Feeling rather chuffed after a snuggly night in Derby!
I thought I'd try my recent bargain. Mountain Warehouse Windermere 5 tent. Advertised as summer only but nothing a little insulation won't sort I thought. We had a vango in the car if we had a disaster night.
I bought some emergency foil blankets and taped those to the floor of the tent. Then used two insulated picnic blankets to cover those. Taped to secure. Finally, one xl knitted blanket taped to the bed end of the room.
I clipped two foil sheets over the top of the inner tent. I read this helps bounce heat back down to you.
We had an air bed with a duvet over the top. Then sleeping bag, summer duvet and knitted blanket. (Pooch somewhere in there too, our very own mobile hot water bottle.)
I went against all Co sleeping guidelines and tucked the baby up next to me, in his normal pj's and a baby sleeping bag. He was like a bug in a rug and slept- well, like a baby!
We didn't have much wind through the night, so wasn't too much like sleeping in a crisp wrapper. It's a bit breezy this morning, so we have a little rustle, but nothing too bad at all.
Admittedly, we did run the heater through the night. It's nothing fancy, just a small blow heater with two settings.
Safe to say, although it wasn't as warm as home, it was definitely not cold! Whether it was down to the foil sheeting, or the heater alone, I don't know. I'm just feeling rather smug to not have icy limbs!
Wow you sound very organised for the colder nights! I'm like you, feel the cold especially when I wake up during the night. I got a couple of 3 season sleeping bags to try out this year, they were sale ones, so going to see if that makes a difference. Best thing is my heavy traditional bed quilt, this is huge and goes over the top of us! Really makes the difference💤
The only thing I would have added to that, which is an easy thing to do anyway, is put cardboard down underneath the airbed. Cardboard has great insulating properties as there are air gaps as well as layers and they (either one big box or several smaller boxes) are free from a shop as the shop owners are glad to be rid of them.
I usually put foam mats under my airbeds, but cardboard is my backup incase the foam mats are forgotten.
I haven't tried all your other steps but I do like the one with the blankets over the inner and will be trying that.
Sounds great, yes we use those cheap foam mats, like exercise mats, under our airbeds too. Looking forward to the season though, and our chatter on here again.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Insulation Success!
