Bloomin' freezing at night. What do you wear?

[footballsgalore]

Have been camping now for 4 years and still I cannot guarantee that I will be warm at night.
This bank holiday weekend we had 4 nights away. The cloudy ones were fine. I was wearing: long sleeved thermal top, thermal bottoms, slipper socks, fleecy PJ top.
The clear nights were chilly. I wore all of the above and added a hoody sweatshirt (with the hood up!), another pair of socks and a pair of tracksuit bottoms. And I was still not all that comfortable! My sleeping bag is quite a good one - Mummy style.
DH says I'm a wimp. My 2 DS's sleep in just PJ's and socks and are sweaty!! Am I just a cold blooded wuss?

Dobby - love that! I used to have a coat looking like that and was never cold in winter.

I sleep on a thermarest basecamp (I think self inflating mat is essential and will make huge difference) with a 3 season sleeping bag with a fleece layed on top of that. I wear thermal leggings, PJ bottoms, vest, PJ top and have hot water bottle made at about 7.30 pm at night and placed in sleeping bag. I also do up drawstrings on my sleeping bag so bag is cosied around my head!I will take second fleece in the summer for extra layer.

It was really cold at night when we camped at half term but the site had wonderful showers with constant hot water. Before going to bed I would go down there and have the longest hottest shower until I was practically roasted and then rush back to the tent and dive into bed while I was still glowing. It seemed to do the trick! Of course the duvet under the airbed, fleecy pjs (with tshirt underneath, tucked in), socks, and two thick fleeces on top of the sleeping bag might have helped a bit. .

You have to remember the shower cap for shower-to-bed scenario though otherwise pneumonia would probably be a more likely result.

Exped downmat.

DH and I were determined not to be cold in Dorset at the end of April. It worked - we both had to strip the first night as we were too hot. Not a cheap solution, but we were neither of us sleeping well and that was ruining the holidays. (I'd also advocate finding a way to use DH as heater - in survival training I was taught the best way to get someone warm in a hurry is to use skin to skin)

Wow. I go to bed early then everyone replies!

Thanks for all the tips. I am so glad it's not just me who gets cold. I was feeling like the odd one out.

I am going to start with the fleecy blanket underneath me and a hot water bottle. The fleece liner also sounds great. It seems that no matter how tight I pull the sleeping bag drawstring, it always opens up again.

We do drive to campsites, but space is very limited as our car is small so duvet is out of the question. Will definitely look up the self-inflating and thermal mats and that all in one bag looks fantastic! Would it be penguin impressions all the way to the loo as I waddled across the field!?

Unfortunately can't use DH as a heater as he treated himself to a luxury camp bed which is huge so will only fit in the main living area! May get the kids to move in with me though.

Thanks everyone!

By the way, can someone explain the season thing on sleeping bags. Mine says suitable to 5 degrees. Is 4 season an all year round bag?

Sorry rather a dated expression. Yes a 4 season bag is for all the year (5 season is for very cold/ mountain/expedition use). The ratings are quite variable and optomistic IMHO. ( I sleep very cold too). It may well have dropped below 5 degrees on the clear nights in May. You do not have to replace it just add a good thermal mattress and even a fleece liner/ cover.

A fleece liner will add a season to your bag (so they say).

I'd better order 3 liners then!!

I read the sleeping bag properly, it actually says a 2/3 season bag comfort zone to MINUS 5!!!

Not a chance! Can you imagine the clothes I would have had to wear if it really had been -5. Hmm...optimistic is the right word!

I bought cheapo square style sleeping bag from sainsbos then put my mummy bag in that. problem solved!

Was going to suggest similar. Tescos have a super light mummy reduced at present ( £11 IIRC) -could use as an outer bag. I have a 1season over bag (manmade) to top up my 3 season down bag for low temperature use and it is really cosy. It also helps protect the inner bag from dampness.
I think bags are rated assuming bag is on an insulating mat - because the bags insulation gets squashed underneath when laying on it.

Interesting about inflatable beds - I went camping in May this year and was cold at night for the first time ever, it was also the first time I'd used an airbed instead of my old foam mat. I also have the problem of sleeping bag being too big. I'm quite little and was struggling to get all the 'empty' air in the bag warmed up, my feet were always cold (at least until the dog wandered in and lay down on them :) In fact a big furry dog is quite useful for keeping warm!).

Usually I'm OK in long-sleeved PJs, socks and a warm hat, and try to have a fleece or sweatshirt handy to put on if I get chilly. If it was really cold I'd wear my thermal base layers (merino wool which is very warm).