Hi everyone, I'm after a bit of feedback if possible. I'm been camping now for a few years and every time I camp, that age old problem arises of being woken up at some unearthly hour as the sun rises. Having also attended festivals I've heard many families moaning about how it's very difficult to get the children to sleep and keep the asleep past 5.45am. I am currently in the very, very early stages of researching/producing a product which allows campers the opportunity of blocking light to the sleeping pods. They are detachable and although they won't give total blackout will make the sleeping areas approximately 70% darker. I would be really interested to hear your feedback and whether I've missed the fact that there is already something like this on the market. I know that you can buy all in one pods but I can't seem to find anything universal which you can use on your own tent. All comments gratefully received.
Eye-masks or camping in heavy shade are the usual alternatives to that early-morning sunshine wake-up call.
It would need to be simple to install and transport and be suitable for different styles of tents/pods or have variations or, be easy to modify/adapt to your own set-up but, not so easy or basic to think 'why bother buying'...
Thank you both. Eye masks are good but not for young children as they just don't stay on! Yes, the keeping the light out but ensuring it's still nice and cool is paramount. It may be that the cost would outweigh the benefit. Just out of interest, what is the approximate amount you would spend to have a darker sleeping pod. Cheers
We use weed control fabric draped over the pods inside the tent (with intention of sewing it to a more tailored fit) its lightweight and breathable which are two qualities needed IMO and only cost about £3 to cover a 6 person pod. My eldest still wears a sleep mask but she also wears it at home with 'real' black out curtains in her bedroom!
Our motorhome back door curtain wasn't lightproof - I know that 4 o'clock feeling. I got blackout material - it's sold as curtain lining, looks beige on one side and silver on the other. Washable. Lined my back door curtain, it's now so lightproof that I can't find the back door when I come back at night as the interior lights don't show. You'd just throw it over the pod, might need a clothes peg or two to hold it in place. Or sew a bigger pod to go over or suspend like a hammock from the outer. Can't remember the cost per metre, sorry.
Quote: Originally posted by Tynxuk on 31/8/2016
We use weed control fabric draped over the pods inside the tent (with intention of sewing it to a more tailored fit) its lightweight and breathable which are two qualities needed IMO and only cost about £3 to cover a 6 person pod. My eldest still wears a sleep mask but she also wears it at home with 'real' black out curtains in her bedroom!
I was going to suggest getting some of this. Having just got some for the garden it occurred to me that it would also make perfect black out lining on sleeping pods.