Increasing Warmth of Sleeping Bag

[Rogerdoger]

I've started using a hotwater bottle and its great

This is what I do as well. Add super hot water to two nalgenes, keep on at feet and other by my body. Water is not frozen in the morning and ready to drink or have warm coffee.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

QUILT!

This makes sense to me. A 50 degree down quilt is like 12 ounces. 40 degree long/wide EE revelation is 16.7 ounces. Seems a lot of those liners are 10ish ounces, I'd think 10 ounces of down quilt would be significantly warmer than a thin liner?

As far as puffy stuff inside, Id think synthetic puffy would be less prone to loft compression than down puffy and thus be more effective for a given warmth as a layer inside a bag.

 

[MO Betta]

Bivvy cover or liner.....less clothes=more efficient anyway (except for socks and a beanie )

3 socks

 

[TheNorthStar]

Get the highest R value sleeping pad you can (based on your weight considerations) and try to find one above R6 value.
The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT has an R-value of 7.3 and weighs about a pound, I think. Nemo has one that is at 8.5 or something.

Sleeping pads impact overall sleeping comfort/heat more than we realize. A zero degree bag paired with a summer R value pad (less than 3) won't be as warm as a 20 degree bag with an R value of 7 or 8. Pair that with a beanie and some layers, and you should be fine down to some pretty damn cold temps.

My older model xlite is noisy enough to elicit comment in the past from friends I'll be hunting with again this season and these NXTs are supposed to be considerably more quiet. The difference between the Xtherm and the Xlite is only 3oz at regular wide. I was thinking about buying a new xlite NXT, but this thing is the move to make @ 7.3R. Thanks for posting.

 

[Cornbread]

If I have a 20 degree bag, but need a 0 degree, can I wear goose down pants/a heavy base layer top inside the bag?

While I prefer sleeping in boxers and a shirt, I'd rather not have to pay for another bag if there is a more practical way to accomplish the same thing

I will have a 5R pad FYI

Buy a queen size heavy down comforter, fold it in half, and have a noat apholsterer sew in a double-sided zipper into the side and bottom. Fit your 10 degree bag in it. Im sure youll end up with a -40 degree bag!!!