Sleeping comfortably in a tent - is it possible?

[spokette]

We went on our first camping trip for bank holiday weekend and despite the torrential rain, howling winds and cold for part of the trip, DTS (4yo) had a great time.

The main issue DH and I had was discomfort and feeling cold whilst sleeping. I had bought two season sleeping bags (Vango) because according to the blurb, they were warm. DH and I still had to donn a jumper and socks because we were anything but warm. In addition, we used a blow up mattress which, by the 3rd night, we had had enough of because it was so uncomfortable.

We would welcome any advice from season campers about staying warm at night and recommendations for sleep mats/mattresses that actually afford a comfortable night sleep. Unless we can solve this problem, DH will give up on camping because not getting enough sleep really tainted his enjoyment (even the bad weather did not put him off).

TIA

[MindingMum]

DH and I take two guest beds for us (he has a bad back and I am a very big girl ) We have the Ikea ones £29 and they are sooo comfy and warm. I have never been cold at night since we switched from air beds.

[Heartmum2Jamie]

Anniebear, we just got back from our first camping trip. Friday night there was no cloud cover at all and yes, it was a little chilly when we went to bed, but we soon warmed up. Admittedly we have an EHU and heat for our youngest who feels the cold badly, but I think the warmth mainly came down to having enough layers under/on top of the bed.

As for sleeping, we have a double airbed and I slept fine bearing in mind I am 28 weeks pregnant too.

[serin]

We took our Ikea memory foam mattress topper with us on our last camping trip but even that did nothing to alleviate the pain in my hips!! At about 4am I went and slept in the back of our car!

Mind you DH slept well enough.

[anniebear]

Oh no!! Im getting worried now!

does it really get that cold?!!!

theres me thinking off we go in our tent and sleeping bag lol

[RTKangaMummy]

nikki please put a link to the foam company cos we are wanting something like that

[mazzystar]

we use
those partially self-inflating mattresses [ they don't deflate, they pack up quite compactly, they mould to your body quite well]
a fleecy blanket underneath us
a duvet cover over this - fits perfectly over mattresses
a duvet on top of us
a toddler in the bed for added warmth

[nikkid21]

This is pretty weird but this is what we do.

I googled 'foam' and emailed companies that supply foam for replacement chair seats etc.

We managed to get a 2m X 2m off cut of dense 2in foam (from the top of a block) that has a waterproof backing for £25. This acts as our matttress.

We roll it up and put it on top of the roofbars. We arrive and the campsite to very strange looks with what looks like a roll of carpet on the roof.

Just unroll, stick a sheet on top and then have a duvet over us. Also take two pillows each in those vacumn seal bags so that they compress really thin. We have cut the foam to fit the bedroom of our Wynnster Sattelite 12 and it's fab!

[halia]

OK hoping this will be warm and comfortable enough - will report back after the weekend.
Layers for us all from ground up

DS (3yrs): double thickness Foam mat, large felecy blanket folded into 4, toddler 2.5 tog growbag, Flannel PJ's, Cot duvet, hottie
spare fleece blanket

Me: foil backed thermo Camping mat, self inflating mat with pillow built in, Single adult sleeping bag (underneath), 2 season mummy bag, jogging trousers and long sleeved Tshirt, hottie
spare blanket

DH: 2 camping mats (for extra width), single adult sleeping bag (underneath), 4 season mummy bag, PJ's, spare blanket, pillow

My god our car will be packed! I've decided I'd rather take too much stuff this time (first time with DS) and use it as a learning experience. Alternativly if I have not enough stuff its only one night.

DH thinks i'm going overboard but i plan on packing the care while he's at work and not telling him how much 'comfort zone' stuff I'm taking!

[janinlondon]

If you are looking to keep the costs down, Decathlon do a very good self inflating mattress range - two different thicknesses and much cheaper than the branded ones. Also, spreading one of those insulation blankets - those ones that look like foil that they wrap around marathon runners - on the floor before anything else will help keep the tent much more toasty.

[spokette]

Thanks for that. I did not see that. The Fat Airics are highly rated and great value for money!!

[Lilymaid]

The "Fat Airic" website link provided by Lubyloo has got a useful comparison of the different products - thermarests etc. The Fat Airics look good value for money compared with thermarests.

[spokette]

Many thanks.

I think we are going to invest in the Thermarests and add layers underneath to provide additional insulation.

We will be camping again in August so hopefully we will be able to sleep with more comfort.

[Blueblob]

Agree with those who say you need more underneath you. I put a groundsheet under the internal sleeping tent, it helps keep the cold from the ground out, plus easier to pack up inner tents if it's been raining. In the kids sleeping tent they get a picnic rug under their beds also. They've often been on cheap Ready Beds.

Air mattresses can be freezing and circulate cold air. I used one last summer, when it wasn't that hot, it was like sleeping on an ice block. After a couple of nights I borrowed a roll mat from friends we were camping with and put it under the air matress, the difference it made was incredible.

Since then I invested in a 3 season mummy bag and a Thermarest, one of the mid price trek ones. Havn't had a problem with cold since then, even in September. I've just bought 2 Fat Arics and they're comfy. The Fat Airics do look good quality, better than a cheap self inflating matress we have. They are the same thickness as the really expensive Thermarests, but less than half the price.

With the thermarests you get a life time guarantee and they'll replace valves etc for free. I've spoken to several camping shops and they've all said they're the best, if you want something to last for years, with great insulation, then go for Thermarests. I wanted something nice and thick for my husband, but couldn't justify spending loads, so thought we'd try FA's

[Lubyloo]

We tried out both thermarests and fat airics before buying. I actually found the fat airics slightly more comfortable. Going by the name I'm wondering if maybe the thermarests have better insulating properties? I'm very happy with my "Fat Eric"

[twinsetandpearls]

I usually end up kicking the duvet off or using it as en extra layer under my sleeping bag.

[cosima]

get a double thermorest, much more comfy than airbeds, also you need lots of covers underneath thats where the cold comes from. We then have a sleeping bag open like a sheet then a duvet and pillows, yes pillows, and we are hardened campers, the best thing for a comfortable sleep is a bottle of rum before bed

[twinsetandpearls]

I always sleep really well when camping.

We do blanket on the floor, foam mat, air bed, sleeping bag and duvet.

Wine helps

[Slubberdegullion]

tbh I'm not sure how they compare. We camped on borrowed thermarests in Oz and loved them (really comfy on that hard, hot rocky ground... ha ha ha like we will ever experience that in the UK).

I did lots of research (on here and ukcs) and the thermarests were always highly recommended, so sacrificed nice wine purchases for a couple of months and bought 4.

Very glad that we did as not only did they keep us warm this w/e, they are fab for whipping out and sticking visiting sleep-over children on.

[spokette]

Thanks for all the advice.

I have been reading blurb on Thermorests and and Airic mats.

Both makes are highly regarded with the Thermorests being more expensive.

What are your views on each brand or does it really come down to how much one is willing to pay?

TIA

[Slubberdegullion]

What we did this w/e (having read all the tips on layers under you).

From the ground up:

Fleece blanket
Thin foam mat
Thermarest
3 season sleeping bag
Flecce blanket

For the dc we tucked another fleece blanket around them (once they were asleep) and under the mat/thermarest to make a cocoon. They were both pink when they woke up in the morning.

re clothes, well I was sporting the highly sensual arrangement of thermals neath fleecy pj's, hiking socks and hat. Boy oh boy DH was wild with exciement at my alluring get up. Sadly the sleeping bag/blanket combo kept his ardour at bay

Oh and my other tip is buy a canvas tent.....much warmer

[ThingOne]

We have thermarest mattresses and use a king size duvet. We put the children in warm grobags and all snuggle together.

[RubberDuck]

All these layers are making me feel very grateful for the off ground sleeping area in the folding camper!

Just have: camper mattress, sheets, double duvet... if really cold then a thin cheap single sleeping bag unzipped to make a throw. I wear normal long sleeve pyjamas to bed - no hat, no socks, no jumpers :D

[iheartdusty]

our sleeping arrangements this weekend were (from the ground up):

picnic mat
fleece blanket each big enough to go under and roll over the top
thermarest
3 season sleeping bag

me; PJ bottoms & socks, vest, thermal top, tracksuit top
DH; 8! layers of clothes and balaclava (!!)
DCs; thick cotton PJs, socks and fleeces (well they didn't sit out until 1am drinking wine and talking nonsense)