Article
A sleeping bag with a sufficient comfort range is the basic requirement for warm nights in your sleeping bag. But a sleeping bag only gets warm if your body gives off enough heat to warm the air inside it. If you're exhausted and chilled through, your body may not manage this, and you'll end up freezing all night long – even with a sleeping bag that has high insulation performance. External conditions such as cold ground and wind also need to be taken into account. Here are a few tips for warm nights in your sleeping bag.
What do you need?
- Compress the sleeping bag as little as possible and unpack it early
Inside its stuff sack, the sleeping bag's insulation is compressed and needs time to loft back up after unpacking in order to reach its full insulation performance. That's why you should compress your sleeping bag as little as possible and unpack it well ahead of time.
- A sleeping pad against cold ground
Toward the ground, the sleeping bag's fill gets compressed by your body weight and can only provide limited insulation in that area. That's why a sleeping pad that insulates sufficiently against cold ground is essential. Without a warm sleeping pad, even the warmest sleeping bag won't keep you warm on cold ground.
- Avoid windchill
Cold wind and cold drafts draw heat away from your sleeping bag. That's why your sleeping spot should be sheltered from the wind. When camping in a tent, the outer tent should reach all the way to the ground so no draft can get underneath.
- Warm base layers
Warm functional base layers and fluffy socks are ideal for nights in a sleeping bag. And since the body loses around 20% of its heat through the head, a hat or balaclava can make a big difference. Sometimes adding more clothing has the opposite effect from what you intend – draping a blanket or jacket over your sleeping bag is often the better option.
- A water bottle as a hot water bottle
A water bottle filled with hot water makes a wonderful hot water bottle for your feet.
- Boost your body's heat production
A sleeping bag itself doesn't generate warmth – it only stores the heat given off by your body. To help your body produce enough heat at night, you need to give it a little support:
Eat enough
Your body needs energy to produce heat. That's why you should eat enough before going to sleep, and choose foods that keep you feeling full for a long time.
Drink enough
A dehydrated body can't produce heat well. Make sure to drink plenty during the day, and have something hot in the evening if possible.
Avoid alcohol
Alcohol warms you up at first, but makes your body cool down faster later on.
Get into your sleeping bag warm
If you go to sleep already cold, it can take a long time for your sleeping bag to warm up. That's why you should warm yourself up somehow before going to sleep – through movement, a hot meal, sitting by a campfire...
