Hammock Camping = More Bathroom Breaks?

[pegleg56]

In my case, I think it has to do with how long I've been out on the trail as well as being hydrated. I find that the first couple of nights, I'm more aware of sounds in the night and are awaken by them, consequently I relieve myself more often. The more nights on the trail, the sounder I sleep. So I relieve myself less often. Just me.

[Deadphans]

I generally do not wake up at night...but I never really thought about the correlation. Although, I am fairly new to hammock camping with only a dozen or so nights in it....so I still have plenty of experimental tests to run on this one. But don't get me started, my statistics class occupies all my time as is LOL!

[Rockdawg69]

I checked off on about the same - once a night if I'm lucky.
Thought about this type poll a year and a half ago but could not figure out how to phrase so that it would make sense. Consider the following:
there are some other "variables" that add potential complications like : 1) any effect from style of sleeping, e.g., side, flat, curved; 2) first night out versus several days; and 3) style of hammock.

And lastly, what about us "older guys"? How do we compare to all you young wippersnappers!!!

I know how to get the real answer - lets ask Shug!!!!

[scubacat]

Seems to be the case for me - as in more often in a hammock. I generally sleep through the night in bed or on the ground on a pad. I think I've been up at least once a night on every hammock hang. I sleep soundly in the hammock, so I don't think restlessness is a factor. And while hydration may play a role, my experience is about the same whether I'm in the back yard or on the trail.

[Alamosa]

I usually attribute it to three things:
1) hydration
2) Increased daily activity that kicks up nightly body activity.
3) probably the biggest for me, cooler weather on the face, breathing, drafts, etc.

[Acer]

I just read this to my wife about this forum posting and she was quite amused..then she reminded me about how she loved hammock camping cause the very last time we ever backpacked tent camping I used her water bottle to relieve myself while laying in the tent next to her asleep, then early next morning when we got up,,told her not to drink out of her gatoraid bottle and use mine as I had 3 anyhow. lol,,,, I forgot about that one, but she hadn't and told me how much she liked the hammock so much better...

[sargevining]

Even though I chose the snarky answer (I'm a product of my environment), I think its about the same. I think that we tend to notice it more when in the hammock (or when camping in general) because:

A. We are usually in a strange environment (not our beds) and thus are in a more wakeful state when weget up to do the deed.

B. Its more of a hassle to get out of the hammock than it is our bed contrbuting the the more wakeful state.

3. When camping, if we're doing it right, we're more hydrated than we usually are in "real life."


Is wakeful a real word?

[lonetracker]

i started sleeping full time in a hammock at home about two weeks ago.
have not had to get up to go at all,as is normal sleeping at home.
allmost every time i sleep outside in my hammock i have to get up and go sometime during the night.
maybe the drinking more does it.i was recently talking to someone who suggested it was caused by increased metabolism brought on by more exercise or being colder.sounds plausible to me.

[G.L.P.]

from what i found it has to do with the cold and your body(yes even in nice weather)
i found that while hanging your body works harder to stay warn
this being said when your Bladder is full it takes more work to keep you warn (liquid IE pee can chill the body very fast so your body works harder to warm your pee to keep your core Temp up)
so your body lets you know to empty the bladder in order to keep your core temp up without overworking your system (body) so your body doesn't need to spend more fuel then it should to maintain core body temps

[DuctTape]

I assume it is age related for me. I pee at night more than I used to regardless of the hammock or bed.