In the spring and summer months it's nude for me, but in the winter months it's a thermal base layer!
What to wear in your sleeping bag
- Thread starter Andy BB
- Start date
Hi Andy
Pardon my ignorance but can you elaborate on what a 'wiggy' sleeping bag is please? Am currently looking for a top qual. bag myself.
cheers
Tom.
Pardon my ignorance but can you elaborate on what a 'wiggy' sleeping bag is please? Am currently looking for a top qual. bag myself.
cheers
Tom.
Have a look at the most recent 'Ask Paul Kirtley' Podcast. He briefly talks about 'what to wear in your sleeping bag'. Bottom line is: Maybe one layer of underwear (long shirt, long undertrousers, socks) ... but the rest of the insulation ought to be coming from the sleeping bag. I think he at one point says something like: 'a lot below you (insulation from ground), a lot above (insulation from wind/cold), but little on you'
Actually ... have a look here at winter woodland camping, including a good video: http://paulkirtley.co.uk/2016/winter-woodland-wildcamping-tips/
In cold weather I wear my clothes inside an expedition bag which is made extra wide to accommodate a full down suit. Both clothes-on or clothes-off systems work as long as you fully understand the pros and cons of each method.
At temps above -10 I change into a dry set of thermals and put damp clothes at the bottom of the bag, or better yet between two sleeping bags if using a twin bag system.
At temps above -10 I change into a dry set of thermals and put damp clothes at the bottom of the bag, or better yet between two sleeping bags if using a twin bag system.
Well i agree with the sentiment to get as much insulation under and above you, but his statement about most of the insulation coming from your sleeping bag doesn't make sense. If I'm carrying insulation in the way of softie jackets etc in my pack, then there is no point them sitting redundant in my pack all night. I might as well balance my sleeping bag insulation with the rest of the insulation i bring with me to avoid carrying more than is necessary.
Surprisingly there are companies who specialise in these things !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://nosewarmer.com/
Ha..! Check that little number out. Where have you been all my life. I hasten to add my dear ol' nozzle dose tend to stick out... this could be a winner... Ha..ha..!
Umm.. This is a product, eh... not just a Quirky contaption. Wonder how many they sell off... could be a hidden market here, un-tapped wealth....
Merino Wool. Is what I wear if needed... Or I just have it Al Fresco if I don't need 'em; but will have a pair of John's in the Bag with me if a need to get out of the Bag, or from under the Blanket in the Summer.
I wear all the dry clothing I have inside my sleeping bag. It's a very simple thing: the more insulation you have around you, the warmer you will be. It doesn't matter if you call that insulating material a sleeping bag or a jacket. By using my clothing, I can push my sleeping bag to lower temperatures. This in turn allows me to carry a lighter sleeping bag.
While I'd agree with some that say that clothing does help, and it shouldn't matter whether it's 'on you' or 'on top of you' (meaning, on the sleeping bag), there are two aspects that one ought to be aware of (and are partially hidden by a single word in the statements of some of the above):
- when you take clothes with you, make sure those are dry. While we sometimes took moist clothes with us into the sleeping bag for drying during the military service, we usually only did that during spring/autumn ... in winter we'd dry them on fire, in summer in the warm weather. Otherwise you'd be dragging something with you into the sleeping bag that will require additional heat to warm up (note that the heatcapacity of water is from a different planet compared to the heat capacity of air).
- if you wear clothes, make sure that those don't reduce the flow of blood or restrict you in any way. Take a rubber band and put it over your finger (tightly wrapped). You'll immediatly notice that the finger becomes cold (well. and blue; don't overdo it). Something similar happens when your bloodflow is restricted ... those areas will simply feel cold after some time.
That's why I (on a personal level) prefer to have (light) clothes above or under me ... but not on me. Most of my clothes are moist from hiking, working in the woods, etc. I take a fresh set of underwear with me for sleeping (long/short depending on weather). Decent insulation from below. And I can use my jacket over my sleeping bag/bivvi ... simply because most of the time my jacket is still wet/moist from rain/snow/...
- when you take clothes with you, make sure those are dry. While we sometimes took moist clothes with us into the sleeping bag for drying during the military service, we usually only did that during spring/autumn ... in winter we'd dry them on fire, in summer in the warm weather. Otherwise you'd be dragging something with you into the sleeping bag that will require additional heat to warm up (note that the heatcapacity of water is from a different planet compared to the heat capacity of air).
- if you wear clothes, make sure that those don't reduce the flow of blood or restrict you in any way. Take a rubber band and put it over your finger (tightly wrapped). You'll immediatly notice that the finger becomes cold (well. and blue; don't overdo it). Something similar happens when your bloodflow is restricted ... those areas will simply feel cold after some time.
That's why I (on a personal level) prefer to have (light) clothes above or under me ... but not on me. Most of my clothes are moist from hiking, working in the woods, etc. I take a fresh set of underwear with me for sleeping (long/short depending on weather). Decent insulation from below. And I can use my jacket over my sleeping bag/bivvi ... simply because most of the time my jacket is still wet/moist from rain/snow/...
I am presently moving from synthetic bags to down bags, so haven't made any real definite decision yet.
I do find down bags breath better, but also require more protection.
Summer I am happy to wear cotton, top and trousers; or the mix fibre outdoor clothing in my bag.
In winder its a dry set on for sleep, wet ones go on top or underneath sleeping system. Slightly damp then they can stay on (if they haven't dried fairly well by end of supper then its a change). Properly wet then they have to come off as you can't get good sleep when wet. I used to change back into the wet kit each morning. Keeping one set of clothes very dry is a must.
If its very cold then I am a huge fan of fibre pile as a top and zip on trousers. Next to the skin is best but can be a mid layer over cotton. Softies are great, but a fibre pile better for this kind of thing. (Annoyingly Fibre Pile is heavy, too heavy to carry a spare and so has to be a main garment). The fibre pile trousers came off once the sun was up, or once staring work; helps stop the shivers before breakfast.
I agree cotton is a terrible choice, but I've got away with it for a while now. Wool is better and I'm old enough to remember the Army "Hairy Mary" shirts of old; they were excellent once broken in. Suppose marino wool is the modern take on it.
I do have and have used a Parachute silk top and bottoms which are featherweight and do seem to work; must pack them again sometime. Great for hut use.
So its shirt and trousers that are dry, light weight or fibre pile.
I grew up with little central heating and sleeping out was never a problem. Feeling the cold became an issue when I got married; central heating and a hot wife! Now I need one season up on all my thermals.
Hot water bottles: have pros and cons. They should always have a cover so not to burn you. They can make you over heat early in the night so produce sweat; you can wake up cold in the morning. They can leak. They are not an excuse to have a lower rated sleeping system for the conditions. They can help dry a damp sleeping bag (night two/three), or as an aid to drying them out. They can help a hyperthermic casualty. I prefer a thermos full of hot water, just in case a hot brew is required during the night.
Lastly, the bigger the tent the more admin that is possible. However, don't start the nights sleep wet as it really will sap you fast. 3am mid way through the night is the wrong time to start sorting yourself out from being lazy having not bothered earlier.
I do find down bags breath better, but also require more protection.
Summer I am happy to wear cotton, top and trousers; or the mix fibre outdoor clothing in my bag.
In winder its a dry set on for sleep, wet ones go on top or underneath sleeping system. Slightly damp then they can stay on (if they haven't dried fairly well by end of supper then its a change). Properly wet then they have to come off as you can't get good sleep when wet. I used to change back into the wet kit each morning. Keeping one set of clothes very dry is a must.
If its very cold then I am a huge fan of fibre pile as a top and zip on trousers. Next to the skin is best but can be a mid layer over cotton. Softies are great, but a fibre pile better for this kind of thing. (Annoyingly Fibre Pile is heavy, too heavy to carry a spare and so has to be a main garment). The fibre pile trousers came off once the sun was up, or once staring work; helps stop the shivers before breakfast.
I agree cotton is a terrible choice, but I've got away with it for a while now. Wool is better and I'm old enough to remember the Army "Hairy Mary" shirts of old; they were excellent once broken in. Suppose marino wool is the modern take on it.
I do have and have used a Parachute silk top and bottoms which are featherweight and do seem to work; must pack them again sometime. Great for hut use.
So its shirt and trousers that are dry, light weight or fibre pile.
I grew up with little central heating and sleeping out was never a problem. Feeling the cold became an issue when I got married; central heating and a hot wife! Now I need one season up on all my thermals.
Hot water bottles: have pros and cons. They should always have a cover so not to burn you. They can make you over heat early in the night so produce sweat; you can wake up cold in the morning. They can leak. They are not an excuse to have a lower rated sleeping system for the conditions. They can help dry a damp sleeping bag (night two/three), or as an aid to drying them out. They can help a hyperthermic casualty. I prefer a thermos full of hot water, just in case a hot brew is required during the night.
Lastly, the bigger the tent the more admin that is possible. However, don't start the nights sleep wet as it really will sap you fast. 3am mid way through the night is the wrong time to start sorting yourself out from being lazy having not bothered earlier.
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Just on you last comment fibre pile is the best and although a little heavy it's worth it. Always carry mine on every trip.
With all the new super go faster materials now offered I don't think anything yet beats fibrepile, though anyone would think there must be something better as its been around so long. I've yet to find anything to equal it for pure next to the body heat performance for dry, damp or wet. Sure it remains just one part of a layered system but its one of the real performers being so adaptable.
The other great thing about a quality fibrepile is they are robust and last yonks. Heck, they can take battle damage and still function; which can't be said about a whole lot of stuff offered. Anyway, I'm a fan, and so is my son (he just wouldn't be seen in it on the high street!).
I prefer a zip front jacket to a shirt, always have. Some just love the Buffalo shirt.
Fibrepile bags systems are just to heavy and bulky to carry by foot; great for boats though.
The other great thing about a quality fibrepile is they are robust and last yonks. Heck, they can take battle damage and still function; which can't be said about a whole lot of stuff offered. Anyway, I'm a fan, and so is my son (he just wouldn't be seen in it on the high street!).
I prefer a zip front jacket to a shirt, always have. Some just love the Buffalo shirt.
Fibrepile bags systems are just to heavy and bulky to carry by foot; great for boats though.
Depending on what time of year it is varies on what I will wear in my sleeping bag, if it's summer months I won't even take a sleeping bag but in the colder months I wear one or two layers. Nothing worse then being cold at night!
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