How to keep warm in a sleeping bag whilst camping?

[Yeahyeahyeahnooooo]

I'm a very reluctant camper but the dc really want to go. Last time I was too cold to sleep and absolutely miserable - any tips?

I absolutely love watching Fiona in the Wild. She is brilliant and funny and makes it all look relatively easy. She wild camps and travels and camps on her own, I'd be so scared.

However it is definitely NOT for me. I enjoy watching from my cosy bed only!

OP, are you sure this will work for you and family? It looks like fun, but all that equipment would do my head in, and honestly if I'm cold in bed that's it for me, I'd have to get up and sit around the fire or something. Wishing you luck, and as you can see I have no tips for keeping you warm. In fact I'm shivering even thinking about it!

I brought my electric blanket, sheet and duvet.

We insulated the shit out of the floor, cardboard, yoga matts and a foil lined picnic blankets. Then the airbeds, blanket, sheet, blanket and duvet, didn’t use sleeping bags and we was very toasty under the duvet ! Also slept in joggers

Omg I’m taking the electric blankets next time, why did I not think of this before ?!

Foil back mat on floor whether you're sleeping on mattress or camp bed. Layer one blanket, then decent sleeping bag, then another blanket on top. Take extra blankets for more layers, Wear warm PJs, socks, hat and gloves if necessary. If you wake up cold, have a good shake to circulate your blood and add another layer of clothing.

Turn off phone alarms, silence notifications.

Winterweight PJs, or jogging bottoms if you have them. Socks. I always take a blanket as well, it's handy for putting over your legs or over shoulders in evening, and keeps you cosy if put inside sleeping bag.

I used a decent quality 10 or 12cm Sim. A 3 season pod sleeping bag, an Outwell Constellation comforter ( blanket). I also wear fluffy socks and cosy pj's. Lovely and toasty.

@Yeahyeahyeahnooooo you can definitely be warm! Some important things newer campers don't always know:

Sleeping bag temperature ratings are assuming certain conditions and they have 3 levels. If you get cold, make sure the "comfort" temp is in the zone you want. The ratings are assuming you are wearing long sleeve baselayers and long trousers and socks. Wearing a hat is also a good idea. Do not wear cotton as a first layer if you can help it - if you get sweaty initially, you will then be damp and then freeze the rest of the night. Merino wool or polypro are great.

The temp ratings are also assuming you are using a camping pad with an appropriate R-value (measure of insulation). Air mattresses are a BAD IDEA - you have to heat the air and the ground - you will never be warm. If you do use an air mattress, you need an insulating later between you and the mattress, like a thick synthetic sleeping bag. Better yet, use either a self inflating camping mattress or a thick closed cell foam camping pad. You do get camping air mattresses and these will have insulation inside or a reflective layer that serves the same purpose. If you buy a reputable brand (ie, Thermarest, Exped etc), it should not leak (our family owns at least 8 and no leaks in 30+ years) but bringing a patch kit is a good idea.

If you run cold, get a bag with a lower temp rating than the weather is forecast.

Some gear options assuming you are UK camping in the near-ish future:
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/ayacucho-magura-5-c-sleeping-bag-G4HB3J0055.html?colour=1907
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/mountain-equipment-helium-3-8-warmzone-sleeping-mat-D2424300.html?colour=98
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/the-north-face-wawona-2-c-bed-sleeping-bag-G4HB3J0085.html?colour=157
https://www.ellis-brigham.com/vango-stellar-single-sleeping-bag-245097901

Both bags should get you down to 5 degrees C.

This one is a great example of misleading temp ratings:
www.ellis-brigham.com/the-north-face-stormbreak-20f-sleeping-bag-204693922

It's called 20F = -7C but that is actually the LIMIT temp. The limit temp = the temp when you will not get hypothermia but will be pretty miserable with a disrupted night's sleep. They don't quote the comfort temp for that bag, but it's typically 10-15 degrees warmer than the limit. Even the limit assumes appropriate clothing so if you want to sleep in less, you need a bag with a rating 10+ degrees cooler than the actual temp you're going to sleep in.

I work in this industry and honestly the biggest mistakes (and these are incredibly common, even among people who camp somewhat regularly) people make are:

1. using an air mattress 2. wearing inappropriate clothing to bed and no hat/socks 3. not using a camping mat at all. Heating the ground takes a lot of energy!

If you have an appropriate temp bag, wear appropriate clothing and have a camping mat, you should be fine.

I went camping last weekend and wore an oodie as well. Was really warm and cosy.

Proper expensive 4 season sleeping bag
thermals
ski socks
big woolly hat
hot water bottle
layers between you and the ground - cardboard is surprisingly good

can’t emphasise the decent sleeping bag enough.

I always sleep dreadfully camping. Not sure why. I'm definitely warm enough.

First reply nails it.

Layers including thermal base layer
Hat if you are really cold

The thing about camping is that you have to invest in decent gear otherwise as you say it’s quite miserable! If you are warm and get a good nights sleep then it’s really good fun.

Our sleep set up -

Foil mats on floor underneath the beds
Proper camp beds for the kids
Quechua inflatable bed bases with SIMs on top for the adults
fleece blanket underneath a 3 season sleeping bag
Fleece base layers under fleece pjs (also put the fleece base layers on when the sun is starting to go down so you don’t lose too much heat)

if camping before first May bank holiday we always have electric and a little heater, after May bank holiday we are usually fine without :)

Drink wine and fart a lot 🤷‍♀️🤣

Honestly? I'd ditch the sleeping bag. Instead I'd go for an inflatable Decathlon bed base, with clothes stored under it to fill the air gap, with a good quality sim on top, then sheet and winter tog duvet, plus extra blanket (or 2). I'd wear warm pjs, bedsocks and a beanie, and snuggle in with a hot water bottle (and preferably a dog!).

The answer is to have a proper 4-seasons sleeping bag and insulate yourself from the ground with a decent mat or airbed.
I have camped hundreds of times over the years in every month from Jan-Dec, sleep in just my underwear and have never been cold.
The correct kit is key (as with everything).

Always get changed before bed, no matter how cold it is and you don’t want to take your clothes off, moisture from the day condenses at night and will make you feel cold. Also, air your bedding in the morning for the same reason. Something insulating below your mat or airbed makes a huge difference and if you sleep in a sleeping bag use it upside down with the hood over your head for warmth.

Get electric hook up and take a heated blanket.

wearing a thermal top and flannel pajama trousers, woolly socks and hat, maybe a jumper. Sleeping bag liner (I just have a cotton one). Wool blanket over the top! I'm always cold when sleeping in a tent.

This. I dont camp unless we have a heater now.

Take a large friend and cuddle up?
DH is built like the proverbial. And when I got to a certain age, I thought that it was Peri/meno that meant I was boiling every night in bed. Until, that is, the first time he went away without me and I was left in bed on my own. Freezing. It’s him! He’s like a furnace since he’s got older.

😄

We are a scouting family.

We only have winter sleeping mats for all year - you will freeze with a cheap one.
A good sleeping bag matching your needs and themal/merino /fleece layers.

We have winter sleeping bags and sleeping bags for summer. Both my winter sleeping bag and summer sleeping bag is warmer than the rest of the family's. Needs are different and I am colder than DH and DC.

A hat. Wollen socks. A hot water bottle.
Camping isn't cheap.