TheOutdoorGearReview Luke, outstanding material. I learned alot of this the hard way. I grew up a woods kid and eventually made my way into the military. Unfortunately the military passes alot of bad information to its infantrymen with regards to living outdoors. Bad info has a way of replicating itself and people never learn the right way. Im out now but I hope your platform can make its way out to future infantrymen to learn how to live outdoors the right way and save themselves untold grief. Thanks for all you do.
Luke, I have used the military sleep system you showed here, with a standard green military sleep pad, a woobie, (aka poncho liner), and my clothes stuffed around me while wearing just a base layer. Did this all on a concrete pad in Korea along the DMZ while the temp got down to -17*. I found I had to wake up two or three times a night to "vent" open my kit for a few mins to prevent sweating/over heating. Point is that mil system is amazing. In fact the bivy and the patrol bag along with the woobie is all I ever used in Europe even through snowfalls. It works that well. Cheers Brother and best of luck to your lil' Warrior as she starts her career in the Navy. (GO ARMY, BEAT NAVY) ;) (Sorry old habits die hard) Thanks for what you do -DA
Had a Very Nice Thanksgiving here in Southern Ohio Luke ..Made my Famous Homemade Southern Turkey Dressing n all the Fixings Lol ..I hope you n your Beautiful Family had a Blessed Turkey day my Brother Semper Fi
I am only 5'6" and have used the military sleep system since my days in the Marines. While stationed at NAS Keflavik Iceland I learned to put my next days clothes in the bottom of my sleeping bag, to take up the extra space which helps keep my feet from getting cold and as an added benefit I am able to put on warm clothes in the morning.
This old man used to go on Boy Scout camporees during the winter in Wisconsin, back in the 60's, when I was a kid. We took canvas tents, heavy sleeping bags, and bales of straw on home-built sleds. We tied two sticks together in an X shape to bury in the snow at the corners of the tent, tied the corners of the tent to those sticks, then packed snow on top. We spread the straw under the tents for warm bedding. I stayed warm all night long, sleeping with that system. It was old school, yet, it worked for us.
I'm surprised you missed this one - if you're lucky enough to have an air mattress then wrap your extra (preferably wool) blanket around the air mattress rather than putting it over you. The air in the mattress will warm up and give you a warm layer under you instead of the cold ground. I'm such a believer in army poncho liners that I have one in every room of my house and in my car - wrapping up in a poncho liner inside of your bag, plus socks keeps you amazingly warm!
I once woke up so cold and I desperately had to pee. It was around -20°C (-4 F). Yes, I peed in my nalgene water bottle and cuddled with it. Never slept any better. No joke.
Another great tip that an experienced outdoorsman here in Canada taught me is to not just eat before bed but every time you wake up in the night to take a bite or two of a high calorie snack (he suggested pound or fruit caked). Thanks for the video! Keep Moving Forward!
Wool blanket, Mylar sheet, and an thermal sleeping bag liner, those things can add upwards of 20 degrees to a bag. Long jhons will help even more and add a few extra degrees.
That is a good idea, I have done that, not for myself, but for my dog. I cut the reflector the right size and a folded 3 dollar fleece plaid on top for cozyness and cushion. dog loves it. There is plenty of gear out there for people, but there really isnt enough gear for dogs, at least I feel like. but that is a recipe on a pad for a dog that works well. and doesnt take up that much space in your backpack and doesnt weigh a lot. The fleece plaid which you can fold or cut to the right size depending on how much cushion you want the dog to have, but 1-2 layers of plaid is probably enough though I havent cut mine up, but I probably will cut down to 2 layers to save space and roll them in together with the reflective pad to save more space. all in all doesnt take that much space, weighs very little. :)
I spent a winter on the streets in southern Oregon and I was lucky enough to have a military sleep system and pad. (I now own two) and never spent a minute in a tent. If it rained I got under shelter or made a lean to with a small tarp I carried but when it didn't I slept anywhere I wouldn't be bothered. You can sleep on frozen lake ice if you have that pad. Military gear is the shit. My local army navy store is better than Disneyland.
Glad you mentioned the importance of sleeping pads. In my experience cold ground will suck the heat out of you much more than cold air. Adding a cheap closed cell foam pad to my sleep system was the best investment I made.
When I was in the Army I would climb in the bag, then take off my outer layers of clothes. This made sure I was warm when I got in the sack, and also in the morning my clothes would be warm when I put them on. Worked great.
You nailed it with eating before bed. Cheese in particular is a great option for two reasons. One, as you stated, the fat content of the cheese, but secondly the kind of protein in cheese is casein. Casein is a slow digesting protein. I use a casein protein and peanut/almond butter before bed to continue to burn calories when I'm not out in the field. Another thing you can add to your kit is a spicy seasoning mix or spices. You can use it to make a broth before bed and drink that while you eat something or you can even add it to the meal. Great work Luke!
I think this is the third time I've watched this video and the advice/information is sound. Experience is the best teacher and obviously Luke has years of it. I've been hiking and camping since I was 10 years old growing up in the woods of Ohio. My first sleeping bag was a wool blanket that my mom sewed together. It kept me warm in the fall and into early winter. When temperatures dropped I would wrap the wool blanket with my dad's military poncho, one he picked up in the Korean Conflict. During a couple of outings I did the aforementioned and then slid into large garbage bags. My parents taught me how to layer clothing to help stay warm. My grandmother taught me how to wrap a hot water bottle and to keep it near my feet, something I never did when camping as the hot water bottles back then were rather heavy empty. Gramma lived in an old shack in the South Carolina woods that was heated by a wood-burning stove. Sometimes she would allow me to sleep with one or two of her Beagles she raised for hunters. Talk about warmth. Luke is right in finding the best sleeping bag you can afford and make it the base of your sleep system. I've added an under $20 bivy sack to my bag and I can lie in snow and sleep well in it alone. Bearhard and SOL (green one that breathes) sell the best ones...in my opinion.
I sleep cold. A zero degree bag is effective to only about 20 degrees for me. I use the US MSS. For pads in the winter I use Klymit X-Frame + a 3\4 length 15-year-old Thermarest pad. They go in the bivy. Underneath that I use a space sportsman's blanket silver side up. I have tested that combination to zero F. It works. Also I carry some toe warmers to use on cold spots. For me it's my shoulders. To keep my feet warm at night I make sure to allow an inch or 2 of space between the end of my toes and the sock. Of course I change into dry socks for sleeping
Daughter always uses a woodland MSS without complaint, typically in 20 to 30° weather. Because I'm 6'3" - 215 lbs, I had to come up with something different. I use a Coleman Big Basin (that fits into an MSS compression sack rather easily) combined with a 2Gosystems Trifecta V3 XL bivy. Perfect fit, no clothes needed. Of course, we cuddle with our own USMC woobies too, and several inflatable pillows. Reflective blanket, orange side down, under our tent (Clostnature 2 person, 3 season, dual door) and Klymit V2 3/4 pads in between our bivy and sleeping bags. Toasty.
A space blanket on the ground, with the shiny side up helps. A hot water bottle, inside the bag helps. It can be a Nalgene bottle. Extra clothing, stuffed in the footbox helps too.
Some years back, camping in Northern Wisconsin late October I just couldn't seem to get warm, good gear, experience, it had been snowing, freezing rain,high winds,much fun lol. Hiked to a tavern they are in the strangest of places. Bought 2lbs of bacon had her cook me a lb ate it ,got back to camp ate another lb warmed right up! Bottom line is that bacon is survivalist food!
I love this channel. No lame techs background music, no instagram shots screaming for attention. No white girls with leggings and a “puffy”. Just straight up information.
Great overview thank you. I'm expanding my gear every year, I'm not all that bent on winter camping. I got nothing to prove, I'm 58 and have done much. But I started camping last year again after 10 years not doing it. But I love it. Thanks Luke your an inspiration to those who are renewing the vow to the outdoors, or venturing out for the first time. Great job. J. Partick Patterson Virginia Beach, VA
I have an Enlightened Equipment Enigma 20 degree. If it gets too cold to use just that, I layer it with military issue zippered poncho liner as the outer most layer, the Enigma quilt inside that, and a Sea To Summit sleeping bag liner as the inner layer. Even with the three layers, its a fairly lightweight sleep system for backpacking. The whole system comes in just under 50 ounces.
All terrific ideas. I also love to throw a 12-hour exothermic hot pack in the foot box of my sleeping bag at dinner time so that it’s toasty by bedtime. A clean rock heated next to a fire (not IN the fire) and wrapped in a non-synthetic material also works. Another idea is to fill “dead space” in your bag with extra clothes (if clean) or a blanket. It gives you warm layers to put on in the morning too. Lastly, if you are woman of a certain age, a well-timed hot flash is pretty great.
I found that keeping your bladder empty actually helps keep you warmer. The science behind it is that your body uses a lot of heat to keep a full bladder at 98.6F. Also instead of a purpose made sleeping bag liner, I got a fleece blanket super cheap and just used safety pins to make it part of my sleeping bag. Added 10F+ to the bag.
Good tips Luke and thanks for making all these awesome videos. One tip I picked up from you a while back is double socks with hand warmers between the layers. One warmer for each foot. Do not place directly on the skin. This trick also works great. Thanks again.
Hot water bottle inside the sleeping bag is key and often overlooked providing warmth, temperature gradient drying the inner bag by moisture transfer out, keeping your water source from freezing. YES - bottle must be no spill/leaks and fullproof/foolproof trustworthy. Dedicated sleepwear and simply just footwear is another one of my favorites... Footwear examples can be oversized loose fitting heavy socks to insulated liners or slipper-like booties. Always a tough one is your own breathing creating condensation buildup and turning to frost... note that some degree ventilation is still desirable. It is also possible to use a radiator-type balaclava to breath warmer air in, blow less vapor out, while at the same time not using the extra bits of energy to warm the air you take in. What I like about this video is right from the get-go you say get the gear you need. As you go on to relate: it may not be affordable, or last minute you did not find it available and adequately tested. I feel the last pieces of kit that should be mentioned is a small, stable, easy to use cartridge or canister stove to hot box or take edge off inside the tent like a jetboil (use caution and smarts) and a more dependable version of a space blanket can also be useful. If freeze dried meals in a bag are on the menu... never waist that heat and at least warm/dry your feet. Use the old food bag as urinal if needed so you do not have to go outside.
You covered all of the best tips, Luke, however I discovered on a recent cold weather trip to Shenandoah NP that a heavy mil contractor bag can also help in the retention of heat. I've also used my military poncho over my sleeping bag. Almost any additional layer of cloth such as a shemagh helps. Hell, I used my VW car cover while camping at Sherando Lake near the AT. It was large enough to wrap myself almost three times and I stayed toasty warm all night long.
Sleeping pad. (barrier between ground is where the cold comes from) layer up and throw a bottle of boiled water in a sock and put it at your feet. That's all there is too it. I've slept in the middle of the Forrest in -25C with no tent like this no problem.
I use my work van for camping . I have 2 100 amp hour battery's charged off of the alternator with a small electric heater . Futon mattress , lots of blankets , pillow and barfy and I'm good to go !
When I knew it would be really cold I would keep a Snicker bar near me and eat it if I wake up in the night because of the cold. Digestion creates a good amount of heat and the energy absorbed helps as well. This was a common tactic among us PCT hikers.
Yup. Another tactical used by some people is to drink alcohol, thinking this will warm them. Even it that doesn't work. I'll think the same think about Snickers, which contain much sugar, and will create an up and down glycemic rate, creating a cold after several minutes (depending of people).
As always thanks for the vid! I recently hiked @50 miles of the Ga AT. Hammock and shelters. My 40 degree quilts were not quite enough. Added a insulated pad and a 2GoSystem Bivy and was warm even in the hammock with 20 mph plus winds in the mid 30’s.
Made my bivy bag from tyvek, it is used for house wrap and is breathable and waterproof. Keeping synthetic clothes on next to your body will help. No cotton next to your skin when freezing out. Wool socks and a wool hat will help greatly.
Another great video. Something I do is drape a survival blanket over my bag to help reflect any lost heat. I also like to put a couple of "hot hands" in my bag a few minutes before I get in. When I do it's nice and warm. A couple more in the middle of the night helps. Take care. Happy camping. Bruce
Great advice, especially the socks and hat at night. A Scout leader from my sons’ Boy Scout Troop suggested to use Reflectix on top of my sleeping pad. I use it when I’m in my tent or in my hammock. Makes a big difference. Haven’t been cold since.
Funny thing. I've never used a bivy, and from what I've seen and read, it more often than not leads to a very wet situation with all the moisture getting trapped inside the bivy. I'd imagine this would also happen with sleeping in your rain gear. I also don't ever use, or specifically rely on the hot water bottle trick, because I've seen someone do that and the bottle leaked. You're simply not going to get that bag and sleeping pad dry in the field in winter if that happens. I keep it simple and stupid; a warmer than needed sleeping bag and pad, lots of food and extra clothes. A brief exercise before bed is a good tip as well. I also reluctantly get out of my bag and shelter, if my bladder so decides. I read that your body uses up a lot of energy keeping that liquid warm, so it's best to just let it out. You also see the most beautiful night skies when you take a quick break outside. A dedicated pee bottle is an option.
Rake up a bunch of dry grass or leafs and stuff them under your tent or sleeping bag and mat for additional insulation from the cold ground. Hot rocks in socks or a towel inside the tent and sleeping bag. I really love Hot Hands 18 hour body warmers! Toss two in the foot of your bag and one or two mid chest and you'll feel like a backed potato wrapped in foil! They are a good, light back up if you find your bag is not quite warm enough.
sadly the extension cord would overheat due to how much electricity flowing through and basically blow up for lack of better terms. you would have to get a huge giant extension cord wire and downsize it as necessary. ( i know this was a joke just thought if anyone was curious why people dont do this. this is why haha.)
I really like having my Army Surplus Goretex bivy when I sleep in my hammock. It blocks any breezes and extends the temp of my bag as well. Maybe not the lightest bivy, but it is so bulletproof that I could go to ground if things went sideways on me. I have slept in my hammock in 19 degree weather and been as cozy as could be.
@@edwhite6574 I use my Army Surplus bivy year round. In the winter I usually keep my head inside of it and have just a small spot of condensation about the size of a 50 cent piece where I breathe. I can deal with that.
Two things I always bring that weigh hardly anything for cold weather are down booties and a down hood . Those booties have kept my feet warm when VERY thick socks would not . My down hoodie over a beanie and my head is warm all night !! Foot and hand warmers help , and wear gloves to bed sometimes . The #1 most important thing for a good NIGHT'S sleep , the ALL important piss jug just outside your bag tween you and the tent wall !!!! Found a truck window shade/ screen at a Dollar store and always have it when it will be below 40 Deg , super lightweight .
Winter camping is my favourite! I'm trying a fishnet base layer for the first time soon. I use the Wiggy two bag system, two sleeping pads, unco candel lantern in my Snugpack Scorpion 3 tent. I do wear little booties in my tent. I'm as warm as a bug in a rug! The lantern will add some heat. Just be sensible not let it touch the tent. I used the MSS, but holds moisture, and breaks down like other synthetics, and got colder , and colder. So, I went to Wiggy bags, and shazam! I'm in Roanoke VA, but grew up in Rochester N.Y. and camped in the winter there. Winter camping is my favourite!
One of the best purchases you can make is a Pendleton or Hudson’s Bay blanket. You can use it at home as a throw, in a sleeping bag for an extra ten degrees. I have several. Have had one for fifty years.
i plan on going motocamping sometime next year maybe and i actually have poor circulation in my feet. i purchased an electronic hand warming device and just turn it on and throw it at the bottom of my sleeping bag. it has an automatic shutoff timer so it doesn't exceed a certain temperature or duration. its small, rechargeable and reusable leaving no waste and gets pretty warm.
Wool blankets are great both under, over or inside a sleeping bag. Instead of a ground mat I always use a think layer of pine branches, dry grass or leaves.
Empty bladder and a full belly. We always used a large rock heated by the fire and wrapped in a towel (just make sure the rock is dry as wet ones crack / split) Snickers or some peanut m&ms before bed are my snack for a warm night
Bivvy + 40 degree bag + poncho liner + pad Instead of a bivvy, you can use one of those survival/emer blankets. There'll just be more condensation if you're a mouth breather.
Some good tips here Luke. I have always used British ex army bivi & sleeping bags, have slept out in -15 and still been warm. I disagree with eating before bed though, can cause a sleepless night and I would never recommend cheese before bed either. I must buy a fleece liner though, they look good.
Great advice! I'd add another. If you're tent camping, get a snow liner or make one out of an old cotton sheet. I spent a miserable winter night on Mt. Rainier because my breath froze onto the nylon of my tent. Every time there was a gust of wind, the resulting ice particles fell down on me. Cotton will absorb that moisture. It'll also add an addition layer that may make your tent slightly warmer.
Heated rocks in your tent and sleeping bag can help too. Just make sure to cover them if they are too hot so as not to melt the tent or sleeping bag. 5 hours is more than sufficient to heat rocks....js
Lynda Payne , Thanks Lynda I’ve owned a space blanket since I was a youngster in the scouts . I’ve heard of using it as a ground cloth but have not tried it only as a blanket. I’ll check it out soon.
I use a large lightweight foil mat that covers the whole of the inside of my tent. This means I can sit in the tent without losing heat through the ground, and also means I do not need an insulated sleep pad. Costs around £6 ($8) and weighs around 200g (7oz) but takes up a little room. It could probably be used as a groundsheet but I'm not sure how durable it would be, I just stick with my tents groundsheet.
I use a military stretcher as a cot to raise myself off the ground. Then a sleeping laid below me, then on top of that I get inside another sleeping bag. Warm layers of clothing, like he said. Warm 3 season tent. A variety of stretches will get me warm without breaking a sweat. Everything else is already covered in his video. One last thing, more labor intensive, but if you really needed more heat, you can also experiment with creating a small tunnel under your tent, cover it with sticks and debris, place the tent on top of that, Have fires with embers at each end of the tunnel on two sides of the tent. They feed warmth to the tunnel below where you are sleeping and the heat radiates upward.
Now this is what I like to see a review. Telling people how to use the things they have. That may not have the money to go out here and buy the real good stuff. Because as we all know we first start out we don't buy the good stuff, because we don't know if it really like the camping the hiking and backpacking. This is one of the better reviews I've seen on any channel and a long time. Hope you make a lot more like this.
I’ve used body warmers (similar to hand warmers) throw two in your sleeping bag keeps you warm most of the night...... really cold nights I’ve put Mylar emergency blanket around my inflatable sleeping pad with body warmers...... seems like a wast but it dose work
In COLD weather I always sleep with a thick, fluffy wool cap! Or just wrap my head in a fluffy wool scarf. You loose 30% of your body heat via the uncovered head! Some soft, fluffy wool socks are a must too! I've slept out at ZERO DEGREES! And been warm and comfortable all night.
I have spent extended time outdoors, weeks and even months and some of that was in spring and fall. You touched on most subjects. One that , I feel, you did not emphasize enough,, you lose far more heat to the ground than you do to the air. In cooler or colder situations,, first, you must have good insulation from the ground. A pad, a self inflator,, a wool blanket,,or I always when possible set the tent where it is on leaves or grass. And that very definitely includes raking dry leaves or grass into the space I am about to set the tent on. An excellent ground cloth/ tent bottom protector under the tent is wonderful. Wool. There is no substitute for wool in cold weather camping. There is no, zero, zippo, man made fiber that can equal wool. Now,, there are many types of wool. And one of them will be right for you. Swiss Army blankets are rabbit, raccoon, sheep's wool, lambs wool. and they are so dense you could bounce bullets off of them. You want ultra comfy sleeping? Wear a cashmere sweater to bed. I keep a cashmere sweater in with the sleeping bag and wool blanket in the dry bag. I do not just camp in the cooler weather I canoe. Along those same lines,, wool socks and the best of the best of wool socks are bison down socks. Merino wool, lambs wool,, angora, cashmere, alpaca,bison, yak,,, lots of good choices. This past spring for 6 weeks and 600 miles, I used a 25 dollar Walmart sleeping bag Which was often just underneath me. (Cheap enough to be disposable.) A king sized flannel sheet ( you can double it) , a wool blanket, and a self inflating ground pad,,, Oh yes,, and two comfy pillows with flannel pillow cases. (I AM a wuss.) Wear the bison down socks and the cashmere sweater to bed,,, slept like a baby,, right down to single digits at 6,000 elevation. Wool. Everything you mentioned is spot on. Double bags, bivy, wear your clothes to bed,, good high calorie eating, exercise, wind shirt,, all of it perfect. Just add wool.
There is only one thing better than wool. It is called climashield. As awesome as wool is climashield is even more awesome. It does everything wool does but 5 times better. Not joking here. Climashield is a continuous filament fiber. You can completely soak a sleeping bag made from climashield or lamilite, go to sleep and in the morning be completely dry. Wool takes beyond forever to dry out should it get wet. Believe me I love my wool but am very open to change when better comes along.
@@lakrabid Thank you !! I am going to look into Climashield. I love stuff that works. The one I suggest to you are the bison wool socks. Whole new ball game. Paddling a canoe through rapids you are kneeling in water. You may have launched that morning wet foot. For weeks my feet have been in wet socks and sneakers all day,, and no discomfort. (Pruney but warm) Trade to the dry pair to sleep. Just 2 pair for six weeks. Swap each evening. Rinse and repeat as they say.
A small Parabolic gas heater but a End to all my Cold winter camping problems. Rubber 500ml hot water bottle. Western Mountaineering Antelope sleeping bag. fleecy hat,pants and liner. I have done -25 comfortable, but the Parabolic was the game changer!!! heats the tent up in 1 second.
Late addition, but from my Army days in Alaska in the late 80s (using pre-Goretex issue gear that was designed in the mid-50s, after Korea) that keeping your head and feet warm went a LONG ways towards keeping you warm enough to get the rest you need. The issue balaclava was a three layer wool and Thinsulate garment that was uncharacteristically excellent for something issued by the Army, despite being blue in color. Blue?? Weird. For me, it was actually TOO warm for most of the day during winter exercises (I used a thin polypro beanie in the same blue color under my helmet for all but the coldest temps). But it was great for sleeping. As to my feet, the issue Arctic Mittens worn like slippers in the bottom of the bag were perfect. They also looked like gorilla feet, which was fun, and when you're trying to extract some sleep out of your gear at -30 or -40F, you need all the fun you can get. ;)
What size do you prefer? I am guessing I would wrap with newspaper, old towel ? maybe the challenge is cooking the stone a bit but not enough to burn you or the gear. I do know any rock submerged in a lake etc. or totally saturated with water will crack possibly shooting off shards of shrapnel...not a nice sleeping buddy. Warning please. don't try it with a closed can of beans either then it become something similar to burning napalm on your skin. a dry rock or bag of rocks? should do the trick :)
Thank you for all the tips and tricks. I’m a van driver so I stay traveling. I don’t like to leave the van turned on while I sleep. I wear the thermal thick socks to sleep. My sleeping bag is 20°. Thank you for recommending the sleeping bag liner! I will be purchasing that ASAP. As for a mat or something underneath me I have a twin air mattress a thick blanket over it then my sleeping bag and a blanket on top of that. Best sleep I ever got even tho the weather is -9
I take a fleece and put it over my face while in my bag and this keeps my face warm and helps with the air you breath by keeping a warm air pocket over your face. Also a poncho liner in the bag or a quilt over it works great. Thanks for your great info.
Very good advice! I use an army mountain bag with liner & 4 lb poly filled denim bag as needed. I've slept in 15° snow wearing shorts & a tee shirt up to 85° on the beach at Rocky Point with a reflective Mylar over film. In both cases i used a mini dome tent (3'x5' + sock). Gives you room to store your gear & company.😁
1. A bag rated 40°, a liner rated 50°, wow my system is up to 90°! 😄 2. I tried all these methods at once, on a summer night. I think I caught fire. 😁 3. Bring the dogs. I heard once that a three dog night was when it was so cold that it took three dogs lying on top to keep you warm. Probably some Alaskan sledding folklore.
Combining sleeping bags with a quilt on top is great. Also a viable option when hammock camping where you can just use your underquilt over topquilt. An inner VBL is a good idea if using an external bivvy bag, otherwise there’s gonna be loads of condensation in your bag. You feel clammy yes but it’s a good tip to stay warm from alpinists
Thanks for your Video Brother ..I stay here in Southern Ohio where the temps can be down in the Single Digits sometimes So I have to be Very Prepared for all kinds of crazy Elements .I have a Military Bivy System that is good for -20 But I also have a Mommy Bag that is good for 10 degrees Fahrenheit I can Use this system for any kind of Cold weather..As a Marine you always need to be prepared for anything especially the elements of Cold weather...I have also made very cheap tents into 4 season tents as well...As long as I'm ready for anything I can at least eliminate the fear Factor..Luke it's always a pleasure to see your videos Keep them Coming Brother Semper Fi
Luke, you are a class above others. I have watched many snow camping tips vid on youtube, tryig to prepare myself for my 1st upcoming snow camping trip. Yours by far is the best. Straight to the point, precise and just pure simple straight to the point info. Thx man.
Excellent video! Very thorough with lots of great points that work. A couple of small hand warmers and a simple space blanket fully opened and draped over your sleeping bag can make a world of difference when the temp drops more than expected. I used this for years while bicycle touring, The space blanket and hand warmers take up almost no space at all and most hand warmers last all night. I also used a dual bag system, Just a couple of Marmot Bags that fit well together. The Aspen Minimalist 40 and the Aspen 55, together I was comfy down to about 20 degrees.
I find on the colder trips, I'm always reaching for the black bag and the Gore tex bivy. Which oddly enough the black bag fits perfect in the Teton Sports UL -18C bag stuff sack.. If temps are going to be like -20Celsius I'll take the -18 bag as well. Great vid thanks Cool Hand
The wool army blanket is a classic. You won't find them on the shelf at Walmart but you can order them thru Walmart's website. They range from 70%, 80% to 100% wool. An 80% wool 66" by 90" blanket can be ordered for $25. Nice extender for a sleeping bag. 100% wool blankets get much more expensive but you get what you pay for.
Love this! I'm taking some friends winter camping for the first time this weekend and we're expecting a low of about 5 degrees when we were originally planning for about 20. It's reassuring to know that we already had the right tricks up our sleeves, and I picked up a couple of other good ideas as well (like eating fat and doing some jumping jacks just before bed). Thanks!
I have a tip for keeping warm - Make sure to empty your bladder before bed. Nothing is worse than having to get up out of the sleeping bag in the middle of the night when its freezing cold.
Empty stomach full stomach, zero difference. I do alternate day fasting. I camp all of the time. Tried the warm water technique. Bottle ends up cold and you freeze. Things that I've found that actually work: wear a hoodie. heat from your back goes up to your head. Use a liner. Put one sleeping bag within a bigger sleeping bag (This works by far the best). Insulate from the ground. And finally, wear heated clothes. If I ever wake up cold I set my heated vest for low and I've got 8 hours of a heated vest and another backup battery for another 8 hours.
Go to a sewing shop and buy you some fleece material and make you a "taco" liner for your bag. It is light weight and really warm and you can get it in several weights or thicknesses. Buy enough length to fold it to cover you from head to toe and sew the bottom together so your feet will not slip out.
Couldn’t agree more about the sleeping pad. It literally makes the difference of freezing your butt off and being extremely comfortable. SOL bivy is an excellent wrap
I bypassed sleeping bag, and mainly use mountainbag (jerven fjellduk) with the extreme reactor liner these days. Works excellent around -10 C. With a 8R sleeping pad.
best combo.. and just used this up at Doughton area during the ice.. Sleeping bad.. ECWS system the Army issued me.. but the key..is a simple .99Cent item.. Windshield solar reflector from Dollar Tree.. I always keep one with my system. Place it between the Bivy and your sleeping bag. This will keep the cold from the ground reflected away and your own body heat reflected back onto your body. Used this for years.. Camping Hammock companies caught onto this and now offer a insert for like $80.00 it's the same thing as what I use.
If you don’t have a water bottle to warm up you can use rocks. Smooth creek stones work well. Place them near the fire, not in it. Then wrap them in a shirt and place in your bag. Also don’t cover your mouth with your bag. Excessive moisture will build up in your bag. It’s been spitting snow all morning here in Madison Co.
Stoke the furnace! I finally understand this after doing more cold weather hiking in recent years. I never skip a decent evening meal in cold weather...
My bull terrier burrows to the bottom of the sleeping bag making an excellent heating system with the only slight drawback being she often needs some encouragement to come out which involves upending the sleeping bag 😁 haha
There's a lot to that. Native Americans slept with their feet aimed towards a campfire. Feet warm, the rest of you stays fairly warm. Also a cap. Since most body heat dissipates from the top, wearing a cap, like a Navy watch cap, helps a lot.
I've done the duel sleeping bag combo. It works.... mostly.... if you're hammock camping you should still bring an under quilt or an extra, thick blanket to lay under you.
Very good video. Very good advice. I, personally, go to bed inside of the sleeping bag with my jacket snow skiing pants and everything else on besides all the advice that you were talking in this video. That makes a very good difference in comparison to my previous backpacking trips when I used to get undressed and we’re only the undergarments. I also customize my sleeping bags depending on what I think it takes to mix them be warmer for the style of backpacking trip that I’m going to. Like you said earlier, use the appropriate sleeping bag for the appropriate weather that you’re going to being in it in your backpack and trip. For example, I add a layer of prima loft in the upper panel of the sleeping bag the cover from my chin all the way down to my genitals. I make sure that it wraps around me to cover all the way under my both arms. I also apply some surgery on the operating lower panel of the sleeping bags by adding an emergency blanket inside of each panel but make perforations on it before I put it inside to make sure I get some breathability for the vapors of my body to escape. I have never tried The sleeping bag liner but I am thinking to give it a try. I am also from North Carolina and hope that, maybe one day, will encounter you in the trail. God bless you.
I'd always go for extra layers of clothing, mainly thermals, and something to cover your neck as that releases heat as bad as your head, I find. But the hot water bottle or stones heated in a fire then wrap in socks as an addition if needed.
Good pointers for the most part. I tend to disagree with anything likely to trap moisture in (bivvy or rain clothes) but the rest I have found useful. When sleeping on snow or ice I have found the second pad to be the most helpful of the techniques here. I carry a closed cell pad to put underneath my Thermarest for situations like that and it seems to help a lot. The second pad is bulky so it usually ends up strapped on the outside of my backpack but the weight it isn't too bad.
it wasnt to many years ago , we had no clue about bivys . but i luckily had a very wise grandpa . we used foam ground pads , with a heavy wool blanket , all of it wrapped up in a simple tarp . sleeping bags were mil surplus extreme cold bags . i used that setup for many years , until i finally bought 2 different weight wiggys sleeping bags and a wiggys ground pad and bivy . ie havent slept cold for over 45 years . no matter where i camped or in temps from -35f to 50f degrees
I pack heavy camping normally involves hunting with my 9 year old son so there is a truck load of gear. We use a big tent and cots with sleep pads on top of them and down bags cheap cotton lines just to keep our bags clean. If things get too cold I cheat and light a catalytic heater in the tent. No need to worry about ventilation or CO they last 10-12 hours on one small bottle and use gas slow enough they don’t produce a lot of condensation.
get yourself a canadian military cold weather parka,the old olive drab one,add this with all the trick you have,those parka are almost a sleeping bag in itself and they breath well
Excellent video, as usual. I love your backpacking tips series. You forgot to mention one thing that you've said in a few other videos before: put some hand warmers into your socks when going to sleep. I have not tried this trick yet, but I will :) My favorite is also the hot bottle in the sleeping bag! What a difference this makes. For the Winter, I'm combining a -10 C down bag and a -8 C synthetic bag. I sleep very cold, and even though the -10 should theoretically be OK, it is nowhere near warm enough for me.
@@marnieloken7814 I've been using this trip for some time now, and I'm always amazed at how long the bottle stays hot. I think maybe 6 hours at least. :)
Just use a towel or blanket inside the bag. Liners are excellent! Eating before bed is not going to provide extra warmth. The food that was eating on the prior day is going to do that.
Actually you don't need to go up in elevation as the countryside is not as warm as a town. The tarmac, concrete etc traps heat in cities/towns as well as other sources of heat which the countryside does not have.
I was up on the hill with a 40-degree bag, sweater, sweatpants, the whole nine yards. You know what I forgot? A good pair of socks. And all that extra warmth was defeated buy cold feet. Thankfully, I knew about the hot water trick and I had a stainless steel bottle. That fixed it for a while. I was able to sleep okay until the wee hours of the morning. The whole moral of the story is that your feet are the number one thing you should insulate first. If your feet are cold so goes the rest.
I have a big mylar 'bubble wrap' envelop that I got as packing material. It goes outside my sleeping bag, but inside my bivvy and just covers my feet. that helps a ton. Also, common sense, but go into the bag DRY. if you sweat at all during the day, get your clothes dry, or change into dry ones before you get in the bag. Seems obvious, but too few folks do this.
Nice video, just an addendum regarding sleepingbags: generally, you should wear as little as possible in a sleeping bag, since the bags are usually better at retaining and reflecting heat, so by putting on clothes, you reduce effectiveness. If your bag is ill fitted for the temperatures tho, then ofc put on clothes
I personally found out, that it is crucial in winter, to put a foam mat (R-Value around 2) ON TOP of the inflatable mat, allthough the inflatable mat might also have a good R-Value of let's say 3 or 4. This definitely is way warmer to the body, since the foam mat contains less air to warm up and reflects better than every air mat... try it out! but make sure, to keep your inflatable mat safe with some ground sheet below from sticks or sharp objects.
![Vapour Barrier Liners ( VBL ) Part 2: Sleeping bags and foam pads in Alaska's extreme cold. [4K]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mTP1ZcPXn8Q/mqdefault.jpg)
![ทุกครั้งที่หลับตา (Lucid Dream) - AYLA's [ Official MV ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4i1OBAQyv58/mqdefault.jpg)
Everyone, how was your Thanksgiving? Great I certainly hope.
Another Adventure is coming up on Friday, get ready for some ICE!
- Luke
TheOutdoorGearReview Luke, outstanding material. I learned alot of this the hard way. I grew up a woods kid and eventually made my way into the military. Unfortunately the military passes alot of bad information to its infantrymen with regards to living outdoors. Bad info has a way of replicating itself and people never learn the right way. Im out now but I hope your platform can make its way out to future infantrymen to learn how to live outdoors the right way and save themselves untold grief. Thanks for all you do.
Luke,
I have used the military sleep system you showed here, with a standard green military sleep pad, a woobie, (aka poncho liner), and my clothes stuffed around me while wearing just a base layer. Did this all on a concrete pad in Korea along the DMZ while the temp got down to -17*. I found I had to wake up two or three times a night to "vent" open my kit for a few mins to prevent sweating/over heating. Point is that mil system is amazing. In fact the bivy and the patrol bag along with the woobie is all I ever used in Europe even through snowfalls. It works that well.
Cheers Brother and best of luck to your lil' Warrior as she starts her career in the Navy.
(GO ARMY, BEAT NAVY) ;) (Sorry old habits die hard)
Thanks for what you do
-DA
Had a Very Nice Thanksgiving here in Southern Ohio Luke ..Made my Famous Homemade Southern Turkey Dressing n all the Fixings Lol ..I hope you n your Beautiful Family had a Blessed Turkey day my Brother Semper Fi
How about heating up stones in the fire?
Luke!
What are your favorite products of the gear types you've mentioned?
Bivis, liners, etc.
I am only 5'6" and have used the military sleep system since my days in the Marines. While stationed at NAS Keflavik Iceland I learned to put my next days clothes in the bottom of my sleeping bag, to take up the extra space which helps keep my feet from getting cold and as an added benefit I am able to put on warm clothes in the morning.
Not in the military but I do this also.
Friends thought it seemed silly, bit it makes a difference!
You must have smelled Great Private Foot Fungus!!
Jf Mc at least im warm sarnt
Lucky you. I'm 6'2", most "long" gear is barely big enough for me
The military sleep system has kept me warm and dry while buried in snow many times
Many a cold nights I bring my ol golden retriever in the bag with me and it's like havin an electronic blanket
It must be a large bag
@@randonneurUK Ya it is he's a fat boy like me. It's a double bag and if it's really cold I have a liner I use. It's a heavy bag but it works for me
I use a german shepherd
@@cassandralesh8536
Can't beat a German Shepherd. Funny part is when He is talking to His Canine friends He is saying He was USING YOU to stay warm.
This old man used to go on Boy Scout camporees during the winter in Wisconsin, back in the 60's, when I was a kid. We took canvas tents, heavy sleeping bags, and bales of straw on home-built sleds. We tied two sticks together in an X shape to bury in the snow at the corners of the tent, tied the corners of the tent to those sticks, then packed snow on top. We spread the straw under the tents for warm bedding. I stayed warm all night long, sleeping with that system. It was old school, yet, it worked for us.
I'm surprised you missed this one - if you're lucky enough to have an air mattress then wrap your extra (preferably wool) blanket around the air mattress rather than putting it over you. The air in the mattress will warm up and give you a warm layer under you instead of the cold ground. I'm such a believer in army poncho liners that I have one in every room of my house and in my car - wrapping up in a poncho liner inside of your bag, plus socks keeps you amazingly warm!
I once woke up so cold and I desperately had to pee. It was around -20°C (-4 F). Yes, I peed in my nalgene water bottle and cuddled with it. Never slept any better. No joke.
"improvise, adapt, overcome, survive " ;)
paper juice containers are great too
OK... I think was clever
Jad Lteif lmao! That’s funny
"No joke?" "C'mom man?" Are you some sort of "Dog-faced Pony-soldier?" "Let's do some pushups?" "Uh... uh... uh... you know, the thing?"
Another great tip that an experienced outdoorsman here in Canada taught me is to not just eat before bed but every time you wake up in the night to take a bite or two of a high calorie snack (he suggested pound or fruit caked).
Thanks for the video! Keep Moving Forward!
Wool blanket, Mylar sheet, and an thermal sleeping bag liner, those things can add upwards of 20 degrees to a bag. Long jhons will help even more and add a few extra degrees.
A good pair of wool Sox really makes a huge difference if your feet are cold
I've used my car windshield reflector as a bottom pad and it works very well.
That is a good idea, I have done that, not for myself, but for my dog.
I cut the reflector the right size and a folded 3 dollar fleece plaid on top for cozyness and cushion. dog loves it.
There is plenty of gear out there for people, but there really isnt enough gear for dogs, at least I feel like.
but that is a recipe on a pad for a dog that works well. and doesnt take up that much space in your backpack and doesnt weigh a lot.
The fleece plaid which you can fold or cut to the right size depending on how much cushion you want the dog to have, but 1-2 layers of plaid is probably enough though I havent cut mine up, but I probably will cut down to 2 layers to save space and roll them in together with the reflective pad to save more space.
all in all doesnt take that much space, weighs very little. :)
I spent a winter on the streets in southern Oregon and I was lucky enough to have a military sleep system and pad. (I now own two) and never spent a minute in a tent. If it rained I got under shelter or made a lean to with a small tarp I carried but when it didn't I slept anywhere I wouldn't be bothered. You can sleep on frozen lake ice if you have that pad. Military gear is the shit. My local army navy store is better than Disneyland.
Glad you mentioned the importance of sleeping pads. In my experience cold ground will suck the heat out of you much more than cold air. Adding a cheap closed cell foam pad to my sleep system was the best investment I made.
When I was in the Army I would climb in the bag, then take off my outer layers of clothes. This made sure I was warm when I got in the sack, and also in the morning my clothes would be warm when I put them on. Worked great.
You nailed it with eating before bed. Cheese in particular is a great option for two reasons. One, as you stated, the fat content of the cheese, but secondly the kind of protein in cheese is casein. Casein is a slow digesting protein. I use a casein protein and peanut/almond butter before bed to continue to burn calories when I'm not out in the field. Another thing you can add to your kit is a spicy seasoning mix or spices. You can use it to make a broth before bed and drink that while you eat something or you can even add it to the meal. Great work Luke!
Oatmeal is another good night/morning food because it's also slow-burning energy
Surely that will lead to nightmares? Then you wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of no where. Better to add a bottle of wine with the cheese.
I think this is the third time I've watched this video and the advice/information is sound. Experience is the best teacher and obviously Luke has years of it. I've been hiking and camping since I was 10 years old growing up in the woods of Ohio. My first sleeping bag was a wool blanket that my mom sewed together. It kept me warm in the fall and into early winter. When temperatures dropped I would wrap the wool blanket with my dad's military poncho, one he picked up in the Korean Conflict. During a couple of outings I did the aforementioned and then slid into large garbage bags. My parents taught me how to layer clothing to help stay warm. My grandmother taught me how to wrap a hot water bottle and to keep it near my feet, something I never did when camping as the hot water bottles back then were rather heavy empty. Gramma lived in an old shack in the South Carolina woods that was heated by a wood-burning stove. Sometimes she would allow me to sleep with one or two of her Beagles she raised for hunters. Talk about warmth. Luke is right in finding the best sleeping bag you can afford and make it the base of your sleep system. I've added an under $20 bivy sack to my bag and I can lie in snow and sleep well in it alone. Bearhard and SOL (green one that breathes) sell the best ones...in my opinion.
I sleep cold. A zero degree bag is effective to only about 20 degrees for me. I use the US MSS. For pads in the winter I use Klymit X-Frame + a 3\4 length 15-year-old Thermarest pad. They go in the bivy. Underneath that I use a space sportsman's blanket silver side up. I have tested that combination to zero F. It works. Also I carry some toe warmers to use on cold spots. For me it's my shoulders. To keep my feet warm at night I make sure to allow an inch or 2 of space between the end of my toes and the sock. Of course I change into dry socks for sleeping
Daughter always uses a woodland MSS without complaint, typically in 20 to 30° weather. Because I'm 6'3" - 215 lbs, I had to come up with something different. I use a Coleman Big Basin (that fits into an MSS compression sack rather easily) combined with a 2Gosystems Trifecta V3 XL bivy. Perfect fit, no clothes needed. Of course, we cuddle with our own USMC woobies too, and several inflatable pillows. Reflective blanket, orange side down, under our tent (Clostnature 2 person, 3 season, dual door) and Klymit V2 3/4 pads in between our bivy and sleeping bags. Toasty.
A space blanket on the ground, with the shiny side up helps.
A hot water bottle, inside the bag helps. It can be a Nalgene bottle.
Extra clothing, stuffed in the footbox helps too.
Some years back, camping in Northern Wisconsin late October I just couldn't seem to get warm, good gear, experience, it had been snowing, freezing rain,high winds,much fun lol. Hiked to a tavern they are in the strangest of places. Bought 2lbs of bacon had her cook me a lb ate it ,got back to camp ate another lb warmed right up! Bottom line is that bacon is survivalist food!
Bacon is life.
Feeling pretty fortunate that TH-cam recommended you.
I love this channel. No lame techs background music, no instagram shots screaming for attention. No white girls with leggings and a “puffy”. Just straight up information.
Great overview thank you. I'm expanding my gear every year, I'm not all that bent on winter camping. I got nothing to prove, I'm 58 and have done much. But I started camping last year again after 10 years not doing it. But I love it. Thanks Luke your an inspiration to those who are renewing the vow to the outdoors, or venturing out for the first time. Great job.
J. Partick Patterson
Virginia Beach, VA
I have an Enlightened Equipment Enigma 20 degree. If it gets too cold to use just that, I layer it with military issue zippered poncho liner as the outer most layer, the Enigma quilt inside that, and a Sea To Summit sleeping bag liner as the inner layer. Even with the three layers, its a fairly lightweight sleep system for backpacking. The whole system comes in just under 50 ounces.
A wool blanket is awesome, two of them are heaven....!
Amen I double one up and put it under my pad and then double one up and drop it on top of my sleeping bag
This is a video on backpacking. Two wool blankets weigh about 12 pounds.
Justin Baker ok. You freeze...I’ll pack a little extra weight...!
@@rickbiggssr.2450 Or you carry an extra pound of sleeping bag instead of twelve pounds of wool.
Ok boomer.
All terrific ideas. I also love to throw a 12-hour exothermic hot pack in the foot box of my sleeping bag at dinner time so that it’s toasty by bedtime. A clean rock heated next to a fire (not IN the fire) and wrapped in a non-synthetic material also works. Another idea is to fill “dead space” in your bag with extra clothes (if clean) or a blanket. It gives you warm layers to put on in the morning too. Lastly, if you are woman of a certain age, a well-timed hot flash is pretty great.
A hot rock I like that idea.
I found that keeping your bladder empty actually helps keep you warmer. The science behind it is that your body uses a lot of heat to keep a full bladder at 98.6F.
Also instead of a purpose made sleeping bag liner, I got a fleece blanket super cheap and just used safety pins to make it part of my sleeping bag. Added 10F+ to the bag.
Good tips Luke and thanks for making all these awesome videos. One tip I picked up from you a while back is double socks with hand warmers between the layers. One warmer for each foot. Do not place directly on the skin. This trick also works great. Thanks again.
Hot water bottle inside the sleeping bag is key and often overlooked providing warmth, temperature gradient drying the inner bag by moisture transfer out, keeping your water source from freezing. YES - bottle must be no spill/leaks and fullproof/foolproof trustworthy. Dedicated sleepwear and simply just footwear is another one of my favorites... Footwear examples can be oversized loose fitting heavy socks to insulated liners or slipper-like booties. Always a tough one is your own breathing creating condensation buildup and turning to frost... note that some degree ventilation is still desirable. It is also possible to use a radiator-type balaclava to breath warmer air in, blow less vapor out, while at the same time not using the extra bits of energy to warm the air you take in. What I like about this video is right from the get-go you say get the gear you need. As you go on to relate: it may not be affordable, or last minute you did not find it available and adequately tested. I feel the last pieces of kit that should be mentioned is a small, stable, easy to use cartridge or canister stove to hot box or take edge off inside the tent like a jetboil (use caution and smarts) and a more dependable version of a space blanket can also be useful. If freeze dried meals in a bag are on the menu... never waist that heat and at least warm/dry your feet. Use the old food bag as urinal if needed so you do not have to go outside.
You covered all of the best tips, Luke, however I discovered on a recent cold weather trip to Shenandoah NP that a heavy mil contractor bag can also help in the retention of heat. I've also used my military poncho over my sleeping bag. Almost any additional layer of cloth such as a shemagh helps. Hell, I used my VW car cover while camping at Sherando Lake near the AT. It was large enough to wrap myself almost three times and I stayed toasty warm all night long.
Sleeping pad. (barrier between ground is where the cold comes from) layer up and throw a bottle of boiled water in a sock and put it at your feet. That's all there is too it. I've slept in the middle of the Forrest in -25C with no tent like this no problem.
I use my work van for camping . I have 2 100 amp hour battery's charged off of the alternator with a small electric heater . Futon mattress , lots of blankets , pillow and barfy and I'm good to go !
When I knew it would be really cold I would keep a Snicker bar near me and eat it if I wake up in the night because of the cold. Digestion creates a good amount of heat and the energy absorbed helps as well. This was a common tactic among us PCT hikers.
Yup. Another tactical used by some people is to drink alcohol, thinking this will warm them. Even it that doesn't work. I'll think the same think about Snickers, which contain much sugar, and will create an up and down glycemic rate, creating a cold after several minutes (depending of people).
@@dupondavignon869 If I eat too much before bed I have crazy dreams.
As always thanks for the vid! I recently hiked @50 miles of the Ga AT. Hammock and shelters. My 40 degree quilts were not quite enough. Added a insulated pad and a 2GoSystem Bivy and was warm even in the hammock with 20 mph plus winds in the mid 30’s.
Made my bivy bag from tyvek, it is used for house wrap and is breathable and waterproof. Keeping synthetic clothes on next to your body will help. No cotton next to your skin when freezing out. Wool socks and a wool hat will help greatly.
Another great video. Something I do is drape a survival blanket over my bag to help reflect any lost heat. I also like to put a couple of "hot hands" in my bag a few minutes before I get in. When I do it's nice and warm. A couple more in the middle of the night helps. Take care. Happy camping. Bruce
Great advice, especially the socks and hat at night.
A Scout leader from my sons’ Boy Scout Troop suggested to use Reflectix on top of my sleeping pad.
I use it when I’m in my tent or in my hammock.
Makes a big difference.
Haven’t been cold since.
Funny thing. I've never used a bivy, and from what I've seen and read, it more often than not leads to a very wet situation with all the moisture getting trapped inside the bivy. I'd imagine this would also happen with sleeping in your rain gear. I also don't ever use, or specifically rely on the hot water bottle trick, because I've seen someone do that and the bottle leaked. You're simply not going to get that bag and sleeping pad dry in the field in winter if that happens. I keep it simple and stupid; a warmer than needed sleeping bag and pad, lots of food and extra clothes. A brief exercise before bed is a good tip as well.
I also reluctantly get out of my bag and shelter, if my bladder so decides. I read that your body uses up a lot of energy keeping that liquid warm, so it's best to just let it out. You also see the most beautiful night skies when you take a quick break outside. A dedicated pee bottle is an option.
Rake up a bunch of dry grass or leafs and stuff them under your tent or sleeping bag and mat for additional insulation from the cold ground.
Hot rocks in socks or a towel inside the tent and sleeping bag.
I really love Hot Hands 18 hour body warmers! Toss two in the foot of your bag and one or two mid chest and you'll feel like a backed potato wrapped in foil! They are a good, light back up if you find your bag is not quite warm enough.
I just use an electric blanket and a 45,000 foot extension cord. Or, you can light up some thermite with sparklers.
sadly the extension cord would overheat due to how much electricity flowing through and basically blow up for lack of better terms. you would have to get a huge giant extension cord wire and downsize it as necessary. ( i know this was a joke just thought if anyone was curious why people dont do this. this is why haha.)
@@kylemendes7246 thanks, that was genuinely interesting.:-)
I really like having my Army Surplus Goretex bivy when I sleep in my hammock. It blocks any breezes and extends the temp of my bag as well. Maybe not the lightest bivy, but it is so bulletproof that I could go to ground if things went sideways on me. I have slept in my hammock in 19 degree weather and been as cozy as could be.
Lynn Clark
I second Lynn’s comment on the military bivy.
Are these UK surplus? Do you have to worry about condensation?
Ed White It is US Army surplus. Part of their Modular Sleep System. Never had a condensation issue yet. Somewhat breathable since made from Goretex.
@@emjackdad thank you!
@@edwhite6574 I use my Army Surplus bivy year round. In the winter I usually keep my head inside of it and have just a small spot of condensation about the size of a 50 cent piece where I breathe. I can deal with that.
Two things I always bring that weigh hardly anything for cold weather are down booties and a down hood . Those booties have kept my feet warm when VERY thick socks would not . My down hoodie over a beanie and my head is warm all night !! Foot and hand warmers help , and wear gloves to bed sometimes . The #1 most important thing for a good NIGHT'S sleep , the ALL important piss jug just outside your bag tween you and the tent wall !!!! Found a truck window shade/ screen at a Dollar store and always have it when it will be below 40 Deg , super lightweight .
Winter camping is my favourite! I'm trying a fishnet base layer for the first time soon. I use the Wiggy two bag system, two sleeping pads, unco candel lantern in my Snugpack Scorpion 3 tent. I do wear little booties in my tent. I'm as warm as a bug in a rug! The lantern will add some heat. Just be sensible not let it touch the tent.
I used the MSS, but holds moisture, and breaks down like other synthetics, and got colder , and colder. So, I went to Wiggy bags, and shazam! I'm in Roanoke VA, but grew up in Rochester N.Y. and camped in the winter there. Winter camping is my favourite!
One of the best purchases you can make is a Pendleton or Hudson’s Bay blanket. You can use it at home as a throw, in a sleeping bag for an extra ten degrees. I have several. Have had one for fifty years.
i plan on going motocamping sometime next year maybe and i actually have poor circulation in my feet. i purchased an electronic hand warming device and just turn it on and throw it at the bottom of my sleeping bag. it has an automatic shutoff timer so it doesn't exceed a certain temperature or duration. its small, rechargeable and reusable leaving no waste and gets pretty warm.
Wool blankets are great both under, over or inside a sleeping bag. Instead of a ground mat I always use a think layer of pine branches, dry grass or leaves.
Empty bladder and a full belly.
We always used a large rock heated by the fire and wrapped in a towel (just make sure the rock is dry as wet ones crack / split)
Snickers or some peanut m&ms before bed are my snack for a warm night
Bivvy + 40 degree bag + poncho liner + pad
Instead of a bivvy, you can use one of those survival/emer blankets. There'll just be more condensation if you're a mouth breather.
Some good tips here Luke. I have always used British ex army bivi & sleeping bags, have slept out in -15 and still been warm. I disagree with eating before bed though, can cause a sleepless night and I would never recommend cheese before bed either. I must buy a fleece liner though, they look good.
Eating before bed was the best tip I have gotten for sleeping. Im such a cold sleeper and it totally makes a difference. Thanks so much!!!
Winter here in our NC mountains is my favorite season!👍👍👍👍🙂🙂🙂🙂❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🌨🌨🌨🌨🌨
Great advice! I'd add another. If you're tent camping, get a snow liner or make one out of an old cotton sheet. I spent a miserable winter night on Mt. Rainier because my breath froze onto the nylon of my tent. Every time there was a gust of wind, the resulting ice particles fell down on me. Cotton will absorb that moisture. It'll also add an addition layer that may make your tent slightly warmer.
I'm satisfied that you're a genuine young man . I enjoy watching your videos . Best wishes .
Heated rocks in your tent and sleeping bag can help too. Just make sure to cover them if they are too hot so as not to melt the tent or sleeping bag.
5 hours is more than sufficient to heat rocks....js
A space blanket, shiny side up under my mat helps me. Thanks for the good info. Have used many of your ideas.
Lynda Payne , Thanks Lynda I’ve owned a space blanket since I was a youngster in the scouts . I’ve heard of using it as a ground cloth but have not tried it only as a blanket. I’ll check it out soon.
I found the space blanket on top made me sweaty and cold in the middle of the night.
Space blankets are counterproductive if next to skin with no air space due to conduction. Work great either under pad or on top of bag/quilt.
I use a large lightweight foil mat that covers the whole of the inside of my tent. This means I can sit in the tent without losing heat through the ground, and also means I do not need an insulated sleep pad. Costs around £6 ($8) and weighs around 200g (7oz) but takes up a little room. It could probably be used as a groundsheet but I'm not sure how durable it would be, I just stick with my tents groundsheet.
I use a military stretcher as a cot to raise myself off the ground. Then a sleeping laid below me, then on top of that I get inside another sleeping bag. Warm layers of clothing, like he said. Warm 3 season tent. A variety of stretches will get me warm without breaking a sweat. Everything else is already covered in his video. One last thing, more labor intensive, but if you really needed more heat, you can also experiment with creating a small tunnel under your tent, cover it with sticks and debris, place the tent on top of that, Have fires with embers at each end of the tunnel on two sides of the tent. They feed warmth to the tunnel below where you are sleeping and the heat radiates upward.
Now this is what I like to see a review. Telling people how to use the things they have. That may not have the money to go out here and buy the real good stuff. Because as we all know we first start out we don't buy the good stuff, because we don't know if it really like the camping the hiking and backpacking. This is one of the better reviews I've seen on any channel and a long time. Hope you make a lot more like this.
"frost cloth" from your gardening is very very light.....wrap your sleep system in frost cloth...... this will rock your world.....yup....(just a tip)
I’ve used body warmers (similar to hand warmers) throw two in your sleeping bag keeps you warm most of the night...... really cold nights I’ve put Mylar emergency blanket around my inflatable sleeping pad with body warmers...... seems like a wast but it dose work
In COLD weather I always sleep with a thick, fluffy wool cap! Or just wrap my head in a fluffy wool scarf. You loose 30% of your body heat via the uncovered head!
Some soft, fluffy wool socks are a must too!
I've slept out at ZERO DEGREES! And been warm and comfortable all night.
I have spent extended time outdoors, weeks and even months and some of that was in spring and fall. You touched on most subjects. One that , I feel, you did not emphasize enough,, you lose far more heat to the ground than you do to the air. In cooler or colder situations,, first, you must have good insulation from the ground. A pad, a self inflator,, a wool blanket,,or I always when possible set the tent where it is on leaves or grass. And that very definitely includes raking dry leaves or grass into the space I am about to set the tent on. An excellent ground cloth/ tent bottom protector under the tent is wonderful.
Wool. There is no substitute for wool in cold weather camping. There is no, zero, zippo, man made fiber that can equal wool. Now,, there are many types of wool. And one of them will be right for you. Swiss Army blankets are rabbit, raccoon, sheep's wool, lambs wool. and they are so dense you could bounce bullets off of them. You want ultra comfy sleeping? Wear a cashmere sweater to bed. I keep a cashmere sweater in with the sleeping bag and wool blanket in the dry bag. I do not just camp in the cooler weather I canoe. Along those same lines,, wool socks and the best of the best of wool socks are bison down socks. Merino wool, lambs wool,, angora, cashmere, alpaca,bison, yak,,, lots of good choices.
This past spring for 6 weeks and 600 miles, I used a 25 dollar Walmart sleeping bag Which was often just underneath me. (Cheap enough to be disposable.) A king sized flannel sheet ( you can double it) , a wool blanket, and a self inflating ground pad,,, Oh yes,, and two comfy pillows with flannel pillow cases. (I AM a wuss.) Wear the bison down socks and the cashmere sweater to bed,,, slept like a baby,, right down to single digits at 6,000 elevation. Wool.
Everything you mentioned is spot on. Double bags, bivy, wear your clothes to bed,, good high calorie eating, exercise, wind shirt,, all of it perfect. Just add wool.
There is only one thing better than wool. It is called climashield. As awesome as wool is climashield is even more awesome. It does everything wool does but 5 times better. Not joking here. Climashield is a continuous filament fiber. You can completely soak a sleeping bag made from climashield or lamilite, go to sleep and in the morning be completely dry. Wool takes beyond forever to dry out should it get wet. Believe me I love my wool but am very open to change when better comes along.
@@lakrabid Thank you !! I am going to look into Climashield. I love stuff that works. The one I suggest to you are the bison wool socks. Whole new ball game. Paddling a canoe through rapids you are kneeling in water. You may have launched that morning wet foot. For weeks my feet have been in wet socks and sneakers all day,, and no discomfort. (Pruney but warm) Trade to the dry pair to sleep. Just 2 pair for six weeks. Swap each evening. Rinse and repeat as they say.
A small Parabolic gas heater but a End to all my Cold winter camping problems. Rubber 500ml hot water bottle. Western Mountaineering Antelope sleeping bag. fleecy hat,pants and liner. I have done -25 comfortable, but the Parabolic was the game changer!!! heats the tent up in 1 second.
Late addition, but from my Army days in Alaska in the late 80s (using pre-Goretex issue gear that was designed in the mid-50s, after Korea) that keeping your head and feet warm went a LONG ways towards keeping you warm enough to get the rest you need. The issue balaclava was a three layer wool and Thinsulate garment that was uncharacteristically excellent for something issued by the Army, despite being blue in color. Blue?? Weird. For me, it was actually TOO warm for most of the day during winter exercises (I used a thin polypro beanie in the same blue color under my helmet for all but the coldest temps). But it was great for sleeping. As to my feet, the issue Arctic Mittens worn like slippers in the bottom of the bag were perfect. They also looked like gorilla feet, which was fun, and when you're trying to extract some sleep out of your gear at -30 or -40F, you need all the fun you can get. ;)
i use a hot rock from the fire,i wrap it up in something and take it into my tent or in the sleeping bag ,,sorted,atb from scotland
Yay! I'm not the only one..! Hot rocks rock.
What size do you prefer? I am guessing I would wrap with newspaper, old towel ? maybe the challenge is cooking the stone a bit but not enough to burn you or the gear. I do know any rock submerged in a lake etc. or totally saturated with water will crack possibly shooting off shards of shrapnel...not a nice sleeping buddy. Warning please. don't try it with a closed can of beans either then it become something similar to burning napalm on your skin. a dry rock or bag of rocks? should do the trick :)
Thank you for all the tips and tricks. I’m a van driver so I stay traveling. I don’t like to leave the van turned on while I sleep. I wear the thermal thick socks to sleep. My sleeping bag is 20°. Thank you for recommending the sleeping bag liner! I will be purchasing that ASAP. As for a mat or something underneath me I have a twin air mattress a thick blanket over it then my sleeping bag and a blanket on top of that. Best sleep I ever got even tho the weather is -9
I take a fleece and put it over my face while in my bag and this keeps my face warm and helps with the air you breath by keeping a warm air pocket over your face. Also a poncho liner in the bag or a quilt over it works great. Thanks for your great info.
I find growing a beard keeps my face warm. It's what I do in Winter.
Very good advice! I use an army mountain bag with liner & 4 lb poly filled denim bag as needed. I've slept in 15° snow wearing shorts & a tee shirt up to 85° on the beach at Rocky Point with a reflective Mylar over film. In both cases i used a mini dome tent (3'x5' + sock). Gives you room to store your gear & company.😁
1. A bag rated 40°, a liner rated 50°, wow my system is up to 90°! 😄
2. I tried all these methods at once, on a summer night. I think I caught fire. 😁
3. Bring the dogs. I heard once that a three dog night was when it was so cold that it took three dogs lying on top to keep you warm. Probably some Alaskan sledding folklore.
Perktube1 was thinking ..three dog night ...in Yukon, at - 50°C to -70,../not folklore..
"Probably some Alaskan sledding folklore." - Australian aboriginal, I believe. Folklore, that is, not sledding related.
Combining sleeping bags with a quilt on top is great. Also a viable option when hammock camping where you can just use your underquilt over topquilt.
An inner VBL is a good idea if using an external bivvy bag, otherwise there’s gonna be loads of condensation in your bag. You feel clammy yes but it’s a good tip to stay warm from alpinists
Thanks for your Video Brother ..I stay here in Southern Ohio where the temps can be down in the Single Digits sometimes So I have to be Very Prepared for all kinds of crazy Elements .I have a Military Bivy System that is good for -20 But I also have a Mommy Bag that is good for 10 degrees Fahrenheit I can Use this system for any kind of Cold weather..As a Marine you always need to be prepared for anything especially the elements of Cold weather...I have also made very cheap tents into 4 season tents as well...As long as I'm ready for anything I can at least eliminate the fear Factor..Luke it's always a pleasure to see your videos Keep them Coming Brother Semper Fi
Luke, you are a class above others. I have watched many snow camping tips vid on youtube, tryig to prepare myself for my 1st upcoming snow camping trip. Yours by far is the best. Straight to the point, precise and just pure simple straight to the point info. Thx man.
Excellent video! Very thorough with lots of great points that work. A couple of small hand warmers and a simple space blanket fully opened and draped over your sleeping bag can make a world of difference when the temp drops more than expected. I used this for years while bicycle touring, The space blanket and hand warmers take up almost no space at all and most hand warmers last all night. I also used a dual bag system, Just a couple of Marmot Bags that fit well together. The Aspen Minimalist 40 and the Aspen 55, together I was comfy down to about 20 degrees.
I find on the colder trips, I'm always reaching for the black bag and the Gore tex bivy. Which oddly enough the black bag fits perfect in the Teton Sports UL -18C bag stuff sack.. If temps are going to be like -20Celsius I'll take the -18 bag as well. Great vid thanks Cool Hand
I use space blanket under my sleeping mat or put it over my shelter. I wouldn’t wear rain gear to bed. Rain gear doesn’t breath and you’ll be sweating
Joe's Outing Bushcraft Agreed, in very cold ,need to mitigate moisture,
..i get a bigger bag and bring the missus along ..lol..good info..
Bob Joncas just how big are we talking about?😳👍
@@joetexas1546 that's a delicate subject ,Joe..(size and warmth of the missus is a factor)..lol
Solved that with getting two sleeping bags that join together lol
@@matthewfarrell317 ..lol..
Matthew Farrell n
The wool army blanket is a classic. You won't find them on the shelf at Walmart but you can order them thru Walmart's website. They range from 70%, 80% to 100% wool. An 80% wool 66" by 90" blanket can be ordered for $25. Nice extender for a sleeping bag. 100% wool blankets get much more expensive but you get what you pay for.
Love this! I'm taking some friends winter camping for the first time this weekend and we're expecting a low of about 5 degrees when we were originally planning for about 20. It's reassuring to know that we already had the right tricks up our sleeves, and I picked up a couple of other good ideas as well (like eating fat and doing some jumping jacks just before bed). Thanks!
I have a tip for keeping warm - Make sure to empty your bladder before bed. Nothing is worse than having to get up out of the sleeping bag in the middle of the night when its freezing cold.
Empty stomach full stomach, zero difference. I do alternate day fasting. I camp all of the time. Tried the warm water technique. Bottle ends up cold and you freeze. Things that I've found that actually work: wear a hoodie. heat from your back goes up to your head. Use a liner. Put one sleeping bag within a bigger sleeping bag (This works by far the best). Insulate from the ground. And finally, wear heated clothes. If I ever wake up cold I set my heated vest for low and I've got 8 hours of a heated vest and another backup battery for another 8 hours.
Really good tips. I didn't know a liner could add some additional warmth. I'm currently testing and trying to get down to 0 degrees comfortably.
Go to a sewing shop and buy you some fleece material and make you a "taco" liner for your bag. It is light weight and really warm and you can get it in several weights or thicknesses. Buy enough length to fold it to cover you from head to toe and sew the bottom together so your feet will not slip out.
Couldn’t agree more about the sleeping pad. It literally makes the difference of freezing your butt off and being extremely comfortable. SOL bivy is an excellent wrap
I bypassed sleeping bag, and mainly use mountainbag (jerven fjellduk) with the extreme reactor liner these days. Works excellent around -10 C. With a 8R sleeping pad.
best combo.. and just used this up at Doughton area during the ice.. Sleeping bad.. ECWS system the Army issued me.. but the key..is a simple .99Cent item.. Windshield solar reflector from Dollar Tree.. I always keep one with my system. Place it between the Bivy and your sleeping bag. This will keep the cold from the ground reflected away and your own body heat reflected back onto your body. Used this for years.. Camping Hammock companies caught onto this and now offer a insert for like $80.00 it's the same thing as what I use.
If you don’t have a water bottle to warm up you can use rocks. Smooth creek stones work well. Place them near the fire, not in it. Then wrap them in a shirt and place in your bag. Also don’t cover your mouth with your bag. Excessive moisture will build up in your bag. It’s been spitting snow all morning here in Madison Co.
Stoke the furnace! I finally understand this after doing more cold weather hiking in recent years. I never skip a decent evening meal in cold weather...
My bull terrier burrows to the bottom of the sleeping bag making an excellent heating system with the only slight drawback being she often needs some encouragement to come out which involves upending the sleeping bag 😁 haha
I like to use chemical hand warmers in the toe box.
There's a lot to that. Native Americans slept with their feet aimed towards a campfire. Feet warm, the rest of you stays fairly warm. Also a cap. Since most body heat dissipates from the top, wearing a cap, like a Navy watch cap, helps a lot.
I've done the duel sleeping bag combo. It works.... mostly.... if you're hammock camping you should still bring an under quilt or an extra, thick blanket to lay under you.
Very good video. Very good advice. I, personally, go to bed inside of the sleeping bag with my jacket snow skiing pants and everything else on besides all the advice that you were talking in this video. That makes a very good difference in comparison to my previous backpacking trips when I used to get undressed and we’re only the undergarments. I also customize my sleeping bags depending on what I think it takes to mix them be warmer for the style of backpacking trip that I’m going to. Like you said earlier, use the appropriate sleeping bag for the appropriate weather that you’re going to being in it in your backpack and trip. For example, I add a layer of prima loft in the upper panel of the sleeping bag the cover from my chin all the way down to my genitals. I make sure that it wraps around me to cover all the way under my both arms. I also apply some surgery on the operating lower panel of the sleeping bags by adding an emergency blanket inside of each panel but make perforations on it before I put it inside to make sure I get some breathability for the vapors of my body to escape. I have never tried The sleeping bag liner but I am thinking to give it a try. I am also from North Carolina and hope that, maybe one day, will encounter you in the trail. God bless you.
I'd always go for extra layers of clothing, mainly thermals, and something to cover your neck as that releases heat as bad as your head, I find. But the hot water bottle or stones heated in a fire then wrap in socks as an addition if needed.
Good pointers for the most part. I tend to disagree with anything likely to trap moisture in (bivvy or rain clothes) but the rest I have found useful. When sleeping on snow or ice I have found the second pad to be the most helpful of the techniques here. I carry a closed cell pad to put underneath my Thermarest for situations like that and it seems to help a lot. The second pad is bulky so it usually ends up strapped on the outside of my backpack but the weight it isn't too bad.
Bivy's can make an incredible difference and I suggest trying one if you can. Thanks for commenting.
- Luke
it wasnt to many years ago , we had no clue about bivys . but i luckily had a very wise grandpa . we used foam ground pads , with a heavy wool blanket , all of it wrapped up in a simple tarp . sleeping bags were mil surplus extreme cold bags . i used that setup for many years , until i finally bought 2 different weight wiggys sleeping bags and a wiggys ground pad and bivy . ie havent slept cold for over 45 years . no matter where i camped or in temps from -35f to 50f degrees
I pack heavy camping normally involves hunting with my 9 year old son so there is a truck load of gear. We use a big tent and cots with sleep pads on top of them and down bags cheap cotton lines just to keep our bags clean. If things get too cold I cheat and light a catalytic heater in the tent. No need to worry about ventilation or CO they last 10-12 hours on one small bottle and use gas slow enough they don’t produce a lot of condensation.
get yourself a canadian military cold weather parka,the old olive drab one,add this with all the trick you have,those parka are almost a sleeping bag in itself and they breath well
Excellent video, as usual. I love your backpacking tips series. You forgot to mention one thing that you've said in a few other videos before: put some hand warmers into your socks when going to sleep. I have not tried this trick yet, but I will :) My favorite is also the hot bottle in the sleeping bag! What a difference this makes. For the Winter, I'm combining a -10 C down bag and a -8 C synthetic bag. I sleep very cold, and even though the -10 should theoretically be OK, it is nowhere near warm enough for me.
A hot water bottle I think is good until it’s not of course
@@marnieloken7814 I've been using this trip for some time now, and I'm always amazed at how long the bottle stays hot. I think maybe 6 hours at least. :)
Just use a towel or blanket inside the bag. Liners are excellent! Eating before bed is not going to provide extra warmth. The food that was eating on the prior day is going to do that.
Great advice. Thanks. Be sure to subtract 5 to 10 degrees or more from the forecast low of the nearest town if you are going up in elevation.
Actually you don't need to go up in elevation as the countryside is not as warm as a town. The tarmac, concrete etc traps heat in cities/towns as well as other sources of heat which the countryside does not have.
Steve McGuinness Good point! 3.5* for every 1k elevation difference from ref. town’s elevation.
Weather.gov gives you forecasts for a specific lat/long location and factors in elevation.
I was up on the hill with a 40-degree bag, sweater, sweatpants, the whole nine yards. You know what I forgot? A good pair of socks. And all that extra warmth was defeated buy cold feet. Thankfully, I knew about the hot water trick and I had a stainless steel bottle. That fixed it for a while. I was able to sleep okay until the wee hours of the morning. The whole moral of the story is that your feet are the number one thing you should insulate first. If your feet are cold so goes the rest.
I have a big mylar 'bubble wrap' envelop that I got as packing material. It goes outside my sleeping bag, but inside my bivvy and just covers my feet. that helps a ton. Also, common sense, but go into the bag DRY. if you sweat at all during the day, get your clothes dry, or change into dry ones before you get in the bag. Seems obvious, but too few folks do this.
Nice video, just an addendum regarding sleepingbags: generally, you should wear as little as possible in a sleeping bag, since the bags are usually better at retaining and reflecting heat, so by putting on clothes, you reduce effectiveness. If your bag is ill fitted for the temperatures tho, then ofc put on clothes
I personally found out, that it is crucial in winter, to put a foam mat (R-Value around 2) ON TOP of the inflatable mat, allthough the inflatable mat might also have a good R-Value of let's say 3 or 4.
This definitely is way warmer to the body, since the foam mat contains less air to warm up and reflects better than every air mat... try it out! but make sure, to keep your inflatable mat safe with some ground sheet below from sticks or sharp objects.