10% Off or More (112) 25% Off or More (46)in bikes & ride-ons Action FiguresVideo GamesBikes & Ride-onsElectronicsBuilding SetsLearningGames & PuzzlesOutdoor PlayVehicles, Hobby & R/CPretend PlayArts & CraftsPreschoolMusical InstrumentsStuffed AnimalsCooking for Kids Hot WheelsMinecraftLEGOStar WarsTransformersTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles DollsArts & CraftsBath, Beauty & AccessoriesPretend PlayBikes & Ride-onsElectronicsBuilding SetsOutdoor PlayLearningPreschoolGames & PuzzlesMusical InstrumentsStuffed AnimalsVideo GamesCooking for Kids Disney FrozenBarbieDisney PrincessMy Little PonyMonster HighDoc McStuffinsCamping with an Electric Blanket For some reason, we have started getting more letters requesting recommendations about using an electric blanket when tent camping. Some people want to simply plug in to a normal 120V outlet at a campground, some want to carry along a battery and use an inverter to generate AC power for their heating blanket or mattress pad.
Electric blankets are not tested for cold outdoor use but here are some tips and precautions for those who would like to do this. Connecting to Shore Power (normal 120VAC outlet) IF you use a campsite electrical outlet (120VAC) you can use any brand of heated blanket or heated mattress pad. The warmest brand of heated blankets on the USA market is the Sunbeam brand, at least in its first year. Sunbeam blankets, due to their technology, will then lose heat each year (actually a tiny fraction every time it is used) for its life. Probably you will only use this blanket a few times per year so this heat loss over time would not affect you so much. Using an Inverter to Power an Electric Blanket All electric blankets and mattress pads will work well with a Full Wave Inverter. Due to their cost however, most people use Modified Sine Wave inverters. So you need to check what kind of inverter you have. The only brand of heated blanket or mattress pad sold in the United States that will work with an MSW inverter is the low voltage SoftHeat one.
Keeping Warm while Camping Almost all electric blankets designed for the US market are designed for other blankets, spreads, comforters, etc. to be placed over them during use, if you would wish to do that. Check your User Manual first to assure yours will allow this. In camping, what you put UNDER you would be quite important also to your warmth. Be sure to pad your undersides well. Heated pads are warmer than heated blankets due to all the heat being retained by the non-heated blanket or comforter or whatever is on top. However don’t use any heated mattress pad on your air pad. #1) It might burn through the plastic; and #2) It won’t heat you well with an air mattress anyway because there will not be any “mass” under it to direct the heat upwards to your bodies. The heat will simply go into the air within the air mattress instead of being forced to your bodies as with a regular mattress. (We have not tested heated bedding with ground pads such as Thermarest, etc. so cannot speak to how they will react to heat.)
Do not use an electric blanket inside a sleeping bag. It could easily become bunched up and overheat – possibly catching fire.A comfy air mattress can make roughing it feel a little less rough, although wrangling one inside a tent that's a little too small for your queen size bed can be a huge pain. And that's exactly the situation that inspired Dan Robertson to create the Aesent: a tent with a built-in air mattress on its base that's always the perfect size. Even if an air mattress does fit inside your tent, there's still a good chance you're going to roll off it in the middle of the night. But that won't happen with the Aesent, since it's furnished with wall-to-wall air mattress comfort—there's no place to roll off and no place for stuff to get lost between cushions. Since the six-inch inflatable mattress serves as the bottom of the tent and will be sitting on all kinds of terrain including pointy rocks, it's been designed with extra-thick vinyl to prevent punctures.
And if carrying the deflated mattress is too heavy for a particular adventure, the tent itself can be zipped off and used by itself—minus all the extra comfort. If it sounds like the perfect camping accessory for you, the Aesent can be pre-ordered through Kickstarter for $160 at the moment. Just keep in mind there's the risk of manufacturing hiccups that might delay its availability, or completely prevent it from becoming a reality. But since the Aesent is just a combination of two tried-and-true products, there's a good chance it could make your next outdoor excursion far more enjoyable. Or at the very least give you the low-key moon bounce you always dreamed of. Step 1: Put on Your Fly.Show All ItemsBest camping air mattress Trying to get to sleep on the cold, hard ground can be a challenge even for the most fervid nature lover. If you have issues like a bad back or joint pain, those can be exacerbated by a too-hard surface. But that doesn't mean you have to give up what you love.
For serious backpackers and campers, we recommend the Therm-A-Rest Basecamp (Est. $60 to $80) sleeping pad. This self-inflating air mattress gets a lot of love for its light weight, extreme durability and ease of use. It comes in three sizes, regular, large and extra-large. To inflate, you merely unroll the mattress, open a valve and allow it to self-inflate. Inflation comes courtesy of an expanding foam core. Most say they unroll this sleeping pad as soon as they hit camp because it can take a while to get full inflation, but some say they speed things up by adding a few lungfuls of air. In addition, some users say that the more you use it, the quicker and more consistently the Basecamp works. You can see a complete list of the Basecamp sleeping pad's specs on the Therm-A-Rest website, but it's notable that despite being only two inches thick, users say it provides a surprisingly cushy level of protection. Back sleepers are particularly pleased; most side sleepers are as well, but some of the latter say that it's not quite thick enough for them.
The Basecamp is made from 75-denier (denier is a thickness measurement used for threads and fabrics) polyester and is so durable that the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty. Many users say that the Therm-A-Rest Basecamp is plenty light enough to be used for backpacking, but there are others who prefer to pack lighter and say this sleep pad is best for car camping. For those who are hiking for the long haul, we recommend another Therm-A-Rest sleep pad, the Therm-A-Rest ProLite (Est. $50 and up). This air mattress is also self-inflating and comes in four sizes, extra-small, small, regular and large. All are extremely lightweight at 9 ounces (extra-small), 12 ounces (small), 1.2 pounds (regular) and 1.8 pounds (large). Users rave about how small and light the ProLite feels in a pack and are surprised that it can be so comfortable, even though it's only one inch thick. However, that thin of a pad is not for everyone; and some say they use it more for insulation than for comfort.
Not everyone needs a serious backpacking sleep pad, and for those who just want a basic air mattress for their tent or cabin, the Coleman Quickbed (Est. $35 and up) is a popular, affordable option. It also comes in a twin, full and queen sizes. Coleman air mattresses have been around for many years and are beloved by casual campers who say that these super-inexpensive mattress are an amazing value: comfortable, easy to inflate and deflate, and very good at retaining air. They also like the built-in carrier, which makes it easier to transport the mattress. One major caveat is that this mattress doesn't come with a pump. Coleman offers several compatible models -- including the Coleman QuickPump (Est. $25), but adding one will almost double the cost of the mattress. The other downside of this mattress is durability; reviews indicate that its typical lifespan is three months to a year. The mattress does have a one-year warranty, but shipping costs aren't covered. Most owners say they just discard it when it stops inflating and that, for the price, it's not a big deal to just buy a new one.