I'm watching this in Nov. 2019, seven years after you posted it, and it's still useful info and relative to today's gear and activities. Thanks for taking the time to create and post it. Brum
My tips: I slept in a campervan with no heating down to -6c last year and slept at Barafu camp before summit on Mt Kilimanjaro(-10C). First you need to eat properly: your body will produce more heat if it's breaking down high energy food. Main things missed in this video are having decent insulation underneath from a camp mat, avoiding wind chill, tucking layers into each other to remove heat leak areas (socks to trousers etc), thermal underwear, heaps of layers upon layers of this, wearing slippers and thick hiking socks, buying a fleece liner for sleeping bag or doubling cheaper bags up (if you can't afford a 4season bag), using a fleecy buff rather than a thin balaclava, use an eye mask to warm your face. then you will be warm except for the icicles on your nose.
hi keith.totrue.I also did kili 3 years ago.plan bolivia desert march 2019'solo walk 50 days.will drop sunset to 8-9 below at best .worse case 15 below
@@BellePrinssen Yes, even a little thin plastic bag around your scalp, under the hat can do the job pretty well - when you're lying there, suddenly quite confused in sub freezing temperatures, at how the hat stopped working completely an hour ago.
Quote: ... then you will be warm except for the icicles on your nose. Yeah, your nose is your weakest point sleeping in the cold. To breathe, you can't keep it covered up and the moist air in your breath will freeze almost instantly.
I'm Canadian, and I sleep outside year-round in an unheated cargo trailer (I have an apt. but I sleep better outside.) My favourite way to stay warm is to spoon with my partner. When she is not here, I have a Brunton Stadium Heating Pad. Runs off USB power, and a 10,000mAh battery will take me through the night. A merino hoodie is nice, and a wool toque is essential, regardless of your sleeping bag rating.
I do some Autumn and Spring bike packing (and a little back packing, too), and I use a Marmot Nano-Wave 35 synthetic bag for those trips. Then, if the weather could get at or below 35 F, I've used the items you mentioned, like a balaclava (great little piece of gear), plus I either take a down vest to wear around camp, and/or sleep in for extra warmth, or even a down parka with hood, which is a bit like having a sleeping bag with sleeves. I also take (if it's going to be really chilly) a pair of down booties, and wear them in the sleeping bag. This parka/bag combo gives me a lot of versatility of movement when I need to get out of the bag during the night. I don't have a pair of down pants, but I think I might get a pair. With combining various items of clothing like this, it's like you said about weight savings. Plus, this gives you a lot of variability due to the seasons and temps. Thanks for you video and the tips you give.
Good advice: Other options: Liner bag that goes inside your bag about 5 to 10 degrees. A sleeping pad with higher R value. Or better yet when it is really cold or you are on snow, bring a inflatable and a closed cell foam pad for higher R rating. This is a good idea in case your inflatable pad goes flat you don't sink down directly onto snow. Last is a breathable bivy sack (with zipper) that goes over your bag. This could add 10 to 15 degrees to your bag rating. Bonus! Costco sells a Black Diamond down blanket for $23 bucks. Just lay it over your bag like a quilt.
I bought two of them from Costco, one of which I'm using this very minute as a lap blanket. When i get really cold, I fold it in half so it lays double on my lap.
@@steveb8178 they are good bags though ..i have two of them .bought both in like new condition with waterproof bags for 25.00 . Shazam !! i should have writtenin my first comment that they are warm but when you get damp cold weather its nice having that fleece .cheers
alternatively you can just place a summer bag insides an autumn bag or add a bivi goretex or pertex shell to your existing s bag and a soft fleece liner this will take yer bag up 10c 5deg for each layer added aprox without the additional clothing which everyone should be carrying anyways its also important to sleep in the minimum of kit clothing possible for warmth as you own body must be allowed to irradiate the heat into outer thermic layers so as it is generated in first place heat then retained if you dress up too much when it is cold you reduce the thermal effects or efficiency of those insulating layers that exist arounds you but are not being used to their optimum levels!! down pants jkts are nice but often can puncture if in tough environment a shell layer with swedish army long johns or brit army softie set of thermal pyjamas is better silks also are nice to sleep in or a onesie suit
This is great. In cold you also need to stay warm at camp after hiking so why not dual purpose for sleeping. I already have jacket, hat I always bring and gloves when cold. Down pants are the only item I don't have but would seriously consider to extend my season into colder months. Oh and if you buy a jacket GET THE HOOD!
You didn't mention a pair of booties for your feet, which weigh next to nothing. A pair of silk socks is great to - you should be taking off anything wet before getting in your bag, and with socks being the one thing that's almost guaranteed to get wet while walking for a day, changing into fresh, dry socks is a must - silk is great here, as it weights next to nothing, and is superb for heat retention.
I use one of their cotton stretchy numbers but I just bought their fleece one to try. It's enough for some coolish nights on it's own I figure. If it actually improves a bag in cold weather, even better! I don't believe a word any of them say about temps lol...
I much prefer a heavier bag and less sleeping clothes. But that's just me, I sleep hot. Just got back from a Utah camping trip where it got down to 10 degrees and slept in my 15 degree bag with just merino socks, merino leggings, a merino top with my thermoball puffy on and a regular weight beanie. Was perfectly fine, actually sweated a little on my torso.
Great tips there, thanks. I've found a cheap alternative to many outdoor brands is army surplus stuff. Also your sleeping pad makes a difference. Am using a Thermarest neoair all season which insulates for warmth better than the neoair trekker I was using before. Also 2 pairs of socks on the coldest nights. I'm camping in winter and notice the difference!
Love the tips. Thing is youre keeping the old sleeping bag snd adding some additional items to sleep warmer? So extra weight? Im ok with it just clarifying.
In addition to a ski cap, balaclava and wool socks I use Hot Hands hand and body warmers in my bag. These have proven to be a game changer in keeping warm in cold nights. They last the whole night, are small, light and inexpensive. They produce enough heat to keep that core temp from dropping and making an uncomfortable night in the cold.
What I do for a sleeping pad is take the house door off the hinges and strap it on top of the car then I use the door for as a sled to carry all my gear with some rope attached of course and if you get really cold you can just burn the door down as firewood. There’s a good chance highway patrol will give you a ticket for it though.
I have a pretty warm set up for my hammock already, but I can see the advantage with the "down suit" you're selling here. It doesn't matter how warm your set up is, if you have to leave it to use the bathroom or in the morning to make coffee that always sucks, this system lets you take the warmth with you. Not a bad idea.
I always throw two hand-warmers down at the bottom of my bag to keep my feet warm. Wear socks as they get pretty hot. I also bungee a tarp around my bag to trap my heat in
issue is if snow or rain your hat, pants and jacket will get wet/damp....if depending on the wearable gear to keep you warm in your bag this may lead to a cold night.
I always thought mittens were warmer than gloves because the best thing to keep a finger warm is the next finger. This goes for you leg next to the other leg or arm next to ribs: Don't put insulation between body parts to "stay warmer." 2nd point: to insulate feet from ground, use a bundle of clothing INSIDE your bag to wad up under your feet, its easy to get triple insulation that way.
Hands have very little blood circulation. Legs and torso are another story. Wearing insulated bib overalls in your sleeping bag is actually incredibly effective in my experience. And having a pair available to wear when you are outside during the day for extended periods is a huge benefit. I like your tip about padding very though.
I use space blankets under and over my bag loosely in my tent. They reflect back the heat keeping me toasty. Keeping the top blanket loose reduces condensation.
I line my tent itself with them; I attach them to the walls and ceiling with double-sided tape, making sure to mate the edges neatly. Sure, it feels like sleeping in an igloo made of mirrors, but it keeps me toasty in low temps! :-D
I'm using a Kelty Cosmic 41 degree 550 fill down and Alps razor fleece and a Belgian bivvy sack I believe that'll get me around the 30s and I've got a Kelty 3 0 degree bag 600 fill down for deep cold
I am not there yet, as I am putting together my own winter kit. Somewhat skeptical EXCEPT I have acquaintances that use your suggested methods and have done so for years, successfully. I am starting from a better place, I have a premium zero bag.
Nice vid thanks! And some good comments prompted by it. I've got -10C and +10C bags and I've been learning how to make them both work well across basically everything. I like how you're explaining a pathway to extend equipment with a string of small purchases that give extra options instead of buying more big ticket items... this helps a lot of people get more capable kits together IMO. With just a thin, stretchy cotton liner I've slept semi-comfortably (I stayed asleep lol) at 10 and up to 15 degrees colder than each bags' minimum by wearing a full thermal layer from head to toe. Getting enough calories in was then the key thing. I've recently bought a 450g fleece liner to help and I carry but haven't worn to bed a down jacket and extra pollies, merinos etc. I've wondered about down pants before but haven't gone there - interesting to see yours. I run a dual layer inflatable mattress with either a reflective, foam thing or just a car windshield sunshade underneath. I don't get to enough truly cold areas to justify the expense of taking it all to the next level. Your vid is giving me ideas about extending things pretty cheaply though. Cheers.
I use a quilt and usually a hammock but thanks, this would all work great with that too and I can carry a much lighter quilt and under-quilt that way!!
I bike-tour 3 seasons. Wool and silk are my best friends! Both fabrics are super-efficient for warming and cooling, as needed. With multiple thin layers I can adjust my temperature for use on the bike or add warmth to my downbag / sleeping system. It's lightweight, low volume gear that is highly efficient... ...But you probably already knew that! 🚲😎🚲
Great tips, but still expensive. If you have the funds I say go for it. I like having a 15° bag personally and having fleece sleeping pants, a down puffy, and a wool beanie
Thumbs up from a Montana neighbor in Kalispell! Have you tried out any of the Reactor liners from Sea To Summit? I think the max they say you can get out of them is an extra 25F, but that might just a technical (i.e. unrealistic number). I think it also weighs in at 14 oz.
Great informative video. I like it. Couple of suggestions though. 1. Figure out how to eliminate that buzzing noise in the background. 2. Never apologize. If you have to apologize, you're doing it wrong. Nothing wrong with a cheat sheet to get your informative right, but you don't need to apologize or wave it in our faces. Keep up the good work.
Definitely a very good video great information I'm out here in Maine maybe one day I'll give you a call we'll put something together and ship it to me that set up that you just went through including the bag how much is invested right there so that the sleeping bag and then gear that you talked about
This is in addition to that, the base layer goes without saying and is already accounted for. The temps that sleeping bags are rated for are measured with both a base layer and a pad (if it's done according to the EN13537 standard, which it is if you're buying any reputable brand).
Wow, just wow. As a Canadian soldier who has lived in the arctic, dual down military sleeping bag, fleece liner, bivvy bag and thermal mat, ground sheet. Sleep naked sweat will kill you. Put your next days clothes in the outer bag to keep them dry, ready and take the chill off. Wear a toucque to keep your noggin warm. No down jammies, hot rocks, hot water bottles. Your body in the right kit will keep you warm.
I have the same CMSS. warm even -40 C just the merino wool base layer on and the balaclava that comes with it. Great system. A cold sleep is no sleep and your absolutely right, sweat kills. And Thanks.
That's true in artic Temps we were always taught to strip off not bulk up when getting into your bivvy. Make your bed right your body will do the rest.
Dingo You’re not wrong about arctic temps and stripping down with the issued kit but I would point out it depends on the system you are using and that will probably be dictated by what you are doing.The army set up is awesome but heavy and thus not practical for all applications. Ex. Alpine climbers doing a multi day route won’t be hauling the army bag system up the side of a mountain or stripping down to biv on a ledge because their clothing will incorporated into the sleep system to save weight. Not trying to detract from your comment but I thought I would throw that in.
Hey I defer to your cold weather experience and the value of those military sleep systems... weight being no issue I'd own one already. This vid and the discussion interests me for multi-day hiking into cooler weather without coughing up big dollars for new gear, and keeping the weight down. My knees have copped a flogging over the years!
I use a British army artic sleeping bag.....they are good pieces of kit but I've been in some pretty harsh negative temps and have been chilly at times.....this was because I went to bed in my clothes that I was round camp in ....my body could not regulate the temp inside the bag thus making me a tad chilly. ....I now just sleep in my fleece and some lightweight pants and the difference is huge. ....I camp all year round...snowstorms everything. ..I've learned so much through trial and error ....the outdoors is dangerous ...I've only live in England but it can get cold in the winter ...the most I have been in is -9 .....it's nothing compared to what the Canadians etc are used to but still enough to make you real uncomfortable in the night .....i enjoy testing myself and learning things from people in really cold country's .....i didn't learn anything from this vid btw lol.....a good sleep bag is essential ....i use the artic bag all year round ...it's a a Lil too warm in summer but the weather doesn't know what it's doing in this country ...the seasons are fucked up
Fleece liners are worth their weight in lead. Cheap emergency blankets lining your tent walls and ceiling (edges meeting, if not overlapped) weigh almost nothing in their folded state, the double-sided tape needed to attach them is the only real weight involved, and can turn mid-Winter into early-Spring, inside your shelter. 10/10 hack, highly recommend.
Good advice. People don't realize that when camping the same dynamic as your bed at home applies - you can either get one big heavy layer or multiple lighter layers that will do the same thing. You can also augment a 50 degree bag with a quilt like the snugpak jungle blanket. I find that combo works well for a 3 season scenario when you don't want a lot of heavy, extra clothes except in the middle of the night when it gets really cold. But if you are seeing below freezing temps at night, you will really want to be wearing extra layers and not just expecting your bag to carry the entire load. It just makes you miserable when you eventually have to get out of the bag and it is 25 degrees outside and you are wearing nothing but long underwear.
so dont get out of the bag. Have a pee jar. In the morning, put on your clothes while still in the the bag, or at least, your legs are still in the bag.
All of this is good and useful as you often will want those items anyway but I've slept numerous nights on mountains with coats, pants and other things on in a bag for added warmth and its never very comfy. Its restrictive and yeh you'll live but its not comfortable sleep. Granted if I'm heading to a summit often I'm so tired each night I sleep well in pretty much anything as long as I'm warm....but its not comfy. I think a good option is to buy a down blanket which packs down to nothing and can be draped or even doubled up on the top of your current bag. Doesnt add that much extra weight and can significantly extend your sleep system temps range.
@@azclaimjumper once you warm up your core, your extremities will warm up through blood circulation. If your core is cold, blood will.be drawn from extremities towards your core where vital organs are. Or do some jumping jacks to warm up your body before bed. Generates heat
@@rvz77 My core (head/torso/arms/hands/legs) were warm all night. My feet were cold when I went to bed & cold all night. You're right about exercising B4 crawling into my sleeping bag which I'm going to do from now on + I went to bed hungry & will henceforth eat some nuts/cheese B4 crawling into my sleeping bag. I'm going to try chemical heaters like HOT HANDS for me feet & toes to see if that helps.
@@azclaimjumper I just came back from 5 days in the smokies. It dropped down to 30f at night. And I brought the zlite foam pad and a 32f hyperlina. I wore merinol wool long johns and socks. One night I tried those hot hand warmers and it was nice. My feet were fine. Yes, eat a HEARTY meal before bed, bc it takes energy to digest food. The hot water in the Nalgene bottle works. Put that down by your feet. Get your feet up off the ground if they are off your pad or mattress bc the ground sucks the heat from your feet. Put your hiking bag under your feet.
@@rvz77 Thank you for your detailed & thoughtful reply. You are RIGHT on all counts. Maintaining a core temperature of 98.6º is fundamental. My core temperature was maintained, I was comfy warm from head to ankles. I knew the forecast low was 19º, this overnighter was a test of the lower limits of MEeee & my equipment I overnighted less than 1/4 mile from my vehicle knowing I could pack up & drive back to the bunker anytime I wished. I'm wanting to avoid getting myself into a dangerous situation because I'm unprepared & I'd NOT slept in this sleeping bag at what admittedly was the lower limits of its rated 10º & rated "Comfort" limit of 25º. I leared 4 things from this test/experiment. 1. My Sleeping bag is indeed accurately rated. I cannot & should not expect it to keep me comfy warm when the temperature is in the teens. 2. I crawled into my sleeping bag hungry. In the future, I"ll have nuts, cheese, & beef sticks nearby that I can munch on throughout the night. 3. I had HOT HANDS Foot Warmers back in the bunker & failed to take them with me. I'll not make that mistake ever again. I've been comfy warm with my sleep equipment of mattress, sleeping bag, clothing worn when the temperature was only in the mid 30ºs. I now KNOW the limits of MEeee & my equipment & now KNOW enough to avoid getting myself into a situation of colder temperatures than MEeee & my equipment are designed for & capable of handling.
Some people here really don't get the point of this video (keyboard hikers?). When hiking, you can go from starting (on the same day) with just a tshirt to full fleece equipment and hardshell later during the day. I have experienced that many times in the Scottish Highlands. The point the man in the vid tries to make is that "at this time [video was posted in October] you'd need these anyway". So of course, in October, on most locations you would already get gloves, a balaclava, hat and such extra stuff with you. That's the whole point of having a modular system. So, while normally you may use this gear while you are hiking (depending on conditions such as wind, temps etc). "Just get a better sleeping bag instead of carrying this" is really dumb advice because you can not pull your sleeping bag over your body and hike that 5 miles in wind chill conditions, can you??? If you get the balaclava, gloves and scarf or whatever, you can adapt much more easily to the conditions.
blub2121 valid point but i’d still be happy to carry afew more ounces of down in i slightly higher rated bag as well as a wearable thermal layer. I get cold feet so I always have my down booties !!!!
@@Dan-wo4bx The point is that you don't have to buy a heavier bag and that there's no rational reason to, because you have to have all of this stuff anyway if you're camping out in cold weather, unless you plan on staying zipped up in your zero degree bag all day and crawling along the trail like an inch-worm.
Wulf67 i think we are talking operating in different climates bud you mention a 0degree bag !! I’m thinking high altitude sub sub zero temps and As a mountain guide i always have a bag rated for well past the coldest temp i expect ! If you reread what i said you will see ‘as well as!’ . I’m Scottish 0degrees I’d still be wearing bloody shorts !
@@Dan-wo4bx If your shorts are bloody you should ask your mom for a tampon. And you don't seem to understand the premise of the video. I can't help you with that. He's talking about shoulder seasons, and since that's very clear to me, so am I.
@@Dan-wo4bx Is the video talking about "sub zero temps?" No. And if you were a "mountain guide" in sub-zero temps, then you would most certainly already have a balaclava, gloves, and an insulating layer with you.
I used summer tent and summer sleeping bag with a wool blanket and candle heater in a jar...slept cozy all night there was frost frozen inside the tent from my breath but l was fine
If you wear cloths inside a sleeping bag you don't benefit at all and in the morning you are freezing cold. The best thing is to take your cloths off and put them inside with you. That way your cloths are warm when you get up in the morning. Also, use a sleeping bag liner. I use a fleece one. You can get them for about £10 in the UK. I am ex-military, I know about these things.
Coldest I've ever truly 'camped' (not RV'd or 'cabin'd') is around -15F...with a LOT of hunting in the 0-10F range...and though I'm far too old and arthritic to do a lot of that now, there's a LOT of tricks that will keep you warmer than some of these recommendations (starting with the old adages of NEVER sleep with clothes! Which, kinda kills the down underwear idea). You want sleeping warmth, BUY THE RIGHT BAG for your general 'expected lowest temps'...LOT easier to unzip a bag to let air out, than try to evict chipmunks from leaves at 2-am to bury yourself in them trying to 'add insulation' in the middle of the night! Personally, I've got a 3-piece bag (fly, inner and outer) that can be configured from 40F down to -10F...cost a FORTUNE, even in the day, still worth the investment...and not bad on weight, for what it is (5.8-lbs). If you're like me, with habitual cold-feet, make sure to pack two Zippo hand warmers EXTRA...fuel them before bedtime and light them up...toss them in the foot of your sleeping bag (one for a normal night, two for a really cold night)...have warm feet in the morning, CHEAP! Going where the chances of 34-F rain are quite high, or lots of wind? Make up a fitted MYLAR (Space blanket) under-fly for your tent...AND USE IT! Stop getting frozen in the middle of the night, because your fly got wet, then the 30-mph winds came and froze you in your sleep! The mylar will also hold a LOT of warmth in that a normal fly will not, let alone blocking tons of wind that normally pass through taffeta. NEVER FORGET TO DIG YOUR DRAINAGE DITCH around your tent pad, either...most miserable I ever was, happened off the St. Lawrence River...went in and set up camp one evening...woke up to torrential rains that lasted 3-days...at 35-deg F!!! I hadn't dug my perimeter drain, so my fly was wet, my pad was wet, and the tent was so saturated, it was wicking water INTO THE INSIDE above the floor stitch line! EVERYTHING WAS WET...and with fog and 100-percent humidity, it wouldn't dry! Even my 'warm wool' wasn't warm...and on day 3, as I felt the 'shakes' coming on, I had to bail out...and still took 2-days back home to dry my gear out! (a lot of what I offer here, came from that one miserable camping trip some 30-years ago)...
Thank you, for your story. Your suggestions, are well taken. I’m just getting back into solo hiking. After decades, away from it. In the, every kind of weather, bc coast mountains. Mostly, cold rain, in the rainforest.
Im planning my Appalachian trail thru hike starting next march, I have a 40 degree sleeping bag and I want to save money so Im thinking about taking it
Here is what works for me. It's simple, low cost and and adds zero grams/ ounces to your base weight. A sleeping bag liner (doesn't need to be a fancypants silk one a cheapy works just as well) with my down bag inside the liner. It works like this, the interior of the tent is subject to constant movement of cold night air to manage condensation, which unfortunately keeps the shell of the bag cold. This inhibits the ability of the down to loft to its maximum beneficial fill power. With the sleeping bag inside the liner, it's shell fabric has some protection from the frigid air temp. The liner also contributes some static air, itself a useful insulator, and it snugs your bag around you.
Simple, full length, thicker black bin bags on the outside of your sleeping bag can make a really large difference. Even just one. But 3 - yes. And they take up very little room in a pack. At those temperatures you need to have a survival blanket - whether one of those reflective foil or NASA foil or thick plastic ones - with you anyway, for when trekking or whenever. Putting your sleeping bag inside one of those can make a really large difference. You'd need a wider one, if the bag is going inside it. Otherwise - and this can make a huge difference, wrap up in the survival blanket first, and put it inside the sleeping bag. The thing is you can be too warm this way, even at a good bit below freezing point. You might even sweat - a bit, which can be no bad thing in itself as long as you weren't sweating in a big winter coat all day getting there. Sweat down to minus 5 to 10 degrees centigrade shouldn't really be much of a problem, while it if goes much lower, everything changes and you need to avoid sweating. BUT - you shouldn't go trekking or camping in this weather without a survival blanket, for quick weather or height changes or quick body temperature change where you couldn't get your tent up in time to cope. Given that u need to bring a survival blanket anyway, it can easily happen at night that you find you need it inside your sleeping bag. You have it, you don't need to worry. You might start with 2 or 3 black bin liner bags outside your sleeping bag, add the survival blanket outside if it's just getting silly cold outside. Then you could take the survival blanket inside the sleeping bag if still more warmth is needed. In winter anyway, every sleeping bag ought to have some kind of liner sack, whether cotton or linen, or much preferably fleece. Some survival blankets might be damaged if you use them inside your sleeping bag. They should still function ok at the time, but may need repairing or exchanging afterwards. So if you going to use a survival blanket inside the sleeping bag, use the liner as a first layer beyond your body and before the survival blanket. That way, the survival blanket is more protected less likely to be damaged. You're still quite likely to need the things in this video such as socks - maybe not jacket, but maybe. Thermal pyjamas are a very good idea or at least some cotton long sleeve t shirt and cotton lounge bottoms tucked into socks. The hat always needs to come with you, in case your body is lovely and warm but the head feels awful.
you can stay a lot Wormer by nixing everything but the beanie, you can add about 10 Degrees to your bag with a thinsalight pad under your bag, and about 10 Degrees by adding a bag liner and it can be used in the summer as a sleeping bag and about 10 Degrees by adding bevy bag to your set up, so that will make you 30 Degrees a 0 bag and only adding about 2 to 3 lbs. to your pack.
"Only" adding 2-3 pounds," eh? Actually, while that would sound insane to most people, they are probably already carrying a pad and should be carrying some sort of (at least minimal) liner, so the extra probably doesn't add quite that much extra weight to what they're already packing.
Use a garbage bag, cut hole at bottom for head to pop out, hole at bottom sides for each arm. Take long johns off place garbage over bear skin poking head and arms there holes. Place log joins back on over garbage bag and you. You will sleep warmer in your sleeping bag. Also can use small plastic bag for head cutting hole for face. Place over bare head then hat on top. Use empty bread bags over bare feet with socks over bagged foot.
All of that are great tips! But a really important tip is the sleeping pad you use can take away or retain your body heat. So if you have a low R-rating pad all of that will not help. 👍
Anyone seeking motivation to get out there away from the humans would do well to read all the cranky youtube comments by people who need a snack and a nap.
We have 2 summer sleeping bags and just 1 sleepingbag for freezing temperatures. Most of the time my boyfriend sleeps in the warm one, and I sleep in the 2 summer bags. Never cold so far. For us was about the saving of money than saving of weight.
I don't like wearing clothes inside my mummy sleeping bag. Layers do the trick when it get's cold out there, I use a very compact summer sleeping bag and when it's not enough I have another one to put over it, works very good and no big sleeping bags to carry around. Something breathable to cover your face can be nice when it's freezing. A small tent feels more comfortable than a big one....until the sun appears.
I've tried that bundling up method in a sleeping bag once. It sucked! Not only was it far less comfortable but my legs and feet never got warm even though when sleeping in the bag with just long johns and thin socks, I was toasty before. I did it just as a test inside a -25F bag with temps below zero just to see if I would get warmer. I figured layering works awesome for clothing during the day so it should be the same in a bag. WRONG! The problem is, if you layer up, you'll never warm up the sleeping bag and you're feet and even the whole half of your body will never get warm because the upper half of your body where the bulk of your heat comes from can't get into the bag to warm it up. It just doesn't work. I was miserable. I'll never bundle up inside a sleeping bag ever again.
Some things that work: wear an insulated snowmobile overall bib overnight. Wear a hat with ear flaps. Throw another sleeping bag over your existing one. Put a bivy bag over the whole thing. Throw a light jacket over your face area.
You just got my business because you offered a phone # I can call an speak with a human about the gear I will need for my thru hike. Instead of some website that gives you a email address at best.
There’s a better way to increases your bags temp rating. Your sleeping pad will increase the warmth by about 10 degrees and a bag liner for another 10 degrees and last a bevy bag will add about 10 degrees. But nothing beats starting with a goo 0 bag if you ask me and you can use the bag liner in the summer
I put my British army arctic sleeping bag inside another British army arctic sleeping bag with an air pad inside, then pop it inside a gortex bivy bag with a hot water bottle . Waighes in around 13 pound toasty warm tho.
I'm watching this in Nov. 2019, seven years after you posted it, and it's still useful info and relative to today's gear and activities. Thanks for taking the time to create and post it. Brum
My tips: I slept in a campervan with no heating down to -6c last year and slept at Barafu camp before summit on Mt Kilimanjaro(-10C). First you need to eat properly: your body will produce more heat if it's breaking down high energy food. Main things missed in this video are having decent insulation underneath from a camp mat, avoiding wind chill, tucking layers into each other to remove heat leak areas (socks to trousers etc), thermal underwear, heaps of layers upon layers of this, wearing slippers and thick hiking socks, buying a fleece liner for sleeping bag or doubling cheaper bags up (if you can't afford a 4season bag), using a fleecy buff rather than a thin balaclava, use an eye mask to warm your face. then you will be warm except for the icicles on your nose.
Also a light vapor barrier liner over your woolen long underwear (and socks, wool buff, hat) will do the trick.
hi keith.totrue.I also did kili 3 years ago.plan bolivia desert march 2019'solo walk 50 days.will drop sunset to 8-9 below at best .worse case 15 below
Just throw an unzipped jacket over your head, or even any fairly light fabric.. Works great.
@@BellePrinssen Yes, even a little thin plastic bag around your scalp, under the hat can do the job pretty well - when you're lying there, suddenly quite confused in sub freezing temperatures, at how the hat stopped working completely an hour ago.
Quote: ... then you will be warm except for the icicles on your nose.
Yeah, your nose is your weakest point sleeping in the cold. To breathe, you can't keep it covered up and the moist air in your breath will freeze almost instantly.
Well done and great advice. I’m watching this in January, 2022 and your advice is standing the test of time.
I'm Canadian, and I sleep outside year-round in an unheated cargo trailer (I have an apt. but I sleep better outside.) My favourite way to stay warm is to spoon with my partner.
When she is not here, I have a Brunton Stadium Heating Pad. Runs off USB power, and a 10,000mAh battery will take me through the night.
A merino hoodie is nice, and a wool toque is essential, regardless of your sleeping bag rating.
I do some Autumn and Spring bike packing (and a little back packing, too), and I use a Marmot Nano-Wave 35 synthetic bag for those trips. Then, if the weather could get at or below 35 F, I've used the items you mentioned, like a balaclava (great little piece of gear), plus I either take a down vest to wear around camp, and/or sleep in for extra warmth, or even a down parka with hood, which is a bit like having a sleeping bag with sleeves. I also take (if it's going to be really chilly) a pair of down booties, and wear them in the sleeping bag. This parka/bag combo gives me a lot of versatility of movement when I need to get out of the bag during the night. I don't have a pair of down pants, but I think I might get a pair. With combining various items of clothing like this, it's like you said about weight savings. Plus, this gives you a lot of variability due to the seasons and temps. Thanks for you video and the tips you give.
Big 5 had a -5 degrees mummy Sleeping bag for $29. On Black Friday and it’s toasty warm. Good buys this time of year
A good fleecy bag liner, buy the best fleece and make ur own liner. Rubber hot water bottle helps for cold feet.
@Eric Ocasio funny cause I was taught that in the Army back in 04... crazy how natural heat works
Great advice ... especially the head gear and gloves! Thanks for sharing!
Been layering like that for years. It works year-round, by changing only a few key garments.
Good advice: Other options: Liner bag that goes inside your bag about 5 to 10 degrees. A sleeping pad with higher R value. Or better yet when it is really cold or you are on snow, bring a inflatable and a closed cell foam pad for higher R rating. This is a good idea in case your inflatable pad goes flat you don't sink down directly onto snow. Last is a breathable bivy sack (with zipper) that goes over your bag. This could add 10 to 15 degrees to your bag rating. Bonus! Costco sells a Black Diamond down blanket for $23 bucks. Just lay it over your bag like a quilt.
I bought two of them from Costco, one of which I'm using this very minute as a lap blanket. When i get really cold, I fold it in half so it lays double on my lap.
im using a military bag (m1949) which on its own isnt very warm but put a simple fleece blanket inside and shazam !!! very warm .
Shazam it's not light weight either
@@steveb8178 they are good bags though ..i have two of them .bought both in like new condition with waterproof bags for 25.00 . Shazam !! i should have writtenin my first comment that they are warm but when you get damp cold weather its nice having that fleece .cheers
the weight on them isnt bad ,id guess 3lbs or a little more .its all down and lightweight fabric with the best zippers that zip from the inside.
alternatively you can just place a summer bag insides an autumn bag
or add a bivi goretex or pertex shell to your existing s bag and a soft fleece liner
this will take yer bag up 10c
5deg for each layer added
aprox
without the additional clothing which everyone should be carrying anyways
its also important to sleep in the minimum of kit
clothing possible for warmth as you own body must be allowed to irradiate the heat into outer thermic layers so as it is generated in first place heat then retained
if you dress up too much when it is cold you reduce the thermal effects or efficiency of those insulating layers that exist arounds you but are not being used to their optimum levels!!
down pants jkts are nice but often can puncture
if in tough environment
a shell layer with swedish army long johns or brit army softie set of thermal pyjamas is better
silks also are nice to sleep in
or a onesie suit
david john Huxtable 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼well said, I don’t backpack (I’m 63) but I still tent camp and that’s what I do.
What about the R factor of the sleeping pad?
This is great. In cold you also need to stay warm at camp after hiking so why not dual purpose for sleeping. I already have jacket, hat I always bring and gloves when cold. Down pants are the only item I don't have but would seriously consider to extend my season into colder months. Oh and if you buy a jacket GET THE HOOD!
You didn't mention a pair of booties for your feet, which weigh next to nothing. A pair of silk socks is great to - you should be taking off anything wet before getting in your bag, and with socks being the one thing that's almost guaranteed to get wet while walking for a day, changing into fresh, dry socks is a must - silk is great here, as it weights next to nothing, and is superb for heat retention.
Indeed. I keep a head-to-toe layer of clean stuff for sleeping... with some basic effort it's all still pretty clean after many days of use!
Good advice. Do you know where to get affordable silk socks? Would you recommend a silk bag liner? Thx.
this is the best advice as this gives you real added warmth and versatility...bag liners like sea to summit reactor dont work
I use one of their cotton stretchy numbers but I just bought their fleece one to try. It's enough for some coolish nights on it's own I figure. If it actually improves a bag in cold weather, even better! I don't believe a word any of them say about temps lol...
Fleece liners work great and increase temp rating up to 20degs
I much prefer a heavier bag and less sleeping clothes. But that's just me, I sleep hot. Just got back from a Utah camping trip where it got down to 10 degrees and slept in my 15 degree bag with just merino socks, merino leggings, a merino top with my thermoball puffy on and a regular weight beanie. Was perfectly fine, actually sweated a little on my torso.
Great tips there, thanks. I've found a cheap alternative to many outdoor brands is army surplus stuff. Also your sleeping pad makes a difference. Am using a Thermarest neoair all season which insulates for warmth better than the neoair trekker I was using before. Also 2 pairs of socks on the coldest nights. I'm camping in winter and notice the difference!
Love the tips.
Thing is youre keeping the old sleeping bag snd adding some additional items to sleep warmer? So extra weight?
Im ok with it just clarifying.
In addition to a ski cap, balaclava and wool socks I use Hot Hands hand and body warmers in my bag. These have proven to be a game changer in keeping warm in cold nights. They last the whole night, are small, light and inexpensive. They produce enough heat to keep that core temp from dropping and making an uncomfortable night in the cold.
What I do for a sleeping pad is take the house door off the hinges and strap it on top of the car then I use the door for as a sled to carry all my gear with some rope attached of course and if you get really cold you can just burn the door down as firewood. There’s a good chance highway patrol will give you a ticket for it though.
I have a pretty warm set up for my hammock already, but I can see the advantage with the "down suit" you're selling here. It doesn't matter how warm your set up is, if you have to leave it to use the bathroom or in the morning to make coffee that always sucks, this system lets you take the warmth with you. Not a bad idea.
I always throw two hand-warmers down at the bottom of my bag to keep my feet warm. Wear socks as they get pretty hot. I also bungee a tarp around my bag to trap my heat in
Great Ideas! Thanks for sharing.
It would be helpful to put the brands of products you are talking about and maybe a links were u can buy them.
issue is if snow or rain your hat, pants and jacket will get wet/damp....if depending on the wearable gear to keep you warm in your bag this may lead to a cold night.
A trashbag with 3 holes cut for head and arms worn next to skin under layers and inside bag helps me a lot when temps are beneath 20 deg.
I always thought mittens were warmer than gloves because the best thing to keep a finger warm is the next finger. This goes for you leg next to the other leg or arm next to ribs: Don't put insulation between body parts to "stay warmer." 2nd point: to insulate feet from ground, use a bundle of clothing INSIDE your bag to wad up under your feet, its easy to get triple insulation that way.
Hands have very little blood circulation. Legs and torso are another story. Wearing insulated bib overalls in your sleeping bag is actually incredibly effective in my experience. And having a pair available to wear when you are outside during the day for extended periods is a huge benefit. I like your tip about padding very though.
I use space blankets under and over my bag loosely in my tent. They reflect back the heat keeping me toasty. Keeping the top blanket loose reduces condensation.
I line my tent itself with them; I attach them to the walls and ceiling with double-sided tape, making sure to mate the edges neatly. Sure, it feels like sleeping in an igloo made of mirrors, but it keeps me toasty in low temps! :-D
I'm using a Kelty Cosmic 41 degree 550 fill down and Alps razor fleece and a Belgian bivvy sack I believe that'll get me around the 30s and I've got a Kelty 3 0 degree bag
600 fill down for deep cold
Very good ideas. Extra insulation can be clothing, and is multifunctional. Thank you very much
I am not there yet, as I am putting together my own winter kit. Somewhat skeptical EXCEPT I have acquaintances that use your suggested methods and have done so for years, successfully. I am starting from a better place, I have a premium zero bag.
Nice vid thanks! And some good comments prompted by it. I've got -10C and +10C bags and I've been learning how to make them both work well across basically everything. I like how you're explaining a pathway to extend equipment with a string of small purchases that give extra options instead of buying more big ticket items... this helps a lot of people get more capable kits together IMO. With just a thin, stretchy cotton liner I've slept semi-comfortably (I stayed asleep lol) at 10 and up to 15 degrees colder than each bags' minimum by wearing a full thermal layer from head to toe. Getting enough calories in was then the key thing. I've recently bought a 450g fleece liner to help and I carry but haven't worn to bed a down jacket and extra pollies, merinos etc. I've wondered about down pants before but haven't gone there - interesting to see yours.
I run a dual layer inflatable mattress with either a reflective, foam thing or just a car windshield sunshade underneath. I don't get to enough truly cold areas to justify the expense of taking it all to the next level. Your vid is giving me ideas about extending things pretty cheaply though. Cheers.
I use a quilt and usually a hammock but thanks, this would all work great with that too and I can carry a much lighter quilt and under-quilt that way!!
Just take a onesey with you and jump in the sleeping bag 🤣🤣🤣
I bike-tour 3 seasons. Wool and silk are my best friends! Both fabrics are super-efficient for warming and cooling, as needed. With multiple thin layers I can adjust my temperature for use on the bike or add warmth to my downbag / sleeping system. It's lightweight, low volume gear that is highly efficient...
...But you probably already knew that! 🚲😎🚲
Great tips, but still expensive. If you have the funds I say go for it. I like having a 15° bag personally and having fleece sleeping pants, a down puffy, and a wool beanie
Thumbs up from a Montana neighbor in Kalispell!
Have you tried out any of the Reactor liners from Sea To Summit? I think the max they say you can get out of them is an extra 25F, but that might just a technical (i.e. unrealistic number). I think it also weighs in at 14 oz.
Great informative video. I like it. Couple of suggestions though. 1. Figure out how to eliminate that buzzing noise in the background. 2. Never apologize. If you have to apologize, you're doing it wrong. Nothing wrong with a cheat sheet to get your informative right, but you don't need to apologize or wave it in our faces.
Keep up the good work.
he is polite thats why
Definitely a very good video great information I'm out here in Maine maybe one day I'll give you a call we'll put something together and ship it to me that set up that you just went through including the bag how much is invested right there so that the sleeping bag and then gear that you talked about
Why not just UL merino wool long johns? I carry those year round as they take no space and weight next to nothing.
This is in addition to that, the base layer goes without saying and is already accounted for. The temps that sleeping bags are rated for are measured with both a base layer and a pad (if it's done according to the EN13537 standard, which it is if you're buying any reputable brand).
And you can always add a Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme liner, adding another 5 to 7 degrees Celcius to your warmth.
Wow, just wow. As a Canadian soldier who has lived in the arctic, dual down military sleeping bag, fleece liner, bivvy bag and thermal mat, ground sheet. Sleep naked sweat will kill you. Put your next days clothes in the outer bag to keep them dry, ready and take the chill off. Wear a toucque to keep your noggin warm. No down jammies, hot rocks, hot water bottles. Your body in the right kit will keep you warm.
I have the same CMSS. warm even -40 C just the merino wool base layer on and the balaclava that comes with it. Great system. A cold sleep is no sleep and your absolutely right, sweat kills. And Thanks.
That's true in artic Temps we were always taught to strip off not bulk up when getting into your bivvy. Make your bed right your body will do the rest.
Dingo You’re not wrong about arctic temps and stripping down with the issued kit but I would point out it depends on the system you are using and that will probably be dictated by what you are doing.The army set up is awesome but heavy and thus not practical for all applications. Ex. Alpine climbers doing a multi day route won’t be hauling the army bag system up the side of a mountain or stripping down to biv on a ledge because their clothing will incorporated into the sleep system to save weight. Not trying to detract from your comment but I thought I would throw that in.
Hey I defer to your cold weather experience and the value of those military sleep systems... weight being no issue I'd own one already. This vid and the discussion interests me for multi-day hiking into cooler weather without coughing up big dollars for new gear, and keeping the weight down. My knees have copped a flogging over the years!
I use a British army artic sleeping bag.....they are good pieces of kit but I've been in some pretty harsh negative temps and have been chilly at times.....this was because I went to bed in my clothes that I was round camp in ....my body could not regulate the temp inside the bag thus making me a tad chilly. ....I now just sleep in my fleece and some lightweight pants and the difference is huge. ....I camp all year round...snowstorms everything. ..I've learned so much through trial and error ....the outdoors is dangerous ...I've only live in England but it can get cold in the winter ...the most I have been in is -9 .....it's nothing compared to what the Canadians etc are used to but still enough to make you real uncomfortable in the night .....i enjoy testing myself and learning things from people in really cold country's .....i didn't learn anything from this vid btw lol.....a good sleep bag is essential ....i use the artic bag all year round ...it's a a Lil too warm in summer but the weather doesn't know what it's doing in this country ...the seasons are fucked up
Down pants and jacket are not necessary extra weight. What about bottle with hot water inside sleeping bag? It keeps me warm until morning.
Fleece liners are worth their weight in lead. Cheap emergency blankets lining your tent walls and ceiling (edges meeting, if not overlapped) weigh almost nothing in their folded state, the double-sided tape needed to attach them is the only real weight involved, and can turn mid-Winter into early-Spring, inside your shelter.
10/10 hack, highly recommend.
Sounds like you would get awful condensation though.
What is the link of the down pants ?
Good advice. People don't realize that when camping the same dynamic as your bed at home applies - you can either get one big heavy layer or multiple lighter layers that will do the same thing. You can also augment a 50 degree bag with a quilt like the snugpak jungle blanket. I find that combo works well for a 3 season scenario when you don't want a lot of heavy, extra clothes except in the middle of the night when it gets really cold. But if you are seeing below freezing temps at night, you will really want to be wearing extra layers and not just expecting your bag to carry the entire load. It just makes you miserable when you eventually have to get out of the bag and it is 25 degrees outside and you are wearing nothing but long underwear.
so dont get out of the bag. Have a pee jar. In the morning, put on your clothes while still in the the bag, or at least, your legs are still in the bag.
All of this is good and useful as you often will want those items anyway but I've slept numerous nights on mountains with coats, pants and other things on in a bag for added warmth and its never very comfy. Its restrictive and yeh you'll live but its not comfortable sleep. Granted if I'm heading to a summit often I'm so tired each night I sleep well in pretty much anything as long as I'm warm....but its not comfy. I think a good option is to buy a down blanket which packs down to nothing and can be draped or even doubled up on the top of your current bag. Doesnt add that much extra weight and can significantly extend your sleep system temps range.
Black bin liner bag ,make holes for head and arms wear like a jumper
Thanks for the advice! Very helpful.
Merino wool base layers, merino wool mummy bag liner & balaclava.
Wool socks & lightweight down jacket.
Liner gloves.
Have a nice day.
What about FEET. FEET are the most difficult body part to keep warm & you IGNORED FEET altogether.
@@azclaimjumper once you warm up your core, your extremities will warm up through blood circulation.
If your core is cold, blood will.be drawn from extremities towards your core where vital organs are.
Or do some jumping jacks to warm up your body before bed. Generates heat
@@rvz77 My core (head/torso/arms/hands/legs) were warm all night. My feet were cold when I went to bed & cold all night. You're right about exercising B4 crawling into my sleeping bag which I'm going to do from now on + I went to bed hungry & will henceforth eat some nuts/cheese B4 crawling into my sleeping bag. I'm going to try chemical heaters like HOT HANDS for me feet & toes to see if that helps.
@@azclaimjumper I just came back from 5 days in the smokies.
It dropped down to 30f at night.
And I brought the zlite foam pad and a 32f hyperlina. I wore merinol wool long johns and socks.
One night I tried those hot hand warmers and it was nice.
My feet were fine.
Yes, eat a HEARTY meal before bed, bc it takes energy to digest food.
The hot water in the Nalgene bottle works. Put that down by your feet.
Get your feet up off the ground if they are off your pad or mattress bc the ground sucks the heat from your feet.
Put your hiking bag under your feet.
@@rvz77 Thank you for your detailed & thoughtful reply. You are RIGHT on all counts. Maintaining a core temperature of 98.6º is fundamental. My core temperature was maintained, I was comfy warm from head to ankles. I knew the forecast low was 19º, this overnighter was a test of the lower limits of MEeee & my equipment I overnighted less than 1/4 mile from my vehicle knowing I could pack up & drive back to the bunker anytime I wished. I'm wanting to avoid getting myself into a dangerous situation because I'm unprepared & I'd NOT slept in this sleeping bag at what admittedly was the lower limits of its rated 10º & rated "Comfort" limit of 25º. I leared 4 things from this test/experiment. 1. My Sleeping bag is indeed accurately rated. I cannot & should not expect it to keep me comfy warm when the temperature is in the teens. 2. I crawled into my sleeping bag hungry. In the future, I"ll have nuts, cheese, & beef sticks nearby that I can munch on throughout the night. 3. I had HOT HANDS Foot Warmers back in the bunker & failed to take them with me. I'll not make that mistake ever again. I've been comfy warm with my sleep equipment of mattress, sleeping bag, clothing worn when the temperature was only in the mid 30ºs.
I now KNOW the limits of MEeee & my equipment & now KNOW enough to avoid getting myself into a situation of colder temperatures than MEeee & my equipment are designed for & capable of handling.
Some people here really don't get the point of this video (keyboard hikers?). When hiking, you can go from starting (on the same day) with just a tshirt to full fleece equipment and hardshell later during the day. I have experienced that many times in the Scottish Highlands. The point the man in the vid tries to make is that "at this time [video was posted in October] you'd need these anyway". So of course, in October, on most locations you would already get gloves, a balaclava, hat and such extra stuff with you.
That's the whole point of having a modular system. So, while normally you may use this gear while you are hiking (depending on conditions such as wind, temps etc). "Just get a better sleeping bag instead of carrying this" is really dumb advice because you can not pull your sleeping bag over your body and hike that 5 miles in wind chill conditions, can you??? If you get the balaclava, gloves and scarf or whatever, you can adapt much more easily to the conditions.
blub2121 valid point but i’d still be happy to carry afew more ounces of down in i slightly higher rated bag as well as a wearable thermal layer. I get cold feet so I always have my down booties !!!!
@@Dan-wo4bx The point is that you don't have to buy a heavier bag and that there's no rational reason to, because you have to have all of this stuff anyway if you're camping out in cold weather, unless you plan on staying zipped up in your zero degree bag all day and crawling along the trail like an inch-worm.
Wulf67 i think we are talking operating in different climates bud you mention a 0degree bag !! I’m thinking high altitude sub sub zero temps and As a mountain guide i always have a bag rated for well past the coldest temp i expect ! If you reread what i said you will see ‘as well as!’ . I’m Scottish 0degrees I’d still be wearing bloody shorts !
@@Dan-wo4bx If your shorts are bloody you should ask your mom for a tampon. And you don't seem to understand the premise of the video. I can't help you with that. He's talking about shoulder seasons, and since that's very clear to me, so am I.
@@Dan-wo4bx Is the video talking about "sub zero temps?" No. And if you were a "mountain guide" in sub-zero temps, then you would most certainly already have a balaclava, gloves, and an insulating layer with you.
I used summer tent and summer sleeping bag with a wool blanket and candle heater in a jar...slept cozy all night there was frost frozen inside the tent from my breath but l was fine
Wow!! Genius! More clothes make you warmer! Mind blowing
If you wear cloths inside a sleeping bag you don't benefit at all and in the morning you are freezing cold. The best thing is to take your cloths off and put them inside with you. That way your cloths are warm when you get up in the morning. Also, use a sleeping bag liner. I use a fleece one. You can get them for about £10 in the UK. I am ex-military, I know about these things.
Really Good tips
Very enLIGHTENing. Thanks!
Excellent sound advice. Thank you.
Very good ideas. Thank you very much
I learned a lot by watching your video. Great educational video!
Coldest I've ever truly 'camped' (not RV'd or 'cabin'd') is around -15F...with a LOT of hunting in the 0-10F range...and though I'm far too old and arthritic to do a lot of that now, there's a LOT of tricks that will keep you warmer than some of these recommendations (starting with the old adages of NEVER sleep with clothes! Which, kinda kills the down underwear idea).
You want sleeping warmth, BUY THE RIGHT BAG for your general 'expected lowest temps'...LOT easier to unzip a bag to let air out, than try to evict chipmunks from leaves at 2-am to bury yourself in them trying to 'add insulation' in the middle of the night! Personally, I've got a 3-piece bag (fly, inner and outer) that can be configured from 40F down to -10F...cost a FORTUNE, even in the day, still worth the investment...and not bad on weight, for what it is (5.8-lbs).
If you're like me, with habitual cold-feet, make sure to pack two Zippo hand warmers EXTRA...fuel them before bedtime and light them up...toss them in the foot of your sleeping bag (one for a normal night, two for a really cold night)...have warm feet in the morning, CHEAP!
Going where the chances of 34-F rain are quite high, or lots of wind? Make up a fitted MYLAR (Space blanket) under-fly for your tent...AND USE IT! Stop getting frozen in the middle of the night, because your fly got wet, then the 30-mph winds came and froze you in your sleep! The mylar will also hold a LOT of warmth in that a normal fly will not, let alone blocking tons of wind that normally pass through taffeta.
NEVER FORGET TO DIG YOUR DRAINAGE DITCH around your tent pad, either...most miserable I ever was, happened off the St. Lawrence River...went in and set up camp one evening...woke up to torrential rains that lasted 3-days...at 35-deg F!!! I hadn't dug my perimeter drain, so my fly was wet, my pad was wet, and the tent was so saturated, it was wicking water INTO THE INSIDE above the floor stitch line! EVERYTHING WAS WET...and with fog and 100-percent humidity, it wouldn't dry! Even my 'warm wool' wasn't warm...and on day 3, as I felt the 'shakes' coming on, I had to bail out...and still took 2-days back home to dry my gear out! (a lot of what I offer here, came from that one miserable camping trip some 30-years ago)...
Thank you, for your story. Your suggestions, are well taken. I’m just getting back into solo hiking. After decades, away from it. In the, every kind of weather, bc coast mountains. Mostly, cold rain, in the rainforest.
an estimation of cost would be nice to hear directly in this video
What is the cost?
Im planning my Appalachian trail thru hike starting next march, I have a 40 degree sleeping bag and I want to save money so Im thinking about taking it
Here is what works for me. It's simple, low cost and and adds zero grams/ ounces to your base weight. A sleeping bag liner (doesn't need to be a fancypants silk one a cheapy works just as well) with my down bag inside the liner.
It works like this, the interior of the tent is subject to constant movement of cold night air to manage condensation, which unfortunately keeps the shell of the bag cold. This inhibits the ability of the down to loft to its maximum beneficial fill power. With the sleeping bag inside the liner, it's shell fabric has some protection from the frigid air temp. The liner also contributes some static air, itself a useful insulator, and it snugs your bag around you.
Simple, full length, thicker black bin bags on the outside of your sleeping bag can make a really large difference. Even just one. But 3 - yes. And they take up very little room in a pack. At those temperatures you need to have a survival blanket - whether one of those reflective foil or NASA foil or thick plastic ones - with you anyway, for when trekking or whenever. Putting your sleeping bag inside one of those can make a really large difference. You'd need a wider one, if the bag is going inside it. Otherwise - and this can make a huge difference, wrap up in the survival blanket first, and put it inside the sleeping bag. The thing is you can be too warm this way, even at a good bit below freezing point. You might even sweat - a bit, which can be no bad thing in itself as long as you weren't sweating in a big winter coat all day getting there. Sweat down to minus 5 to 10 degrees centigrade shouldn't really be much of a problem, while it if goes much lower, everything changes and you need to avoid sweating.
BUT - you shouldn't go trekking or camping in this weather without a survival blanket, for quick weather or height changes or quick body temperature change where you couldn't get your tent up in time to cope. Given that u need to bring a survival blanket anyway, it can easily happen at night that you find you need it inside your sleeping bag. You have it, you don't need to worry. You might start with 2 or 3 black bin liner bags outside your sleeping bag, add the survival blanket outside if it's just getting silly cold outside. Then you could take the survival blanket inside the sleeping bag if still more warmth is needed.
In winter anyway, every sleeping bag ought to have some kind of liner sack, whether cotton or linen, or much preferably fleece. Some survival blankets might be damaged if you use them inside your sleeping bag. They should still function ok at the time, but may need repairing or exchanging afterwards. So if you going to use a survival blanket inside the sleeping bag, use the liner as a first layer beyond your body and before the survival blanket. That way, the survival blanket is more protected less likely to be damaged.
You're still quite likely to need the things in this video such as socks - maybe not jacket, but maybe. Thermal pyjamas are a very good idea or at least some cotton long sleeve t shirt and cotton lounge bottoms tucked into socks.
The hat always needs to come with you, in case your body is lovely and warm but the head feels awful.
Silk sleepsheet/bagliner?
Late Dec 2020, and I was surprised there was no mention of socks or footwear.
you can stay a lot Wormer by nixing everything but the beanie, you can add about 10 Degrees to your bag with a thinsalight pad under your bag, and about 10 Degrees by adding a bag liner and it can be used in the summer as a sleeping bag and about 10 Degrees by adding bevy bag to your set up, so that will make you 30 Degrees a 0 bag and only adding about 2 to 3 lbs. to your pack.
"Only" adding 2-3 pounds," eh? Actually, while that would sound insane to most people, they are probably already carrying a pad and should be carrying some sort of (at least minimal) liner, so the extra probably doesn't add quite that much extra weight to what they're already packing.
Good advice! Totally agree with ya.
Use a garbage bag, cut hole at bottom for head to pop out, hole at bottom sides for each arm. Take long johns off place garbage over bear skin poking head and arms there holes. Place log joins back on over garbage bag and you. You will sleep warmer in your sleeping bag. Also can use small plastic bag for head cutting hole for face. Place over bare head then hat on top. Use empty bread bags over bare feet with socks over bagged foot.
All of that are great tips! But a really important tip is the sleeping pad you use can take away or retain your body heat. So if you have a low R-rating pad all of that will not help. 👍
All body parts release heat at the same rate. So, keep all body parts covered if you want to retain heat.
where do i buy the down paints and jacket at from your site or a camping store
Anyone seeking motivation to get out there away from the humans would do well to read all the cranky youtube comments by people who need a snack and a nap.
We have 2 summer sleeping bags and just 1
sleepingbag for freezing temperatures. Most of the time my boyfriend sleeps in the warm one, and I sleep in the 2 summer bags. Never cold so far. For us was about the saving of money than saving of weight.
Very well explained. Thanks!
Best way to boost your temperature is by simply adding a voluptous swedish air hostess😀
Tried that, got too sweaty! 😜👍
Really useful information
I don't like wearing clothes inside my mummy sleeping bag. Layers do the trick when it get's cold out there, I use a very compact summer sleeping bag and when it's not enough I have another one to put over it, works very good and no big sleeping bags to carry around. Something breathable to cover your face can be nice when it's freezing. A small tent feels more comfortable than a big one....until the sun appears.
I've tried that bundling up method in a sleeping bag once. It sucked! Not only was it far less comfortable but my legs and feet never got warm even though when sleeping in the bag with just long johns and thin socks, I was toasty before. I did it just as a test inside a -25F bag with temps below zero just to see if I would get warmer. I figured layering works awesome for clothing during the day so it should be the same in a bag. WRONG! The problem is, if you layer up, you'll never warm up the sleeping bag and you're feet and even the whole half of your body will never get warm because the upper half of your body where the bulk of your heat comes from can't get into the bag to warm it up. It just doesn't work. I was miserable. I'll never bundle up inside a sleeping bag ever again.
Warm cozy fire lit in an old disposable bbq tray is perfect, can move closer or further, top up every hour or so and keeps you toasty all night long
Line the bag with a wool or alpaca fiber blanket.
Some things that work: wear an insulated snowmobile overall bib overnight. Wear a hat with ear flaps. Throw another sleeping bag over your existing one. Put a bivy bag over the whole thing. Throw a light jacket over your face area.
I just have a 0 degree sleeping bag that i use year round. I sleep on it in the summer and I sleep in it when it's cooler.
I would also add down socks!
it sounds with down jacket and pants one could forego the sleeping bag, at times...
Great info! Thanks.
This is excellent!!! Thank you
thanks very informational
Great tips!
How to boost your temp in a sleeping bag? Put more clothes on lol
That was very helpfull. Thanks
wool socks, thermal weight base layer, and most importantly, an insulated sleeping pad with a high R value.
Not bad tips especially with some of the companies out there producing cheaper quality down gear.
Neck veins "bleed a lot of heat" lol
Arteries...
You just got my business because you offered a phone # I can call an speak with a human about the gear I will need for my thru hike. Instead of some website that gives you a email address at best.
Drop a hum or denoise filter on your video/audio before exporting it.
There’s a better way to increases your bags temp rating.
Your sleeping pad will increase the warmth by about 10 degrees and a bag liner for another 10 degrees and last a bevy bag will add about 10 degrees. But nothing beats starting with a goo 0 bag if you ask me and you can use the bag liner in the summer
personally I like a hot bloodied woman nect to me.she can have the zip side !
I put my British army arctic sleeping bag inside another British army arctic sleeping bag with an air pad inside, then pop it inside a gortex bivy bag with a hot water bottle . Waighes in around 13 pound toasty warm tho.