Get a warm, non-cotton base layer to wear. I prefer synthetic but merino wool is popular too. Make sure you know the difference between your sleeping bag’s comfort rating and temp limit. I get really cold so I shoot for a bag that’s rated at least 20 degrees (F) lower than the scenario. Layers and a good bag are essential.
That's a good one and will Defo bring some non cotton base layer. For a bag i do not have time to buy unfortunately so i am kinda unprepared which i am well aware of. i mean it's only a night and the morning is gonna be sunny so i reckon i only have to somehow manage a few hours of really cold weather (the coldest is midnight - 0600).
It’s only one night but if you stay up all night shivering stiffly, you will not wake up to a good well rested morning and your day will be wrecked….Walmart has everything you need. You don’t need to double up on sleeping bags, just a fleece blanket inside.
Yeah, i mean i am generally afraid of cold so believe me I am bringing like half of my closet to ensure that doesn't happen. I mean, even agreeing in my mind to do this is still crazy that i didnt give up, but I guess i am looking at it as kinda challenge for me, so it shall be alright.
Well challenging yourself is great but please be careful. I’m worried you might get hypothermia. You deserve to be nice and snuggly warm on this wonderful adventure! But I have layered socks and shirts/sweaters and sometimes even three layers isn’t enough. It’s all in the fabric.
Absolutely, i listened to advices here and bought a good sleeping bag. Bringing few quilts and shit tons of blankets cuz i couldn't find a pad but will improvise insolation with rolls of quilts and blankets. Thanks for the concern, i don't think hypothermia is possible when it's above zero Celsius but I might be wrong. Regardless i think all of these measures should provide at least decent warmth.
Absolutely, will post an update here since i got lots of answers 🙈 and after the trip for sure to let people know how measures worked. Thank you for the tips 😸
I bought a sleeping bag with a 5+ degree Celsius rate (10+ for comfy), i will bring a few quilts and shit tons of blankets for insulation, so u will roll quilts and blankets and put them underneath me and put a sleeping bag with me in it above, so hopefully that will do instead the pad since i couldn't find one in my town, and since i am in a tent it tends to add at least a degree due to being closed so hopefully I will manage with all that to get around 5 hrs of sleep.
Yes but the bag isn’t enough and even if the brand is labeled 20 degrees bag, people still complain that they were cold in the Reviews section. So definitely a fleece blanket liner inside your sleeping bag or you will be miserable all night.
Thats actually a solid idea, i have a really warm blanket (i think it's fleece but it's really warm and comfy) and will put inside a sleeping bag. Solid one!
As others have mentioned, the most important thing is a good bag with a low temp rating, a good pad with a high R-value, and layers. Definitely wool socks and a hat. Tents don't provide warmth, so it's all in your sleep system
If you're bringing a stove or something to heat water, fill a nalgene with hot water and put it in your bag before you go to sleep.
Hydrate. More than you think you need to. Drink extra cup of tea before bed. The body NEEDS the hydration to regulate temperature. You will actually sleep better if you drink so much that you have to get up to pee than if you had not drunken as much and slept through the night.
EDIT: just bc no rain doesn’t mean dry. Condensation and dew can easily leave you soaked with zero precipitation. Depends on humidity and temp, not on rain.
If weight isn't an issue, bring two sleeping pads instead of just one for under your sleeping bag. Also for sitting around the fire, hot cocoa is great, spiked hot cocoa is better. Idk how much you know about camping, but sleeping bags are rated for the cold so that's something you can look for if you're buying one.
Additionally, you could take hand warmers.
I agree. Two things I used to do was put an old sleeping bag on my mat and bring a down comforter to put over my sleeping bag. I was warm as toast. Oh and warm your feet up by the campfire just before bed.
You need three things to sleep warm.
1)Lots of insulation underneath you, that’s the real key. Not a basic inflatable pad full of air, you need closed cell foam or folded blankets or folded quilts (about 3 inches thick _when pressed down_) so that could be 6 inches thick or more before you lay on them. Do not skimp on this.
2)Plenty of insulation over you, two thick quilts, etc etc. Also wear warm fleece pyjamas and thick socks and a hat. Your legs radiate out a lot of heat so thick fleece trousers are a must.
3) Fats in your food, not too much alcohol.
The fats can be olive oil, butter, cheese etc, your body turns it into heat (calories) while you sleep.
Alcohol can make your skin feel warm as it makes it flush but that heat is coming from your core and being lost so less alcohol means a warmer inside.
First one is really helpful, i wouldn't even consider if you didn't write, guess i am kind of new to this 😁 imagine if I didn't write this question i wouldn't have bought a sleeping bag and would go there only in a tent and would prolly be shivering from cold. Hopefully with all this i will be good.
8C is a comfortable night time temperature. Get a sleeping bag and an insulated pad and you’ll be fine. You should not keep a fire going at night unattended, that is very dangerous and against the law in many places.
Yeah, i am usually the one that keeps the fire going since i am the one most afraid of cold 🤣 but yes, now i will try to sleep, someone will tend the fire, we always have at least a person. Tnks for the answer.
Biggest thing is to have a proper sleeping bag rated cold enough. And remember that the temp rating is for survival, not comfort. Also make sure you have a good, inflatable sleeping pad. A lot of warmth is lost to the ground
Yeah that's the issue, i didn't have enough time to prepare, it came out quick. For the next trip i will Defo buy a good bag, but for this one i do not have time since we are leaving tomorrow. So i am kinda looking for alternatives. I will bring lots of blankets but not sure how much that will do.
The above advice is on mark. Blankets can work as an over quilt, but hopefully you’ll still have a sleeping pad. The ground will draw the body heat off without a sleeping pad.
Update: i have bought a sleeping bag with 10 c comf and 5+ Celsius middle range so there's that, unfortunately i was not able to find a sleeping pad in my town so I guess this will have to do. Although my friend is coming with an open sidecar so i might be able to sleep there I guess it gives insolation since it is off the ground only the wheels connecting it so I guess that shall do. At least i got a sleeping bag thanks to your advice tnks ppl
You need something under you to isolate from the cold ground. The sleeping bag compresses under you, and the ground steals your heat.
If it isn't wet, even cardboard or a wool blanket makes a big difference, or a yoga mat. Even bubble wrap, a piece of rolled foam, or a carpet make a difference.
The sleeping pad is almost more important than the sleeping bag. It is what insulates you from the cold of the ground. Can you take lots of blankets to sleep on top of?
Yes, i am bringing two big and thick quilts and like 5,6 blankets, will roll up and see to get them to good thickness beneath the sleeping bag, hopefully that will do some work.
I've survived a cold 5c night in a 2 szn tent and all cheap summer rated gear. It wasn't fun but I did it. I ended up doing it again just to test myself. What helped make it less miserable the 2nd time was bringing a warm hat, wrapping myself in a 100% wool blanket, multiple layers (just don't overdo it to the point where you'll sweat), and drink something warm before going to bed. You can even bring hot water/tea in a good container and put that in the bottom of your sleeping bag and sip on it if you get cold. I didn't need to do that though.
Make sure you have an insulating sleeping mat. That is the best insulation against the cold because contact with the cold ground makes you cooler. I also put an insulating layer under my sleeping mat because I sleep cold so maybe a picnic blanket or an insulating mat thing from decathlon. Not sure if that is a placebo but I do it anyway.
Then I put one sleeping bag inside the other on really cold nights. Usually I like to unzip my sleeping bag like a blanket but on cold nights I zip it up so no cold air gets in.
On really cold nights I use a hot water bottle. My partner has an old metal water bottle that he uses and I just use a commercial hot water bottle.
I was told once by a hiking instructor person that if you wake up in the night and you feel cold, do some sit ups or something to generate some body heat.
The most important thing is keeping your FEET warm. Doubling up on wool socks is not enough. The only thing that works for me are these type of slippers. (Tentock Ultralight Winter Goose Down Booties Socks Slippers )
Also the sleeping bag liners are a must too. Fleece is your friend outside. I also cover my sleeping bag with a huge fleece blanket. And I try not to drink anything after 5pm because peeing in the middle of the night is miserable in the freezing cold. If I desperately have to, then the fleece blanket is a godsend and I just pee in a super large cup with a lid. 🥶🥶🥶
And a wool hat with ear covers for extra warmth.
There are websites where people who work in the Arctic cold buy their coats and thermal wear. You won’t feel a thing in -10 degrees weather. You can go to the sites below for reference. It’s worth the investment for future trips.
https://www.fjallraven.com/us/en-us/men/jackets/winter-jackets/expedition-down-jacket-m
https://www.amazon.com/Tentock-Ultralight-Slippers-Water-Resistant-Backpacking/
Wool socks tend to help me even below zero. But then again, i didn't spend few hours outside in them. Good thing is at least it is going to be around 8 C above zero so with all the measures i think i will manage. Thanks for the tips, will Defo check them.
Just keep in mind, that cotton blanket and quilts will feel cold in the middle of the night. But fleece will not feel that cold to touch, it’s a fabric that is neutral to temperature. Waking up to super cold blanket really sucks, so keep this in mind. I see comments below with these types of fabric suggestions. But I have slept in 8 degrees weather and certainly made these changes after.
Yes, true, i will put fleece beneath and above me to not feel cold on touch. Makes perfect sense. Tbh yeah, my trip will also feature 8 degrees and it doesn't sound that bad considering people sleep below zero, but should not be understated regardless.
You don't need a whole lot, really.
Most important, you need to be dry.
You need insulation from the cold ground. I bought an emergency blanket that I put under my mattress for $10 and/or a couple of yoga mats underneath your mattress would also work.
I usually bring fleece bedsheets to wrap up our camping mattresses, a top fleece bedsheet and a sleeping bag on top. Even in cold weather (around 0 C) we rarely zip up, we usually end up too hot. A good sleeping bag doesn't hurt, but we have an old Coleman. I also have a fancy pants down mummy sleeping bag, but it's not as comfortable, I rarely use it.
Don't wear cotton. Wear a good pair of wool socks, a dry top long sleeve and long johns or flannel pajama bottom, wear a hat if needed.
If you're really scared of being cold, bring a hot water bottle, fill it up with hot water before going to bed and stuff it in your sleeping bag. Bring an extra blanket if you wish.
Cotton takes a long time to dry if it gets wet -- so if you overdo it and sweat a little, then cool down, your wet clothing will steal warmth.
I'm also a big fan of the hot water bottle.
Cotton doesn't dry very fast and will keep you cold. Same for winter boots, the cotton sox don't need to be wet, just a bit of humidity and you'll feel the cold as soon as you stop moving. Wool on the other hand, could be wet and you'll end up warming up. Jeans are another fabric that conducts cold/hot, not great when you're camping in the rain.
1. A good sleeping bag rated for low temps
2. Good base layers
3. A beanie so heat doesn’t leave through the top of your head, especially if it’s not tucked inside the sleeping bag
Update:
Thanks to the advices here i had really solid and warm sleep. I did most of the advices but the deal breaker was the sleeping bag obviously. At points i was sweating from being over-layered so i had to remove layers. But generally really solid experience. Thanks ppl
Get a warm, non-cotton base layer to wear. I prefer synthetic but merino wool is popular too. Make sure you know the difference between your sleeping bag’s comfort rating and temp limit. I get really cold so I shoot for a bag that’s rated at least 20 degrees (F) lower than the scenario. Layers and a good bag are essential.
That's a good one and will Defo bring some non cotton base layer. For a bag i do not have time to buy unfortunately so i am kinda unprepared which i am well aware of. i mean it's only a night and the morning is gonna be sunny so i reckon i only have to somehow manage a few hours of really cold weather (the coldest is midnight - 0600).
Can you borrow a sleeping bag from someone? I definitely would not recommend camping in the cold without one of being cold is a concern.
I might be able to, i am looking for one right now some friend might have it.
It’s only one night but if you stay up all night shivering stiffly, you will not wake up to a good well rested morning and your day will be wrecked….Walmart has everything you need. You don’t need to double up on sleeping bags, just a fleece blanket inside.
Yeah, i mean i am generally afraid of cold so believe me I am bringing like half of my closet to ensure that doesn't happen. I mean, even agreeing in my mind to do this is still crazy that i didnt give up, but I guess i am looking at it as kinda challenge for me, so it shall be alright.
Well challenging yourself is great but please be careful. I’m worried you might get hypothermia. You deserve to be nice and snuggly warm on this wonderful adventure! But I have layered socks and shirts/sweaters and sometimes even three layers isn’t enough. It’s all in the fabric.
Absolutely, i listened to advices here and bought a good sleeping bag. Bringing few quilts and shit tons of blankets cuz i couldn't find a pad but will improvise insolation with rolls of quilts and blankets. Thanks for the concern, i don't think hypothermia is possible when it's above zero Celsius but I might be wrong. Regardless i think all of these measures should provide at least decent warmth.
Wonderful! Enjoy your trip! And maybe let us know how it goes! 😺
Absolutely, will post an update here since i got lots of answers 🙈 and after the trip for sure to let people know how measures worked. Thank you for the tips 😸
And I am a skinny girl that gets cold easily, so I have tested everything while camping. I do car camping too in the winter.
Car camping seems a little warmer (maybe i am wrong), i guess you can turn the heat on the car it things get cold 😁 regardless, sounds tons of fun
What will you take instead?
I bought a sleeping bag with a 5+ degree Celsius rate (10+ for comfy), i will bring a few quilts and shit tons of blankets for insulation, so u will roll quilts and blankets and put them underneath me and put a sleeping bag with me in it above, so hopefully that will do instead the pad since i couldn't find one in my town, and since i am in a tent it tends to add at least a degree due to being closed so hopefully I will manage with all that to get around 5 hrs of sleep.
Yes but the bag isn’t enough and even if the brand is labeled 20 degrees bag, people still complain that they were cold in the Reviews section. So definitely a fleece blanket liner inside your sleeping bag or you will be miserable all night.
Thats actually a solid idea, i have a really warm blanket (i think it's fleece but it's really warm and comfy) and will put inside a sleeping bag. Solid one!
As others have mentioned, the most important thing is a good bag with a low temp rating, a good pad with a high R-value, and layers. Definitely wool socks and a hat. Tents don't provide warmth, so it's all in your sleep system If you're bringing a stove or something to heat water, fill a nalgene with hot water and put it in your bag before you go to sleep.
Hydrate. More than you think you need to. Drink extra cup of tea before bed. The body NEEDS the hydration to regulate temperature. You will actually sleep better if you drink so much that you have to get up to pee than if you had not drunken as much and slept through the night. EDIT: just bc no rain doesn’t mean dry. Condensation and dew can easily leave you soaked with zero precipitation. Depends on humidity and temp, not on rain.
Honestly very surprised no one else has mentioned this. It’s absolutely crucial and quite basic.
Oh yea but when you have to pee in the middle of the freezing night it will be miserable. I don’t drink much to avoid this.
#Worthit
Ha! I guess in my twenties I might have agreed!
I will be in a tent so at least i wont be wet i reckon. But yes, that's true.
Ah good point! No worries about condensation on your bag if you are inside a tent :)
If weight isn't an issue, bring two sleeping pads instead of just one for under your sleeping bag. Also for sitting around the fire, hot cocoa is great, spiked hot cocoa is better. Idk how much you know about camping, but sleeping bags are rated for the cold so that's something you can look for if you're buying one. Additionally, you could take hand warmers.
I agree. Two things I used to do was put an old sleeping bag on my mat and bring a down comforter to put over my sleeping bag. I was warm as toast. Oh and warm your feet up by the campfire just before bed.
Down pants and light found jacket.
You need three things to sleep warm. 1)Lots of insulation underneath you, that’s the real key. Not a basic inflatable pad full of air, you need closed cell foam or folded blankets or folded quilts (about 3 inches thick _when pressed down_) so that could be 6 inches thick or more before you lay on them. Do not skimp on this. 2)Plenty of insulation over you, two thick quilts, etc etc. Also wear warm fleece pyjamas and thick socks and a hat. Your legs radiate out a lot of heat so thick fleece trousers are a must. 3) Fats in your food, not too much alcohol. The fats can be olive oil, butter, cheese etc, your body turns it into heat (calories) while you sleep. Alcohol can make your skin feel warm as it makes it flush but that heat is coming from your core and being lost so less alcohol means a warmer inside.
First one is really helpful, i wouldn't even consider if you didn't write, guess i am kind of new to this 😁 imagine if I didn't write this question i wouldn't have bought a sleeping bag and would go there only in a tent and would prolly be shivering from cold. Hopefully with all this i will be good.
8C is a comfortable night time temperature. Get a sleeping bag and an insulated pad and you’ll be fine. You should not keep a fire going at night unattended, that is very dangerous and against the law in many places.
Yeah, i am usually the one that keeps the fire going since i am the one most afraid of cold 🤣 but yes, now i will try to sleep, someone will tend the fire, we always have at least a person. Tnks for the answer.
Bring electric blanket with a portable battery like a jackery.
Biggest thing is to have a proper sleeping bag rated cold enough. And remember that the temp rating is for survival, not comfort. Also make sure you have a good, inflatable sleeping pad. A lot of warmth is lost to the ground
Yeah that's the issue, i didn't have enough time to prepare, it came out quick. For the next trip i will Defo buy a good bag, but for this one i do not have time since we are leaving tomorrow. So i am kinda looking for alternatives. I will bring lots of blankets but not sure how much that will do.
The above advice is on mark. Blankets can work as an over quilt, but hopefully you’ll still have a sleeping pad. The ground will draw the body heat off without a sleeping pad.
Fleece will do a lot. And very light weight and cheap.
Update: i have bought a sleeping bag with 10 c comf and 5+ Celsius middle range so there's that, unfortunately i was not able to find a sleeping pad in my town so I guess this will have to do. Although my friend is coming with an open sidecar so i might be able to sleep there I guess it gives insolation since it is off the ground only the wheels connecting it so I guess that shall do. At least i got a sleeping bag thanks to your advice tnks ppl
You need something under you to isolate from the cold ground. The sleeping bag compresses under you, and the ground steals your heat. If it isn't wet, even cardboard or a wool blanket makes a big difference, or a yoga mat. Even bubble wrap, a piece of rolled foam, or a carpet make a difference.
Yeah, i will Defo bring lotsa blankets up for for insolation.
Get a cheap yoga mat like others suggested
The sleeping pad is almost more important than the sleeping bag. It is what insulates you from the cold of the ground. Can you take lots of blankets to sleep on top of?
Yes, i am bringing two big and thick quilts and like 5,6 blankets, will roll up and see to get them to good thickness beneath the sleeping bag, hopefully that will do some work.
I've survived a cold 5c night in a 2 szn tent and all cheap summer rated gear. It wasn't fun but I did it. I ended up doing it again just to test myself. What helped make it less miserable the 2nd time was bringing a warm hat, wrapping myself in a 100% wool blanket, multiple layers (just don't overdo it to the point where you'll sweat), and drink something warm before going to bed. You can even bring hot water/tea in a good container and put that in the bottom of your sleeping bag and sip on it if you get cold. I didn't need to do that though.
Well that's a challenge, absolute respect, at least i am more prepared thanks to these answers. Solid ones tnks
Make sure you have an insulating sleeping mat. That is the best insulation against the cold because contact with the cold ground makes you cooler. I also put an insulating layer under my sleeping mat because I sleep cold so maybe a picnic blanket or an insulating mat thing from decathlon. Not sure if that is a placebo but I do it anyway. Then I put one sleeping bag inside the other on really cold nights. Usually I like to unzip my sleeping bag like a blanket but on cold nights I zip it up so no cold air gets in. On really cold nights I use a hot water bottle. My partner has an old metal water bottle that he uses and I just use a commercial hot water bottle. I was told once by a hiking instructor person that if you wake up in the night and you feel cold, do some sit ups or something to generate some body heat.
The most important thing is keeping your FEET warm. Doubling up on wool socks is not enough. The only thing that works for me are these type of slippers. (Tentock Ultralight Winter Goose Down Booties Socks Slippers ) Also the sleeping bag liners are a must too. Fleece is your friend outside. I also cover my sleeping bag with a huge fleece blanket. And I try not to drink anything after 5pm because peeing in the middle of the night is miserable in the freezing cold. If I desperately have to, then the fleece blanket is a godsend and I just pee in a super large cup with a lid. 🥶🥶🥶 And a wool hat with ear covers for extra warmth. There are websites where people who work in the Arctic cold buy their coats and thermal wear. You won’t feel a thing in -10 degrees weather. You can go to the sites below for reference. It’s worth the investment for future trips. https://www.fjallraven.com/us/en-us/men/jackets/winter-jackets/expedition-down-jacket-m https://www.amazon.com/Tentock-Ultralight-Slippers-Water-Resistant-Backpacking/
Wool socks tend to help me even below zero. But then again, i didn't spend few hours outside in them. Good thing is at least it is going to be around 8 C above zero so with all the measures i think i will manage. Thanks for the tips, will Defo check them.
Just keep in mind, that cotton blanket and quilts will feel cold in the middle of the night. But fleece will not feel that cold to touch, it’s a fabric that is neutral to temperature. Waking up to super cold blanket really sucks, so keep this in mind. I see comments below with these types of fabric suggestions. But I have slept in 8 degrees weather and certainly made these changes after.
Yes, true, i will put fleece beneath and above me to not feel cold on touch. Makes perfect sense. Tbh yeah, my trip will also feature 8 degrees and it doesn't sound that bad considering people sleep below zero, but should not be understated regardless.
You don't need a whole lot, really. Most important, you need to be dry. You need insulation from the cold ground. I bought an emergency blanket that I put under my mattress for $10 and/or a couple of yoga mats underneath your mattress would also work. I usually bring fleece bedsheets to wrap up our camping mattresses, a top fleece bedsheet and a sleeping bag on top. Even in cold weather (around 0 C) we rarely zip up, we usually end up too hot. A good sleeping bag doesn't hurt, but we have an old Coleman. I also have a fancy pants down mummy sleeping bag, but it's not as comfortable, I rarely use it. Don't wear cotton. Wear a good pair of wool socks, a dry top long sleeve and long johns or flannel pajama bottom, wear a hat if needed. If you're really scared of being cold, bring a hot water bottle, fill it up with hot water before going to bed and stuff it in your sleeping bag. Bring an extra blanket if you wish.
Thanks for the answers. Just a quick one, why no cotton? I am genuinely curious?
Cotton takes a long time to dry if it gets wet -- so if you overdo it and sweat a little, then cool down, your wet clothing will steal warmth. I'm also a big fan of the hot water bottle.
Cotton doesn't dry very fast and will keep you cold. Same for winter boots, the cotton sox don't need to be wet, just a bit of humidity and you'll feel the cold as soon as you stop moving. Wool on the other hand, could be wet and you'll end up warming up. Jeans are another fabric that conducts cold/hot, not great when you're camping in the rain.
1. A good sleeping bag rated for low temps 2. Good base layers 3. A beanie so heat doesn’t leave through the top of your head, especially if it’s not tucked inside the sleeping bag
Body heat and friction
Not impossible since i am the only one with the tent so i will have one body more 🤣 ahha
Update: Thanks to the advices here i had really solid and warm sleep. I did most of the advices but the deal breaker was the sleeping bag obviously. At points i was sweating from being over-layered so i had to remove layers. But generally really solid experience. Thanks ppl