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Keeping warm for winter camping

Staying warm is essential for a happy holiday! Winter camping tips!

Maybe you are planning your next camping holiday and you would like to go as early in the year as possible but you are worried about the cooler nights? Perhaps you go camping in winter and would just like some winter camping tips? Or maybe you are organising an early trip in the caravan or motorhome and want to make sure your nights are cosy and warm, without solely relying on your caravan heating. Do you love the outdoor life as much as we do at Leisureshopdirect? The challenge of exercise, the buzz of adventure, the thrill of the new? However sleeping and doing so restfully is also something that can be on your mind. Having a series of good night's sleep can make or break a holiday! Whether you are turning your awning into another bedroom to give everyone a bit more space, or you have had to put up a tent alongside your motorhome or caravan, staying warm is essential. Whatever your needs the following winter camping tips are simple but very effective and will help to ensure you and your family are happy campers! For camping essentials visit our Camp Beds and Sleeping bags Section……..excellent value at Leisureshopdirect and if you find cheaper prices elsewhere we will almost certainly be able to match it. Always check the sleeping bag ratings for warmth and thickness and make sure you are getting the right one to suit your needs, especially if you are camping in winter!
Adventure holidays
Firstly ensure you have more below you than above you! In a caravan or motorhome this shouldn’t present a problem as you will surely be sleeping on beds above the floor, but when camping it is essential to insulate yourself from the ground, especially if you are camping in the winter months. Therefore a good insulating mat is important, or if travelling light is not essential then air beds and camp beds will definitely insulate you from the ground, whilst also making you a lot more comfortable. For good, competitively priced Camping Air beds and Camp Beds check out the range on Leisureshopdirect.

Keeping on the topic of insulation, sleeping bags or duvets can become compressed especially if they have been stored tightly or crammed into a car boot! With less air trapped in them they will definitely not act as effectively for insulation and therefore not keep you as warm. Simply really shake and fluff up the duvets or sleeping bags and you will be a lot warmer during the night. Obviously a hot water bottle will really help to warm up your bed or sleeping bag and you won’t be surprised to hear it is an excellent idea to wear a hat as we lose a lot of heat from our heads. Do you think it is a good idea to put your head under the duvet or in the sleeping bag for a while to let your breath warm you up a bit? Actually it isn’t! It is much better to keep your nose and mouth out because the water/moisture in your breath will make your sleeping bag or duvet slightly wet and over time this moisture will cool down taking heat away from your body. The mummy style sleeping bags are designed to only leave your face showing in very cold conditions. A great example is the Coleman Xylo Sleeping Bag.
Warm sleeping bags
When it is very cold it is tempting to leave all your clothes on, add more layers and jump in the sleeping bag or get under the duvets. However the clothes you have worn all day will almost certainly be a little bit damp and more if the weather is bad. It is much harder for your body to warm up damp clothes and then keep them warm. So have lots of bedtime clothes with you, remembering layers keep you warmer and cosy pyjamas to go on top. Some people suffer from cold feet so keeping a thick pair of bed socks is a good idea and will definitely help to keep you warm.

It is not ideal to get into your bed or sleeping bag feeling shivery or cold. A great idea is to run on the spot, jump up and down or dance around a bit! Make sure you don’t overdo it though as sweating will not help! Eating a small snack just before bedtime will enable your body to make the heat it needs through the night. However it mustn’t be a quick sugar fix, but a more slow burning food. It is also important to keep drinking and stay hydrated, although don’t drink too much just before bed time, make sure you time it throughout the day. I think you will agree these are all very simple concepts, but will make a big difference towards you having a comfy, warm night.

Why not check out Leisureshopdirect for all your holiday needs, Caravan Accessories.