Presuming you are arriving in a nice big car, all or any of the following will help...
Priority has to be a good nights sleep. If you are too cold/damp, it WILL spoil the trip.
A good sleeping bag. Some prefer mummy type, some insist on the wider rectangular shaped. We have fleece lined, waterproof outer. Made specifically for anglers sleeping out in a bivvy or under a tarp. Highly recommended. (Some say duvet, but I can't comment, as never used one in a tent).
If you're on the floor, lots of insulation, both below and above any airbed type set up. Think picnic blankets, horse blankets, silver foil survival` blankets, opened out cardboard etc.
Better still (imo), get campbeds and SIMs (Self inflating mats). You're then off the cold floor, and arguably more comfortable (and have storage space under the bed.)
Don't be ashamed to wear layers in bed, and that can even include socks, gloves and even a hat.
Don't bury your head in the sleeping bag. Your moist breath will drip back onto you an hour later!
On the subject of moist breath, you'll be amazed just how much condensation that produces overnight. Keep the tent well vented. A cold but dry draught is preferable to damp air and dripping tent walls!
Shower early (after tea), put your PJ's on, (seeing as you are now nice and warm!) then layer up over the top for the evening. At bed time, strip down to the required PJ's, which by now are body temp. Don't strip naked then put cold PJ's on to your cold body at bedtime... you'll never warm up.
If you go with EHU (Electric Hook Up) a small electric fan heater does more good than harm (though don't expect it to replicate your central heating at home. You are surrounded by flimsy material, not solid brick!) Find one with a thermostat and a tip-over safety switch.
Hot drinks of course, and for some, a hot water bottle... and not just in bed either.
Even if you have a loo bucket or similar in the tent, whilst still up and dressed, walk (or jog) to the loo block... the exercise will warm you up (take a brolly if need be).
Some site's have heated toilet/shower blocks.
Google "Heat Holders".
Smiling is more of a workout than shivering.
Twerking is even better (but keep the bloody music down, or better still, use headphones!
Apparently, there are more tips in this thread, though I've not read it myself... not my sort of thing... Link...
Single sleeping bag each. A double will lose too much heat. More insulation under bag than on top. Wear a hat if needs be - a merino wool one is light and won't itch. Make sure your sleeping bag has loft. Lay it out well beforehand. A fleece liner will increase warmth as will a goretex Bivvy bag.
Don't sleep with my wife as she is a heat vampire. Her blocks of ice that she calls feet will suck all the heat from a two man tent and freeze any alcohol in the tent. This is also why you don't need a double sleeping bag ever. If you have a small dog that like sleeping under the covers, make sure you get that one rather than the big lab who lies on top of you.
Almost forgot, our Easter holidays are slightly earlier than most schools, so we are looking at the first week in April. The good news is, the site we like is only £13 per night with EHU 🙂
We camped at October half term and there was ice on the cars a few mornings. We were never cold. We have a little fan heater and an electric blanket. We have a thermometer on a watch and the coldest it got was about 10 C in the tent. The electric blanket is really useful for keeping the bed damp free too. We sleep under a duvet and have layers of pyjamas. I often end up removing layers during the night.
We are going at Easter too but a week later than you. Hoping for good weather!
Easter will be our first camp too, after not camping for 4 years!
Don't want a cold night to spoilt it. Will be trying these tips.
Think I'll be leaving a fan Hester on all night for definite.
Really fancy trying campbeds but non of them look very sturdy. Looked at Decathlon blow up beds, but not sure wether to try one or not, they aren't very wide, worried we'd be rolling off them 😂
Quote: Originally posted by purplenel on 03/3/2017
Blow up beds are cold!
Not if you get the ones for backpacking. They look like a lilo but have insulation inside. So much comfier than a sim and pack down to the size of a 1 litre water bottle. Vaude, Kelty, big Agnes, klymit, thermarest and exped do them. I use vaude norrsken.
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: Keeping Warm at Easter.
