Tenting in cooler weather. Need advice.

[gelebean]

My family and I are going to tent it (for the first time) at FW and the low is going to be around 48-50 that night. I live in Florida and as most Floridians know, things like a heating blanket just aren't needed very much down here.

I have to boys, 4 and 6, and I don't want them to get to cold but before I run out and spend the money I was wondering is that really cold enough to need one.

We will be on air mattresses which I know suck some heat out of you but I personally don't think that 45-50 is all that cold. (Although I never had to sleep outside in that temp before either .) Will heavy blankets and a small heater fan (the tent is 17x10) be enough?

Thanks for any advice

 

[Shagley]

When we are camping on cooler nights, we usually sleep in sweats, and we also put an extra blanket inside of our sleeping bags.

 

[minkydog]

What Shagely said...I've been camping since I was 6 months old(I'm 51 now) and I don't even know what a heating blanket is. I love to camp in cool weather.

So here are my ideas--Be sure everyone has a sleeping bag rated down to at least 40 degrees. Socks and hats for the kids at bedtime, and maybe for you too. Make everyone change into fresh clothes before crawling in their bag at night--wearing the clothes you played in will make you feel cold due to the perspiration trapped next to your skin. Layer clothing in the early morning so they can peel off as it warms up. A warm drink before bed will help the kids nod off and something warm for breakfast will get them moving again. If it's too cold for showers, just sponge off the dirty spots and wait until it's warmer.

 

[gelebean]

Thanks for the tips!

Never would have thought of the warm drink before bedtime. Great idea!

 

[sumrmist]

you could add a blanket between them and the air mattress. If you have down throws they are great insulaters as well.

 

[tinkeramy]

Also, depending on your tent, those are great heaters themselves. Everyone's body heat kind of circulates through there and it could even get toasty. I wouldn't worry at all. I've been camping in colder (and NOT very happy about that) but as long as I had a hat on, the rest of me was fine.

 

[Beehn]

Get some of those instant chemical hand warmer things. Throw them in the sleeping bag a few minutes before you get in. That way things start out toasty.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I am not a huge camper, but last year my son's Cub Scout Pack camped in freezing weather for our Fall Camporee. The boys were quite excited because they got their Polar Bear Patch! Anyway, we were told to get the pads rather than air mattresses. They are supposed to be warmer. I think I had on about 5 layers! Have fun!

 

[thewesterberg]

One other tip besides what others told you I learned in college and in real life (outdoor rec major here!) is to make sure everyone hits the bathroom before you go to bed. If you end up having the extra liquid in you, you'll end up feeling colder. And if you wake up in the middle of the night, cold and having to pee, go pee. Sure, you'll get cold crawling out of your bag, but you'll actually warm up once you crawl back in!

 

[maxiesmom]

Don't forget that if you run a heater, you need to leave a little section of the canvas unzipped for the air to circulate. I have camped in some cold weather, and a small heater will do a great job of keeping your tent warm.

 

[Twitterpated Dad]

You’ve been given a lot of good advice. Please let a long-winded scouter chime in too.

You’re right that an air mattress will be cold. Not as cold as the ground, but still cold. The reason is that as you sleep, your body will heat the air along the very top of the mattress. When you move, especially when you turn over, you “stir” the air in the mattress and your body has to heat the top layer all over again.

The best insulators contain a small amount of air. The self-inflating pads work in part because they are so thin. I’m partial to the thin closed cell foam pads, usually blue, that are sold at Wal-mart and Target. The last one I bought was under $10.

I’d recommend that you place the pad on top on the air mattress and secure it with a fitted sheet. You could place a blanket between the sheet and the air mattress instead.

I’ll also second the hat, socks and dry PJs suggestions. (The temperature ratings on sleeping bags usually assume that you’re appropriately dressed and that you’re using a sleeping pad.)

You asked if heavy blankets would be enough. I don’t think that you will need an electric blanket. But, you probably will need sleeping bags, perhaps with a blanket over the top. How much do you and your family move around while you sleep? When you move under a blanket, there is much more heat loss (and air exchange) than when you move inside a sleeping bag.

Wal-mart also has polar fleece sleeping bags that can be used indoors. They can also be used as liners in a regular sleeping bag. It will add 5 to 10 degrees of additional comfort. The liners are also machine washable.

I’m glad you’re taking a large tent. You should place your mattresses at least a foot away from the tent wall. It’s surprising how much colder the air right against the tent wall can be. (It will also reduce the chance of touching the tent wall and letting moisture come through.)

And finally, I would not use any heater while you are sleeping in a tent.

I have two boys too. I think it’s wonderful that you’re taking them on a Disney adventure. Good luck and have fun!

 

[DevilDuckie]

You’ve been given a lot of good advice. Please let a long-winded scouter chime in too.

You’re right that an air mattress will be cold. Not as cold as the ground, but still cold. The reason is that as you sleep, your body will heat the air along the very top of the mattress. When you move, especially when you turn over, you “stir” the air in the mattress and your body has to heat the top layer all over again.

The best insulators contain a small amount of air. The self-inflating pads work in part because they are so thin. I’m partial to the thin closed cell foam pads, usually blue, that are sold at Wal-mart and Target. The last one I bought was under $10.

I’d recommend that you place the pad on top on the air mattress and secure it with a fitted sheet. You could place a blanket between the sheet and the air mattress instead.

I’ll also second the hat, socks and dry PJs suggestions. (The temperature ratings on sleeping bags usually assume that you’re appropriately dressed and that you’re using a sleeping pad.)

You asked if heavy blankets would be enough. I don’t think that you will need an electric blanket. But, you probably will need sleeping bags, perhaps with a blanket over the top. How much do you and your family move around while you sleep? When you move under a blanket, there is much more heat loss (and air exchange) than when you move inside a sleeping bag.

Wal-mart also has polar fleece sleeping bags that can be used indoors. They can also be used as liners in a regular sleeping bag. It will add 5 to 10 degrees of additional comfort. The liners are also machine washable.

I’m glad you’re taking a large tent. You should place your mattresses at least a foot away from the tent wall. It’s surprising how much colder the air right against the tent wall can be. (It will also reduce the chance of touching the tent wall and letting moisture come through.)

And finally, I would not use any heater while you are sleeping in a tent.

I have two boys too. I think it’s wonderful that you’re taking them on a Disney adventure. Good luck and have fun!

This is all excellent advice. We camp from March to October in Northern California (some of it in the mountains where it gets cold) and these are all things we have found useful. For the annual event in the Arizona desert in winter I also take a hot water bottle or thermacare pads but it gets down below freezing there.

I cannot stress enough the NO HEATER IN A TENT thing. A couple years ago our organization lost two members who died of carbon monoxide poisoning because of a space heater.

 

[Twitterpated Dad]

This is all excellent advice. We camp from March to October in Northern California (some of it in the mountains where it gets cold) and these are all things we have found useful. For the annual event in the Arizona desert in winter I also take a hot water bottle or thermacare pads but it gets down below freezing there.

I cannot stress enough the NO HEATER IN A TENT thing. A couple years ago our organization lost two members who died of carbon monoxide poisoning because of a space heater.

DevilDuckie, I'm very sorry to hear about your loss.

I assumed the OP was talking about an electric space heater and an electric blanket. I agree: No combustion and certainly no flames in a tent!

 

[juligrl]

Thanks for the tips!

Never would have thought of the warm drink before bedtime. Great idea!

Any drink before bedtime makes me have to visit the bathroom during the night! I think I'd have to pass on this one. You've been given some great advice here.