Last night I finally got around to taking my first step towards a proper wild camp before the end of the summer. I bought a DD 3x3m tarp a few weeks ago and have been watching many videos about how to set it up as a summer tarp tent. Yesterday evening I finally got around to setting it up in the back garden as a trial run, to iron out any problems and test out some of my, now very old, gear.
this sleeping bag must be 20+ years old but very warm!
first time actually using this bivvy bag
Finding it more cramped than expected I’ve watched a few more videos this evening and realised that I should have set it up slightly differently and I would have had both more headroom and space to lie out.
Other things I learned last night:
- I can still get excited about very simple things – took me ages to relax enough to actually get to sleep
- Needing a pee at 3am is more complicated in a sleeping bag and tent!
- Listening to heavy rain from the inside of a tent is strangely soothing when you are inside dry and warm
- The flat bit of our garden isn’t – there’s a very slight slope that’s only noticeable when lying down
- For a place in the middle of the country there’s a lot of noise at night.
- I was very surprised by the amount of condensation inside the tarp this morning but the grass was soaked when I pitched which could have been the cause
- The night air smells and feels different when sleeping outside
I’ve also learned from YouTube that a hot chocolate before bed is pretty much compulsory for expert level wild campers.
I have plans for further “proper” wild camps over the next few weeks but I definitely need to invest in a proper sleeping mat very soon, these old bones need a soft surface to lie on…..
the idle cyclist 
No sleeping mat. Ouch. 😲
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I did have one. It’s thin and cheap and not up to the job but better than nothing….just about!
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self-inflating mats are very good, condensation – that its why tents have flysheets. a small one-man tent with a sewn-in groundsheet would be far better than what you have. the one I used when stowed into its stuff bag hardly took up any room on the back of my bike and was ultralight. but you will find out what works for you the more you camp.
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I was surprised due to the amount of ventilation with the open front end but I’d say a lot of it was from the wet grass. I’ll be trying my tent next but it has much less space inside.
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Camping is all about compromise, if you are prepared to carry it you can have all the comforts you desire, me I go for the least I can get away with, although my tent was only about 18 inches high so I could not sit up in it, the flysheet formed a small shelter outside so I could poke my head out and cook up a meal in this sheltered space even when it was raining, so lots of things to think about when you buy your tent. good luck with your new adventure.
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Well done – personally prefer a tent but see where you’re coming from – surely you have the added bivvy bag to carry that you wouldn’t need? I look forward to seeing how this advances.
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The bivvy bag was overkill, just as a test as I haven’t actually used it before and in case the rain got inside. I ended up taking it off as it was too restrictive.
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I used to camp years ago. Now I count any hotel below 4 stars as a camping trip.
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😆
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It’s amazing how far sound travels.
No sleeping mat… been there!
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That’s a neat setup you’ve got! My wife are big into camping… but we’ve got a pop-up camper. I don’t miss tents one bit!
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It’s amazing. Love it.
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preparing for a camping trip is quite hectic, hence why I like your idea of backyard camping. You can literally do it any time you feel like.
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