Keeping warm in the tent

[Corey]

I use to get cold when camping, even with a good warm mummy bag.

Since I got the roof top tent this year, I decided to skip using a sleeping bag with it after reading up on the forum here about using a comforter instead.

Google searched earlier in the year, and I found a great company out of Wisconsin.
http://www.thecompanystore.com/

I bought two down comforters from them.
A twin size for the medium sized Maggiolina AirLand tent, and a queen size for my bed at home.

Both the comforters are the Ultra Warmth La Crosse model.
http://www.thecompanystore.com/parent/Comforters+Down/3101/CT06X_5/

Combo that with fitted full size sheets in the tent, and I slept nice and toasty on my vacation up at Mt. Rainier a month back.

The nights up there get ice cold at the elevation, and warm during the days during the summer.
I felt the comforter top during the night, and it was very cold, but underneath I was like a piece of toast.

I also did not have to get up in the middle of the night to drain the bladder either, and this was a first for me when camping.
I normally have to get up once or twice in the middle of the night when out in the cold air like that.

I am hooked on this system, and I have retired my nice REI Fat Cat down wide mummy bag to my closet.

 

[valerieO]

On an air mattress we put down a sleeping bag (unzipped) below us and use our best down comforter and we always sleep toasty warm, even below freezing.

 

[Speaker]

I used to have a extreme cold military surplus bag

I have the same bag. I have a fleece bag that goes inside. Talk about warm! I think the bag weighs about 9 pounds :REExeSquatsHL1:

 

[spressomon]

I use to get cold when camping, even with a good warm mummy bag.

Since I got the roof top tent this year, I decided to skip using a sleeping bag with it after reading up on the forum here about using a comforter instead.

Google searched earlier in the year, and I found a great company out of Wisconsin.
http://www.thecompanystore.com/

I bought two down comforters from them.
A twin size for the medium sized Maggiolina AirLand tent, and a queen size for my bed at home.

Both the comforters are the Ultra Warmth La Crosse model.
http://www.thecompanystore.com/parent/Comforters+Down/3101/CT06X_5/

Combo that with fitted full size sheets in the tent, and I slept nice and toasty on my vacation up at Mt. Rainier a month back.

The nights up there get ice cold at the elevation, and warm during the days during the summer.
I felt the comforter top during the night, and it was very cold, but underneath I was like a piece of toast.

I also did not have to get up in the middle of the night to drain the bladder either, and this was a first for me when camping.
I normally have to get up once or twice in the middle of the night when out in the cold air like that.

I am hooked on this system, and I have retired my nice REI Fat Cat down wide mummy bag to my closet.

Same experience with my Maggiolina GT medium. Sleeps warmer than my previous RTT (Overland). Just for a spoiler I have a 12V blanket that I turn on high for about an hour before hopping in. It sure spoils ya getting into toasty bed gear when the outside temps are at or below freezing!

I also swapped out the too firm mattress on my GT...which doesn't really have anything to do with staying warm...but it sure is alot more comfortable!

 

[Corey]

The guy that turned me onto the Maggiolina has the medium also on his FJ Cruiser.
He too uses a 12v blanket he picked up at a truck stop I think.

He also swapped out the firm mattress and put in an air mattress instead.
I would think that would be to bouncy when moving around, or climbing in.

The stock mattress is a little firm, but I got use to it pretty quick.
I hear some put a feather bed on top of the stock one.

 

[JIMBO]

:archaeolo Ya know Corey, air mattress's come in `1000 different styles

I use this TRUCKBEDZ, air matt. for my X, Trailer tent and my ground tents, you can knee it, jump on it, roll around (??) whatever

They come in ALL DIFFERENT sizes, from $99 bucks to $299 bucks
and, and, and they deflate and fit in a neat carry bag

It comes with a 12v DC, vehicle pwr station, air pump (little, no batteries) that fills up the matt. in 30 seconds-tight

Here it is in my X

very heavy duty VINYL

:smileeek: :smileeek: JIMBO

 

[Hilldweller]

The guy that turned me onto the Maggiolina has the medium also on his FJ Cruiser.
He too uses a 12v blanket he picked up at a truck stop I think.

I've found a couple for $20 to $30 ---- more like $70 with a thermostat.
I think the mattress pad version is the best idea; warm up the bag for 20 minutes and then climb in all toasty...

I'm going to hold off on the space heater until the new Zodi tent heater comes out. I'd rather be cold than on fire...

 

[rusty_tlc]

The velour top air mattresses sleep warmer than the plain vinyl.
A space blanket, shiny side up, under the air mattress makes a huge difference in how warm you sleep.

A Coleman forced air propane heater takes the chill off the bedding at night and makes it toasty getting dressed in the AM. We borrowed one to try out and it worked great. If we do any more cold weather tent trips we will probably buy one.

 

[NothingClever]

Down comforter, flannel sheets and fleece pajamas.

 

[paulj]

The velour top air mattresses sleep warmer than the plain vinyl.
A space blanket, shiny side up, under the air mattress makes a huge difference in how warm you sleep. .

These thick air mattresses also loose heat around the sides and exposed parts of the top, not just through the bottom. So I like to put a thick fleece blanket on top, with sleeping bags on top of that. Fleece is better than foam for this purpose because it flexes with the mattress.

 

[ExpoMike]

I know I do...

I can't bring myself to trust anyone who doesn't like boobies. Can you?

100% agree!!! :suning:

Sorry for the off topic... :sombrero:

 

[Corey]

Here is a 12v pad I saw over on Muds camping section.
http://www.electrowarmth.com/fleet.php

Looks to be very nice, but no auto shutoff after so many minutes of use.

 

[rusty_tlc]

These thick air mattresses also loose heat around the sides and exposed parts of the top, not just through the bottom. So I like to put a thick fleece blanket on top, with sleeping bags on top of that. Fleece is better than foam for this purpose because it flexes with the mattress.

Good idea!

 

[paulj]

My favorite blanket for covering an air mattress is an one-sided pile sleeping bag (unzipped) made by Patagonia years ago. That material pills a lot, and is not at all windproof, but is bulkier than the newer double sided fleece.

 

[jbs]

Here is a 12v pad I saw over on Muds camping section.
http://www.electrowarmth.com/fleet.php

Looks to be very nice, but no auto shutoff after so many minutes of use.

I have one of these and it works pretty well. A couple observations:
- As you note, a timer to automatically turn it off after some time would be nice. I imagine one could make something like this to go between the pad's plug and the 12V socket.
- I have only used it for 1-2 nights at a time on my trailer battery, so I cannot speak to its effect on battery life. I had no problems. Obviously with temps in the low 20s, the fridge isn't taxing the battery.
- I used it with sleeping bags. I think it would work much better with a sheet/blanket setup like you have. More of the warmth would be trapped instead of escaping into the cold atmosphere.
- It definitely helped, making a night with overnight lows in the teens reasonably comfortable. However, the air is still very cold, so the way I sleep, my nose and lungs still felt the chill. This is why I would like to also have a heater like the Zodi to keep the air temp around 40. If you sleep with your head/face completely covered, the pad alone may be sufficient.

I also converted an old PC power supply so I can power it on 110V house power for use in the winter at home.

I recommend it.