Message Forums

We have our first family camp planned for the end of the month. How many layers, and of what, do you think we'll need at night? More concerned for the kids than me, but would like to know what others take. We have self-inflating mattresses plus extra camp rolls if needed, sleeping bags and a fleecy blanket each. I've also got a couple of hot water bottles to take for the boys in case it's cold. Have no idea how cold it will be at night, with the weather changing the way it is! We are going to the New Forest by the way. No EHU or heaters by the way.

Thanks in advance.

Sandra

Quote: Originally posted by kate w on 18/5/2008

---

Put your roll mats or blankets under the self inflating mattress, add a blanket on top

---

I'm sorry but I have to say that double-insulating a self inflating mat is a waste of time. They're perfectly warm enough without the extra layers, unlike airbeds, because of their cellular construction. If you like it for padding though then that's fair enough.

Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 18/5/2008

---

Quote: Originally posted by kate w on 18/5/2008

---

Put your roll mats or blankets under the self inflating mattress, add a blanket on top

---

I'm sorry but I have to say that double-insulating a self inflating mat is a waste of time. They're perfectly warm enough without the extra layers, unlike airbeds, because of their cellular construction. If you like it for padding though then that's fair enough.

---

Er....sorry to be pedantic but I have to say that's against the laws of physics.  There is a temparature gradient through the Thermorest and the temparature on top of the mat is dependent on the coldness of the ground and the insulation properties of the mat, i.e. the colder the ground, the colder the top of the mat.

I was out camping at the weekend and used a lightweight Theremorest and I was fine because the ground has had a lot of sun on it recently.  Late October tho', believe me when I tell you that my heavy thermorest is a lot warmer with a rug or two underneath it!

However good the sleeping bag, don't take any notice of how warm the manufacturers tell you it is, mine is meant to be good for five degrees of frost but I still needed my warm sweatshirt on Saturday night!

The answer is lots of layers under the sleeping bag and if at all possible a duvet on top!  Socks yes, I agree a hat would help but never use one myself!

Take care

R

Quote: Originally posted by Rik Brooks on 19/5/2008

---

Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 18/5/2008

---

Quote: Originally posted by kate w on 18/5/2008

---

Put your roll mats or blankets under the self inflating mattress, add a blanket on top

---

I'm sorry but I have to say that double-insulating a self inflating mat is a waste of time. They're perfectly warm enough without the extra layers, unlike airbeds, because of their cellular construction. If you like it for padding though then that's fair enough.

---

Er....sorry to be pedantic but I have to say that's against the laws of physics.  There is a temparature gradient through the Thermorest and the temparature on top of the mat is dependent on the coldness of the ground and the insulation properties of the mat, i.e. the colder the ground, the colder the top of the mat.

---

Yeah, I'll give you the temperature gradient will exist, but it's barely significant unless you're sleeping directly on top of it without even a sleeping bag. By comparison an air bed is a constantly circulating mass of cold air and you need to insulate yourself from that as a matter of some urgency...but even then, one decent layer on top of the air bed, under the sleeping bag, is enough.

IF...and it's a big IF....your sleeping bag is up to the job in the first place. It's amazing how many folk here economise on buying two season cheapie sleeping bags and then end up spending a fortune and using up valuable packing space by adding extra layers here, there and everywhere else. Sleeping bags normally have two bottom temperatures listed...one is the lowest temperature at which the (average) occupant will be comfortable, the other lower temperature is merely a survival temperature ie you won't get hypothermia, but it will still be a miserably cold night.

Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 19/5/2008

---

Quote: Originally posted by Rik Brooks on 19/5/2008

---

Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 18/5/2008

---

Quote: Originally posted by kate w on 18/5/2008

---

Put your roll mats or blankets under the self inflating mattress, add a blanket on top

---

I'm sorry but I have to say that double-insulating a self inflating mat is a waste of time. They're perfectly warm enough without the extra layers, unlike airbeds, because of their cellular construction. If you like it for padding though then that's fair enough.

---

Er....sorry to be pedantic but I have to say that's against the laws of physics.  There is a temparature gradient through the Thermorest and the temparature on top of the mat is dependent on the coldness of the ground and the insulation properties of the mat, i.e. the colder the ground, the colder the top of the mat.

---

Yeah, I'll give you the temperature gradient will exist, but it's barely significant unless you're sleeping directly on top of it without even a sleeping bag. By comparison an air bed is a constantly circulating mass of cold air and you need to insulate yourself from that as a matter of some urgency...but even then, one decent layer on top of the air bed, under the sleeping bag, is enough.

IF...and it's a big IF....your sleeping bag is up to the job in the first place. It's amazing how many folk here economise on buying two season cheapie sleeping bags and then end up spending a fortune and using up valuable packing space by adding extra layers here, there and everywhere else. Sleeping bags normally have two bottom temperatures listed...one is the lowest temperature at which the (average) occupant will be comfortable, the other lower temperature is merely a survival temperature ie you won't get hypothermia, but it will still be a miserably cold night.

---

Almost agree Val but my comments about putting a rug under the Thermorest are based on my experience of late autumn and early spring weather camping: like having to wait for the frost on the fly sheet to thaw before I can take the tent down!  I suppose their is another constant to consider and that's the suseptability of the individual to the cold.  Didn't used to bother me but since passing my fiftieth birthday...

My sleeping bag is not a cheap two season jobby but a four season down bag from a reputable manufacturer: I won't economise on camping kit, my comfort is at stake and as for airbeds: ugh!

Take care

R

Quote: Originally posted by lisyp on 19/5/2008

---

when we first started camping we were advised to wear nothing at night and get into the sleeping bag as the heat generated by your body goes into the sleeping bag and keeps you warm, somethign like that anyway. i didnt believe it and took loads to wear in bed just in case - it was brilliant, we were camping in the gale force winds and lashing rain last year and with nothing on in the sleeping bag i was toasty we had the set up described above with mat under and blanket over the matress and it was great.

---

At last, some sense.

Sleeping bags (good ones) are designed not only to keep you warm but to wick away moisture from you to outside the bag. It's staying dry not sweaty that is the secret to warmth. If you use the shoulder baffles then the warm ait stays in the bag with you. And if you use the hood, that saves most of the body's heat loss

Getting into a sleeping bag with jimjams, socks, fleeces etc. etc. completely screws upwhat the bag is trying to do - so you get damp and then you get cold. Trouble is, many people will then add another layer or put a blanket on top of the bag.

I don't use a particularly expensive bag, cheaper in fact than my wife's. But she will not believe me when I tell her the above, puts on her layers, & in anything less than sub-tropical she feels the cold. I have never once been cold once in my bag - and that includes sub-zero temperatures (not that that's what the forecast said). In fact I usually have to let some fresh air into the bag to keep from overheating.