What do you sleep on?

[ColinW]

I've abandoned sleeping bags due to my ever aching joints, so when I'm "camping" now (I never night fish any more) I take almost the whole damned bed. Air bed, quilt underneath me, quilt on top and proper pillows! Of course that means I have to be camping next to the car, so it's probably not a sensible suggestion for actual fishing. I can assure you it is a world away from trying to sleep crammed into a bag!

[Angly]

Hmm, thanks all, plenty of food for thought.

[Andy Macfarlane]

I bought a car-window reflector, with that NASA reflective foil stuff on one side and I fling an unhooking mat on top.....yawn.....easy peasy.

 

...andy...

[Angly]

I bought a car-window reflector, with that NASA reflective foil stuff on one side and I fling an unhooking mat on top.....yawn.....easy peasy.

 

...andy...

 

Now that's inventive. But either your mat is a lot larger than mine, or you're only 3' tall!

[Will Wilkinson]

I used to just use a Thermarest (self inflating foam mat) & sleeping bag but have now invested in a JRC bedchair - The mat's great & will still be used on lightweight trips, but the bedchair's much more convenient (I actually find the Thermarest more comfortable) as it increases the available space in the bivvy as well as making it easier to step out of the bag straight into the waiting boots (which I strategically pace by the char so they're in just the right place when I sit up).

 

Will

[terry t shirt]

Will last year at wingham i walked round and found you asleep on the floor next to your rods in what looked like a tarpaulin. I thought you might be dead apart from the snoring.

[Will Wilkinson]

Will last year at wingham i walked round and found you asleep on the floor next to your rods in what looked like a tarpaulin. I thought you might be dead apart from the snoring.

That's my 1 man mountaineering bivvy - only weighs 800 grammes - and I had a Thermarest and sleeping bag inside it

 

Don't often use it fishing though - as you saw there's not much room for kit

 

Will

[Steve Burke]

I have slept comfortably on a blow-up mattress, but like others I find the lack of storage space underneath inconvenient.

 

My first choice is a 3 leg bedchair. No more 2 leg ones that tip up thanks!

 

On top of the bedchair I put on my JRC waterproof breathable cover, but upside down so that the tufted side is on top. This keeps away draughts from the cold ground. I also like a proper pillow.

 

Over me goes a single lightweight duvet that has the advantage that the cover is washable, and it's easy to throw off to hit a run. On cold nights I add an open sleeping bag on top, but will eventually replace it with another lightweight duvet and washable cover. I find having 2 layers is much preferable and more flexible than 1 thick one.

 

I'd advise anyone new to bivvying up to try out various bedchairs before committing themselves. What suits one person may not suit another. For instance I hate bedchairs that don't go completely flat (which means most of them) as they give me backache.

 

One final tip is to insert a betalight in some silicon tubing in the zip of the mosquito net so that you can quickly unzip the door whilst you're half asleep.

[Dales]

Would have to be a bed chair these days, but used a roll up camping mat for years until getting a bed chair about 5 years ago. They are functional but not to great if you plan to stay out for more then 1 night.

[tincatinca]

Over the years I have used many types of equipment mainly dependent on what was available at the time and available funds. At the recent Wingham fish in I used a bed chair for the first time in ages, mainly due to the fact that I used an umbrella system instead of the bivvy and to be honest I could not get comfortable and woke up regularly with aches and cramp. I started to use a blow up mattress some years ago using various offerings but have now settled on an aerobed which is self inflating via a small re chargeable electric pump and has the added benefit of an adjustable valve which lets you tailor the hardness/softness of the bed. Coupled with a Wychwood bag which has removeable fleece liners and a proper pillow, it is like sleeping in your own bed and I do like a good sleep these days. Sometimes local conditions dictate that that your best chances are at certain times during the night and on these occassions if I want to sit on the rods then I use a reclining chair. Whist this may not be everyones cup of tea I found out the hard way that that it is vital to be comfortable and get some good sleep in when you are on extended trips of a week or more. Then again it could be just old age creeping on.