Please help me find a way to keep warm at night

[Schulte]

So I like camping - but not the bit where I’m supposed to sleep. I always just lie there freezing. Over the years I have tried many many ways of setting up my bed but I still don’t have a solution!

We don’t have much space in the car so can’t take bulky things, but I’ve just bought a duvet style blanket to go on top of my warm sleeping bag. I think the cold comes up from the ground though so do I need something underneath my SIM, and if so, what?

I’ve seen people suggesting yoga mats under a SIM, or foil backed picnic blankets. Do they really work? Or, an extra sleeping bag to lie on? And if I can take only one of those three things - yoga mat, picnic blanket or extra sleeping bag - then which one should I take?

[Neighneigh]

Yoga mats work a treat. Yes, a lot of cold comes up from the ground so I use a mix of picnic blanket, yoga mat and some of the left over floor insulation from when we had the bathroom floor done! Laid over the whole sleeping area it keeps all four of us much warmer.
Oh and socks. For your feet, obvs

[MagpiePi]

Definitely use more mats. I use a thinish roll up foam one and a lightweight self inflating one on top. I've also got some of the mesh flooring stuff (I think it's meant for caravans) which I spread over the whole floor. And have a 3 or 4 seasons sleeping bag, and wear leggings/socks/top at night.

I like camping but not when it is cold or wet!

[Hohofortherobbers]

Hot water bottle, heat holder socks and woolly hat!

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

Make sure you're warm before getting into your sleeping bag. So more layers as the temperature starts to drop. One of the best layers I ever took was a dressing gown. I have a fake Oodie thing now.

[tinselvestsparklepants]

All the mats and sausage roll yourself into your duvet. And wear a hat.

[SirChenjins]

Hot water bottles - absolute game changer - hat, thermals, warm pyjamas, warm socks, and the warmest sleeping bag you can go for (season 5 ideally - and check the temperature rating as well).

Or book into a B&B

[Greenandcabbagelooking]

Foil blanket on the floor. I use a huge fleece blanket on top of my roll mat, put half of it under my sleeping bag, then fold the other half over.

I also put my PJs on after dinner, then my clothes back on. It means you don't have to get undressed when you go to bed, and your PJs are already warm. Warm socks and a hat.

You can also use a sleeping bag liner, either cotton or fleece.

[ShotgunShack]

Wear wooly hat and socks
layered pajamas (so tee underneath then sleepwear on top). Plus hoodie.
Change in the early evening before it gets cool and damp. That way you are already changed and warm before bed. You can always put a pair of joggers and a jumper over the top while you’re hanging out in the evening before bedtime.

[mysterybag]

Put some blankets in the floor of the tent, extra groundsheet below sleeping area, smaller than tent. As many extra blankets as you can fit in your car! I recently camped with camp beds and a sim and it was so comfy!

[Brollypackedforscottishholiday]

Air bed with flannelette sheet.
Single sleeping bag with fleece blanket inside...
I promise you will be boiling..

[PinkFootstool]

Foil blanket under your mat. More layers of normal blanket between you and the SIL mat will also help - I've always found them very cold.

Hot waters bottles are brilliant. Layer up under the covers for the inevitable need to strip when the sun comes up...

What kind of tent is it? Is it well insulated?

[Bakethecakeeatthecake]

Don’t let yourself get cold in the evening.
Sleep in as many layers as you can.
As many layers on the floor as possible.

[Schulte]

Great tips thank you! Hadn’t tried the hot water bottle yet. Or thermals - I always mean to pack them but then forget! DH swears by his sleeping bag liner but I can’t stand the way it all gets tangled up around my body.

So sounds like I need all of those things… there won’t be any space left in the car for food and wine

[Artichokeleaves]

I'm disabled and to be able to camp I have to be able to stay warm and be as pain free as possible. I have figured out a system, and have successfully camped out in heavy frost without being cold. It does however make most other campers roll around laughing..... )

Layer:
Foil safety blanket
Plastic backed picnic rug
Air mattress
Closed cell foam yoga mat
Fleece blanket
3 season sleeping bag

Sleep on TOP of all that in a 4 season sleeping bag, in fleece pjs and hoody, thermal socks and a teddy fleece blanket over the top.

Be prepared to be called the princess and the pea, but that should keep you toasty! (And then trial and error with removing layers until you find what works for you.)

[Seesawmummadaw]

Definitely need something under your sleep mat. I also love thermals!

[SallyMcNally]

Thermals 100% and you can buy foil backed yoga style sleeping mats for £10 on Amazon. Put that under an air bed/other mat to be more comfy.

The biggest trick is to not let yourself get cold so thermals on under clothes as the sun goes down and keep adding layers then you can strip off as many as you need to when you go to sleep.

[Level75]

If you can afford it, these are great:

Exped DownMat 9 Pump Sleeping Pad www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002WXQ3FO/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_S9QAK1VK9B711PSA09D9?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

They are small roll up mats that you fill by pumping with your hands. They contain down which insulates amazingly. We do pack a duvet etc but I think the main thing keeping us warm is these mats.

[Schulte]

Our tent is an old Kampa 4 person tent… needs upgrading too!

[Caaarrrl]

I've often slept in my winter coat and wooly hat in tents! I can't stand being cold.

[VioletCharlotte]

A woolly hat makes a huge difference as you lose most of your body heat through your head. Also, getting off the ground - roll mat then a couple of blankets/ duvet, under your sleeping bag. Fleecy pjs and thick socks!

[lazylinguist]

1. Don't let yourself get cold before going to bed. Once you're cold it's hard to get warm.
   
2. I have the best sleeping back. It's a thick, brushed cotton feeling one not that horrible swishy stuff most sleeping bags are made of. And it's a rectangular one, not a straitjacket mummy-style one.
   
3. Airbed means you're less close to the ground.
   
4. Thick, fluffy bedsocks
   
5. Hat before bed and in bed if necessary
   
   I've never put anything under my airbed, but that would be my next plan if I were still cold. I have terrible circulation and can't sleep when cold, but the above works for me. Well, that and never ever going camping other than in July or August. Went at Easter once. Never again.

[Chilver]

Our set up is:
PLastic backed camping carpet
Cardboard
Then inflatable mattress
Fleece blanket (cheap IKEA ones) on top of mattress
Sheet
Duvet

And we're dressed in full pyjamas, wool socks with pj trousers tucked in, sweatshirt and then I wear a cotton hat too (DH doesn't do hat)

We're always toasty!

[Schulte]

My packing list is getting longer… keep them coming!

[MonsieurBaguette]

EHU and a fan heater - mine is only a cheap one from Argos but it's ideal.

[midgemagneto]

Wear a hat , it makes a huge difference