Homemade beds for spending the night in nature. Protective structures, shelters for the night and from bad weather

In order to sit comfortably in, you need two trees standing side by side at a certain distance from each other. This condition is far from always possible to ensure, for example, when fishing on the banks of the river, as a rule, only shrub trees grow. In such a situation, you can create comfortable conditions for an afternoon rest or for an overnight stay, having built a camp bed with your own hands on the basis of a hammock mesh or the same hammock, but made of fabric.

For many people, such a camp or garden bed is more comfortable than a hammock, since you can lie on it without bending, you can lie on your side and stomach.

Dimensions and other features of the bed. The length of the supports is 4 m. The dimensions of the network are 1.3x3m. The side of the cell is 5 cm. The circumference of the outer cells is 40 cm. The rope with a diameter of 3 mm, from which the mesh is made, can withstand a load of 150 kg and even more. The knots need to be kept simple and small, otherwise they will affect comfort. The rope is good twisted nylon and not thin, since a thin thread of nylon is prone to stretching. A nylon rope, but not twisted, but in a braid of the same diameter will stretch more and its strength will be lower. You can, of course, use tarpaulin or other durable fabric instead of mesh.


Near the city of Bordeaux ( France) in the forested area there is an original structure resembling a wooden cylinder. This is a special shelter house where you can stay overnight, spending weekends in nature with the whole family or with friends.




French architectural studio Bruit du frigo implemented a project for the construction of a series of original dwellings located on the territory forested area near the city of Bordeaux. These cylindrical structures called Le Tronc CreuxHollow trunk") Are made of natural materials and really resemble a fallen tree.



When creating this dwelling, the architects were guided by the idea of ​​a temporary refuge located relatively close to the house. If desired, a group of friends or a family who decide to spend a weekend in nature can settle there for the night.



Le Tronc Creux is made of a steel frame covered with planks. Thermal insulation is provided by a layer of recycled wood. There is enough space inside to accommodate 9 people. The cylinder contains three single beds, three double beds, folding table and chairs. Through holes act as windows.



There is no electricity or sewage in this house. A dry toilet is located nearby. You can spend the night in such a dwelling completely free of charge, having previously booked the required day.

Let's imagine that as a result of some natural or other disasters, you find yourself in wildlife... You realize that there are no charms of civilization here, and you will have to live here for some time. Naturally, the first concerns will be finding food and water, but shelter building, this is the third pillar of survival.

Build, and even more so find refuge in the wild- that's still entertainment. Indeed, in addition to the construction of a roof over your head, the semblance of walls, so that the rain and wind are not terrible, you also need to take care of a place to sleep. Sleeping on bare ground is fraught with consequences.

Of course, the wisest option would be to get out to civilization and people, and not sit still. However, if you do not have a map or GPS navigator, and you do not know the area well, or do not know at all, it would be a good option to stay put and wait for rescuers.

There are a lot of articles and tips on building huts from "shit and sticks", we would like to focus on a place to sleep and rest... How and from what to make bed for the night in the wild so that your neck and back don't hurt in the morning?

Most often, in the wild couch done right on the ground, using grass, branches, leaves. However, if there are conifers in your area, in particular the common fir, it may be a very good idea to use it. Fir branches are lush and resilient enough to make a kind of bed out of them, strong and comfortable.

When will you collect branches for the bed, take long branches, 50 centimeters, and short branches, 25 centimeters. Lay long branches directly on the ground to create a "frame" of the bed, and short ones on top of long ones to form an elastic surface. On top of all this, we advise you to use something to isolate and avoid touching the branches directly. The fact is that the needles give off resin, and if you sleep directly on the needles, then your clothes and skin will be sticky. Of course, the resin is washed off after drying, but still not very pleasant. If you suddenly, by a happy coincidence, have a blanket or cape with you, lay it on top of the branches and sleep on it already.

Can grottoes and natural depressions in the rocks be used as refuge?

Of course, people have used them for hundreds of years. Such natural shelters usually strong and reliable enough to shelter from winds and storms.

Caverns are usually formed as a result of rock falls and erosion, or from the impact of tree roots growing at the edge of the rock. Therefore, when you find such a refuge, pay attention to the following things:

  1. Carefully inspect the grotto along the entire inner perimeter. There may be small animals inside, or worse, snakes. In some regions, scorpions can also be added to this charm. So make sure you don't have neighbors before settling down for the night.
  2. Place a little order. In the grottoes, there can often be natural debris, branches, stones, foliage blown by the wind. If possible, clear the territory inside, this will increase useful area, and you yourself will be more comfortable.
  3. Make rain cover. Gather a kind of door from branches and leaves that can close the entrance to the grotto in case of heavy rain and prevent water from entering. Also make sure that the water can flow freely from the grotto.

Hello friends!

I don’t know how for whom, but in order to have a good rest on the trip, I need to sleep well.

If we sleep in a tent, it should be warm, dry and soft. Moreover, when children are traveling with us. The stove gives warmth, dryness is correct, but how to achieve softness? Today I propose to figure out how to make a "home-style" camping bed comfortable and convenient.
Based own experience and the experience of friends, I can say with confidence that there are three main options: mat, self-inflating mat or air mattress... There are, of course, a bunch of home-made options - for example, to lay a place under the tent with straw, spruce or moss, or you can carry ordinary cotton mattresses with you, but we will not talk about them here, since it is much more convenient to use special tourist equipment.

The main purpose of a rug or mattress in a tent is to protect from cold and dampness coming from the ground and to smooth out uneven terrain under the tent. Each type of litter has its own pros and cons. So let's take a closer look at each option.

Karematas
These are rugs made of foam materials: polyurethane foam or polyethylene foam, usually rolled into a roll. Their main advantages include comparative lightness, compactness and low cost. Such a rug can be easily attached to the backpack or placed inside it and does not take up much space. Ideal if you travel to hiking trip.


It can be used not only as a mattress for a sleeping bag, but also as a bedding on the grass for children's games or as a wind damper for a gas burner. (I recommend having such a rug when traveling with children, even if you are not going to sleep on it)
Karemata will completely protect you from dampness and cold coming from the ground, but you will have to adapt to the unevenness of the soil.
This rug does not require special care, just avoid sharp stones and branches and keep it away from the fire, as sparks can burn it. It will be even better if you purchase special covers to protect it from damage.
When choosing a karemat, give preference to two-layer ones, as they are more durable and reliable than thin single-layer pieces and can be used not only in warm weather.

Air mattress

Many people use them not only in a tent, but also in a car, and during the day they also manage to swim on them. They are usually made of rubberized fabric and represent a mattress that needs to be pumped up. If you go by car, there are usually no problems with pumping, the pump is always with you. And some manage to pump it up from the exhaust pipe 🙂


The pluses include the fact that it copes well with the unevenness of the ground and, as I said, during the day it can serve as entertainment in water treatments... Well, and perhaps the relative cheapness. The rest is cons.

  • Firstly, if you sleep on it together, you will sleep in one pile, rolling towards each other (but maybe this is not a minus 🙂)
  • Secondly, it has to be constantly pumped up, even if there is not a single hole, since it tends to slightly lower air under the weight of the body. And in the morning you will still wake up half-sitting.
  • Thirdly, very low thermal insulation due to the fact that you actually have to sleep in the air, which quickly cools down from the ground. In order to deal with this, you have to put an extra blanket between the mattress and the sleeping bag.
  • Well, of course, these mattresses are very prone to punctures, so do not forget to take a repair kit with you. Once with a friend in the forest, even without male participation, we managed to glue such a mattress with superglue and a piece of car tire. As a result, it broke in three other places, and our patch served faithfully.

It is unlikely that someone will drag him on a hike with him because of the large weight and occupied space.

Self-inflating rugs

This is a hybrid of a mattress and an air mattress. It will smooth out all unevenness and provide the necessary comfort and warmth.



It differs from karemat in that the internal structure consists of open-cell polyurethane foam, enclosed in a sealed polyester shell.

Unlike an air mattress, there is no need to inflate it. It is enough just to open the valve and the air will fill the mat by itself. True, this process can take from several minutes to half an hour and it will take a little pumping up with a pump or mouth. The latter is not recommended in cold weather, as the moisture contained in the air exhaled from the lungs can freeze inside the mattress and reduce its thermal insulation. It is also easy to lower the mat - open the valve and roll it up.
Such a rug requires respect for itself, as well as an air mattress, since it is also prone to punctures, but to a lesser extent, and if the puncture is small, a repair kit will correct the situation.
The main disadvantage is its price, but it pays off a hundredfold with a "soft" sleep for those who do not want to lay their sides on a regular mat.

Each person determines the level of comfort that is acceptable for him on vacation. We chose the following option for ourselves:

We bought a mattress in the largest online store for hunting, fishing and active rest outdoors Cabela's. Take a look and be sure to find something for yourself. They have constant discounts and sales. How to make an order in this store told


And if you have no experience of online shopping, please contact - I will definitely help you.

How do you sleep? Share in the comments your experience in organizing your sleep in a tent.

Before going on a hike, check that all the pegs and ropes are in place. Lay out your tent at home and make sure you have all the parts you need to set it up. Typically, the tent consists of a waterproof awning and an inner lightweight tent with a mosquito net and a waterproof bottom. It comes with pegs, frame arches and ropes that hold the rag house in strong winds.

Take the time and check if the zippers are working near your tent. With the arrival of darkness, not only cold can crawl to you, but also all sorts of small creatures.

2. Learn to pitch a tent

It is very important! A crooked tent will not only confuse perfectionists with its appearance, but it can also leak in the rain or fly away in the wind. First, read the instructions - it hasn't hurt anyone yet.

Remember that the tent must be on a level surface without any holes or bumps. Assemble the tent (tie all the ropes, stick in the pegs, stretch the awning and close all the doors). In this position, the tent should not knock together. If it looks like a real flat house, then you can safely spend the night in it.

3. Stock up on a rug or mattress

Despite the fact that the tent is equipped with a waterproof bottom, it perfectly passes the cold. And if you don't want to freeze something for yourself, then get some foam or an inflatable mat. Thick high-quality foam will save you from cold and moisture, but sleeping on it is quite tough. Although after one or two nights you will get used to it, and your back will stop hurting. Lay two narrow foams with an overlap so that the cold does not get into the gap between them.

An inflatable mat or mattress is softer than foam. Sleeping on such a bed is comfortable, but it costs five times more. It's up to you to choose.

4. Prepare your sleeping bag and blanket

If you think that a simple blanket in the summer will save you from the cold at night in a tent, you are greatly mistaken. In nature, especially in the morning, it can be very cold. Therefore, a sheet and blanket will only work if you have a heated tent.

The optimal solution is a sleeping bag. Choose it carefully and pay special attention to the comfort temperature that is indicated on it. This is the temperature at which you will not freeze in your sleeping bag.

5. Take a heating pad with you

It will not take up much space, but on a cold night, you will be very happy with it. A good option- salt heating pad: it lasts for a long time, it is safe to use. If the cold took you by surprise, and you do not have a special heating pad at hand, then you can take an ordinary plastic bottle, fill it with hot water and place it in a sleeping bag.

6. Don't forget your pillow

Another important item to help brighten up your nights in a tent is a pillow. You should not take with you a large homemade down pillow or dummy from the sofa. All this variety will perfectly replace the inflatable analogue. Inflatable pillows are sold not only in tourist shops, but also in hypermarkets.

Another good substitute for a pillow is your sleeping bag cover, which can be used to fold warm items such as a jacket. The tent will be neat and tidy, and you won't lose the cover.

7. Prepare insect protection

Mosquitoes, beetles, wood lice, spiders are not the most pleasant neighbors in a tent. To prevent insects from entering the rag house, close the doors tightly. If they have already crawled there, then you can use a folk remedy - hang bunches of tansy in the tent. But not the fact that you will find it.

You can smoke with special spirals, but they do not smell very pleasant and smoke the inside of the tent space a lot. Not only insects, but also yourself will not want to spend the night in such a room.

There is a modern way - a portable device with batteries. Works all night, does not smell and does not make noise, but it is more expensive than spirals.

Do not wear woolen clothing outdoors as the scent of wool attracts mites.

8. Grab some replacement socks

In conditions campground you may need to change a couple of socks in a day. They won't take up much space, so don't be shy and take at least three pairs for two days.

9. Take a folding chair or seat foam

In order not to look for a decent log and not sit on blankets, grab folding chairs or a foam seat with an elastic band, with which it is attached directly to the tourist. Sitting on a chair or armchair is very comfortable, but the foam can be left on during the day. The “seating position” will be with you wherever you go, and your hands will be free.

10. Prepare lighting for the tent and grounds

In order not to stumble over pegs in the night and not to look for things by touch, stock up on economical, but powerful enough lighting. Cover a clear plastic can with glow-in-the-dark paints. Better from the inside, so as not to get your hands dirty later.

Or tie a flashlight to a bottle of water, or you can even just put it on your smartphone with the flashlight on.