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Bedding, sheets or bag

10K views 45 replies 17 participants last post by  Pudsey_Bear 
#1 ·
For years we have basically made up the double bed in the back with sheets and blankets. Now we are thinking to just try a double sleeping bag. So I am wondering what most others use. The sleeping bag is simple but not so much like home.
 
#2 ·
We generally use sleeping bags for a couple of reasons. 1/ Easier to pack in the van and easier to unfold etc when ready to go to bed. 2/ If as sometimes happens we have a couple of extra glasses of wine then we don't need to make the bed up but just climb into seperate sleeping bags. That's what we prefer but others may differ of coarse.

Nick.
 
#6 ·
We have problems with duvets falling on the ground and so I made my own version of the duvalay. After trying a hundred other sleeping set ups over the years ( I'm barely exaggerating) this is the one for us for all time.

Even if you are not going to put a mattress topper on the bottom then I would still suggest making your own .

Take two double duvet covers.
Sew along 3/4 of the length of one side ( if you have a wall side then sew along the side that goes next to the wall) leaving about a foot unsown at the head end.
You now have 4 layers of fabric.
At the bottom ( foot) end of the covers, sew the two centre ends together. This should leave you with a slot to put a mattress topper into and a slot to put your double duvet into.

If you are not going to use a mattress topper then the bottom 2 layers are your bottom sheet. If you want more bottom sheet to tuck in then either use a larger duvet cover or one large sheet.
 
#8 ·
We have to make the beds up every night, and no I do not want a fixed bed.
I made cotton sleeping bags from douvet covers and we both have sleeping bag (zips removed) as a douvet on top.
It takes all of 5 minutes to make the 2 beds and the same time to dismantel in the morning.
 
#9 ·
Its all down to personal preference really. My/our preferred option is a duvet/sheet for a number of reasons.

1. We have a fixed bed so the bed is always "made up"

2. We go away for a month (or more, lucky us) at a time, so its a lot easier to have a couple of sets of bedding and rotate them on the bed/through the wash. Duvet cover, sheet and a couple of pillow cases dont take up a lot of room. I wouldn't fancy using a sleeping bag for that long without washing it and there is always the issue of getting it dry after washing in time for next bedy-byes, especially if the weather isnt that good. (Unless you carry two sleeping bags of course)

3. If you get a bit warm under a duvet you can always stick a leg out to cool down. Not so easy to do with a sleeping bag.

There is always the option of using sleeping bag liners, but if you have to wash liners why not wash a duvet cover and sheet??

We have a two part duvet, half is 10 tog and the other half is about 4 so we can cover most eventualities temperature wise. (they can be poppered together to form a 14 tog or each used on its own)

No way would I consider sheets and blankets, far too old fashioned !!!

Andy
 
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#10 ·
I think you have to vary them really and be prepared for all temperatures. In the winter or pretty much anytime in the UK apart from a few days mid summer you need a decent duvet I reckon but mid summer in southern Europe I might just have a single thin sleeping bag used as a duvet with a sheet underneath or if its really warm just a sheet on top or even nothing on top.
 
#12 ·
All interesting, I'm almost convinced to stick with our old system. It worked for 10 years. Some of you would not agree, it's just the same as at home. We do have a fixed bed in the back. I love it, all cozy and with the curtain closed semi private from the kids. We have been using a fitted sheet over a mattress cover and then a regular sheet with a duvet on top, added blankets if needed in the winter and throw it off in the summer. On long trips just an extra set of sheets and the occasional wash of two sheets. Lately we switched the kids now teens to sleeping bags. So I thought to try it for us, but I think the catch is washing on longer trips and the flexibility of just changing layers for temperature control. If we did not have the fixed bed it would be much more difficult but the way it is the bed is always made up, so no problem. Still thinking about it.
 
#14 ·
We have a double duvet in the trailer, which is basically a 1991 Swift Challenger interior.

Making up each night can be a bit of a faff, but we can sleep as two singles if we want.

So we have a lightweight summer duvet as an underblanket and a full-weight duvet on top.

Cellular blankets on standby for the occasional really cold night (last Saturday night!)

Peter
 
#15 ·
Exactly what we used when we needed to make up beds

How do you cuddle in sleeping bags ?

Even double ones

Now I love Albert but have no desire to share a double sleeping bag with him

What you need is a goose down or silk duvet

I know I have class

You just didn't appreciate it

Light warm

A double weight, two individuals

Summer, winter

Light storable

EXPENSIVE

Why I waste my time with you lot I don't know?

Now what exactly made me fall in love with you all?

Sandra
 
#16 ·
Exactly what we used when we needed to make up beds

How do you cuddle in sleeping bags ?

Even double ones

Now I love Albert but have no desire to share a double sleeping bag with him

What you need is a goose down or silk duvet

I know I have class

You just didn't appreciate it

Light warm

A double weight, two individuals

Summer, winter

Light storable

EXPENSIVE

Why I waste my time with you lot I don't know?

Now what exactly made me fall in love with you all?

Sandra
Some like a bit of Rough >:):grin2:
 
#19 ·
Has anyone (with a partner) ever tried using two single duvets? I remember being told that is the proper way to use duvets because they snuggle round each body with no "gap" in the middle.


I have bought two to try. My only concern is that they are 3ft wide and our bed is 5ft wide. Will they keep falling off?
 
#20 ·
We followed someone's suggestion on here six years ago and use 2 double duvets - a 4 tog and a 13 tog. For most of the year we would sleep on the the 13 tog and have the 4 tog over us, but in the depth of winter we are very snug with the 4 tog underneath and the 13 tog on top.

They shake out easily - essential when you share with 2 lurchers - and if we want to put our bed away (it's not fixed bu we tend to leave it down) both quilts squash easily in the seat for our U lounge.

Works for us!

Lesley
 
#21 ·
Exactly what we used to do

Before fixed beds

Now a fitted sheet and duvet, singles as he pulls pushes, hangs his legs out

Stuff him, do it with your own duvet and leave me in peace

At home

Well I just elbow him in the ribs

To release the duvet

Or to return the whole duvet to his side, he's hot so I'm sweltering under the total duvet tossed to my side

What do you think, is divorce in order ?

Sandra
 
#22 ·
If we set up the big bed, then thin duvet on the bottom for comfort, and whatever duvet the weather indicates on top, if separate singles we have the superking duvets folded and sleep in the middle, folded side to the wall, Liz prefers to sleep cool, and I prefer to be snuggly warm.
 
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#27 ·
Oh I wish he was Jan

He wishes too

But I guess we will just have to settle

For what was

And to be fair with my joints that are inflamed and painful most of the time

If he could I couldn't :grin2:

Sandra
I can't understand how you saw what I wrote Sandra, I thought it was a bit too naughty for this forum and deleted it :grin2::grin2: then Kev comes along and says more or less the same thing.
 
#29 ·
I thought the two separate duvets were a German thing.? Seemed all German hotels were like that.

I guess we have been spoilt for 20 years with large RVs and walk round queen beds just like at home.
Now the Euro Shed 7.8m. Hobby has a double corner bed so extra large double duvet tucked securely down the side against the van wall keeps everything in place.
Easy to make and get out of leaving one side permanently secured.

Ray.
 
#31 ·
I thought the two separate duvets were a German thing.? Seemed all German hotels were like that.

Ray.
When we first came here Ray we had a 4´6" bed, they couldn´t believe we slept together in there and under the same cover.
All the couples we know have seperate douvets, not for us, we still enjoy the contact and hope we always will.
 
#32 ·
When we had tents, we had two sleeping bags zipped into one, which worked OK, but we are both 'restless' sleepers, me more than Rita, so when we build the first big living trailer we desired that it would be a full double bed, or two singles, and it was.

We are building another trailer right now, and that will have the same arrangement, slightly posher cushions but the same build.

Peter
 
#34 ·
My , and our, approach to this subject is that we want a motorhome, not a camper, and that we want sleeping arrangements the same as at home.

For some that might mean single beds/duvets etc., but for us it means a made-up king-sized bed and one feather/cotton duvet(and feather and down pillows). We get this on our fixed bed, and also on the overcab bed when Basia's Mother occupys the fixed bed. We carry enough bedding for both.

No motorhome which did not provide this would be considered. Simples. Same on the boat. I gave up camping when I left the TA.

Geoff
 
#38 ·
Liz naked, me I keep me knickers on :D :D
 
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#46 ·
Pull me nightie down when you've done eh Ray :D :D
 
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