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Old 07-21-2017, 09:11 AM
fish_e_o fish_e_o is offline
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Default fixing a cold sleeper

when i'm backpacking i'm a cold sleeper. i always have been and i've always just suffered through it.

this year i want to fix that.

this is the bivy i used last year
https://www.outdoorresearch.com/ca/e.../2428290202222

this is my tent i used last year
http://www.mountainhardwear.ca/en/sh...or=456#start=3

this is my bag i used last year
https://www.klymit.com/ksb-0-down-sleeping-bag.html

this is the pad i used last year
https://www.klymit.com/inertia-x-frame.html

i have also tried using a liner in my bag

since then i have bought a surplus us military sleeping system complete with bivy. i tried it out in the trailer without heat in november and it was fine and i was nice and toasty. but i was also in a trailer

that surplus thing is freaking huge so i'd rather not hike with it but sleeping well would be really nice.

should i go to a foam pad? is some of my gear wrong? i've spent far too long not being comfortable
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Old 07-21-2017, 09:24 AM
Norwest Alta Norwest Alta is offline
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Try a new ad in the hunting partner wanted.
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Old 07-21-2017, 09:27 AM
fish_e_o fish_e_o is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Norwest Alta View Post
Try a new ad in the hunting partner wanted.
i have bags that zip together actually...
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Old 07-21-2017, 09:30 AM
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fallen1817 fallen1817 is offline
 
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One thing I've always heard, is heat up a water bottle on the fire before bed, and throw it in the bottom of your sleeping bag.

Not sure how "in-tents" (pun) you are about weight, but might be worth throwing a light pair of sweats/long sleeve shirt in with your gear... It would add a bit of weight, but might be worth the extra comfort.

Jeff
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Old 07-21-2017, 09:30 AM
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IMO you just need a warmer bag. I have the ascend -40. Awesome bag. Ive never been cold and even in warmer temps like +20 I don't get hot. Everyone controls body temp different though.
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Old 07-21-2017, 09:37 AM
Kurt505 Kurt505 is offline
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Have you tried a snuggle with Berger? I bet that would keep you toasty. Might even get breakfast out of the deal
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Old 07-21-2017, 09:41 AM
fish_e_o fish_e_o is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fallen1817 View Post
One thing I've always heard, is heat up a water bottle on the fire before bed, and throw it in the bottom of your sleeping bag.

Not sure how "in-tents" (pun) you are about weight, but might be worth throwing a light pair of sweats/long sleeve shirt in with your gear... It would add a bit of weight, but might be worth the extra comfort.

Jeff
i tried wear clothes to bed one time but i woke up drenched in sweat and froze something awful.
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IMO you just need a warmer bag. I have the ascend -40. Awesome bag. Ive never been cold and even in warmer temps like +20 I don't get hot. Everyone controls body temp different though.
i sure hope not! i've been through a lot of sleeping bags. i'm willing to give it a shot though
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Old 07-21-2017, 09:45 AM
BackPackHunter BackPackHunter is offline
 
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I build a mat of pine bows n moss to set my tent or tarp or bivy on
I make it about 6" if I can , also I sleep in my clothes to make it easier to get out of the tent in the early cold mornings .
I used two different sleeping bags depending on conditions sometimes I use a liner also . A good sleep is important if your going to hunt hard the next day
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Old 07-21-2017, 10:10 AM
BackPackHunter BackPackHunter is offline
 
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Pad - https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5041-0...e-Sleeping-Pad

Bag early season -
http://www.campsaver.com/marmot-plas...g-bag-900-down

Late season -
https://m.climbers-shop.com/10895466...oldid=10895466

Tent - http://www.campsaver.com/easton-kilo...erson-3-season

Tarp - http://www.rokslide.com/forums/backp...-megatarp.html

I usually sleep in icebreaker long underwear is it's hot out , fully dressed if cold
If it's in between temps , I leave the bag opened to help let the heat out .
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Old 07-21-2017, 10:15 AM
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Your sleeping pad seems pretty sketchy. Huge holes in it to reduce weight doesn't insulate you from the ground. That's all I can figure. And I assume you are sleeping at above -18c temps. Maybe an internal liner.
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Old 07-21-2017, 10:26 AM
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A toque makes a big difference and I'd where a merino wool base layer - that way you won't get cold if you do sweat.
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Old 07-21-2017, 10:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Okotokian View Post
Your sleeping pad seems pretty sketchy. Huge holes in it to reduce weight doesn't insulate you from the ground. That's all I can figure. And I assume you are sleeping at above -18c temps. Maybe an internal liner.
i'm going to try a new pad.

mre research indicates there is no r value for the pad i have and a cold sleeper should be about and R4

coldest i get to is like -10 and not often. only as an oh crap moment.
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Old 07-21-2017, 10:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hunt_and_fish View Post
A toque makes a big difference and I'd where a merino wool base layer - that way you won't get cold if you do sweat.
Agree big time. Keeping your head warm makes a huge difference. Toque or balaclava will improve your body warmth far more than a heavier bag.
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Old 07-21-2017, 10:34 AM
Nyksta Nyksta is offline
 
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Polyester (plastic and oil) and cotton (plant material) are not designed to keep you dry and warm. They keep moisture next to your body. Get wool (natural animal insulation) and stay dry and insulated. Wool wicks away sweat better than any other material. Sweat removes heat from your body. If the polyester and cotton keep that sweat next to your body, it will continue to pull more heat out of you and you feel it every time you move and expose warmed up sweat to the air to cool off. It also feels gross being covered in sweat all day and night.
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Old 07-21-2017, 10:48 AM
Jjolg123 Jjolg123 is offline
 
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Better sleeping pad, keep your head warm, fresh layer for sleeping not something you wear all day and lastly if your still a cold sleeper use the hot pack, either the hand warmers or the larger size designed for your lower back. In the winter time ill use the hand warmers under arm pits or inner thigh.
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Old 07-21-2017, 10:54 AM
LJalberta LJalberta is offline
 
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Changing out that pad will make a huge difference right off the bat. If you can afford it, I'd recommend getting a Thermarest Xtherm or something of similar/higher R-value. It's incredible the heat I feel reflecting back compared to the chill on my 3.4 R-value pad once the temperature drops below freezing. Using the same bag, the warmth difference I could feel at even -2/-3ish surprised me. Having a high calorie, fatty snack just before crash for the night has made a noticeable difference in the warmth of my sleep as well. I have no experience with that bag to comment though.
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  #17  
Old 07-21-2017, 10:57 AM
csimps csimps is offline
 
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You lose a lot of heat through your pad. I would suggest upgrading to this:
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5041-0...m-Sleeping-Pad

Not cheap but it has a very high R value.

I found it was a bit slippery at first, but if you have it in a bivy sack that shouldn't be an issue. Alternatively, I put some silicon on my pad to add a bit of stick.
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Old 07-21-2017, 12:26 PM
Abe89 Abe89 is offline
 
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I agree with the pad issue. I have done a lot of winter camping using a thermarest 4 season pad...fairly nice. I once doubled it with one of those fold up foam pads (can't remember the name) and experienced a massive difference...could just about feel heat radiating back off the pad. I've used it on its own as well and while not as comfy it is warmer. Ive even bought a cheap blue 5$ foam pad from Walmart, cut it down to torso ish size, straps flat on the outside of my pack, use it to stand on, sit on, and double up pads...torso was fine, legs froze. Again that 4 season pad is nice and worth the money, but foam is warmer in my experience. That's my two sense, spend it wisely.


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Old 07-21-2017, 12:29 PM
Abe89 Abe89 is offline
 
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Also synthetic vs down is worth considering. Down compresses under you; no insulation from ground. Synthetic, heavy, but better I find. I ran an L.L. Bean -18c synthetic mummy bag in -20 winter..wouldn't want to go much colder but i was comfy in just base layers. I ran this for 4 seasons of winter camping.


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Old 07-21-2017, 12:36 PM
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My wife is a cold sleeper. This is how we manage the problem.

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Old 07-21-2017, 01:23 PM
Gary K Gary K is offline
 
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i do hot watter in the bottom of my bag. or a few rocks heated up in a put in the tent to take the chill off. have alot wrapped hot rocks in a towel at bottom of bag.
That usually ends up in me opening up my bag because i am too hot, and waking up middle of the night freezing on the wrong side of the bag
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Old 07-21-2017, 02:02 PM
Don_Parsons Don_Parsons is offline
 
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Frugal space blanket glued too cheap blue foamy pad,,, extra wide too.

Velcro straps attached to pad and bag so it stays in place...

3 layer sleeping bag so it can be aired out fast.

Moisture is everyones enemy.

Google Extrem winter camping as the info will up your game plan.

Don

Last edited by Don_Parsons; 07-21-2017 at 02:09 PM.
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Old 07-21-2017, 03:31 PM
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Always keep a chocolate bar handy for a snack to raise some calories.

Grizz
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  #24  
Old 07-21-2017, 06:40 PM
rangerstan rangerstan is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams View Post
Always keep a chocolate bar handy for a snack to raise some calories.

Grizz
One thing i bring for those cold weather hunts are some hotshots, throw one in an hour before bed down and it heats up the whole inside of the sleeping bag, most are good for about 6 - 8 hours. .
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Old 07-21-2017, 06:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Okotokian View Post
My wife is a cold sleeper. This is how we manage the problem.

Your wife's idea is by far the best.
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  #26  
Old 07-21-2017, 08:01 PM
Bearbreath Bearbreath is offline
 
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Get a new pad for sure. Neoair xtherm has a great R value. You loose a tonne of heat to the ground especially the pad you are using. You have a decent 3 season bag....get a liner to try out. Sea to summit has some good ones. Hot shots in the areas you get the coldest works well. Don't wear so much clothes to bed that you are tight in the bag. Compressed down is not helpful. Wear a toque if you don't already.
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  #27  
Old 07-21-2017, 11:17 PM
calgarychef calgarychef is online now
 
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Even in a mummy bag you can lose a lot of warm air around your shoulders. I wrap anything I can around my neck and shoulders ...it helps. Maybe you're over heating yourself and sweating up the bag...in that case take armlock at vapour barriers- only make sense in colder temps though.
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  #28  
Old 07-21-2017, 11:19 PM
katts69 katts69 is offline
 
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Wow. Where to start? Are you backpack hunting?
If so you must be in some kind of shape. Your sleeping bag, bivy And sleeping pad is 110 oz that's 6.8 pounds.
Is that bag EN rated? I highly doubt that it's true to the zero deg rating.
Get a good bag and western mountaineering would be my vote.
That bivy is way overkill for inside a tent. Way lighter and breathable options.
Get a thermarest pad. Xtherm or even the xlite. Light years ahead of the pad your using.
You should be able to easily shave almost 2 pounds off that setup and be warm and comfortable.
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  #29  
Old 07-25-2017, 09:03 AM
Abe89 Abe89 is offline
 
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One last thought; sleeping bags are generally only comfortable to 10 degrees above their rating. IE: I have a -9c bag, I start getting pretty chilly when it's -3 to -5 out, definitely cold by -10.


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  #30  
Old 07-25-2017, 09:52 AM
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DisplacedCaper DisplacedCaper is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rangerstan View Post
One thing i bring for those cold weather hunts are some hotshots, throw one in an hour before bed down and it heats up the whole inside of the sleeping bag, most are good for about 6 - 8 hours. .


Yup, I buy the box at Costco. They're great. I've even put a couple on my back inside my thermals while sleeping.


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