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Baltic Life offers advice for those who have decided to step out of their comfort zone. Planning to go outdoors and spend the night? We asked the experts for practical advice.
Contrary to popular belief that a sleeping bag is the key, Traveller representatives stress that a warm sleep starts with a good mat. Whether you choose a soft and comfortable air mattress or a minimalist foam mat, make sure you look for the thermal insulation! Internationally, this is denoted by the letter "R" and is indicated on the mats by every reliable manufacturer of camping equipment.
The mat provides an insulating barrier between the body and the ground, preventing heat from escaping. This also applies to sleeping in a hammock! Where the body is pressed against a cold surface, heat is released. Read more about mats in the Traveller tip series here.
Once you have chosen your mat, look for a quality sleeping bag that is suitable for the season and tested to "EN 13537" or "ISO 23537-1:2016" standards.
It is important to note that the EN/ISO temperatures are given in ranges rather than exact numbers, because the sensation of warmth is a very subjective measure influenced by many factors. Some of these include the body build and gender of the sleeper, whether the sleeper has eaten enough and taken in enough fluids, fatigue, clothing, how well the sleeping bag fits.
The environment also affects the feeling of warmth - how warm the mat is, whether it is windy or humid, whether the sleeper is sweaty, whether the sleeper is used to sleeping outside, etc. However, despite all the variables, the EN/ISO standards are the most objective baseline to go by when purchasing a sleeping bag.
Protection from the environment and shelter. Whether you plan to sleep in a tent, hammock or hay wrap, take into account the weather and don't forget about the nuisances of a good night's sleep like mosquitoes and gnats! So if you sleep in the open, use a mosquito net or apply a skin protectant. "Traveller experts recommend products that repel all insects, including ticks!
If you plan to sleep in a tent, it is important to think about ventilation. It is advisable to choose a double layer tent, as this type of tent has better air circulation. Vents should be left open and the top layer of the tent should be stretched so that it does not come into contact with the inner layer of the tent and the ground.
If you wake up in the morning feeling cramped, this is a sign that there is a lack of oxygen and insufficient ventilation.
It is also advisable to pitch the tent away from water tanks, as humid air encourages condensation.
If you like to sleep longer, a tent with black-out material will be useful. This way the tent will heat up less and the sun will not shine in your eyes early in the morning.
Clothing. There is no such thing as bad weather, just inadequate clothing! To be comfortable in all weathers and to spend your evenings enjoying the scenery and sipping a drink instead of shivering in your tent, follow the "onion principle" and choose quick-drying, lightweight materials that can be easily layered on top of each other.
Dressing in layers makes it easier to regulate your body temperature depending on the activity and the weather, and to avoid excessive sweating. When it's cold, we layer up to keep warm, and when it's hot, we put the extra layers in our backpack!
A versatile basic kit for any adventure: thermal underwear, fleece jacket, hiking trousers, warm layer (light but warm down or synthetic fill) and rain jacket (protects from precipitation and wind, and acts as an extra layer for warmth by trapping heat produced by the body in layers of clothing). Add another layer of clothing, hat, gloves and neck warmer as needed and as the season allows.
Leave your favourite denim trousers at home as they are made of cotton. Cotton is not the best choice for adventures as it takes a long time to dry and absorbs up to 270 per cent of its own weight in moisture! In comparison, polyester absorbs only 0.4 per cent of moisture, silk 30 per cent and merino wool 33 per cent. Wet clothes are cooling, so denim trousers will act like a fridge on your legs!
The same goes for socks. Cotton socks collect moisture and contribute to blisters, so if you're going for a longer hike, go for hiking socks.
This is just the basics to make sure that sleeping outdoors doesn't turn into an unpleasant experience!
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