Anyone know of a good way to keep warm in a tent while camping?

Question

We are going camping at the end of october, which can get very cold at night. our site for the first time does not have electric to hook up a small heater. what can i get to stay warm?

Thank you everyone!!!! I might even be hot at night!!!

Answer 1

Have a good sleeping bag. I don't know about where you are camping but a 20 degree bag (sleeping bags are rated by temperature comfort levels) should help keep you warm. Also - lay on a sleeping pad (either a closed cell pad or a thermarest) - the pad will insulate you from the ground, which can rob you of your heat 9even in a tent). And finally, wear a hat at night, like a stocking cap. A lot of body heat is lost through the head and covering it up will help you stay warm.

Answer 2

A good sleeping bag is key as is a sleeping pad if you are sleeping on the tent floor. Sleeping bags are rated for the temperature in which they can be used. For the fall, I would recommend at least a 20 degree; for a safe bet you can even go for a 0 degree. If hot, you can always lose a layer of clothing or unzip your bag a bit, but if cold, it is a lot harder to warm up. If there is any chance of rain at night, you want to make sure that the rain fly of the tent is up and that the ground tarp is not sticking out because it will collect water and make the floor wet.

Sleep in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, but have a t-shirt and shorts underneath just in case you do get hot. In that case, you can always take the sweatshirt or sweatpants off and sleep like that.

They also sell propane heaters that run on the standard BBQ type propane cylinders (the small Coleman ones, not the big tanks), however if you are tent camping they are not the greatest idea to be kept inside the tent due to the risk of a fire.

Answer 3

Okay, if you're talking heater, you sound like a car camper. I've never used a heater because I'm a tenter. I have a decent 20 degree sleeping bag. If it gets too cold for that, I have some 2 1/2 yard pieces of fleece I toss on top for extra warmth. A good comforter also helps and is easy to toss off it you get too warm.

If you can tolerate the fleece over your head, it will add a ton of warmth without bringing up the humidity (which will chill you).

Obviously this is NOT what a backpacker should or would do.

Answer 4

This is easier than it sounds with
nothing to take along only matches/lighter

Before bed time if U have a fire going and U should.
1. No need of heavy clothing other than Jammys.
2. Decent quality sleeping bag wheather double or single.
3. One hour or less pitch some round rocks into fire.
4.10 minutes aprox. before beddy bye take rocks out with stick ,let outer layers of rock cool in water or if no water handy let cool longer on cool ground. -The trick is in the cooling-
5. Roll rocks in towels etc. and place in foot of sleeping bags or wherever. (Sometimes a heavy one rolled into the centre of a tent with a coverning on it will keep the tent warm all night.)
Have fun Ps.I'm not talking about boulders here or pebbels -5-- 15 lb .rocks--everything U need should be there . Edit-WOW just got this finished and noticed U received some great answers above mine,no excuse for cold now-lol

Answer 5

Some things which have worked well for me:

A. Wear a stocking cap.

B. Use two closed cell foam pads underneath you.

C. A fleece sleeping bag liner can increase the temperature rating of your sleeping bag by 10 degrees.

D. Change into dry socks right before bed, or take socks off altogether. Socks even mildly damp with a trace of perspiration will make your feet cold.

E. Warm up the sleeping bag with boiled water in a Nalgene water bottle.

F. If you choose to use a big cuddly dog, make sure you've got all the ticks off him before you bring him in your tent.

Answer 6

I recommend that you find out what the average low temperature is for the place you'll be staying at and time of year. Then get a sleeping bag that's rated with a low enough temperature to keep you warm. (In other words, if the average low temp. is 30 degrees, you'll want a sleeping bag that's rated to at least 30 degrees, possibly 25 or 20.) If you get a good sleeping bag, you won't even need to wear pajamas cause the bag will keep you warm.

Answer 7

Those little chemical hand warmers work good for keeping your feet warm. If my feet are warm then I am usually warm. I agree you don't want to bundle too much as you don't want to sweat but you also want to keep warm. Put something under the sleeping bag to keep it off the ground. I would never put anything combustable in the tent or anything that puts off co2.

Answer 8

get a nice down sleeping bag and don't bundle up too much 1-2 light layers is good enough, too many layers and you will begin to sweat which will make you alot colder. You can also buy a few one use hot pads from a sports store that you rub together and they get really warm for about 4 hours

Answer 9

I use a candle lantern that I hang from the loop in the ceiling, keeps condensation out of the tent too.
You can also heat medium size rocks by the fire and before you go to bed put them in a bag inside your sleeping bag.

Answer 10

alright do not listen to anyone saying to wear more clothing or put blankets in your sleeping bag, it only absorbs heat and makes you colder. thus, get a good rated sleeping bag and wear nothing and you will be fine. also, you can fill a nalgene bottle with boiling water before you go to bed and put it in your sleeping bag, this acts as a heater and will stay warm all night. have fun!