Outdoor living is perceived by many as an effective way of de-stressing and eliminating any trace of chaos is your life—from work, school or home. It is where you could stop and smell the flowers, gaze at the majesty of the trees and wade in the cool, sparkling waters as you travel along to reach your point of destination. It is where you shed off a rumpled part of yourself and earn a brand new, rejuvenated you.



As beautiful and tempting as it all may seem, camping out, trekking, hiking, or outdoor exploring still needs to have an ample amount of preparation. You are after all, leaving the safety and comfort or your own home and it is only right for you to bring with you some of the essentials to make sure that you relax, unwind, and at the same time be comfy.

In every outdoor trip, necessary equipment are very much taken into consideration when it comes to cooking, maintaining heat, protection from the harsh elements, and of course, sleeping. Rest should be on the top of your list whenever you camp out. It is the culmination of every travel, so might as well be very prepared for it.

Sleeping cots or portable beds provide the comfort that you need whenever you consider camping out. They are elevated, so your body is fairly safe from unidentified, unexpected, creepy, crawly creatures that may be wandering around your spot. If you have already purchased that dream sleeping cot you have always wanted, here are some helpful ways of putting it into optimal use.

1. Make sure that your cot fits in your tent. To really get the feel of a second home, with that outdoorsy feel, you just have to sleep inside your tent. To make sure that this happens, the sleeping cot you have just purchased should fit inside. This provides you with the necessary protection against insects, animals, or sudden downpours you may not be expecting during your trip. Resting in the comfort of your tent is the ultimate break from tiring hikes or explorations that you have experienced. Plus, this gives you privacy, whatever position you may tend to be in your sleep when you're very tired. Although, there are cots that have built-in tent or mosquito net features that may very well serve the same purpose when you actually do not have a separate tent.

2. See to it that the legs of your cot are secure. Suddenly having your sleeping cot down of the forest floor will not only give you the greatest sleep interruption shock of your entire life but will definitely give you the greatest dismay on your purchase. If your cot does not have rubberized, skid-proof supports and may tend to slip on grass leaves, make sure to surround each side of each leg with heavy rocks or stones which would really help keep your cot sturdy while you sleep. This way, you do not experience another stressful moment, which you so want to get rid of during your time out.

3. Always spray insect repellant around the area of your cot. Insects such as mosquitoes are ever present during camping trips. The last thing you would want to take home with you as a remembrance is a disease you so openly contracted. Even if you do have a tent, or have a built-in tent or mosquito net feature along with your cot, spraying insect repellant around your portable bed will give you extra protection that you need. Some insect repellants may also be unattractive to some animals that may be wandering around for a bite or some mischief. Just to be safe and just to take your health and safety into consideration, spray away before you hit your sleeping cot and call it a night.

4. Use beddings that fit your cot well. This is a must, too. You wouldn't want to sleep in your cot with a blanket that barely covers your knees. You also wouldn't want that clean, sanitized sheet to lovingly caress the dirt, insect-filled forest floor. Sheets that are too small provide very little coverage for warmth to your body especially during the night. On the other hand, sheets that are too big drape beautifully around your cot but is a definite means of transport for both macro and microorganisms. The last thing you want is a stow away squirrel, spider or even a snake, which would absolutely cover the total outdoor experience when you get home.

5. Make sure your cot is clean before and after use. When you unpack in the wilderness, check your sleeping cot for any splinter, twig, leaf, or any object which may have been staying there since your last camping trip. This is to save you the discomfort these bits and pieces may bring when you finally get some Zs. It also helps if you spray anti-bacterial spray on the portable bed before you lay down the sheets. Before you leave the camping spot, check your sleeping cot again for any unwanted souvenir (living or non-living) that you do not want to carry home with you. When you finally reach home, unpack your cot outside your house and recheck and sanitize it before you actually store it inside your house, ready for the next outdoor adventure. This will also save you the extra time in checking your cot again before your next camping trip.

Purchasing the right camping equipment is indeed a tedious effort especially when you set out to buy a sleeping or camping cot, which is indeed an investment for those who love communing with nature all the time. Whatever the type of portable bed you may have successfully bought and brought with you during your date with Mother Nature, make sure to utilize it the best way you can. This would not only ensure a long, happy life for your sleeping cot, but would also give you that safe, comfortable, priceless, stress-free outdoor relaxation that you have always wanted. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning that next outdoor getaway right now!