Virtues of Reflectix

[SactoCampers]

I think I'm the last one to discover it, but after noticing on a thread on PUX regarding Cabela's reflectix survival blankets, I decided to buy two of them.

We camped at the Sonoma Coast SB this weekend and man oh man, what a difference these blankets make! While the reflectix blanket is about 5" short on each side, we put it between our mattress and eggcrate and slept on it for the first time this weekend. I don't really know how cold it was, though the temperatures were predicted to be in the mid-40s. All I know is that I was smokin' warm! Usually, we turn the furnace thermostat to the mid 60s to stay warm at night. But with the reflectix blanket, I was hot I had to take a layer off. It almost felt like a heater blanket underneath. We had to turn the thermostat to around 58 and it probably cycled once every 15-20 minutes for about 2 minutes.

Like I said, I'm probably the last person to figure this thing out, but if you ever feel like you're losing heat out the bottom of the mattress, give them a try.

We also did a couple things to help preserve heat. First, we turned our PUG bunk end covers upside down. Secondly, we had this refelcting windshield panel and so I shoved it between the bunk end screen and canvas. I could feel the canvas above was several degrees colder then the one with the panel. Conceivably, people could cut these reflectix blankets to size for all of their window panels and you'd have decent insulation.

[angelsmom10]

We bit the bullet and purchased the covers from popupgizmos and we love ours.  They are the right fit and came with clamps.  glad you liked the blankets - not sure how they compare to the covers we have.

[SactoCampers]

We bit the bullet and purchased the covers from popupgizmos and we love ours.  They are the right fit and came with clamps.  glad you liked the blankets - not sure how they compare to the covers we have.

Angelsmom,

We used the Cabela's blanket under the mattress for heat. They did seem nearly identical in quality to the PUG material. We also have the PUG bunk end covers. My problem is I always mis-match the bunk ends. I have to come up with some kind of identification system for those things. But they still work. And when you turn them upside down, they seem to insulate some of the heat. They also keep the top of the bunk clean, as I'm sure you've found.

[ckkevin]

I think I'm the last one to discover it, but after noticing on a thread on PUX regarding Cabela's reflectix survival blankets, I decided to buy two of them.

Sacto,

You aren't the last to discover this.  Most of the time we camp in area's that tend to cool off at night.  We use a Coleman Queen Size air mattress but it is always cold.  I will definitely try this next time we are out.  Thanks for the info.

[SactoCampers]

I think I'm the last one to discover it, but after noticing on a thread on PUX regarding Cabela's reflectix survival blankets, I decided to buy two of them.

Sacto,

You aren't the last to discover this.  Most of the time we camp in area's that tend to cool off at night.  We use a Coleman Queen Size air mattress but it is always cold.  I will definitely try this next time we are out.  Thanks for the info.

We used air mattresses and while they were very comfortable, there was too much motion, it always leaked (even the good ones) and they were always cold. So we switched to using two egg crates which made it almost as comfortable, and much warmer. Adding the reflectix blanket made a huge difference. One word of caution, though, is that the reflectix blanket is noisy. It makes a crinkling sound.  I recommend putting it under the air mattress.

[Danusmom]

"Reflectix" is different from the reflective emergency blankets --I believe it is the blanket you are referring to from Cabela's as Reflectix is available at home hardware/improvement stores.  Here's the link to Reflectix http://www.reflectixinc.com/general.asp

I'll bet you wouldn't hear "crinkling" if you put the emergency blanket between the bunk mattress & the bunk end frame.

BTW, we used both this past weekend; Reflectix under the mattress & the emergency blankets on the walls of the tenting of the one bunk end we used.  We were very toasty warm as it got down in the upper 30's.  We also had a heated mattress pad with dual controls...ended up turning it down to "low" & eventually off.

[Kelly]

We also have the PUG bunk end covers. My problem is I always mis-match the bunk ends. I have to come up with some kind of identification system for those things.

[font="comic sans ms"]When I got mine they had little pieces of tape stuck to them.  The tape had the dimensions of the panel on them ~ very handy .... until someone (not me!) peeled the tape off!  LOL  [/font]

[angelsmom10]

Angelsmom,
 
We used the Cabela's blanket under the mattress for heat. They did seem nearly identical in quality to the PUG material. We also have the PUG bunk end covers. My problem is I always mis-match the bunk ends. I have to come up with some kind of identification system for those things. But they still work. And when you turn them upside down, they seem to insulate some of the heat. They also keep the top of the bunk clean, as I'm sure you've found.

Once you get the covers on the right sides, mark them with a Sharpie as to what side it goes to.  Luckily ours were the same size except for the slide-out which is an obvious different size.

[SactoCampers]

When I got mine they had little pieces of tape stuck to them. The tape had the dimensions of the panel on them ~ very handy .... until someone (not me!) peeled the tape off! LOL

Mine has it too, but I can't remember which dimension is for which bunk, and I can never remember which corner and side it's located. So I just give up, guess and get on with it! :p They're unwieldy enough as it is and I don't like to waste time . Funny, the smaller one actually almost fits the big bunk, and then I just end up folding under the extra material on the small bunk. Works either way. I just look like a chump to all my popup cohorts who have their system down. Some leave them on permanently with a velcro thingamajobbie, but I'm too lazy.
 
Maybe next time I'll pay a little more attention to the dimensions on the tape. But I'm a man and thought I could "eyeball" the difference. I was wrong!
 
Danusmom,
 
Thanks for the correction in terminology! I didn't know the difference.
 

Once you get the covers on the right sides, mark them with a Sharpie as to what side it goes to. Luckily ours were the same size except for the slide-out which is an obvious different size.  

I never have a sharpie! And I do it wrong each time, so I don't know which one is right! In all seriousness, I did mark one with a ball point pen, but forgot until I noticed it when taking them down. I wouldn't have been able to find it anyway. It said "back". Now what did I mean? Back bunk, or back of the cover? And what does THAT mean? Is the back the end closest to the bunk end or closest to the roof?
 
You can tell I'm not always the sharpest knife in the drawer.

[Tim5055]

Well, I still have a pair of the blankets from Cabella's that i no longer use (I hav ethe PUG covers).

Well, as it gets cooler I know what to do with them.

[oldmoose]

I have the PUG also and I marked tongue on one so I know where it goes. I have then for the slideout also. Best $ I ever spent. Have not thought about the Reflictix for under the bunk tho. Have to ponder that one.

[slowpez]

We use a rectangular sleeping bag on top of our mattress, under our sheet, to keep us warm.  It is good to 20 degrees.  Another use for reflectix:  one park we stayed in had an enourmous street light outside the bathroom that light up our PU like a spotlight.  We flipped the reflectix over the windows on that side of the camper, no more light.

[SactoCampers]

We use a rectangular sleeping bag on top of our mattress, under our sheet, to keep us warm. It is good to 20 degrees.

Us too. Here's our bed setup:
 
1.) Eggcrate
2.) Mattress
3.) Survival blanket
4.) Eggcrate
5.) Coleman 20-degree sleeping bag
6.) Flannel bottom sheet
7.) Flannel top sheet
8.) Blanket
9.) Down comforter
 
Now that I think about it, no wonder I was so hot. The temps only got into the mid-40s at worst. No way I could handle living in the midwest!

[oldmoose]

We have two Sears 20 degree bags zipped together and a comforter on top of that. I sleep hot and almost always have the zipper down even at 30 degrees. Drives my DW nuts. I also have our little dog sleeping next to me also.

[DiW]

I haven't tried out my PUG covers yet but I had them in the back of my van in preparation for our camping trip this weekend. I had a chance to try them out but not in the normal way. My son had to pick up 50 frozen cheesecakes from his high school and deliver them all over town. Since the cheesecakes were delivered at noon on a weekday and most people were still at work, I simply loaded the cartons into the back of the van, sandwiched between 2 PUG covers. They were still frozen as we delivered the last of them later that evening. So, I can vouch for them keeping items COLD. Hopefully this weekend they'll help keep us WARM.
Diane