I purchased an Idaho XL and a Trout Lake last summer, and as far I have only put up the Trout Lake in the back garden (I know the weather has been great this last week - but circumstances have stopped us getting away).
Anyway, I really really like the Trout Lake. The size is great for what we will want to use it for (2 or 3 nights away fair weather camping) but the problem is only having 2x double sleeping bag space in the Trout Lake as we are a family of 5 (2 adults and 3 children - smallest still in a travel cot). What about putting the kids in the 2 inner sections and me and the wife - sleeping in the outside living space? Will it get too cold (we won't have EHU). Anybody have any experience?
Depends on the weather of course . You could always buy a pop up tent, and have it so faces the bedroom of your yougest . Or, may the other two will see it as a den and want to sleep there . I'm unsure if purchasing another inner and attatching toggles is an option ,but the pop up is an alternative to going commando.
Quote: Originally posted by Bill the Bus on 31/5/2009
Cannot see any problems other than privacy. Dont think a layer of material will make a big difference in the heat.
I agree with this.
Is it safe to assume you will have a tent carpet or picnic rugs on the groundsheet?
If you use self inflating mats, you could just throw them in one of the bedroom pods along with sleeping bags etc so they were out of the way in the daytime.
I did a trial run in the Trout Lake with my eldest two (3 yrs and 6yrs) in one sleeping pod and me in the other, the wife and youngest were in the house I did get out in the middle of the night and it did feel quite a bit colder in the outer section but maybe this was just because I had left the comfort of my Coleman Hampton double sleeping bag ! Angie, the Trout Lake does have the carpet and I suppose we could wrap up a bit warmer. The pop-up tent idea sounds like a possibility too - can you get them though that will fit a double airbed inside?
Me thinks the Trout Lake is the way to go - I reckon I might have to sell the Idaho XL as it hasn't even been out of the bag yet as I can't see us using it this year.
Outwell Jersey pop up tents come in different sizes including one large enough for a double airbed but having it inside another tent with 2 people inside could cause condensation.
You could always throw a duvet over your sleeping bags for extra warmth. Or use fleecy sleeping bag liners
Or get some long johns lol
Saw a sleeping bag yesterday that comes with a wee willie winkle style sleeping cap... would that help?
If its cold/windy then prepare to be colder than in the inner. I spent a night in the outer (of the BL) last week (for reasons I won't go into here) and it was colder than in the inner, as I think the trapped air principle is at work (as with many thin layers instead of one thick jumper) between inner and outer. Also I think a number of people in a confined space of an inner pod tends to build up heat. That said I have slept in a plastic bag on a fell top in the lakes which had a frozen puddle on it in the morning so anything is possible if you have a decent sleeping bag.
If its windy close your windward vents.
Good Luck
Alasdair
------------- "If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through." General Melchett
we do this . our lo sleeps in a pod and we sleep in ythe living room as it's bigger and my husband is up and down all night for the loo (and stepping on me in the process) we put the bed etc in the pod during the day. it's no colder really. take an extra blanket etc if you think you'll need it
A Quechua 2 seconds III will accomodate an airbed up to 180cms wide and will set you back £39.99.A smaller enclosed space warms up quicker. It will fold up during the day . If you have a trampoline at home , it does make a great den for the kids .
I slept in the outer part of our Montana 6 last week with my kids as we used one of the pods for storage/changing/etc. and my husband slept in the other one (no one else wanted to be close to his snoring!!). So there were four of us in the main section and we did get a bit cold some nights. Next time I will take more hot water bottles, plus I also bought some £2 fleece blankets from Primark so may get more of those. But I don't think it was much colder than being in one of the pods. It was very windy while we were away and perhaps a bit noisier being right next to the outside of the tent. I did lie awake one night wondering if the whole thing would blow away but we survived! It wasn't a problem towards the end of the week with the better weather. We also had the tent extension this year so used that part for tables/chairs, etc. rather than inside.
I know its canvas and not polyester But I slept in the porch awning of my van for 2-3 nights without heating and from what I remember I was Ok..I remember visiting a meet once and being invited to stay...Was offered a two man tent with airbed erected inside a van awning..Had no problems sleeping in that...Think the pop up tent Idea would be good if you can find one that suits your reqirements..IE double airbed etc..would IMO give a bit of added protection and warmth outside of a pod...
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
Hi, we bought a Kangaroo Poo Pop up tent for my youngest. He was really cold the first time we went camping - this time around, no problems and night time temperature was about the same. Also it felt like his own private little tent - so I would really recommend that for chidren.
I have a large cotton/canvas bell tent, but could not afford the inner at the same time. One of the kind UKCS members offered me a cotton double skin dome tent, which I accepted, and use this for sleeping in. As it's cotton, it does not suffer from condensation, the poles make it to the correct shape, and as it is inside, it does not have to be pegged out. I just unclip the pole pins and lay it to one side during the day. It also doubles as an over night tent, in its own right.
------------- Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.
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Topic: Sleeping Outside the Inner Tent?
I did get out in the middle of the night and it did feel quite a bit colder in the outer section but maybe this was just because I had left the comfort of my Coleman Hampton double sleeping bag 
! Angie, the Trout Lake does have the carpet and I suppose we could wrap up a bit warmer. The pop-up tent idea sounds like a possibility too - can you get them though that will fit a double airbed inside?
