Ever wanted to just sleep away the night while exploring Minecraft’s sprawling landscapes—without worrying about resetting your spawn? The game’s new Update Preview 26.40.30 (Java Edition, snapshots for 1.21+) finally lets players camp wherever they roam, thanks to the addition of Straw Beds. Here’s what’s new, how these camping features work, and how they stack up against popular mods that offered similar functions before Mojang made it official.
Straw Beds: Sleep Anywhere, Keep Your Spawn
Versions: Java Edition snapshot 26.40.30+
Relevant for: Snapshot testers, future official 1.21+ releases
Core features: Straw Beds, Abandoned Camps, and Cushions
What Are Straw Beds?
This new bed type lets you skip the dangers of night just like a regular bed—but without changing your personal spawn point. If you die far from home after using a Straw Bed, you’ll respawn back where you last slept in a regular bed or at your set spawn, not where you used the Straw Bed.
“Straw Beds are a new type of bed which allow you to sleep through the night while retaining your previous spawn point, which will be perfect for waiting out the night while you’re on an expedition.”
—Scott McCrae, GamesRadar
How to Craft (and Find) Straw Beds
- Crafting Recipe: 3 Hay Bales → 4 Straw Beds (shaped recipe, arranged horizontally in the crafting grid)
- Item Type: Single-use (they break after one night’s sleep)
Alternatively, Straw Beds can now be found out in the wild:
- Location: Inside Abandoned Camps
- Biomes: Pale Garden and Flower Forest (with more expected in future updates)
Abandoned Camps: Rustic Rest Stops
Abandoned Camps are new, small surface structures first added in the snapshot for the autumn-themed 26.3 update (2026). They look like weathered wool tents, often holding Straw Beds and other basic camping supplies.
“Abandoned camps are small surface structures added in the first snapshot for the Minecraft 26.3 update, the autumn-themed third drop of 2026.”
—Sehaj Padda, allthings.how
- Find Them: Look in the Pale Garden and Flower Forest biomes
- Loot: Straw Beds, possibly food or basic tools
Bonus: Cushions for Cozier Builds
Also new in this update: Cushions—aesthetic items (available in all 16 wool colors) that players can sit on. These don’t impact gameplay, but make camps and homes feel a lot more inviting and lived-in!
How Does This Compare With Mods?
For years, players have used mods—community-made game modifications—offering portable sleep without spawn reset. Mojang’s official Straw Bed brings this to everyone, mod-free. Here’s a quick comparison:
- Comforts Mod (Forge/Fabric, Java Edition): Adds sleeping bags and hammocks in 16 colors. Sleep anywhere without setting new spawn—very similar to Straw Beds! Download Comforts.
- Home Camp Mod (Java Edition): Lets players set campfire as spawn by sneaking and right-clicking a lit campfire. See Home Camp on Modrinth.
Note: Mods require a loader such as Forge or Fabric and are community-created, not official Mojang products.
Step-by-Step: How to Use Straw Beds (Snapshot 26.40.30+)
- Gather Hay Bales: Break tall grass for wheat, make hay bales (9 wheat per bale).
- Craft Straw Beds: Place 3 hay bales in a row in your crafting table. Collect your 4 Straw Beds.
- Explore & Camp: Place a Straw Bed anywhere, right-click to sleep at night (single use).
- Check Camps: Scout Pale Garden and Flower Forest for Abandoned Camps to loot extra Straw Beds.
- Enjoy Cushions: Craft using wool and a slab (varies by color), then place for decoration or sitting.
Quick Recap & What’s Next
Minecraft’s 26.40.30 snapshot update finally brings camping-style sleep to vanilla gameplay—no mods needed. Straw Beds let you enjoy the wilds at night, keep your spawn back home, and deck out your base with cozy cushions. For more on snapshot features or how to find biomes like Flower Forest, check our Tutorials and Wiki. Ready to try it? Update your Minecraft Java Edition to the latest snapshot, or browse our tested mods for older releases!
