Baby step to warm comfy sleep. Advice for tent pads

[ORANGE]

So a dealbreaker would be not sleeping well, cuz the ground is making me cold.
That would make me flee to nice cozy bed in apartment.

But since this is a baby stepping my way, what can I buy that actually works but is frugal enough for a first timer.
I guess frugal is spending a good deal of money if it works and lasts for many many years and if there would be a market to sell it if Im just not hardy enough for the life.

Makeshift on a shoestring works if it works also.  Dont mind getting this and that to put together.

Any further advice  with links please about sleeping.  Dont need to heat the surrounding air (summer in E. TN ya know) Just wanna sleep snug and comfy.

I will be in the Coleman Sundome

Thanks

 

[lenny flank]

A good sleeping bag is a must. In my van, I always have three sleeping bags, each rated to a different temp, which I can mix and match as needed. By layering, I am good from summer temps above ninety down to winter temps around zero. And I also snowbird and move with the weather--north in summer and south in winter.

As for pads, what you want is a good closed-cell foam camping pad. They are quite good insulation for how light and thin they are.

I don't have any heater, AC, or insulation. I have no need for it.

 

[highdesertranger]

a cot is going to give you the comfiest bed IMO. it will also keep you off the ground. highdesertranger

 

[geogentry]

Orange

Cabela's / Bass Pro has a cot that will fit in your tent. I couldn't get the link so I attached a photo of the cot which shows its name and what it looks like. It will lift you 5 inches off the ground which is all you really need. And if it's always going to be warm when you're camping then just use a blankets and you'll be fine.

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[travelaround]

If you work hard during the daytime not much can keep you awake at night.

I'm using a cot in my van, but it was pricey. An air mattress is what I used in the tent. A combination of cot and air mattress would be perfect.

 

[maki2]

You can layer up two less expensive self inflating camping pads. But to stay warm they need to have some foam inside of them to insulate you from the cold ground or you can use a yoga mat against the ground or better yet because it is thicker some sections of that puzzle floor matting.

Another alternative is to top those pads off with a piece of memory foam as it will retain your body heat. You can also put a piece of reflectix against the ground to reflect your body heat back up towards you.

I went to the fabric store and bought some fleece blanket material and created a giant pillow case to slide my self inflating mattress stack inside of. That keeps things from shifting around and the fleece keeps things warmer too. Even if you can't sew you can cut strips and tie the fleece to form that big pillow case. There are some fun and colorful fleece materials around, to brighten your life and make you feel happy at bedtime. Fleece often goes on sale or sign up for discount coupons at stores such as JoAnns. Here is a link to instructions for making a tied edge fleece blanket cover for your pads.
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Tied-Fleece-Blanket/

 

[SheepDog]

American made products with knowledge and experience staying warm in cold climates!

https://www.wiggys.com/ground-pads/luxurious-ground-pad/

The above with a closed cell foam pad or cot under it should keep you warm just about anywhere!

He also makes some very good sleeping bags/systems as well! His equipment is designed to live a long time in rough environments.

SD

 

[highdesertranger]

I should have mentioned this. a cot without a pad is cold. a cot with a pad is the way to go, very comfy and warm. highdesertranger

 

[geogentry]

I second that. I use some cheap little foam pad I got from Walmart and I've got a blanket folding on top of that as my pad. Normally, except recently, I just use a blanket over me. I'm warm, cozy, comfortable.

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[jacqueg]

Another vote for a cot and some kind of foam pad. My days of being comfortable on the ground with a thermarest are long past.

If van life doesn't work out for you, a cot is always useful for guests, for camping, for hanging out in the yard...

 

[GypsyJan]

I use a cot with a trifold mattress and an egg crate topper. I prefer a taller cot so I can store items underneath and also have less of a struggle arising from the cot (a 5 inch cot would be as difficult to get up from as those beach chairs....might have to call Sea World to borrow their Shamu lift!)