Tenters: a general question (not FW specific)

[KristinU]

Does anyone ever have a problem with their air mattress/aero bed being a little chilly from being right on the ground? I can load up with extra blankets but still be chilly if it is a cool night (and the coolness makes my hips ache...I'm getting old!) A solution I came up with is those interlocking foam squares from BJ's (2'x2' anti-fatigue, similar to the big alphabet squares for kids). We took them camping Friday night and it worked like a charm but these things are bulky, and I certainly couldn't pack them up to take to FW. Does anyone have any other ideas? something less bulky?

We're thinking about a February-ish trip down so the cool-ness will be a consideration (and honestly, they're too bulky for car camping here around home as well - we don't have a big vehicle.)

TIA!

 

[Kanda]

We have just started tent camping, so I haven't run into a COLD problem yet. But we are going to FW in Feb. 07. We use a foot print (I think that's what the REI guy called it) underneath our tent, then the blow up matress inside the tent. I'm hoping that will be enough to make a barrier between us and the ground. I guess I'll need to do a trial run when it turns cold here in NC. Hope you get a helpful answer.

 

[Rhonda]

Our air mattress is double-high. So, we don't notice the cold coming through. We bought it at Target (I think) and it's made by Swiss. We love it!

 

[nuke]

Anything that puts air between you and the ground is going to create cold. I don't mind it because I am always hot but my husband gets cold on the air matress. He puts a sleeping bag down and lies on top of it.

 

[Brianne]

We had covers on ours like mattress pads---I couldn't tell you if the aerobeds came with them or not because I borrowed the beds from my parents. The pads worked though because we definitely weren't cold.

 

[clkelley]

At Ft. Wilderness, I use an electric blanket and an electric mattress pad to help me keep warm in December.

For non electricity cold camping trips, I just put a blanket underneath me over the sheets on my air mattress, crawl in my -20 sleeping bag, and put a blanket over my head. (Since I refuse to sleep in full mummy mode in my bag, it's probably really only rated to +20)

I also have a ground cloth under my tent and inside my tent.

 

[KristinU]

Thanks everyone!

We just bring our normal bedding from home (one of the reasons I love my aero bed), including a mattress pad - maybe I'll look into a thicker pad or just put a blanket on my side underneath the pad. I suppose I could also try sucking it up and getting a couple of sleeping bags and forego the bedding.

Cheers!

 

[klmall]

I'm a winter tent camper and other posters here are right, any air under you will make you colder. We train our Boy Scouts that it's more important to put layers beneath you in the winter than on top of you since the ground is cold; actually a ratio of 3:1.

Camping stores (b&m and online) sell insulating blankets as well as very sturdy emergency blankets that might work. I use a metallicized, folding thin blanket under my thin closed-celled foam mattress. But actually we tell the kids anything will work such as newspapers, wool blankets, cardboard, fleece blankets, and even old sleeping bags which unzip all the way.

You can also buy insulated Thermorest type mattress pads which campers and backpackers use (twin size only) but to get real comfort for those of us with creaky sore hips (and I speak from personal experience) you will spend upwards of $150 but the payoff is instant inflation and lightweight, small size for travel.

You can also check online for winter camping sleeping hints. I have slept comfortably in the snow in a tent at 0 degrees so it can easily be done.

PM me if want more info or links to online stores.

 

[rer1972]

We have just started tent camping, so I haven't run into a COLD problem yet. But we are going to FW in Feb. 07. We use a foot print (I think that's what the REI guy called it) underneath our tent, then the blow up matress inside the tent. I'm hoping that will be enough to make a barrier between us and the ground. I guess I'll need to do a trial run when it turns cold here in NC. Hope you get a helpful answer.

When in February Kanda?

 

[Kanda]

When in February Kanda?

Feb. 3-10. When are you going?

 

[KristinU]

You can also buy insulated Thermorest type mattress pads which campers and backpackers use (twin size only) but to get real comfort for those of us with creaky sore hips (and I speak from personal experience) you will spend upwards of $150 but the payoff is instant inflation and lightweight, small size for travel.

klmall - you're pure genius! We already have full-length therm-a-rest pads from our backpacking days just gathering dust in the basement! Brilliant! I kept thinking that whatever barrier had to go between the ground and the aero bed, but thanks to you and the rest of the posters on this thread I'm realizing that I should try something on top instead.

Thanks again everyone!!!

 

[rer1972]

Feb. 3-10. When are you going?

Feb 1-4th; maybe we'll see ya there?

 

[rer1972]

At Ft. Wilderness, I use an electric blanket and an electric mattress pad to help me keep warm in December.

For non electricity cold camping trips, I just put a blanket underneath me over the sheets on my air mattress, crawl in my -20 sleeping bag, and put a blanket over my head. (Since I refuse to sleep in full mummy mode in my bag, it's probably really only rated to +20)

I also have a ground cloth under my tent and inside my tent.

Maybe this is just a stupid thought on my part, but I guess I would be worried about electrical cords coming into my tent and then (knowing weather in Florida) a big downpour coming through and there being some kind of electrical accident. Am I just being way to paranoid. I'm no expert on electricity or anything. If it's safe I'd like to use the electric matress pad too.

 

[susan1]

hi
we just use layers of newspaper, wonderful insulation or those cheap rattan roll up beach mats. then an all seasons sleeping bag.

 

[clkelley]

Maybe this is just a stupid thought on my part, but I guess I would be worried about electrical cords coming into my tent and then (knowing weather in Florida) a big downpour coming through and there being some kind of electrical accident. Am I just being way to paranoid. I'm no expert on electricity or anything. If it's safe I'd like to use the electric matress pad too.

If your tent is properly waterproofed, and set up right, unless it is just knocked over by the wind, no water should get in.

I use a 40 ft outdoor extension cord going from the electric tree through the corner of the door of my tent. That goes to an Outdoor Power strip inside a plastic shoebox with slots cut for the cords to come out. So it would take a HUGE amount of water to get inside there and cause a problems.

 

[rer1972]

Thanks Carol . Guess I'll be taking my heating pad just in case it gets cold enough.