Will we be warm enough?

[Therewere5inthebed]

I’m going camping in a tent after a 12 year break. I remember being bloody freezing for a few nights in August, so much so that one of the (large) dogs ended up in my sleeping bag with me on the air bed.

for our planned trip we still have an air bed but with an insulated foil mat underneath, a 7.5mm memory foam mattress topper, a flannel sheet and then a warm duvet rather than a sleeping bag. I think the problem previously was the cold getting into the air bed from the ground. Do you think the insulated mat and mattress topper will be enough to prevent this?

We have a very similar sounding set up, but with sleeping bags instead of the duvet. I really recommend a hot water bottle too (in the bed to warm it before you get in). I really feel the cold so tend to seriously layer up to sleep (thermals, 2-3 layers on top, warm socks, hat). Over the years I've honed the 'keeping warm at night' thing to perfection and now enjoy camping a lot more than I used to!

Oh and yes, the foil blanket plus mattress topper definitely seem to stop the cold creeping up from the ground.

From memory, I can recommend a nice toasty toddler in your sleeping bag for warmth.

You still don't sleep, but boy are you warm.

Hot water bottle is the way to go

I'd personally ditch the duvet for a decent quality sleeping bag. One that's designed to be used in -ve temps and you'll be grand.

It’s 9 degrees here atm. Good luck with it!

Take loads of layers. I ended up sleeping in a waterproof raincoat that was very warm. It didn't rain and took up no space. It was over me, not on me. Very insulating.

Wear a hat in bed

I remember it being 26 degrees in the day in august but freezing overnight. I went to a charity shop and bought two winter duvets and we were finally warm.

The air bed plus duvet combo was the game changer for us. Plus thermal underwear, socks, hats etc. This was in August as well. Joys of British camping lol

We used to have sunloungers as beds (as I like to sit up in bed and read/drink tea), self inflating mattress on top, mattress protector on top of that, sheets, duvet and then bedspread, plus hot water bottle. We used a bell tent and so had a stove too, not sure if you can use them in normal tents.

I think the combination of being off the floor and different layers was helpful we were never cold, obviously the stove helped in that respect!

But its a lot of kit to take and was exhausting in the end so we sold it all.

Hot water bottle is an absolute game changer. Fluffy/ski socks and a wooly hat. Just got back from a week in Devon. It was definitely chilly but soon warmed up. We had - ground sheet, picnic rug, air bed, fitted sheet, think blanket, us and then duvet and another thick blanket.

I also agree with wearing a hat in bed and using hot water bottles, I have done both and they really help.

Thanks for your replies, from what you’ve all said I think we’ll be fine. DP radiates heat and is very cuddly at night so I certainly won’t need a hot water bottle.

I hate sleeping bags and as I sometimes have hot flushes (oh the joy 🙄) I need to be able stick a leg out to try to regulate the heat, I have mobility issues too so duvets are much more comfortable for me.

I’m so excited to camp again but we’re not booked to go until the end of July, it’s only for three nights at a Viking festival but we’re not going to have a chance to try out the completely new kit before we go unfortunately.

Not a duvet, you need to be encased.

Layer up in proper clothes (no flimsy pjs) before sunset. Even if you're warm. Go to bed in said clothes which will be your 'pjs' (thick fleecy leggings, long sleeve t shirt, socks and warm hoody - hood good for covering head during the night)

Top your sleeping bag with a Teddy throw.

Hat in bed, hot water bottle, sleeping on a Polystyrene sheet is very good