any ear plugs with me. I had very little sleep that night and spent a good part of it wishing I had a grenade or stick of dynamite.
There's an invasive frog species on Hawai'i that goes "boop BEEP", which is all very cute until there's ten thousand of them going into the night! Quite the maddening cacophony.
Just picked up the Zenbivy light bed 10 a few weeks ago with some help from Devin at backcountry exposure. I love it! Can't wait to get it out and use it. Great channel dude!
I love my zen bivy..but the zen bivy air mat is the most comfortable and warm sleep pad I own. I love it
I'm really starting to like this channel, good content, great and real life tips, straight to the point. Awesome!
I'm a bit odd in that drafts in my quilt are one of the main features that pushed me into switching to a quilt in the first place. A 30 degree bag is too hot for me, but a 30 degree quilt is just perfect especially if I ditch the pad straps.
Ohhhh another great video!! Thank you so much!
You're really making a difference.
BENADRYL!! How could I have completely overlooked that?!
That’s a GREAT idea! Thank you!! 👍👍👍👍
Best tip I got was to put down ground cloth and actually lay on it to determine the best lay before you pitch your tent. Then I got a hammock. Unless it is super hot summer camping you need underquilt for hammock. Ear plugs definitely make a huge difference and your bug tips are spot on.
Good hints for tent camping. One trick I do is after finding a campsite I get down low and hold my head parallel to the ground. This highlights the grounds angles a lot better for my line of sight. The greater majority of the time the ground is not a problem since I hammock camp. My head is always elevated and there aren't any roots poking me in the back.
No ear plugs for me. I sleep really light and want to hear whats going on around me. This way I can have an idea if it's a problem or not. 99% of the time it's not. I have to admit that a Armadillo or a couple of them plowing threw the Florida scrub will make you listen. They sound like a heard of Florida's Wild Hogs coming at you , especially on a clear , cool night. One time tent camping I had two of them walk right into ( bump ) the backside of my tent.
Great video! Please do an entire video on the Zenbivy sleep system with features of all the components and how it works!!! I'm so interested!
Great editing and content my man. Well done
Digging into some old ones tonight. Good stuff.
One thing I do to test my tent spot is set my foot print down where I think I want my tent. Just lay down on it and see how it feels, it's super worth it to save the time of setting up your tent.
On that note another thing I have to mention because it keeps happening to me every time I go hiking. When you get to your spot if you have never been there before, maybe take like 30 minutes to poke around the area and find the best camp site. I've gone on trips where I wound up moving my tent 3 times because I just kept finding better campsites in the same area because I was too impatient, this works nicely if you are solo and wanna camp away from the crowds.
Yup. I do the same makes sence🙂
Really good practical advice.
Just came home from a bad night of sleep in nature. I wanted to camp in the summit with a new tent and there was a much better spot (with trees and less drafts) that I decided to ignore because there was a nice view at the place I camped, figured out it would be very cool to awake with the horizon in sight. Nope, bad idea. The wind fighting its way into my tent kept me awake for hours and in the morning the sky was overcast so I couldnt see much.
Great tips! I personally don’t use ear plugs because the sounds are part of the experience for me and where I camp for the night I never have to worry about company of the human persuasion.
I find this super interesting, as I have been practicing Bushcraft in my backyard since February. My small property is fairly level out back, but it’s out of level in the key spots where I always want to sleep. Your first two points I learned immediately! I experienced the rolloff situation, however it be ever so slightly, yet very noticeable and yes… it ruined my sleep. As for me, I have bad reflux, so sleeping sloped down toward my feet is a natural thing I look for anyway. Rest of this video is excellent as well. Oh and the bug thing, in my situation I use a moving blanket from harbor freight which sets on top of my ground sheet for tarp tenting; it provides extra warmth and carpeting during winter, but the summer months I pre-treated it with Permethrin. No bug screen - I use Picardin spray On my face, neck, wrists and hands. I’ve never had any bug situations this summer during the night, and I literally sleep out every single weekend, sometimes one or two nights during the week!
In the Great Lakes areas, it’s different than when I camped in the Sierras. A “relatively high” spot of ground is important. An inch or two of elevation can help prevent sleeping inside an invasive water bed. EVEN ground can be both important to good sleep, and a detriment to good sleep. I often scoop out a 1” deep hip hole. It can make up for an air mattress that isn’t quite thick enough.
The next step, after scooping out a hip hole, is to scrape away all debris from the area that will be under the tent, and in the entry way./s. That is both to protect my tent, and my sleep.
I do not waste my time, money, or energy carrying a footprint for under the tent. They only prolong the inevitable leaky tent floor. Already knowing that my tent floor cannot be depended to be water proof, I work to protect myself. I make and use a visqueen plastic “bathtub” for inside the tent. Hardwares sell large sheets of visqueen. Cut a piece that is about 6”-8” longer AND wider than your tent floor. Fold up the edges and miter the corners. Secure each folded corner with duct tape. This bathtub goes into the tent first. Several campsites and rainstorms have conspired to let me see water puddled - or flowing - in my tent, but UNDER the bathtub. I, and my gear, were dry.
If you have to pitch on sloping ground, pitch to sleep ALONG the topographical line, not ACROSS it. Then stuff clothing and gear along under the downhill side of your sleeping bag.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
Great advice, thanks. It always amazes me how people don't put any thought into a tent site. If you are camped anywhere with ground that doesn't drain you are gonna have problems in a tent. I've been attending a music festival for 12 years now, can't tell you how many people I've seen camping on a compact dirt field, in the one spot that's 1 inch lower than the rest of it. Yeah not a good morning for them. It's always fun if it's like midnight when it starts raining and you see all the wanna be hippies run around trying to figure out what they are gonna do... probably traded their rain fly for a grilled cheese sandwich cause it was 90 degrees earlier that day lol
I'm scratching my head a little....you won't bother to carry a footprint for below your tent that would prevent holes but you're willing to bring one for inside because now the holes in your tent let water in...it sounds like you need a new tent. I would never not use a ground cloth...I can replace tyvek (way stronger than visqueen) for 10.00 vs 700.00 for my tent...The manufacturer doesn't even recommend a ground cloth.....why would they, they're selling new tents. I'm on my 3rd tent and none have holes.
And the ground cloth doubles as my rain skirt or a nap bed or clean place to sit if I don't want to lay in dirt all sweaty.
Bummer that you're no longer hiking in the Sierras....thats a big difference to the great lakes area. Do you take bear spray for the bugs up there lol. The Sierras are almost the ONLY thing keeping me in this sick state. Reno is looking pretty good these days.
Peace - great hiking
@@nedanother9382 G’day, Neda. I understand your confusion. Here’s my train of thought.
All tent floors will leak or seep water; if not today, just wait. Most of them not when new, but will with use. A bit longer if a good footprint is used. I have had brand new tents that weeped or seeped in nonrainy weather, so that water droplets covered the floor.
Tent floors will leak or seep right through the fabric. Or water can enter through seams or sidewall fabric when standing or flowing water is around the tent.
I scrape away debris from the tent site before laying out the tent. This helps to protect both the tent and my air mattress. Lotsa junk in campgrounds.
Lastly, I’m more concerned about protecting the camper (me) than the tent. The plastic bathtub has served to do that several times. When, not if, a tent didn’t meet expectations, the bathtub does.
I strongly concur about the Sierras.. I was up around Route 49, Foresthill, Lady Canyon, and Ruck-A-Chucky Rapids. My best to you.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
yeah I'd add that to the list of mistakes, nothing worse than waking up in a shallow stream/pond that you thought was a nice flat spot
@@bruce-le-smith thats the best argument for not setting up in an established spot. It quickly becomes a bad spot in the rain. I have to say im so guilty of setting up in what could be a horrible spot in the rain. But as luck would have it (until now of course) ive never had a problem with rain in 10 years. Only been rained on 3 times for very short period. Never at night! Only a light snow once. Once a thunderstorm at 12000 ft which kinda sucked but never had a wet tent from rain. All in the sierra but 1 in the pnw. Im screwed now because im going up on thursday for the weekend. Weather supposed to be perfect.
nice to see the comment about benadryl, if im partiularaly sore I can find it hard to sleep so will take a paracetamol, it dulls the pain and knocks me out. I've never really talked about this as it feels like an abuse of medication so im glad you have talked about it in this video.
I LOVE mine. It is the best sleep system I have have. I even use it in my hammock and it works great. I think I said as much in your last video.
Great tips! Glad you were able to get all the insects to participate as extras. 🙂
😅
VERY curious about Zenbivy! Looks like a gamechanger. Good tips
I was backing twice this week in the Colorado Rockies and the mosquitos were like this. However, the trout were liking a mosquito pattern, so it kind of balanced out.
Another fantastic and informative video, thanks for sharing! Just for info the Sierra Designs cloud series also have a similar sheet over the pad system.
Well done list
Thanks a million! Gr8 stuff!
All good tips!
Great topic good suggestions.
Big Agnes System bags do all the above. The pillow barn is especially nice for a good nights sleep.
Great video
You touched on it, but I second the idea of something to cover your eyes. When you wake up in the middle of the night with your eyes fully dark adjusted it can be surprisingly bright, especially if the moon is out. I just use a small hand towel, or a jacket sleeve can work in a pinch. I still end up waking with the birds and first light tho, but I like it that way
Man, how you keep your cool with all the bugs, respect :)
I've struggled sleeping while camping my whole life. This year I went all in on a sleep system (zen bivy + eitherlight Rec Large + good pillow) and It's 1000 times better, I toss and turn and sleeping bags never work LOVE my Zenbivy. Can't recommend them enough. Bot the last year model with coupon made the price a bit nicer.
Great info! What tent is that!?
Great tips. I always have ear plugs.
I'm with you and a little Benadryl when ya can't sleep!! 😊
Really getting into all of your videos brother! Will you be putting out another trip video soon?
Thank you RedBeard
I foolishly camped on a very windy ridge on the TRT (power lines CW below Relay Peak). No humans or animals making noise. I was very proud of my ultra-low and tight wind-shedding tarp pitch but the wind howling through the trees was still SO loud! With ear plugs I might've slept through the night. Sunrise views were epic though, and I was wide awake to watch. 😛
ah good one, after level, it's true that wind and water are the two invisible things to watch for in a site. Much better to be in the leeward side of a wind channel, or at least behind a good boulder
thanks for this video, I really enjoyed watching it, but couldn't stop thinking about those mosquitoes trying to bite you. Do you have any tip to avoid them?
Your content is awesome. I stumbled across your channel a while back and am glad I did. And thanks to you I picked up the Alpha Cruiser as me newest go to fleece. But dang you got some skeeters in this one for sure! Cheers!
It was hard to film due to all the mosquitoes!!
@@MyLifeOutdoors Well you held up quite well...
I bought a ZenBivy, new rectangular Therm-a-rest, and a Fillo after your last video on sleep. Just waiting for it all to arrive!
I'm half deaf, and a side sleeper, so I don't need earplugs - I just put my "good" ear on the pillow and I don't hear anything!
I wouldn't recommend Benadryl as a sleeping pill. There are other medications for that purpose that if you know you need it, then you should bring it.
Next video idea: How to deal with mosquitoes in a really buggy campground!
I've had some camping trips where the mosquitoes were dive bombing my stove - inevitably leading to mosquitoes in boiling water or in cooking food, and a nice pile of dead ones under the stove. Most likely attracted to the carbon dioxide from the stove.
If you wanted to eat with your bug net off your face, you had to walk around to eat - a lot of extra steps after a long day's hike!! We each had our own personal cloud of mosquitoes following us around. Bug head nets only do so much. Mosquitoes bite through thin shirts and in warm weather, you can't layer up to avoid this!
It sucks on trips like that where the only real escape is to climb into your tent. You lose out on the camaraderie of sitting around the dinner "table" or campfire (where permitted).
Benadryl is the sleep aid used in pretty much all the over the counter drugs from tylenol pm to night time cold medicines. You aren't going to find anything better over the counter and even if you consider prescription drugs it's still one of the better options.
I downloaded a level app on my phone and use it all the time to find the flattest part of the ground. Also to install a friend's AC. It's surprisingly helpful.
Low-tech alternative: a water bottle
@@csn583 Oh that's good, if my battery is low.
most smart phones come with a level app by default. my iphone from 6 yrs ago came with a level app. my current android phone came with a level app.
@@vincentvega5686 interesting, my android didn't have one automatically but the app was an easy, tiny mb fix.
I've always found that just laying on the ground before placing my tent does the trick just fine.
We love our Zen Bivvys!
I just bring my transit level 😂Jk The water bottle idea is pretty good to get a rough general primary direction of slope especially if you take a couple readings across your proposed sleeping spot to rule out any anomalies
04:38 in military training, eye masks for sleeping were issued with equipment. studies were hurled at us about it's efficiency.
yeah it's hard to find a perfectly flat spot sometimes. Especially if it's overgrown or somethingI was at a campsite with nice spots but they aren't graded or anything, you still have to find which part of the area is actually flat, and flash floods wash parts out so you come back the next year and it's all uneven. Last time I set up I thought my spot was flat but it was too grassy, I couldn't just look and level it by eye, since I couldn't see the dirt. I just set up right on the grass because it seemed flat enough. But then that night my head was way too high up and I kept sliding down to the foot of my cot, it was very frustrating how like a 2 degree angle could make so much difference. I didn't want to move my whole tent so the second night what I did was move the foot of my cot over at a diagonal in my tent because the front corner was higher than the back corner, then I shoved a bunch of my empty sacks and dirty clothes and my wet sweater and anything that could be squished and dirtied, under the last foot of my cot. This gave me just enough evenness to actually sleep way better the second night. And that's another thing, if you're willing to carry the extra weight og an ultralite cot insteaf od a bag and pad, a cot can have things shoved under it to change your angle if you mess up your pitch. I hate how heavy it is, but a cot is so much nicer than sleeping on a pad and sleeping bag, those are too hot for me 80% of the year and don't provide enough cushion for my hips and shoulders. The cot is so comfy I'd sleep on it at home if it wasn't a bit tedious for putting away on a daily basis. Instead I got an easy-folding cot I can shove in the corner of my room but it sucks, not comfy like the ultralite :\ cost the same amount of money but the ultralite is way nicer.
What tent is that? Looks very interesting!
My ENT recommended that I sleep with the head end of my bed elevated to prevent acid reflux.
What type of tent are you using? I'm interested.
I sleep like a baby in the woods. The sounds of the woods are soothing.
If your tent site is not level, just shove some clothes under your sleeping mat to level it out. It works really well especially if you notice you're sliding side to side - you can easily create a sort of a cradle.
Is a 1.6 r value good for summer camping where the average nightime temperature is 62° F?
If you carry a cork ball, it’s also useful for the flat ground test. You can see which direction it rolls. I have definitely “thought” I placed my tent in the right direction only to realize I didn’t. Another thing I bring with my is phenylephrine (1.0%) nose spray, especially at elevation. Sinus/nasal swelling is common for people who suffer from frequent sinus infections or allergies. I didn’t realize I wasn’t actually breathing at night and this caused me to constantly wake up. A little sniff, sniff of that spray was like magically fairy dust for my sleep.
Great advice! I didn’t know about the nasal swelling but now that you say it I think I’ve suffered from this.
@@MyLifeOutdoors I always carry my emergency benadryl (children's chewables work fast and are a half-dose of the adult version) and real sudafed if there's going to be any real change in elevation from home base. I've had one trip ruined by sinus inflammation causing excruciating tooth pain - I assumed I was headed for an emergency dentist appointment but mentioned it to someone else as we were packing up and they gave me a sudafed and I was FINE 45 minutes later. The nose spray probably works even faster, but one or the other should be in everybody's med kit. And for anybody who gets sinusy the moment they meet a new pollen for the first time, it can make a huge difference in getting decent sleep.
Sleeping at altitude brings an added set of difficulties. You last point on Benadryl reminded me that I toom half a dose of NyQuil each night on Denali. Made a huge difference. And the ear plugs become more important as the sleep pads get thicker (and louder) for colder weather. Of course, I don't have to worry about hearing wildlife or maybe nefarious humans on a glacier in the middle of nowhere. So, ear plugs have their risks in other environments 😈
I add some clothes under the low side of the pad(for side slope) or under my feet (for slope length). Not perfect, but helps...
Advil PM will help you sleep great too. Just make sure your tummy is full before you take it. And this is for weekenders, thru-hikers should not be popping advil every night.
On my last camping trip I woke up every day with severe back pain. It was the last time I went camping. Now my back is even worse and I have no idea what to do with several herniated discs...
I love the free standing mod you have for your Zpacks tent - I'm curious to know whether it might fit the Lanshan 2 Pro....?
I’ve never seen a Lanshan 2 in person but I doubt it would work as part of the design is built into the peak of the Duplex.
Mountains, hmmm, I have heard of those. Chicago has a mountain. It is over 100 feet above sea level.
The key to getting a good night's sleep is comfort and a calm sense of security. I prefer anything that gets me off the ground. This method cuts down on two problems: One, it greatly reduces heat loss through conduction and two, it almost eliminates the creepy crawlies like ticks. Which adds to the comfort level and adds to your sense of security because you don't have to worry about something crawling all over you. Continuing along this theme a bug net, a can of Deepwoods Off, and those insect coils does wonders.
Great info, but I’ve heard all this before. (I was there when he recorded it…calm down)
Ha Ha----the snoring backpacking buddy. I make sure he is in his own "Snoring Pod" and several feet away from my tent.
valerian root extract is a great mild sleeping aid too. it doesnt knock you out, just makes it easier to fall alseep and speep through. and only side effect is general calmness.
my friend is so bad about closing the tent up. I got my own tent now, both for backpacking and so I don't have to share the big tent with her, but I constantly have to remind her to close the tent. I kinda have to remind her everything, it's weird. She hates bugs so I think the first thing she should remember is to close the tent. She'll go get her stuff from the car and start putting it in the tent and then leave it wide open to get the next armful of stuff, like it's so hard to just zip it and then unzip it next time you come back. I also suggested she do like I do and turn off her light or change it to red light when approaching and entering, or leaving the tent, because the bugs follow your light and when you have the light on all the way up to and through the door, they'll just follow you right in. So I darken right when approaching my tent and then turn the bright back on after I'm in the tent with the mesh closed. I think it's very effective, she just chooses to ignore my suggestions and walks into her tent with the brightest setting on her headlamp, leaves the door open and starts messing with her stuff without closing the door, and then flips out when a moth flies in her face.
😳If something is turning over rocks by my tent in the middle of the night, I absolutely want to know about that! Yikes!
I am a very light sleeper so often struggle to get a good night sleep in the bush, but no way I'm using ear plugs. The Sea to Summit pillow lock system, has hands down been the best things I have found that has improved my sleep, no more pillows sliding of my mat ten times a night.
I can't stand earplugs, but I found a sleep headband with built in headphones and they don't hurt my ears but I can play ambient sound (thunderstorms) on my phone to block out my friend's snoring, works way better than earplugs and can't just fall off every time I move.
Hammocks for me. I just could never get a good night’s sleep on the ground, but I sleep pretty well in my hammock. Cold spots on my butt sometimes - still figuring out underquilts. 😅 Having to empty my bladder 1-3 times during the night is my main problem. I think partly it’s the higher elevation, partly that I of course drink and sweat a lot all day hiking. I try to avoid drinking much for a couple hours before bedtime, but still an issue for me.
earplugs does not allow you to be aware of your surroundings. Certain people have benadryl allergies that they do not learn until much later age that shouldn't be learned on the trail. whisky is great muscle relaxer, aged whisky is high in antioxidants. and in a pinch can be used as an antiseptic
The zen bivy ads have overwhelmed me on UA-cam 😂. Is there a way to try one out in a store before buying? Those bags are $388!!
What shirt is that ? Looks fancy.
3:25 I'd put an astrix over the "only one with a hood". I recently picked up a BigAgness Echo Park bag that functions 90% just like the Zen Bivy, except it uses zippers on the side other than Zinbivy's hooks as well as i think BA is Synthetic only. Figured to toss out other brands out there as i love the concept of the Zenbivy but the price can sting to get one up here in Canada.
I just bought a zen bivy quilt set, I also live in Canada, let me tell you yeah that price stung. After exchange rate and credit card fees it was over 900$ and after that had to pay over 200$ for duty taxes. I had the budget so for me it was worth it, especially since I'm going on a 2 weeks trip in Greenland in a few weeks, but yeah, the price would be reasonable if not for the extra fees just because I'm in Canada. It's not the brand's fault though, that I understand. But once I got it I just fell in love with it. Sooooooo comfy.
Wow! $900 for a zenbivy! But I’m glad you liked it!
@MyLifeOutdoors well that's really because of exchange rate plus credit card fees for doing the exchange. I got the full light bed so I include the mattress in that price. I think the whole thing was maybe 500USD or something like that, which is a bit expensive but reasonable. The real expense comes from me being in Canada but that's been my life story for other stuff I've bought before. I don't regret the purchase. Btw, really like your videos!
I'm sitting here at home blowing these flies out of my face...Kudos to you for being able to make a video with the worlds population of flying insects all congregated in front of your face lol
Are you in the Pecos?
I seem to recognize location
Mmmmmm zenbivy! So good!
Kinda curious what tent that is you're using. Please, let me/us know. Thanks!
It’s the Zpacks Duplex with freestanding kit.
Half a Benadryl really helps me konk out but not so much I won’t wake up if there’s a problem 👍
I found this video worthless, but I guess it would help new backpackers. I'm a thruhiker and have hiked over 3500 miles in the last 2 years. I already knew everything covered in the video. One thing I would add is put your quilt on top of the tent and hardly any bugs will be inside if the door is open. Bugs don't like to be in the shade.
Careful with the benadryl. Some people are hyper-metabolizers and will have the opposite reaction. I will be running up the walls for 4 hours in a manic frenzy.
I do carry some in case I truly run into a weird plant, but no. It will not help me with sleep.
Great video, could you please tell me what sweater you are wearing?
It’s the Farpointe Alpha Cruiser. Check out this video for more info: ua-cam.com/video/gyfLsOU4kKY/v-deo.html
@@MyLifeOutdoors Alright, thanks a lot!
The first time I slept outside, I didn't bring earplugs because nature's supposed to be relaxing. I got NO SLEEP. Them damn frogs and birds kept me up all night with their yelling and hollering. Now, I ALWAYS bring earplugs.... ALWAYS!!!!
lol them damn yellin birds are by our house too, I swear they yell straight in the windows when they're open
@@bruce-le-smith Haha great response.
Mosquitoes? Tiny little bit of Dr T’s mosquito repelling granules (garlic)around the tent. ^^
Benedryl is magical. Not only does it put you to sleep it enhances male performance by numbing sensitivity. Changed my life.....
Benadryl - nuh-uh -- being asleep is good - being knocked out while sleeping in the wilderness is NOT... if you need to get up (for whatever reason) and leave your tent, you are NOT in your bedroom. You are on uneven and unfamiliar ground.... better have a trekking pole nearby to help you keep from falling flat on your face. Learned this one the hard way.
What tent are you using in this video?
Zpacks Duplex with freestanding kit
What kind of tent is that?
Zpacks Duplex with freestanding kit. Link in description
The only thing that keeps me awake is listening for bears.