The camping bug bit my family and me last year.I brought a very cheap tent of ebay, yes it did leak, but still had fantastic fun.I brought a new tent at the end of last season from a proper camping shop and cannot wait to try it out for the first time.Can anybody give me advice on keeping nice and warm this Easter (it is March remember), I have two children 4 and 8.
get an electric hook up and a little fan heater works a treat heat up the tent before you get into bed once in bed switch off heater, in the morning switch it on to heat up the tent before you get out of bed. MidWest Camping at Codsall will have the proper hook ups with RCD. Make sure you have decent sleeping bags and if the kids are happy to get them to snuggle down together. Plenty of layers - we always wore jogging bottoms and fleeces to bed if it was cold, also woolly hat is a good idea.
------------- Bee
Teenager for sale! Eye rolling, back talking, temper tantrums, and I already know everything attitude included. All sales are final!
Quote: Originally posted by Belinda H on 08/1/2008
get an electric hook up and a little fan heater works a treat heat up the tent before you get into bed once in bed switch off heater, in the morning switch it on to heat up the tent before you get out of bed. MidWest Camping at Codsall will have the proper hook ups with RCD. Make sure you have decent sleeping bags and if the kids are happy to get them to snuggle down together. Plenty of layers - we always wore jogging bottoms and fleeces to bed if it was cold, also woolly hat is a good idea.
I use thermal long johns and long sleeve tshirt, cosy sleeping bag, thermal socks and my wooly hat we went to a campsite a couple of years ago where we had to peg down the tent in shingle - nightmare!! thank goodness for hookup and our wee fan heater overnight until we managed to find a camping shop with industrial strength pegs!!!
Another tip is to put one of those silver survival blankets under your bed, they keep the warm in.
Here's how we do it - tarpaulin type ground sheet first, then tent ground sheet, silver blanket, thick blanket, then airbed, cover us with kingsize duvet (so there are no gaps for cold air to get in) and then thick fur throw. Put a hot water bottle into the bed where your feet will be about 10 minutes before you get in then move up to the top. We do similar for the kids but they have campbeds and mummy style sleeping bags.
We also find that a halogen heater is better than a fan heater, but thats just our preference.
One thing I do to keep warm at night when camping in cold weather is to have the normal blankets etc but when i get into my sleeping bag is to wear lite PJ's or shorts and t shirts wrap yourself up in your sleeping bag u will be warm but also take in your sleeping bag in a pillow case with extra clothing in it you will lay of these and body heat will keep them warm when and if you wake up and you will feel cold put on the clothes that you have kept inside your sleeping bag they will be warmish and will make you feel warmer. if you go to bed with lots of lays on you when u wake up cold u find it hard to get warm. Clothing you keep in a bag will get cold so even if you do this with clothes you want to put on first thing at least you not going to have to put cold clothing on in the morning from your bag. Other then that you could buy a little camp heater but dont leave it on when u are asleep.
Quote: Originally posted by Belinda H on 08/1/2008
get an electric hook up and a little fan heater works a treat heat up the tent before you get into bed once in bed switch off heater, in the morning switch it on to heat up the tent before you get out of bed. MidWest Camping at Codsall will have the proper hook ups with RCD. Make sure you have decent sleeping bags and if the kids are happy to get them to snuggle down together. Plenty of layers - we always wore jogging bottoms and fleeces to bed if it was cold, also woolly hat is a good idea.
Take clothes that you can wear in layers. Eg. a thick jumper that will pullover (pun intended) a thinner jumper.
Don't be afraid to bulk up on layers.
Around 1/3 of body heat is lost through the head. Get decent hats and be prepared to wear them to bed. The same goes for socks and gloves. You don't lose much heat through your feet and hands, but they get cold first and it's difficult to sleep with cold feet!
Try to avoid evenings sat in your tent reading books etc. You will get cold when you are inactive. Meal out in the local pub, or a trip to the swimming pool. IT's better to retire and rise early when it's cold. A nice warm sleeping bag can be the most pleasant place to be.