Keeping warm in a sleeping bag

[Mace]

^^^^^

Reminds me of the time when I was camped at Bluff Hut Many years ago supervising a Parks Vic Roading Job.
Got out of bed early one morning and spied a swag nicely laid out on the grass in fornt of the hut, covered in about 5-10cm of fresh snow.

All looked good, except the foot in a cowboy boot protruding from the end of the swag, also covered in snow.

Yep, I thought, he's gona have a pretty cold set of toes!

I went to the head and of the swag and tapped on the top.  A muffled groan "whattup" came back.

"Pal, are you ok" I asked, "Its pretty cold out here, i dont want you to get frostbite"

"Yearh, mate, im fine" came the reply.

Well, I went bakc to the hut, and made a cup of coffee for me, and the unknown eskimo in the swag.  I went back outside, and yelled out to the unknown inhabitant that his coffee was made & waiting.

What happened next made me laugh many times afterwards.  The Mountain Cattleman cowboy inside unzipped his swag and sat up, then grabbed his artificial leg sticking out the end of his swag, attached it to his leg stump,  walked over and grabbed the coffee out of my hand and looked about as all was ok with the world.  "Thanx for the coffe mate, I dont get that service very often"

Never seen him before, never seen him since, would love to catch up again.

[Tom]

You could use doubled over Bubblewrap between the bag and the ground..
We reckon it works .
Cheers.
Titch

[Marschy]

I bought my daughter a Teton -18 degree celsius bag from Amazon. Its one metre wide and about 240cm long. Made for large people. I hate sleeping in sleeping bags because of how constrictive they are, If you in the market for a big arse, warm sleeping bag, buy them for the US. They cater for people of wider girth, probably because of the propensity of obesity in the US, and the temperature ratings cater for sub zero climates.

[r0ssrg]

Has anyone tried the thermacel bag liners?   Apparently supposed to add 8 degrees of warmth although I'm a little doubtful.

http://www.anaconda.com.au/Product/Camp-and-Hike/Sleep/Reactor-Thermalite-Sleeping-Bag-Liner

I believe there is an extreme version as well.

Ross

[BigJules]

At nearly $70 you're starting to get to the point where you have different bags for different conditions. I have several, plus I always take a liner with me so if I'm using my Roman Palm III lightweight bag and it gets too cold I can slip into the silk liner and that will make a big difference.

The additional advantage of a liner is that it can keep your bag clean if you've been unable to wash for a while. I have cotton liners too, less effective than silk in terms of keeping one warm, but good asa bag on their own.

[r0ssrg]

Hi Big Jules

I have cotton liners which we haven't yet used.   I did read that silk liners were warmer but went the cheaper option when the special was on.  Thought a -5bag would have been enough.

Your right though.   Maybe I get a cheaper bag to put my good one inside?

Ross

[r0ssrg]

Another idea, has anyone used a bivvy bag?  Believe the good ones are made out of gortex which means wind water resistant but still breaths so you dont get wet with condensation.

Any feedback?

Ross

[BigJules]

I used bivouac bags in the military. Great for that but I prefer a swag or better still a bed in a camper.

[BigJules]

Check this out. I'm going to get one for my wife, and I reckon my wife is not the only one who'd appreciate one.
http://gocampingaustralia.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/one-way-to-keep-warm-when-you-camp.html?m=1

[JU5T1N]

I find these type of neck warmers handy as they also don't fall off during the night & wont choke you or the kids.


As for the 2am+ tinkle....dam I hate that & the 5 more after it. Only now a case of turning on the heater before running out the door.

We must be getting old as now days we try to head North in winter, but most of all it's only in the Jayco in winter since we've got a Webasto diesel heater. Love how quick it can heat the Swan, also with the timer can have it so it continues to warm the van during the night or I can reach it without leaving my bed.

[joohnooo@yahoo.com.au]

Something I have used very successfully is the material used under parquetry flooring.   This is a foil covered insulation material that I cut to the size of my swagger and for extra warmth wrap
Cheap it over the top.

I tried this first with a small tent I used touring round Europe a few years ago.

A couple of things

Even though it is very thin it is Inexpensive very effective insulater
Being so light is very easy to fold up and carry.

And it is inexpensive to do and it works

Hope this brings out other ideas.

John

[LB]

Ok, why would you put scotch in hot water bottle ? Me, I'd rather drink it

Sensational!!

If I put Scotch in the Water Bottle and I got cold in the middle of the night I would be set.

[Marschy]

In the CT my wife and I sleep on a foam q/size mattress, flannelette sheets and microfibre blanket, normally only one, sometimes 2 depending on how cold it is. I was so amazed at how warm the microfibre blankets are, that we now use them on our bed at home as well.