uphillstruggler
Guru
- Location
- Half way there
I know this is going to sound mad, but have you considered getting a breathable bivvy bag that you use inside the tent. Whenever I have bivvyied, I have always had to be really careful about overheating.
I'm also one who can easily use 2 winter weight duvets at home, so often wear my thermals, plus some of my merino wool tops, socks and anything else to hand if it is really cold inside my sleeping bag, but a really good sleeping mat is also exceptionally important. I'm guesing you would benefit from something like the Exped downmat 9 . The initial outlay for the mat is not cheap, but essential insulation below you is just as important as a good sleeping bag. Exped do do a synthetic version, but the only time you would know it was down was if it was to fail and throw feathers at you, otherwise you would not actually know other than the lightness to warmth ratio.
One thing to consider is that an awful lot of UK campsites now offer electricity as standard to tents. I have a small heating mat that plugs into the mains, that is use for my back. I have found that I get very warm on it very quickly and you could easily use something similar to get warm. You don't need a full sized electric blanket (though they are available) to get warm.
That sort of thing is really for emergency or 1 night use.http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/practical/VE104.html
this is the one I bought.
It will be too cold/expensive for you,I've camped out at the back end of November in Wales and I borrowed a £300 Rab Sleeping bag and it was still a struggle because I got cold going to the loo in the night and getting dressed/undressed etc.Also a 3 season non down bag is very big from my experience, not suitable for light cycle camping.
Go either in the better weather or to Youth Hostels.
Also you need a decent light tent that can cope with bad weather.
That sort of thing is really for emergency or 1 night use.
They aren't breathable, and you get enough condensation to have a pretty bad effect on the insulating properties of your sleeping bag, especially once you've packed and unpacked the bag and spread surface dampness all through.
Pee bottle. A well marked pee bottle.
My favorite memory of camping was in October on Abdon Burf in Shropshire some years ago. woke up during the night for a widdle, whilst emerging from the tent I was showered with ice crystals off the zip and door. Not a problem you think, but as I was in the buff - I sleep warm - and wearing nothing but a pair of boots, it fair woke me up - ! However, the view of a completely clear, starlit sky more than made up for the ice shower - !I got into a good routine of stopping drinking so long before i go to bed, having a pee then not needing to wake during the night. brrrr