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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

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Original poster

Improving the warmth of a sleeping bag - any ideas for keeping toasty please?

24 replies

AnyaJetski · 04/10/2012 19:18

Dd is off camping with the school soon and has been cold in the past. She has a pretty decent sleeping bag but shivered away last time.

Has anyone used those heat pads that you click/shake that produce heat for a few hours? Are they any good?

On Ebay I've only found the stick-on-your-skin medicinal ones or the very small poke down your glove ones. I'm imaginging a larger one you can stick down your sleeping bag! Does such a thing exist?

can you tell I've never been camping myself

S other than that, we are doing the layers of thermals, balaclava/beanie hat/ gloves etc. No room in rucksack for a fleecy liner. Weight has to be minimal.

Any other suggestions warmly (sorry) welcome.

OP posts:

DialMforMummy · 04/10/2012 19:19

A fleece liner? I had one it was lush but a bit bulky.

brighthair · 04/10/2012 19:20

I've never been camping either (and have no wish too)
Um from horsey experience, keep the middle bits warm and your hands/feet stay toasty. One of those foil blankets?
Dry is important too, cold and dry bearable, cold and wet miserable

DialMforMummy · 04/10/2012 19:21

Doh, should read post properly

Floralnomad · 04/10/2012 19:22

Tell her to wear a woolly hat to sleep in , if your head stays warm so does the rest of you , that's where most of the heat escapes from .

Grumpla · 04/10/2012 19:24

She needs layers. Thermal long johns and a long sleeved top under warm flannel PJs. Thick DRY socks. Hoody with the hood up. Mittens if necessary. If its going to be really cold I like a layer of wool too - I have a very ancient and scruffy cashmere jumper for this very purpose

What will she be sleeping on? A good insulated mat will keep her far warmer than an airbed (or god forbid just the ground!?)

PandaG · 04/10/2012 19:26

if no room for fleece liner what about a thin one? cotton are cheaper, but silk are much more expensive but even warmer.

another tip is getting into pjs early in the evening, and putting day clothes back on top - then you don't get cold changing later on at night, uyou just peel off the top layer.

will she be taking a water bottle? if so could it be a sigg type almunium bottle? can hold cold water for the day, and is ok to have hot water in at night as a hot water bottle - check out safety of this at home first.

what is she sleeping on? an airbed is cold as there is a large volume of air to warm up. rollmat or self inflating mat much warmer.

Original poster

AnyaJetski · 04/10/2012 19:52

Ooh, thanks so much for your quick replies!

She has a foil emergency blanket so that is a really good idea to use it.

Hot water bottle sounds bliss but I'm pretty sure there's nothing to heat the water in and pour it in safely, sadly.

Yy layers of thermals, woollies, hat etc. Must dig out some lambswool top.

Any knowledge of a suitable heating pad?

OP posts:

DowagersHump · 04/10/2012 19:55

We take hot water bottles with fake fur covers :)

But really the key is to not get cold before you get into bed. Wear so many layers that you're absolutely baking when you're sitting around otherwise it's bloody difficult to warm up again

fridayfreedom · 04/10/2012 19:57

I buy cheap fleecy blankets from Sainsburys , about£5, and sew into a sleeping bag shape.put in or over the sleeping bag.
Plus wear layers, a tacksuit may be warmer than PJs. plus and extra fleece next to her bed incase she wakes cold in the early hours.

mirry2 · 04/10/2012 19:59

What about a ski suit or ski trousers and ski socks instead of pyjamas. They would keep her warm

Original poster

AnyaJetski · 04/10/2012 20:16

Good point about keeping really warm before bedtime. I think being outdoors all day she underestimated how cold she was before she went to bed. Will nag her about that

Fleecy blanket idea is brill for another occasion when she's not having to carry all her kit for seven hours.

Might try ski socks instead of hiking socks.

Loads of great ideas thank you.

OP posts:

Slubberdegullion · 04/10/2012 20:27

Yy to pjs under clothes well before bedtime.

What sleeping bag does she have? Is it a 3/4 season? Some bags (down) need heat from your body to poof up and trap heat properly so sometimes too many layers will mean your bag won't function properly.

Some good thermals, buff, hat and socks is all you should need.

BikeRunSki · 04/10/2012 20:32

Silk liner! !!!!! Definitely.
One season down bag inside her usual one.

MeFour · 04/10/2012 20:34

A layer underneath is worth two on top so make sure she's really insulated underneath.

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 04/10/2012 20:35

Silk liners make a huge difference and fold down to almost nothing.

Definitely tell her to wear socks and a hat.

littlepiggie · 04/10/2012 20:40

Fleece pjs with a long sleve top under and maybe a vest too. I always pack an extra blanket. What type of bed does she have? Does make a difference.

ICutMyFootOnOccamsRazor · 04/10/2012 20:44

I concur that silk liners are fab. Quite pricey, but if you have time you could probably get a silk bedsheet from ebay and just sew it up.

Original poster

AnyaJetski · 04/10/2012 20:44

She has a roll mat. I guess the cold coming up from the ground is significant. She's maxed out for carrying extra blankets etc. no extra weight possible.

OP posts:

littlepiggie · 04/10/2012 20:49

How about a self inflating mat? Warmer than a roll mat and will roll to the same size

mybabywakesupsinging · 05/10/2012 01:55

Our dc wear cotton and fleece (very light and and cheap from Primark) pyjamas + socks. They have yet to be cold (they sometimes crawl out of their bags complaining they are hot).
But DH is the Official Tent Heater.

ICutMyFootOnOccamsRazor · 05/10/2012 02:07

Oh, and another tip is to sit or lie on top of the sleeping bag for a bit before you're ready to get in, so it's all toasty to crawl into.

scripsi · 05/10/2012 02:16

This sleeping bag liner isn't too expensive: www.amazon.co.uk/DD-Sleeper-Sleeping-Bag-Liner/dp/B0055SKL56/ref=sr_1_3?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1349399407&sr=1-3 It is a "silk blend" so not pure silk though. As others have said, it would be super light to transport. Back in the day I did some very snowy camping even though I really feel the cold. I found sleeping on top of a foil emergency blanket (I put it on the ground) managed to radiate the heat back up into my sleeping bag rather than my body heat going into the (frozen) earth.

stargirl1701 · 05/10/2012 03:09

She needs to get warm before getting into the bag. 10 min of brisk exercise like star jumps, marching, etc. then into bag. The bag will trap her body heat and keep her cosy. She should wear cosy PJs, socks and a hat too.

A silk or fleece liner will bump up the season rating of her bag. She needs a good insulating mattress. If using an air bed then pop the insulating mattress under it to protect from the cold ground. A blanket on top of the sleeping bag may help too.

I am always cold but these ideas help me stay cosy when camping. I use a 4 season bag in the UK (Scotland) even in the summer

Original poster

AnyaJetski · 05/10/2012 08:55

Well, in the absence of borrowing mybaby's DH as Official Tent Heater (every tent should have one ) the foil blanket underneath is a cracking idea, as is the 10 mins of exercise but after 12kms hiking I'm not sure she'll be keen

scripsi that liner is a great price, thank you.

Perhaps using the sleeping bag as a blanket round the shoulders around camp fire will warm it up a bit.

Great ideas - thanks so much.

OP posts:

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