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?

Go to decathlon, layers are the answer, thermals, leggings, fleece etc

We used to have an air bed, the answer was a memory foam mattress topper, it stopped the cold air coming through. We also found we were cold in sleeping bags and took our duvet instead with a flannelette cover.

Layer up - you can use dirty day clothes as extra night layers - and a woolly / beanie hat.

Start to layer up before sunset. Even if you're warm. Early and late in the season the temperature drops rapidly after sunset and we get caught out.

I wear an old ski thermal top which comes up over my nose, ears and mouth aswell as having a hood. Like a balaclava really?!

What about an air bed with your sim on top?

I took my memory foam mattress topperoff my bed and rolled it up in the car - i refused to go without it

I go for ski base layer, something like this on top:

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/women-s-warm-fleece-hiking-jacket-sh100-ultra-warm/_/R-p-305153

Long johns, warm trousers or fleece lined leggings, at least two pairs of socks (thermal of fleece lined) hat.

Buy a few of those cheap fleece blankets from IKEA etc and use them to add more layers if needs be. It's not possible to have too many layers!!

You need a Lesotho blanket they are incredible. Used as all weather clothing in Lesotho and just so so warm.

I have a picnic blanket under my Sim, then a teddy bear fleece fitted blanket on top of the sim. Then my sleeping bag on top of that with sleeping bag liner. The last few times I've been too hot!

If you're not a vegan/vegetarian then natural sheepskins are the best to keep that ground chill away.

I swear by the hot water bottle. Best thing I ever did, realising I could take it camping with me!

Blanket/rug on the floor,Air bed, double sleeping bag, fleece blanket on top and wear socks to sleep.
Honestly keeps me nice and toasty xx

Proper thermorest mat and a mountaineering sleeping bag (-25 rated - in summer ) keeps me warm

We have the square decathlon 0 degrees cotton sleeping bags. They zip together into a double then I use DH as a hot water bottle. We use a double duvet cover as a liner inside. Only problem is those bags won't ever go back into their sacks after the first time.

@Houseofvelour

Blanket/rug on the floor,Air bed, double sleeping bag, fleece blanket on top and wear socks to sleep. Honestly keeps me nice and toasty xx

By double sleeping bag, do you mean an extra large one, or one inside another? (I’ve considered doing that.)

Two hot water bottles, one for feet and one to hug.

And everything else listed above!

If all else fails go to bed drunk

Get a pitch with electric hook up and take an electric blanket.

Hot water bottle if no electric hook up, electric blanket if you have a hook up.

Plus as others say not getting cold is key.

As PPs have said, layers!!

More than one roll mat
Blanket on top of your roll mat
Thermals under your pjs - tuck your top in your bottoms as well to avoid draughts
Jumper/hoodie over the top
Thick socks with bottoms tucked in
Sleeping bag
Blanket over your sleeping bag
Hat

I also hated a sleeping bag liner because of getting all tangled up.

I have a SIM on top of a camp bed so it's off the ground. Also use a hot water bottle and ski thermals with a decent sleeping bag and fleece blanket inside.

Insulating rolls - like bubble wrap but silvered. Very lightweight and you can roll it up.
Pop that onto the tent floor before you make the bed.
I also take an extra groundsheet.

Buy a sheet of this and cut up in to sections re assemble on tent floor
www.insulationexpress.co.uk/celotex-ga4000-insulation-board?gclid=CjwKCAjw7fuJBhBdEiwA2lLMYQXksWxI2IgsmMnH2DWPbojqFF9Fwd5bjCeG9k2vYk9LCQMEgfdjGRoCC-oQAvD_BwE
You can often buy damages sheets cheaply

Oodie- keeps most of you really warm and moves with you when you move.

Hot water bottle -- I just used a plain drinking water bottle filled with fairly hot water in it when at high altitude in Africa, unheated hostel.
Plus most my layers, hat, 2 sleeping bags (summer+3 season)... but hot water bottle was the biz.

Swap the tent for a trailer tent with heating?

@Schulte I mean a really big one 😊