Stay Cosy with a Heated Sleeping Bag
If you managed to bag yourself a glamping pitch for the summer season, well done! Demand was at an all-time high, so there are a lot of us who will have to get a bit creative when it comes to having a glamping holiday this year. The lower seasons, such as the spring and autumn, are often cheaper but you can’t rely on the weather to keep you warm. While some glamping options have wood burning stoves that will keep the chill at bay all night, not every glampsite offers this, and this means dealing with the cold overnight temperatures.
When you get cold overnight at home it’s an easy fix – electric blankets or hot water bottles can quickly warm you up but it’s not so simple when you’re glamping. The last thing you want to do is get colder while you go to the kitchen to refill a hot water bottle, or light a storm kettle for hot water, and without an electric point you can’t plug in an electric blanket. Happily, heated sleeping bags are now available to add a real touch of luxury (and much needed heat) to off-season glamping getaways.
There are a couple of options on the market – first we’ll look at the Radiate option from well-known camping brand Vango. This heated sleeping bag runs off a USB power bank (not included) which you can slip inside a special pocket. In the Radiate bag the heated area is towards the feet, and as this is where we tend to get coldest first, it’s easy to see how having snuggle feet will make a big difference. If you’d love the option of a heated zone in the torso/lower back area, you can always use a hot water bottle; a simple way to create two heated areas.
The Radiate heated sleeping bag is fully machine washable (just remember to take the power bank out first!). The duration of use, and which of the four heat settings you use affects the amount of power it uses, so if you’re glamping in the cold you may use up all the available power on the first night. Check whether you can recharge your power bank at the glampsite, or invest in a solar charger for an off-grid friendly option.
The Active Sport heated sleeping bag is a little cheaper. Again, the heated area is by the feet so if you get a cold back you might want to augment a heated sleeping back with a hot water bottle – the great thing about doing that is you won’t be fighting with yourself in the night trying to shuffle the hot water bottle to your feet and back again, this way you are keeping you warm all over with no hassle. The bag is machine washable and waterproof, so it’s a great option for festivals too. It is made in the mummy style with a hood, which is naturally warmer style than standard rectangular sleeping bags.
Geertop have a mummy style heated sleeping bag with three heated zones, at your feet, mid-section and shoulders, so it’s perfect for keeping you warm all over. This is ideal for people with medical conditions that are exacerbated by the cold, as well as adventurous glampers who want to get the true winter experience without the chill factor. This option has three heat settings and runs off a USB power bank, and again which setting you choose affects how long you can run it for before needing to recharge the power bank.
If you’ve just upgraded your sleeping bag and don’t want to shell out for another one so soon, there is the option of a heated liner from Mcota. This heated liner has four heating zones, so even at the coldest overnight temperatures you’ll stay snug, even if it drops below freezing.
There’s no need to miss out on cheaper pitches and quieter times just because the weather is colder; so keep your mind open to autumn and winter glamping in style with a heated sleeping bag.