Blanket(s) or sleeping bag ?

[Aristotle]

The Eastern Front does look to have been a bit cold:

I've bought a (old 1960s) large wool blanket and intend to do some back-garden bivvying to experiment sleeping in it as an alternative to a sleeping bag. I'll probably keep it in the car for emergencies or car bivvying.

As has been pointed out, sleeping bags compress under you and a mat/under-blanket for insulation can make a big difference.

 

[drewdunnrespect]

snugpack antarctica re sleeping bag and a snugpack underblanket i dont do cold thanks drew

 

[Retired Member southey]

My next outing will be with a jungle bag(modified)as an underblanket, with a wool blanket(with sewn in foot box), in a dd camping. i like sleeping under wool, i just love the smell and feel, especially wakeing up and pulling it up around my head.

 

[Extreme Pilgrim]

I have used a US Poncho Liner in the tropics before. Other then that, it has always been a bag albeit sometimes unzipped right open into a blanket style.

Not sure I would risk a blanket with the weight.

 

[sarge]

I just bought one of these today from ebay it's an army blanket with a button on cotton sheet, I thought this would be ideal to use in my DD travel hammock, I can't wait to try it out in my local woods. When it arrives I might sew velcrow along the edges so I can use it like a sleeping bag if required. I normaly use an austrian cold weather sleeping as a blanket with a thermarest in between the two layers of the hammock as insulation.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARMY-BLANKET-...308?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27b467f8bc

 

[widu13]

I'm surprised no-one's mentioned a cocoon? A sleeping bag that goes over the hammock and well cocoons you. Loads of room inside and because it goes outside the hammock and isn't compressed, it's as warm underneath and it is on top. The centre 2 way zip can be adjusted for as much fresh air as you want.

 

[budgetbus]

I just bought one of these today from ebay it's an army blanket with a button on cotton sheet, I thought this would be ideal to use in my DD travel hammock, I can't wait to try it out in my local woods. When it arrives I might sew velcrow along the edges so I can use it like a sleeping bag if required. I normaly use an austrian cold weather sleeping as a blanket with a thermarest in between the two layers of the hammock as insulation.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARMY-BLANKET-...308?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27b467f8bc

They are actually on my watch list, please let me know what you think when it arrives.

 

[ex-member Raikey]

My next outing will be with a jungle bag(modified)as an underblanket, with a wool blanket(with sewn in foot box), in a dd camping. i like sleeping under wool, i just love the smell and feel, especially wakeing up and pulling it up around my head.

i,m the same!

i just got back form a weekend in the woods,

walked it in really light, and took a wool blanket as the weather was looking good,.

i draped in in the hammock, (DD camping) and just rolled it around me,

it gives loads more freedom in a hammock than a bag, but i found a draft near my feet in the early hours, so i may need a system of keeping the foot end more secure,...

 

[Retired Member southey]

Thats what i felt the first time, all i did was to sew a small foot box in the end of the blanket, I say box it's a triangle really, one corner folded and stiched about 30cms deep, just enough to keep your feet in no matter how much you squirm.

 

[ex-member Raikey]

Thats what i felt the first time, all i did was to sew a small foot box in the end of the blanket, I say box it's a triangle really, one corner folded and stiched about 30cms deep, just enough to keep your feet in no matter how much you squirm.

Oh i,m a sqirmer, the wife says i,m like Taz,

so even as it gets much colder, a bag is not an option for me i need to move around.

i,ll give this a go altho it may be a job far Ma, as my needle skills are a bit poor.

 

[Highbinder]

I'm surprised no-one's mentioned a cocoon? A sleeping bag that goes over the hammock and well cocoons you. Loads of room inside and because it goes outside the hammock and isn't compressed, it's as warm underneath and it is on top. The centre 2 way zip can be adjusted for as much fresh air as you want.

I've been curious to find out whether a 'normal' sized sleeping bag could be converted into a cocoon/peapod. I

 

[Beardy Adam]

I'm completely overhauling all my gear and I'm toying around with the idea of using a wool blanket. However the British Army and Dutch Army wool blankets I have seen are far too heavy for me to even consider for hiking. Do any bivi bag users have any experience of using merino wool blankets inside a sleeping bag?

 

[Rumi]

A sleeping bag that goes over the hammock and well cocoons you. Loads of room inside and because it goes outside the hammock and isn't compressed, it's as warm underneath and it is on top. The centre 2 way zip can be adjusted for as much fresh air as you want.

Nice idea I have a bust bag which I think I will adapt.

 

[Ryan Woods]

I like the idea of a wool blanket instead of a sleeping bag... but I already need a combination of Nanok SF -10 and a softie Merlin3 in the winter to keep warm while my body goes into economy heating mode so I doubt this romantic idea will lead to a comfortable night out

 

[Metatron]

I've always just used a sleeping bag and liner, I have nothing against wool blankets, but I have to say my sleeping bag + cotton liner in summer and bivi bag + sleeping bag + fleece liner in winter combination has treated me well over the years.

 

[zeBarOOn]

I've just got a question to those with underblankets and quilts etc: What rucksack do you store it in?
Doesn't it take up a lot of room in packs?

 

[Martyn]

I dont have a hammock, but I can highly recommend the Belgian Army Blankets, they are the best blankets I've seen for ages. Bit pricey, but they are fantastic quality....

http://www.militarymart.co.uk/Belgian-Army-Blanket/prod_880.html?review=write

I bought one, then another straight away. Really top quality. Thick, warm, tough and soft. Love em. They dont pack small though, one blanket is at least as big as an average sleeping bag. Unpacked, they are 5' by 7'6".

 

[comeonbabylightmyfire]

How do the army blankets compare to standard English woolen bedroom blankets?

I have two double bedroom blankets one in merino and one in standard wool which I wanted to test inside a bivvy bag but seeing those grey Belgian army blankets which won't show every mark has made me wonder if I should invest in one.

 

[Martyn]

How do the army blankets compare to standard English woolen bedroom blankets?

I have two double bedroom blankets one in merino and one in standard wool which I wanted to test inside a bivvy bag but seeing those grey Belgian army blankets which won't show every mark has made me wonder if I should invest in one.

They are a dense, felted wool (they are green BTW, not grey) and the felting gives them some windproofing and waterproofing. I think they may be tougher and softer than most average bedroom blankets, but it's difficult to give any meaningful comment - they are a single size. I used one a couple of weeks ago as a carpet in my tent, it didnt show marks and held up extremely well - I was very impressed with it and was warm to touch, unlike ithe cold groundsheet. Nice insulation from the ground, made the tent feel very cosy.

 

[rik_uk3]

Ask yourself a question 'If blankets are so good why do we all use sleeping bags'

'For me, the sleeping bag has more bulk and restriction of movement than i want. With the underblanket, I don't need any sleeping bag under me. I also like to stretch out'

Get a long army arctic bag, stacks of room and you will be warm as opposed to to being victim to hypothermia using a blanket.