Camping

Bring along everything you need for a good night’s sleep, including quilts, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, blankets, an inflatable mattress or a cot. Because your body will be adjusting to new sleeping arrangements, this is not the ideal time to try out new pillows, so bring along your favorites from home to help your body adjust easily. Some new campers also find eye masks or white noise machines helpful for falling asleep more quickly.

The appropriate type of sleeping bag depends on wet or dry weather and the maximum low temperature. Thin sleeping bags are generally only good for summer conditions, while others are designed for various levels of frigid temperatures. If you’re staying out in the ice and snow, you definitely want to have the right kind of sleeping bag, so check the labels before you buy them. For winter camping, it’s also a good idea to bring more blankets than you might need.