How to Set Up Sleeping Bags in Tent Camping
- 1). Erect the tent, including a rain fly if necessary. Keep all items except for a sleeping bag and pad out of the tent prior to setting up your sleeping gear. It can be difficult to do anything in a small tent when there is camping gear all over the floor. Decide the end at which you and any other campers will place your heads.
- 2). Roll out your sleeping pad completely. Although a sleeping pad is not necessary for camping, it can make a huge difference in terms of comfort. A good pad is the difference between a comfortable warm night's sleep, or stiff limbs and exhaustion in the morning. If you are camping in an area with possible bad weather, make sure to set up the sleeping pad and sleeping bag so that your head is in the highest spot, away from wherever water might gather.
- 3). Unpack your sleeping bag and unroll it on your pad. Shake the sleeping bag out a bit so that it can breathe. A sleeping bag that has been packed into a stuff sack might smell a little stale. Make sure that your tent provides enough space for you to fully stretch out your legs without touching the sides. If your sleeping bag touches the side of the tent, it might collect moisture and dampen your bag. Always place the stuff sack somewhere you will find it easily.
- 4). Shake out your sleeping bag when you are finished camping and stuff it into the stuff sack. If your sleeping bag rolls up, fold it once along its length and tightly roll the sleeping bag on itself (always follow the instructions provided with the sleeping bag). Use the cords on the sleeping bag if they are provided, or carry a strap of some sort to secure the rolled up bag. It will be very important for you to air out the sleeping bag soon after you return home. Any moisture the sleeping bag might have collected will cause rot if the bag is not properly aired and dried.
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