Internal Comfort

[stessl85]

The weather lately has been cold, wet, windy and generally lousy and I think most of us want to be warm, dry and protected from the hostile elements when we are camping. On a recent trip to Dunns Swamp I got so cold I used two sleeping bags - one inside the other. Another camper wore five pairs of sox and used eight blankets to try to stay warm.
What innovations or setups have people used in their campers to keep warm and comfortable when the weather is unhospitable for extended periods? I am interested in things that people are doing for bedding, heating, seating, entertainment (for self and family), cooking, clothing, power etc. Ideas may lead to better preparation for future trips into adversity and hostility (weather AND family...).

cheers

[BrettMG]

Get someone else in the sleeping bag with you!

[D4D]

What sort of sleeping bag do you have that you need 2?

I have a Fairydown 900g down sleeping bag with silk liner and it has kept me toasty warm below zero.

[Mandrake]

After 2 cold days n nights we usually move on !!LOL

From the thing that is also a phone

[2impulsiv]

I tend to drink more alcohol to stay warm, well at least not worry about being cold!!

[Malcolm Tugless]

We stay warm by not going further south than Crescent Head. Seems to work.

[stessl85]

"Get someone else in the sleeping bag with you".... My wife was right beside me. We usually zip two single sleeping bags into a double setup, but this was not as warm as zipped up singles.

"What sort of sleeping bag do you have that you need 2" ...can't remember brand but I thought it was rated to zero. One was not warm enough and two was just a bit too warm.

"After 2 cold days n nights we usually move on " ..... we did.....to Lake Lyell near Lithgow....still bloody cold and windy...it was snowing eight kilometres from where we were camping.

"...drink more alcohol to stay warm" ...I am not much of a drinker....hot coffee was my option...

To be honest, the weather was part of the overall experience that will last longest in my memory of this trip. My wife, however, really did not appreciate the cold which was the main reason we abandoned the Central West to head to the NSW coast.

cheers

[Nay-DMAX]

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=36335.0

Some great tips in this thread and I had a post about warm jackets and a few people mentioned merino thermals I have purchased a singlet and skivvy since then and they are very warm and comfortable to wear. For bedding having warmth underneath you as well makes a big difference I think and then long sleeve thermals top and pants and flannelette  PJ's over the top if you need them. I have a polar fleece lined head band it keeps my ears warm and last trip I wore that when first going to bed.   

[Hoyks]

Sleeping bag rating can be a bit of a trap.

A 0 rated sleeping bag might not keep you warm, but will stop you going hypothetic at 0 degrees. Bag design is also important, draw strings to stop convection and a hood will keep you much warmer, although they can make you feel constricted

I always go a bit lower rating than I expect to encounter. Insulation is also important, I tried sleeping on a stretcher with no insulation under the sleeping bag and almost froze. A doona under and doubled over the top made a huge difference. I always pack a double doona now, it isn't so heavy that crushes the sleeping bag fill so it can still trap the heat.

Stripping off layers can also help you stay warm in a sleeping bag. I have tried climbing into a bag with jeans, 2 jumpers and socks on and was still cold. Removing the jeans and jumpers so I was just in undies and a t shirt actually had me warmer. Maybe it was the exercise of getting changed in a sleeping bag.

[oldmate]

Stripping off layers can also help you stay warm in a sleeping bag. I have tried climbing into a bag with jeans, 2 jumpers and socks on and was still cold. Removing the jeans and jumpers so I was just in undies and a t shirt actually had me warmer. Maybe it was the exercise of getting changed in a sleeping bag.

Yep agreed, the bag works better when it can use your body heat to warm it.

[Nay-DMAX]

Stripping off layers can also help you stay warm in a sleeping bag. I have tried climbing into a bag with jeans, 2 jumpers and socks on and was still cold. Removing the jeans and jumpers so I was just in undies and a t shirt actually had me warmer. Maybe it was the exercise of getting changed in a sleeping bag.

If it is cold and there is dew in the air they say you are better to get changed into different clothes for bed as your clothes can be a bit damp even if they don't feel it and can then become more cold.

[feisty]

3 on  the leccy blanket......

[xcvator]

I feel the cold baaad now and work around it as best I can, this is what I do, for what it's worth 

1/ sleep naked ( yeah I know , it's not a pretty sight with me ) thick cold clothing just keeps you cold.

2/ put as much insulation under you as on top, and keep it light weight and fluffy.  ( we have a king size very fluffy cheap doona from Target) king size means no lifted edges for the cold to sneak in.

3/ Polar fleece from Spotlight is cheap, a piece about 700mm longer than your sleeping bags works well. At this length it will cover your feet and you can still pull it up over your head, and believe me , your body will work like a ducted heating system when you do that. (no you won't suffocate ) 

4/ Install a diesel heater, cheap as chips from "Aliexpress"

5/ For non drinkers the good old fashioned hot cocoa or milo just before bed

6/ For drinkers a good shot of scotch or green ginger wine works for me just before getting into bed

7/ while you're sitting around the fire, drape the doubled over polar fleece over your shoulders and back, works wonders

8/ A pair of ski gloves keeps your hands warm while holding cold anything and they're cheap

These things work for me and swmbo, and swmbo isn't mad keen on camping

[DropBearRacing]

It has to be 1 or 2 degrees or lower at night before I.start feeling cold when it does get to around that I usually put a pair of socks on my feet and a beanie on my head and I stay toasty whilst in bed.

[muzza01]

It has to be 1 or 2 degrees or lower at night before I.start feeling cold when it does get to around that I usually put a pair of socks on my feet and a beanie on my head and I stay toasty whilst in bed.

I am hearing you, they reckon it could get down to 16 or 15 tonight. I might have to consider putting a shirt on . Sorry.

[jayjay]

Or......... like us in Mexico, you could wait until the weather warms up a bit before one ventures out to camp under canvas......... freezing cold winds and rain is for polar bears....... I would sooner be in front of my open fire- well away from the elements.....

[nab]

We use flannel sheets, a thick doona and a sleeping bag on top of that. The kids have a sleeping bag and a mink blanket and they haven't woken up cold yet. Coldest we have been camping in would be around 0-1°.

[gregw56]

 a couple dogs help warm things up

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Might be a 4 dog night.

[dazzler]

a couple dogs help warm things up

Two or four legged?

[MDS69]

I tend to drink more alcohol to stay warm, well at least not worry about being cold!!

Problem is you need to go to the toilet more during the night, well I do anyway.

[gregw56]

Two or four legged?
good question... one's faithful,loyal,don't complain,only has one stubby a day.
the 2 legged type...............
well i'll stick with me cattle dog

[CBRK]

I do 2+ cold weather camps a year (May and July) in inland NSW.  Overnight temps are typically -5 to -7 range.  This year my trip in July is close to the coast so might be a bit warmer!!

I take my camper trailer and I use a doona, sheets, blanket on top and I now have a 12V electric blanket which works well for me (would be nice if I could leave it on but getting into a warm bed is so nice).  Will be investing in a diesel heater for next year now that I have a young child.

I have a -15 sleeping in reserve in case I really get cold, I also have a -5 bag for when one of my crew says 'ummm, I've left my sleeping bag behind....'

Sleeping bag ratings work with a figure that a male will survive at, note that is survive, not be comfortable.  Lets take my -15 bag, I'll survive at that, my wife will survive down to about -12, I'll be able to sleep at -12, my wife at about -9.  I'll be comfortable at -5, my wife at -2.

This may explain why your 0 bag wasn't to warm.  If the temp got any lower than say 5 degrees you would have felt it.  This is assuming no other items such as bag liner (give a few more degrees leeway) or thermals.

Regards,

Chris

[Bunyip]

We have found a sleeping bag under an inflatable matress/4wdMat works well.

The other thing you can use is one of those first aid space blankets. Don't had to the comfort but do provide good insulation. Cold creeping from under is just as bad if not worse than from on top.

We gave up and gopt a camper trailer with a diesel heater, we have no issues anymore

[marvellous_matt]

Sea to Summit make a sleeping bag liner called Thermolite® Reactor Extreme
http://www.seatosummit.com.au/products/liners/thermolite-reactor-extreme-liner/
it is about $70, however it really does increase the warmth as it says, by up to 15 degrees. It is similar material to thermal long johns(polypropylene). They are quite compact so easy to store permanently in your camper.