What do you use in/ with your tent to keep warm (e.g. SIG, footprint, blankets below, above, etc...)?

[oregonianabroad]

Have been avidly reading all the helpful tips on here and am trying to decide what we need. First priority = decent tent, 2nd is to decide what is necessary for sleeping.

The tent we are thinking of is this one or a little bigger. It has a SIG.

We own 2 good sleeping bags.

What else do we need to keep us all warm, dry and snug?

Dses age 2 and 4, first trip will be 2 nights at Easter.

[Colonelcupcake]

Hi

Although it has a SIG that is simply a piece of plastic between you and the ground, the ground will get very cold still at easter, you need sleeping bags rated to keep you warm to at least a lower temperature 3 degrees C based on being in the UK also you need to sleep on top of something either a Rollmat (fairly cheap) Airbed or Thermorest for both comfort and insulating qualities.

Where are you camping?

[oregonianabroad]

hi Col.cupcake,
We haven't decided yet, but as we live in the NE, it is likely to be COLD, we know. Where ever we decide, it will be within an hour's drive in case we can't hack it and decide to come on home!

There is a carpet available for the tent. WIll that plus airbeds be enough, do you think? is a footprint thingie helpful in keeping out the cold?

Cheers.

[JustCallMeGoat]

if you are using an airbed you will need a thick blanket or duvet on top between you and the airbed. or else it gets v. chilly.

we just take a duvet tbh can't be doing with twisting around in sleeping bags.

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

The only thing I would say about the tent is it is always best to have one berth bigger than you need ie- get a 5 man. You are unlikely to fit 2 double or 1 double and 2 single airbeds in the sleeping compartment.

In high summer between us and the ground we have, a footprint groundsheet, a sig, silver reflective car windscreen covers v. warm and v. cheap from wilkco's, fleece blankets, air bed, sheet. Then we sleep in 3 season bags, with extra blankets if needed.

That said I hate being cold and last year dp slept in just his pants! So it's a little excessive but you get the idea.

You will probably need to sleep in jumpers and hats, if it is a cold easter.

Tent carpets are for the living area not the sleeping bit btw.

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

5 man is only a few quid dearer, if you have your heart set on this tent, def. get the 5, or even the 6

We have a six man for the 4 of us, lovely and roomy. Really the berth recomendation, is more how many you can cram in, rather than how many it is suitable for.

Can you get to a tent display before you buy, it really helps to see them 'in the flesh' as it were before you decide.

[beachedwail]

Hot-water bottles are the only way to get - and stay - warm in a tent. But I'm a wimp.

[janinlondon]

We also use the silver lined emergency blanket technique. If you line the entire floor of the sleeping area with it, it does insulate well. Airbeds tend to conduct the cold, so a fleece blanket under and over is also a good idea if you are not using a self inflating mattress. And as someone on here once suggested, as soon as it starts to get dark, have a hot shower, get into your jimjams and socks, and layer clothes on top to maintain warmth. Much easier and warmer to take off a layer or two to jump into bed than to strip off when already chilly.

[oregonianabroad]

Thank you all!

Very sensible advice re: 5 or 6 man tent, wildthings.

janinlondon, that is very sensible.

[FannyWaglour]

We use thermarests, and in addition, big thick 100% wool blanket on top of the thermarests. There is nothing like wool to keep you warm. The kids sleep in thights or long johns, socks, thin wool jumper and a hooded cardi, so I can pull the hood up over their heads when sleeping.

[duckyfuzz]

we have a 6 berth for 4 of us with 2 'bedrooms' - we use the 4 berth to sleep all of us and the 2 berth to storre clothes ec in, this keeps us warm and means if there are disturbances in the night, we just roll over adn stroke the appropriate child, rather than have to crawl out and deal with zips! We have blankets below, mats, sleeping bags and blankets on top if necessry

[FannyWaglour]

We also just sleep in one compartment, with the kids next to us.

[oregonianabroad]

Sorry, FannyW, but what is a thermarest??

And to both of you (and anyone who sleeps with all the kids in 1 compartment), do you just have 1 double airbed or what?

And will the kids just go to sleep and let you read?

[FannyWaglour]

read?

The kids go to sleep, we sit outside, chat by the log fire, have some wine, watch the evening go by.....

thermarest

[blithedance]

Thermarest - google it! Is a self inflating foam mattress, like a deluxe rollmat. They are surprisingly comfortable for only a few cm thick. They are insulating as well as cushioning.

The other night DH slept in the back of his van (he was away on work, we didn't have an argument!) with a thermarest, 3-4 season sleeping bag and with an extra wool blanket.

When we went camping with kids, the first night it took ages for them to go to sleep, too silly/excited/disorientated. AFter that, out like lights.

[oregonianabroad]

yes, that too! But it is going to be so COLD, I imagine we'll want to cozy up under the covers before too long!

Blimmin heck, those therma-bobbies are not cheap!

Is it worth it? Are they available in the UK?

[FannyWaglour]

We bought ours from Blacks on Kensington High Street, I think you can get them in any good outdoors sports shop. We have one each, and the wool blankets over.

[blithedance]

Yes and Yes.

Outwell etc do cheaper versions guess they probably perform OK, may not roll up as small.

Choices here. I think mine was worth every penny, it was about £45. But then I am weird and like sleeping in tents.

[oregonianabroad]

OK, so the consensus is definitely better than a decent airbed?

(am going to have to have an angle to sell this to DH).

[amazonianwoman]

We've just bought some Fat Airic thermarest type mats, but much cheaper and much thicker

[janinlondon]

Oregon Decathlon do a very good imitation Thermarest for a much lower price. We have these and they are great. (Get the thicker of the two they sell).

[oregonianabroad]

thanks again all -- am looking into it.

you camping thread people are so nice!

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I'll second the airics - very good and way better than airbeds - warmer and if the ground is a bit slopey you don't have the kids rolling off them constantly. Plus if you have a tent with sloped sides you are a bit lower and don't get bopped on the nose so much if it is windy.

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

Just to throw a spanner in the works, we borrowed some Thermarests the first time we went camping, and I don't like them, they are comfyish but I hate being that near to the ground it just made me feel like I was camping with the guides again .

We have these air beds and they are great, the sides inflate seperately so when one of you moves the other doesn't iyswim and you feel like you are sleeping in a real bed. We each sleep on a double with one of the children, and we all sleep in one pod.

I agree that you get the little darlings to sleep early, then you both kick back and watch the sunset.

[oregonianabroad]

Thanks, wildthings (btw, love your name, one of our favourite books, why the past tense?).

I don't actually mind sleeping on an airbed, and those are quite reasonable. Might get 2, one for us, one for dses.

out of interest, what sort of tent have you got, and what ages are your dses?

thanks!

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

We have this tent and I have a ds 4 and a dd 1.

The name is from a mis-pronuciation that stuck!