Does anyone have any suggestions for sleeping on the ground and padding that a person won't wake up with back pain? I've tried the blow up foam pads with extra foam under it. That didn't work. It's the side sleeping that's a bummer. Do I have to give up trying to save space and just resort to taking a cot with springs? Cheryl
Now that my son is starting to camp with Boy Scouts I'm being "forced" to sleep on the ground in a tent as opposed to on a matress in my popup camper trailer. During the first outing my back and shoulders made it clear that they weren't happy.
I submitted a post asking for suggestions in a Boy Scout forum. The response was basically this:
1. Get the thickest Therm-a-Rest mattress you can afford. http://www.campmor.com often has sales on mattresses with cosmetic blemishes.
2. Make sure you give the Therm-a-Rest mattress an extra little blow of air after it self-inflates to add a little more air pressure. Remember to store the mattress unrolled to keep its springiness.
3. Give yourself time to figure out how firm is enough. Maybe let a little air out to see if that is more comfortable.
4. Use a pillow. If its good enough for home use, its good enough for camping.
5. Take Ibuprofen (with food) before going to bed.
I love thermarests. You can blow them up to be pretty firm, they are sooooo comfy. I sleep on my side and always wake up with bruised hips unless I use a thermarest.
I always get up sometime in the night and go for a short walk. Or, stretch. I sleep on my side with a pillow between my knees. Helps a lot! Getting up and loosening up the kinks is always a help. Less damage done by morning.
I have used those long, one-piece cushions, the kind you use on outdoor furniture. I know they aren't suitable for back_packing, but tent camping, or in back of pickup camping, they work great, and don't hurt my old bones!
