sleep aids in the back country

[Mule]

I can't sleep well in the BC to save my life! Tossing and Turning--my back country bed is as comfy as it can get, by I needs my beauty sleep! My brain hears every wind breeze, rain drop, twig snap, etc.etc. and I just get so sleep deprived after a couple days in a tent. I've never tried a sleep aid due to the unnecessary and probably unreal threat of Not being of sound mind should some bump in the night need my attention--afraid I'll be too grogged-out for the next morning that I can't function.

What do y'all use (if anything), and how do you feel 6-7 hours after taking it?

 

[colonel00]

Headphones. Er, I guess earphones would be more accurate.

 

[Trial153]

Tylenol pm helps a little.....

 

[mtnclimber]

By the time i hit the tent I'm usually so exhausted its all i can do to make a mtn house, so sleep is no issue. But if your having trouble sleeping, try NyQuil gel pills or melatonin. try them out before your hunt to make sure your not groggy in the mornings.

 

[dotman]

I feel like at times I don't sleep but everyone I've hunted with says I snore so who knows. I found earplugs help zone out everything and a Tylenol pm can help as well. By night 3 I need no help passing out.

 

[mtnkid85]

I have done a few things to try and ensure I'm getting the best sleep I can. I carry two small inflatable pillows, one for between my legs and one for my head. Then put in ear plugs if the tent is flapping or the Forrest is particularly noisy. Also getting just a little bit of personal cleaning done so I don't feel so "sticky" helps a lot too. Between that I usually sleep pretty well.

 

[Finch]

By the time i hit the tent I'm usually so exhausted its all i can do to make a mtn house, so sleep is no issue. But if your having trouble sleeping, try NyQuil gel pills or melatonin. try them out before your hunt to make sure your not groggy in the mornings.

Yeah, try them out before the hunt! I'm currently working nights and didn't sleep for crap the other day. Got some melatonin on my way home yesterday morning and popped a pill. I slept a solid 7.5 hours but was groggy for 3-4 hours afterwards. I took 3mg - lowest dosage.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Whiskey. I usually mix up a big hot Gatorade (powder) and bourbon to sip on before bed. I don't get loaded but it does help me relax, unwind, and get a good nights sleep.

 

[hunter4christ7502]

Kyani Sunset best sleep I have ever gotten. I can sleep on 6 hours on this stuff and it's better than 8 without.

 

[tttoadman]

I toss and turn all night because of my broken back and neck. I have tried muscle relaxers like I take at home, but the early morning was just too hard. I have found a 800mg ibuprofen and a sominex are just right for me. It gives me 4-5 hrs of good sleep, then I just doze until it is time to get up. I wake up with no hangover at all.

 

[Nick Bowen]

Melatonin is the best option as that is what the body naturally releases to rest your body.

 

[pacific-23]

Melatonin is great unless like me you're one of the few people who "may" have nightmares. Again try before you go, stuff wigged me out.

 

[TEmbry]

Melatonin is a good option to try. If it's just a week simple benadryl or two a night will do just fine.

Muscle relaxers are too much for me. I only took a flexeril once, and I slept like 14+hrs. I don't see how people function in day to day life taking those multiple times a day on top of pain meds.

 

[jwatts]

As others have said, try melatonin. I use it to help me get to sleep if I work out late in the evening and am still too amped up to go to sleep. It helps me get to sleep in no time, and get a good nights rest. When I wake up I am not groggy at all, but that may be different for you.

 

[blutooth]

Another vote for melatonin. On long international flights and cross country car rides I always keep them handy. I like a brand called mid nite bc is is designed to be taken if you wake in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. So it is great for a 3-4 hour rest if you have to get up and start driving right away or make a connection. (Or be up before first light to start chasing that bull again)

 

[Schnagelbagel]

I take trazadone nightly and helps me sleep but no after affects. It is non addictive too! Only thing is if i dont take it now i sleep crappy for a week ot two. Ive been using it nightly for years.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Take Magnesium capsules, they will help you sleep while preventing cramps and you'll feel better each morning. You don't wanna drug yourself in the backcountry...too many reasons you may wanna wake up and be alert in the middle of the night. http://www.livestrong.com/article/28480-magnesium-aid-sleeping/

As for squirrels making bear sounds, the more you camp the more that particular concern goes away.

 

[good2eat]

Advil PM for me. Can't sleep without it.

 

[nothingbettertodo]

Bushmills

 

[WoodBow]

Mtn ops actually claims that their product, yeti, will help you sleep better i believe.