How to keep warm on an air mattress? There are two types of campers. Campers of the first type love roughing it up. They explore the wilderness where no human foot has ever stepped, sleeping on the ground in a thin sleeping bag. No electricity, minimum comfort. And there is a second type that I belong to: those campers love nature but don’t want to skip comfort completely. At least, we want to sleep feeling warm and comfortable.
This is why I wrote this article: to give you tips that will provide you with comfort during your camping experience.
You don’t have to deprive yourself of warmth and softness.
Hence, take an air mattress with you. The air mattress will improve your sleep quality immediately.
Air mattresses are easy to handle and lightweight. Carrying an air mattress with you to the campsite is a low price compared to the comfort you are going to get.
Let me teach you how to keep the air mattress warm when you go camping in cool months with cold air at night and thus secure a good night’s sleep.
Contents
How to keep an air mattress warm: campers’ solutions
Campers are normally very generous and share the tips that they learned from their travels with enthusiasm and in good faith.
Weathered camper’s guide
Let me share how I stay warm at a camping site when I camp in early spring or late autumn.
Step #1. Opt for the right campsite
If you want to protect yourself from cold air and strong winds, go for natural windbreaks.
It can be a forest or high rocks that won’t allow draughts to blow throughout the campsite and will save the tent from strong winds.
Step #2. Footprint makes a difference
Using a tent footprint is really effective to keep the cold away and the air mattress warm. You put a layer separating the ground from the air mattress.
Step #3. Additional insulation
If you provide insulation for the tent walls, you’ll feel the air warming right away. You can use a wool blanket or any kind of thick blanket for that.
Another option is to use a camping pad, which is a very effective insulator. Such thorough insulation will let your body heat warm the air inside the tent very quickly.
Step #4. Heating sources to the rescue
Use one of the heating sources available to you, such as an electric blanket, a heated mattress pad, a heating pad, or hot water bottles.
With the heat sources, you’ll keep staying warm and cozy even with a cold storm outside.
Heating sources to choose from
If the weather outside is challenging, using an additional heating source on the air mattress is a wise idea.
There are plenty of alternatives, including electric devices and good old traditional means.
Sleeping bags
Wrapping in a cozy cocoon of a sleeping bag will help keep the cold air away. Especially if your sleeping bag has a high insulation level.
That will allow your body heat to warm up the air inside the sleeping bag and keep it there. A sleeping bag is a great solution. Just put it on the air mattress and get comfortable.
Mattress toppers
Besides making sleeping on the air mattress even more comfortable, a mattress topper will separate your body from the coolness of an air mattress.
The only problem with a mattress topper is that it will occupy extra space, so it probably will not be suitable if you have to travel light.
Electric blankets
Choosing an electric blanket as a heat source is the solution for lots of campers. An electric blanket put on an air mattress is an effective and simple way to prevent cold air from getting to you.
With electric blankets, you are even capable of setting the optimum heat that will secure a comfortable night’s sleep. Don’t forget to read the manual.
Heating pads
One more heat source that is quite convenient and easy to carry and handle. The main benefit that a heating pad provides is its compact size.
Just put it on the air mattress insulation, creating more layers between yourself and the air mattress.
A heating pad can be easily adjusted to the heat level that you prefer and will keep you warm on an air mattress.
Hot water bottle
Why not take advantage of a good old hot water bottle? If it’s an old trick, it doesn’t mean that it’s not good. A hot water bottle can help you stay warm through the night.
They are effective, budget-friendly, and lightweight. Maybe they are not as fancy as modern devices, but they do their job well.
Heated rocks
The main advantage of this ancient heating method is that you don’t need to carry any extra weight. There will always be some rocks on the campsite.
Rocks retain heat for a long time, and you can use it to your advantage. Heat some rocks on the campfire, then wrap them in a towel or a blanket, and put on an air mattress.
They will prevent you from feeling cold and share their heat with you all night long.
Choosing a perfect air mattress
Making sure you don’t feel cold during the night is paramount. What is also vitally important is the air mattress that you take camping.
The choice of air mattresses on the market is enormous and to navigate that ocean of options, you should know a few things. They will help you make a knowledgeable decision.
As an enthusiastic but inexperienced camper, I chose my first air mattress based on the price alone. I thought, what can go wrong? It’s just a mattress. Nope. It is not so simple.
As usually happens with cheap products, my air bed didn’t have a long and glorious life. It barely lasted 3 camping trips.
Then I did my research and came across the parameter called R-value. That’s the insulation rating, and the higher it is, the better quality the air mattress you are getting.
If you camp three of four seasons of the year, opt for an R-value of at least 3. R-value 4 is even better. For the bravest of us who camp all year round, I suggest choosing an R-value of at least 4.5.
A high level of insulation is critical if you want to stay warm on your air bed. Your body temperature will not drop because the cold from the ground will seep into your bones.
Add an electric blanket and even in the cold of winter, you’ll keep an air mattress comfortably warm.
If an air mattress manufacturer doesn’t indicate the R-value, I wouldn’t recommend considering such a product.
I have an air mattress with a 4.5 R-value, and it’s amazing. I don’t camp in winter so I could go for a lower rating, but I decided: who knows, maybe one day…
In conclusion
Cold weather should not stop devoted campers from exploring the great outdoors. One of the big challenges on colder nights is to keep an air mattress warm and comfortable for a camper to get a proper night’s sleep.
There are lots of ways to secure maximum warmth and comfort.
In my article, I offered you to choose a heat source from a variety of options: traditional sleeping bags or more advanced electric blankets, old-fashioned heated rocks, and a wool blanket or heating pads.
It’s up to you to choose the option most suitable for you.
Take into account the temperature range, the amount of gear you are going to take with you, and what you’ll need to carry on your back.
Then go for the best option.
Hope you have the time of your life exploring the wilderness and are never cold at night.
FAQ
What can I put under my air mattress to keep it warm?
A very effective way to insulate your mattress from the ground is to use a camping pad. This pad will keep the chill coming from the earth away from you, and you won’t feel colder.
Why am I so cold sleeping on an air mattress?
The reason for that may be insufficient insulation of the mattress from the ground. Consider using a tent footprint. Adding an electric blanket will improve your comfort exponentially.
Can you put a heated blanket on an air mattress?
There are different opinions on that issue. Some experts say that air expansion caused by the heat may cause damage to the mattress. However, if used properly, a heated blanket is an effective way to keep a camper warm and cozy.
How do you use an air mattress in cold weather?
When camping, you should secure proper insulation with a tent footprint or camping pads. Sleep in a sleeping bag and use a wool blanket. If the weather is significantly cold, consider a heating pad or a similar device for warming.
Will a thicker mattress keep you warm?
A thick mattress does not guarantee warmth. When choosing the warmest mattress, the important factor is the level of insulation that the mattress provides. The thickness serves your comfort level and will not keep you warm.
The level of insulation is indicated by the R-value rating. The higher the R-value is, the warmer the mattress will keep you at night.