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Going tent camping in the Texas hill country this weekend. Trying to prep the lady for this and make sure she is somewhat comfortable so my life will be easier.

It's supposed to get down to 27F Saturday night. I've got a new Columbia 6 person tent for us two and the dog.

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You know, I've always wanted to bring a potato along in aluminum foil, heat it up by the fire, and just use it as a heat source in my tent/bag.  I'd probably eat it in my sleep though lol.

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You really need 0 degree rated bags to be warm and cozy.  Bag ratings are horribly inaccurate, if a bag says 30 degree rated you will probably be comfortable for 50-60 degree weather.  I'd buy a propane buddy heater or get different bags.

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The trick to keeping warm is "fluff" the more fluffier the more warmth, it really is that simple.
Trap air and stay warm.
That is why sleep matts that keep loft and doesn't compress the "fluff" work the best.

Look at the market....all the outdoor company's want you to believe that they came up with a material
that will trap more air in a thinner material than anybody else. Some are more efficient than others, but
the fact is...fluffy rules.

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You know, I've always wanted to bring a potato along in aluminum foil, heat it up by the fire, and just use it as a heat source in my tent/bag.  I'd probably eat it in my sleep though lol.

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I've used the propane "Big Buddy" in tents for a couple decades for our winter camps. Still alive. Keeps you toasty and warm.

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Wow, you guys aren't letting this thread die, lol. My December 16 camping trip went great. It got down to 20 with 25 mph winds and we stayed warm. Our 30F rated bags, air mattress, blankets, and dog all kept us warm. The next morning getting up was brutal though.

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Stop by a Lowes or Home Depot or your local hardware/home improvement store and find a roll of Reflectix. It comes in different widths so find one that fits your mattress or roll out two lengths to run side by side and cut the length to fit your mattress. It's just bubble wrap with Mylar layers on the outside. It insulates really well and I've used it in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan several times. It'll reflect your body heat back on you and keep the cold from coming through your sleep pad. Roll it out between the air mattress and sleep pad and maybe a second layer under your sleeping bag. It doesn't weigh hardly anything I carry a roll in my back pack to use while hiking. A fleece sleeping bag liner will give you an additional 10 degrees to your sleeping bag is rated for. That and a wool blanket or two should keep you and your girl comfortable.

My last trip to the U.P. was mid October we did a hot tent for five days four nights. My sleep setup was a cot, reflectix layer, surplus wool blanket wrapped around a sleeping bag with a fleece liner, another fleece blanket on top of the bag and another 100% wool surplus hospital blanket on top. The sleeping bag was just a regular camping bag probably rated for 30+ degrees. The temps at night were lower twenties and the wood stove burned out after a couple hours each night. I never got cold in my sleep set up.

Have fun.

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Hand warmers

I bring a couple of these when I'm camping and if it gets really cold, I open one and throw it in my sleeping back.  Keeps me toasty all night long.