How to live in a tent - my experiences

If you haven’t read my story, I’ll tell you shortly how I ended up on an island living in a tent and sleeping in a hammock:

I was diagnosed with breast cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy treatment from May to August. My house had burned down earlier that same year, and my temporary flat was about as uplifting as a funeral on a rainy day.

So, after my first chemo, I went to spend a week in Kökar. Walking along the trails on the island was the best therapy for me.

Every day something new happened in nature – the leaves on trees were bigger, new flowers had burst, and more and more birds were chirping everywhere. I mean, it was like nature was giving me its finest antidepressants.

I noticed I wasn’t thinking of the cancer all the time there.

I somehow made friends with the owner of Sandvik, and I must have nailed the whole “charming cancer patient” vibe, because the next thing I knew, I was invited to stay there for the summer.

So, I went back home, grabbed all my camping gear, and returned.

Now Iäm sharing my experience about how to live in a tent and how to make it more comfortable.

Camp Set-Up

Hammock

It was clear to me that I would sleep in a hammock. I have a Snugpak jungle hammock with a built-in mosquito net. It is 275 cm long, which is long enough for me.

A good rule to keep in mind is that the hammock is at least one metre longer than its user.

I’ve been using 3×3-metre tarps in the camp. I don’t think it’s worth it to use ultralight tarps in a camp like this, because they are less durable and more expensive.

My tarp was only 29 euros, sourced locally from Motonet, and it has a water resistance level of 3000 mm. I have stayed dry in the pouring rain under it.

Tent

I also found it useful to have a tent for storage, so I set up my little tent next to my hammock.

I soon realized that having a larger tent would be more comfortable, as I wouldn’t have to contort myself into a human pretzel while attempting to put on pants.

After all, I was in a camping area where there were other people, so I changed clothes in the tent. Therefore, I decided to purchase a bigger tent after a little while.

I got an Outwell Cloud 5 tent, which is meant for 5 people. The tent’s inner height is 175 cm, which was sufficient for me.

I purchased it for less than 300 euros and it has held up well for two summers despite being exposed to the sun for months.

While it’s not suitable for trekking, it served my purpose well as I didn’t intend to take it anywhere. It was relatively easy to set up alone, but I never managed to pack it back into its pouch. This always happens!

On the left my first set up with the little tent, on the right the big tent. You can also see the extra tarp (it’s light brown).

Organising the tent

Sleeping in a hammock frees space in the tent and I didn’t have to move things around when I was going to bed.

I set up an extra tarp between the hammock and the tent so that I could go in between them even if it rained. This way, I also had some more sheltered space outside the tent.

I brought a camping table and camping chairs to make my lounge area more comfortable. I was able work, read and even watch Netflix in my “terrace”.

Inside the tent, I had a chair that doubles as both a seat and a clothes rack. My bag lay on top of two stools, making it easier to search for clothes. Two sleeping mats made the floor warmer, and that area also served as my guest bedroom during the summer.

Not that there were many wanting to visit me, but anyway!

On the right side of the tent, I had my food storage, dishes, and other stuff like books, backpacks and kayaking gear. I used transparent plastic boxes for storing the items. Everything had its place so that I could easily find what I was looking for.

Lastly, I set up a washing line under the tarp to dry my clothes and ventilate my sleeping bag.

Btw I didn’t have a kitchen in this camp, I was able to use the camp sites kitchen and eat in their bistro. It was also nice to be able to use toilets and shower there.

Summary of my camping equipment

Hammock with built-in mosquito net
Underblanket
Sleeping bag and pillow
2 tarps
Tent
3 camping chairs
Camping table
2 foldable camping stools
Washing line
Transparent boxes for storing things
2 sleeping mats
3 door mats
Different size water canisters

I didn’t include my cooking equipment here, because I didn’t use them in this camp.

I was using the internet through my phone’s hotspot. Elisa’s network works better in Kökar than Telia’s.

Sandvik has free WiFi in their area, but it didn’t quite reach the camping area. Anyway, I was able to watch Downtown Abbey in my camp on a rainy day!

Unforgettable Time In Nature

I spent two summers living in a tent in this camp and I absolutely loved it. The weather was mostly good with hardly any rainy days, which made the experience easy.

However, when it did rain, it poured down heavily. One night, I had the pleasure of watching a thunder and lightning show from my hammock.

Overall, my time spent at the camp was unforgettable. Living in nature, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, was like soothing balm for me.

I made lifelong friends and had some incredible experiences. I would recommend camping to anyone looking for an adventure.

More information about camping in the archipelago and Sandvik Gästhamn & Camping: