Sleeping right at the spot, checking the wind in the morning and standing in the water three steps later , camping and watersports simply belong together. To keep it cosy even in wind, rain and cool Baltic nights, a few things really make the difference. Here’s the honest overview, thought through from head to toe, with the odd “Mum says” tip from experience.
Sleeping well: sleeping bag & mat
Sleep badly and you’ll have no energy for the water the next day. With the sleeping bag, the comfort temperature matters (not the optimistic limit rating): the Baltic gets chilly at night even in summer, and certainly in autumn. Down is light and warm but dislikes damp, synthetic is tougher and forgives a clammy tent. Just as important is the sleeping mat: the cold comes from below, so look at the R-value (insulation), not just the thickness.
Mum says: Pick the sleeping bag a touch warmer rather than too thin. You can always open a warm one , you can’t conjure warmth into one that’s too thin.
Which sleeping bag suits your travel season will soon be worked out by our sleeping bag calculator (temperature in, recommendation out). The detailed guides on choosing a sleeping bag and mat & R-value are coming shortly.
Warm & dry: insulating the tent
A cool tent turns cosy once the floor is insulated: a tent carpet or a picnic blanket under the mat keeps the ground cold out. Air it briefly in the morning to save yourself the condensation that otherwise drips from the inner wall. And never put wet things in the inner tent , more on that in a moment.
Mum says: A warm hat in the sleeping bag works wonders , you lose most of your warmth through your head.
Light & power in the tent
- Tent lamp: a small LED lantern or an LED string light makes the tent cosy in the evening. Choose warm white light (around 2700 K), it’s homelier and attracts fewer insects than cool white.
- Head torch: priceless for the walk to the washhouse and for pitching and packing in the dark.
- Power bank: a large power bank charges lamp, phone and the action cam, no mains needed. Solar works, but on the Baltic it’s hit and miss.
Mum says: Charge the power bank fully at home and pack one more charging cable than you think you’ll need.
Sitting, cooking, comfort
- Camping chair: worth its weight in gold after a long day on the water. Look for a stable stance in sand and a packed size that fits the car.
- Small table: for the stove, coffee and bits and bobs, a folding table is enough.
- Stove & cool box: a gas stove and a cool box turn the pitch into a little kitchen. Hot tea after kiting warms you from the inside.
Watersports at the pitch: wet stays outside
This is where ordinary camping tips end and watersports begin: your wetsuit, harness and wet things must not go in the tent, or everything inside turns clammy. String a drying line between car and tree or use a small rotary dryer, and hang the suit on a wide hanger (never on wire, that creases it). A second towel and a wet bag for damp gear are worth their weight in gold.
Mum says: A drying line and a few pegs weigh nothing and save your mood , nothing’s as grim as a clammy wetsuit the next morning.
The extras: mosquito protection & co.
On mild evenings and especially in late summer and autumn, the mosquitoes by the water are a nuisance. Much can be done naturally: essential oils like citronella or lavender, long airy clothing at dusk, a mosquito net over your sleeping spot and the warm-white light from above. The detailed guide on natural mosquito protection is coming , just right for autumn camping on the Baltic.
In short: the camping checklist
- Sleeping bag (right comfort temperature) + mat with a good R-value.
- Tent carpet/blanket for the floor, a quick airing in the morning against condensation.
- LED lantern (warm white), head torch, large power bank.
- Camping chair, small table, stove and cool box.
- Drying line, hanger, wet bag for the wetsuit.
- Natural mosquito protection and a net for autumn.
Note: as soon as our shop and partner links are live, you’ll find concrete recommendations for the sleeping bag, lamp, drying line and the rest here. Until then: the content stands on its own, even without a single click.