Keeping Warm in a Backpacking Sleeping Bag
Sleeping with a Lightweight Bag Does Not Always Provide Good Warmth
Oct 3, 2009
Apart from having an excellent quality backpacking sleeping bag and the best thermal clothing, there are some other tricks and tips to keep warm when curled up in a sleeping bag in a tiny hiking tent in a cold spot in the wild outdoors.
Choosing a Backpacking Sleeping Bag
The main item to consider when choosing a backpacking sleeping bag is the equation of warmth verses weight. Generally the lower the temperature the backpacking sleeping bag is designed for, the heavier the sleeping bag. And this extra weight needs to be carried in the backpack.
So if a hiker decides on a lighter sleeping bag to save weight, then for those extra cold nights on the track a hiker needs another strategy to keep warm.
This situation can occur in long distance hikes. For example, on the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea the track starts in the equatorial lower plains where high humidity keeps the Kokoda trekker quite warm at night. However, as the Kokoda track winds over the Owen Stanley Ranges, with the altitude getting up to over 2,000 meters, the night time temperatures can plummet to close to freezing.
Instead of carrying a heavy, bulky sleeping bag up and down the mountains, the following are some ways in which a hiker can keep warm at night.
Use a Silver Backed Groundsheet for Warmth
A silver backed ground sheet, or space blanket, should be a hiker’s main items of equipment.
Used as a groundsheet for warmth, the hiker should lie on the silver backing. This reflects the body heat back to the body.
Hot Water Bottle in Backpacking Sleeping Bag
Filling the hiking water bottle with warm water, then slipping it inside the sleeping bag is one of the oldest tricks in the outdoors for keeping warm. Having something nice and warm inside the sleeping bag to roll around and keep the far reaches of the bag heated makes for a good night’s sleep. And a backpacking water bottle filled with warm water is usually the next best available.
Care needs to be taken to ensure the bottle is strong enough and doesn’t break during the night. The stopper must also be a good fit and not leak, or else instead of keeping the sleeper warm, the opposite could occur.
The water must not be too hot or it could burn the skin, or even damage the sleeping bag. This is especially important with aluminium and titanium style water bottles.
An added advantage is having a full water bottle available during the night. Maybe a quick sip in the dead of night, or a drink first thing in the morning while still tucked up in the tent.
Wear Full Clothing in the Backpacking Sleeping Bag to Keep Warm
Wearing full covering of clothing in the sleeping bag can help keep the hiker warm. Generally the body only needs to heat the space between the skin and the material of the clothing or the sleeping bag.
If bare skin touches the cold parts of the bag that haven’t been heated, the sensation can lead to the hiker feeling cold.
Thermal underwear are perfect for this application. Socks and maybe even gloves also should be considered.
These small items are lighter to carry than the heavier backpacking sleeping bag and they are versatile as they can provide warmth when not in the sleeping bag.
Keep the Head Warm When in Backpacking Sleeping Bag
Most of the body heat is lost through the head. So when in a sleeping bag, a hiker needs to ensure this heat is not lost.
It would be simple to cover up the entire head in the sleeping bag, but unfortunately at least the nose has to be out to breathe. Most good sleeping bags have a hood in which the hiker can tuck around their head. However, some hikers struggle with these hoods and others become claustrophobic.
The solution is to wear a beanie or head scarf. This keeps the warmth in, and has the added advantage of keeping the hiker warm around the campsite before curling up in the sleeping bag.
Keeping warm at night when out on a hike is a necessity. Rolling up in a warm backpacking sleeping bag after a long day’s trekking is a great comfort. The challenge is to keep the weight of the backpacking sleeping bag low, while still staying warm at night.
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