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Read Thread: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads

Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Sep 22, 2008 7:53am
Thread (disabled) Board
I remember some discussion a ways back concerning using air matttresses in a tent vs. sleeping pads in colder weather. Was is that the air mattresses actually make you feel colder? I don't recall the details. Can anyone advise what best for colder weather?? (Of course we're talking GA here - so cold is a relative term....but let's say getting down to low 40's/high 30's at night).
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285945 by She Runs
Sep 22, 2008 8:01am
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and on the subject of sleeping, can anyone advise me on a quality yet inexpensive cot and where to get it? my budget is more walmart than rei or cabelas...

romana
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285945 by She Runs
Sep 22, 2008 8:15am
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the air that is trapped in there is chilled by the cold ground and in turn you feel the coldness and dampness that is in there. also, when it is colder and even in the summer you should change all of your clothes before going to bed.......yes even your undies......as they have moisture from your body, even if you don't think you are sweaty. and as that moisture evaporates you will become cold........
as for cold being relative, just remember that someone from the south that comes north feels colder before we do.......same here, cold at night for you is still cold for you.

have fun camping
condo
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285945 by She Runs
Sep 22, 2008 8:21am
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Air mattresses will make you colder unless they are insulated.
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285946 by Romana
Sep 22, 2008 8:26am
Thread (disabled) Board
Air Mattresses will help keep you cold.

Thermarest or those types will help insulate you from the cold.

There is no such thing as a quality inexpensive cot. I've tried about every one on the market and with my back I need a really good one.
The one made by Rollcot is absolutely fantastic. It runs $115 but worth every penny.
I've slept on it for many river trips. You know it is quality when you can sit on the edge of the cot to put your boots on. I've owned this cot for over 16 years.

see; http://www.nrsweb.com/

When using a cot you should always put a thermarest mat between you and the cot.

Don
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285951 by condo
Sep 22, 2008 8:37am
Thread (disabled) Board
Thanks for your help. We have been camping quite a bit - but not usually so late in the season (end of Oct). There is a fairly good likelihood that we may be on wooden camping platforms. That may help insulate us from the direct ground??

Though I still think the thermarest options looks to be a good route.

I had to chuckle at this
also, when it is colder and even in the summer you should change all of your clothes before going to bed.......yes even your undies......as they have moisture from your body, even if you don't think you are sweaty. and as that moisture evaporates you will become cold........

Summer camping means high temps of 90-100 and lows of 70-80 at night. We rarely get cold camping in the summer! We have the opposite problem of actually trying to get cooler! (note: tent fan hanging from the center of tent actually worked pretty well.)
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285961 by She Runs
Sep 22, 2008 8:40am
Thread (disabled) Board
Though I still think the thermarest options looks to be a good route.

Even on wood.

Don
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285957 by Don and Gwen
Sep 22, 2008 8:44am
Thread (disabled) Board
cold.

You can get sleeping bag covers that will increase the ability for sleeping bags to keep you warm. Also if it is cold wear 'watch caps' at night. Most of your heat leaves through your head, particularly if you are bald ...like me.

Don
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285963 by Don and Gwen
Sep 22, 2008 8:45am
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I do have some self-inflating type of thin sleeping pads - would these not insulate like a thermarest foam-type would??
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285964 by Don and Gwen
Sep 22, 2008 8:46am
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We use the HIE brand--Holiday Inn Express....
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285964 by Don and Gwen
Sep 22, 2008 8:47am
Thread (disabled) Board
particularly if you are bald ...like me.

Not so much. ;-) None of us fit that profile - but point taken. Thanks!
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285964 by Don and Gwen
Sep 22, 2008 9:14am
Thread (disabled) Board
I was told last year to pick up some of those hand warmers that you "pop" to activate the heat ... Throw them into the bottom of your sleeping bag, and voila! (thanks Cyclonic)

Ü
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285964 by Don and Gwen
Sep 22, 2008 9:22am
Thread (disabled) Board
wear 'watch caps' at night

Yes! Yes! Yes! And socks--but make sure you keep them dry! (Especially if you need to make multiple trips to the bathroom like me.)

Someone told me about using the emergency blankets (those tinfoil looking things) under the air mattresses in the winter, but I have never tried it myself.
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285984 by Mama Stork
Sep 22, 2008 11:27am
Thread (disabled) Board
There is a fairly good likelihood that we may be on wooden camping platforms. That may help insulate us from the direct ground??

Haven't you heard that bridges may ice over before the roadway during cold weather? I wouldn't count on platforms for insulation.

Someone told me about using the emergency blankets (those tinfoil looking things) under the air mattresses in the winter, but I have never tried it myself.

They're very loud and noisy. It'll wake you up every time you roll over, and anyone sleeping with a quarter mile of you will want to beat you up in the morning. So I'd use it for what they were intended for--emergencies. =)

-- Ryan
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #286039 by Green Tortuga
Sep 22, 2008 11:32am
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anyone sleeping within a quarter mile of you will want to beat you up in the morning

So Ryan, were you a 'beater' or a 'beatee'?

;-)
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285984 by Mama Stork
Sep 22, 2008 11:58am
Thread (disabled) Board
wear 'watch caps' at night

I have to second that emotion! I have lots of hair and a cap keeps me so much warmer than if I don't wear a cap!! Very much worth the effort! You'll have hat head and bed head in the morning, but you will be warm.
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #286054 by Amanda from Seattle
Sep 22, 2008 12:04pm
Thread (disabled) Board
better than have icicles hanging in your hair.
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #286041 by Sits N Knits
Sep 22, 2008 12:17pm
Thread (disabled) Board
So Ryan, were you a 'beater' or a 'beatee'?

I've been both at one time or another. =)

-- Ryan
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285965 by She Runs
Sep 22, 2008 12:53pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I do have some self-inflating type of thin sleeping pads - would these not insulate like a thermarest foam-type would??

Thermarest is a name brand; all the Thermarest pads I have seen are self-inflating. I've tried other brands of self-inflating and have to say that I have not found them to be as comfortable or as well insulated as the Thermarest. I've slept out in near freezing weather with my Thermarest under me and slept very comfortably until the dog pushed me off the pad and the cold ground seeped away my heat.

I've done the air mattress route on a camping trip when it snowed (in August, and not in the mountains, so you better believe I did not have the clothes for that weather!). If you put a blanket either between you and mattress or the mattress and the ground, you drastically reduce the amount of heat lost - or at least, that is what we found.

For cheap stuff, you may also want to try freecycle or craigslist. I've had good luck getting gently used items that way.

Katy
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #286069 by Katy
Sep 22, 2008 1:29pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I've tried other brands of self-inflating and have to say that I have not found them to be as comfortable or as well insulated as the Thermarest.

Agreed!!! YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!!

We arent usually cold winter tenters...when we do however, it's thermarest, sleeping bag & dry clothes & hats all around. Yup, bedhead is sure to be found the next morning...only cure for that is badana for the day or baseball hat for a couple of hours. :-)

We always use air mattress these days, but it is not on ground anymore...some kind of gadget hubby got to "tryout" keeps mattress of the ground...way off the ground...almost need a ladder to get into bed at nite, now!!! We like it, but it is one more piece of equipment we must find room for & funny -- we ALWAYS can find room for it!!!
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285951 by condo
Sep 22, 2008 6:47pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Because our tent was so crowded, we stacked the two queen air mattresses on top of each instead of each of us having our own. Then we put one sleeping bag under us and zipped the matching sleeping bag on top to make one big sleeping bag for two. It kept us quite toasty when we camped in the mountains of SC or NC. How late in the year are you going to be camping? We've camped in late October, early November and we're fine in the tent--get's a little cold when you run to the bathroom.
Chickadee (of Jolly Roger and Chickadee)
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #286039 by Green Tortuga
Sep 22, 2008 7:48pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Someone told me about using the emergency blankets

They're very loud and noisy. It'll wake you up every time you roll over, and anyone sleeping with a quarter mile of you will want to beat you up in the morning.

Or maybe not - I used one as a tent ground sheet every night I backpacked with you and I don't recall you beating me up. Right under your sleeping bag I'll bet they're loud but under a stable mattress should be ok. Though I doubt they do much good for heat so far isolated from your body.
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285945 by She Runs
Sep 22, 2008 10:49pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Years ago, my partner and I figured a queen sized airbed would be just the thing to make car camping perfect. After just one night, we knew we were totally wrong. Four inches of air underneath you is the exact formula for a freezing night.

Since then I took up backpacking. I started with a Thermarest Prolite 3. It was good, I never got cold even when the temps went into the thirties. Then, the same partner that froze with me on the air bed bought an Outdoor Equipment Ether Thermo 6. This is an INSULATED air mattress. Big Agnes makes one, too. You blow the dang things up; they're 2.5" thick, both cushy and warm. Said partner has lost use of this sleeping pad. It's now mine!
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285945 by She Runs
Sep 26, 2008 10:37am
Thread (disabled) Board
Can anyone advise what best for colder weather??

Closed cell foam pad. Not nearly as comfortable, but much warmer. I would put the sealed, open celled foam pads (such as thermarest) a close second. They really are kind of a happy medium between the warm, semi-hard surface of a closed-cell pad, and the soft but cold traditional "air mattress".

Sunnyside Seeker
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #285945 by She Runs
Sep 30, 2008 5:08pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I use both--and sleep like a princess. Air mattress on the bottom, thermarest on top. My thermarest is slippery, so its a bit of a pain. If you haven't purchased yet, and want the ultra-comfy combo, buy materials that are not slippery (I think newer thermarests are less slippery), use an air mattress and a foam pad (foam pads are really cheap and stick good, but bulky).
I use a winter sleeping bag, plus a sheet and poncho. I mostly sleep under the sheet and poncho in summer, and crawl into the bag in autumn.
I also keep a knit hat for autumn nights as I hate zipping my bag up into 'mummy' form (makes me claustrophobic).
And, if you're still cold, zip up window/doors if you haven't already. It makes a big difference from enjoying a nice view of trees and stars.

Happy camping!
Re: Colder Weather Camping and sleeping pads
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #290103 by Ondine
Oct 1, 2008 3:25am
Thread (disabled) Board
This may sound strange but, our solution to the slippery thermarest is to put down some of that rubbery shelf liner between the sleeping bag and sleeping pad. You can get it cheap at Walmart and it keeps your sleeping bag in place.