Tips for warm nights in the sleeping bag

A sleeping bag with a sufficient comfort zone is a basic requirement for warm nights in a sleeping bag. However, you will only be warm in a sleeping bag if your body gives off enough heat to warm the air in the sleeping bag. If you are exhausted and frozen through, your body may not be able to do this and you will freeze all night - despite a sleeping bag with a high level of insulation. External conditions such as cold ground and wind must also be taken into account. Here are some tips for warm nights in a sleeping bag.

• Compress the sleeping bag as little as possible and unpack it early

In the stuff sack, the sleeping bag filling is compressed and needs time to expand again after unpacking to regain its insulating effect. Therefore, the sleeping bag should be compressed as little as possible and unpacked early.

• Sleeping pad against ground cold

Towards the ground, the sleeping bag filling is compressed by body weight and can therefore only partially develop its insulating effect in this area. A sufficiently insulating sleeping pad against ground cold is therefore essential. Without a warm sleeping pad, even the warmest sleeping bag will not keep you warm on a cold surface.

• Avoid cold wind

Cold wind and drafts draw heat from the sleeping bag. The sleeping spot should therefore be wind-protected. When camping in a tent, the outer tent should extend all the way to the ground to prevent drafts from coming underneath.

• Warm functional underwear

Warm functional underwear and fluffy socks are ideal for overnight stays in a sleeping bag. Since the body loses about 20% of its heat through the head, a hat or balaclava can make a big difference. Sometimes, additional clothing can have the opposite effect—placing a blanket or jacket over the sleeping bag is a better alternative.

• Water bottle as a hot water bottle

A water bottle filled with hot water makes a wonderful foot warmer.

• Boosting heat regulation

A sleeping bag does not generate heat itself; it only ensures that the body’s heat is retained. To allow the body to produce enough heat at night, it needs a little support:

Eat enough
To produce heat, the body needs energy. Therefore, eating enough before sleeping is essential, and food should be chosen to provide long-lasting satiety.

Drink enough
A dehydrated body cannot produce heat effectively. Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day is important, preferably something warm in the evening.

Avoid alcohol
Alcohol initially warms but later causes the body to cool down faster.

Go to bed warm
Going to sleep while feeling cold can make it take a long time to warm up inside the sleeping bag. Before sleeping, find a way to warm up—through movement, a warm meal, a campfire ...