Staying warm at night - mattress???

[NorthernerAtHeart]

Hello!

I'm after some suggestions. I always freeze at night when we're camping - wake up due to really stiff legs from being cold.

Last year I got a super-warm sleeping bag, slept in leggings, pyjamas, extra top and walking socks. Really shouldn't be cold!
(kids are in lightweight sleeping bags, karrimats (foam roll mat things) and pjs with long sleeve tshirt and are fine).

Been wondering if our air bed isn't helping (although do want something really comfy to lie on). It's a Coleman double one.

So.......any suggestions to help me have a warm and comfy nights sleep?

Thank you!!!

I would reccomend finding something reflective to put under or on top of your air bed, ie a picnic blanket with a foil-ey back, a foil survival blanket, or I have those foil things you put on your car windscreen in summer to stop your car getting too hot, mine are from Wilkos and cost about £2 each.

Another thing to try but will cost far more ££££ is a self inflating mat which contains far less air, so warms up much better and is far better insulation from the ground.

My other top tip if you have a good sleeping bag is to ditch all those extra layers, the bag needs your body heat to be effective and if you are just trapping it in layer of clothes it doesn't work, sleep in pants and vest or neckid, you will be loads warmer, (try it out at home first if you don't believe me ).

we put a picnick blanket underneath the airbed, which helps. but switched to selfinflating mats last time, as we had an airbed-failure and they didn't have airbeds. Much warmer. I also like to have a hot water bottle in my sleeping bag as I get really cold feet.

Why do we feel it so much as adults when the kids don't feel it at all?

We were camping last weekend and were cold had the heater on till we went to sleep which helped - gonna try a hottie next time.

Yes, get rid of the layers. An extra blanket on top of the sleeping bag can make a big difference. Alcohol helps too

I'd never thought about getting rid of the layers!!!!! The sleeping bag is supposed to be a survival down to minus something or other, so should be good for 10C or so in the british summer.

I was thinking about trying out the airbed at home when we get back (going next weekend) to see if I can sleep comfortably in a nice warm house on it.

For those of you with the self inflating mats - do you find them as comfortable as an airbed? Lots of people seem to have them, but big expense if not so comfy.
Are there any you would recommend? And do you think it's better to go for 2 singles or a double?

We have a picnic blanket with shiny underside so will but that under the air bed. I always put a sheet on top of it, so might but a blanket under that too.

Alcohol always on the list - just doesn't help so much with my other post (night time wee's!!)

Thanks everyone! I will test all the ideas out at the weekend.

DH, who otherwise is not a camper, has a Thermarest SIM for his biking/camping trips and swears it's the most comfortable night's sleep he ever gets. He's rather sleep on the ground than on an airbed.

wrt self inflating mats, you get used to it very quickly.

We use thermal fleecy underblankets on the airbeds, something like these . Makes a difference. (and I've never done a link before so hope it works!)

Plus following the rule about PJs on as soon as the sun goes down then piling clothes back on top till bedtime.

I use a self inflating matress ( thermarest) with a built in thermal reflector for my canoe trips, they are very light, compact and work really well. I would recommend a SIM for any form of camping as they are waterproof as well as being warm.

Sleeping bags - I would say you need at least a 3 season for any British night other than in a heatwave. It should have a "comfort temperature" at around 0-5 degrees (so survival temperature less than -10) and then add 5 degrees on because women sleep colder than men - you still might be borderline on a cool summer night.

A good old fashioned wool blanket on top/underneath you helps as well.