Increasing Warmth of Sleeping Bag

[Wind in His Hair]

I contacted WM and they suggested the Sea to Summit liners. I ordered the Reactor Fleece liner...supposedly can add up to 14 degrees F depending on the rest of the system. Def gonna get some of those down booties as well. Goose feet gear looks like the ticket

 

[Alpine01]

I contacted WM and they suggested the Sea to Summit liners. I ordered the Reactor Fleece liner...supposedly can add up to 14 degrees F depending on the rest of the system. Def gonna get some of those down booties as well. Goose feet gear looks like the ticket

Will be interested to hear out it works for you. I went the silk liner route as it only weighs 4 oz.

 

[SFC B]

Who makes the best liner these days?

I like sea to summit ..either the Reactor or Reactor extreme

Edit...just saw your response after getting home from work ..... guess great minds think alike!!

 

[TheTone]

Car camping or backpacking?

If car camping and space isn’t limited I like to just bring a blanket of some type

 

[MTLabrador]

I’ve spent some miserably cold nights in the teens and around zero in a supposedly 20 degree bag that wasn’t comfortable below 30. Puffy in the bag, etc all help, but are nothing compared to a bag that’s made for the cold. I now have a good zero degree bag that’s conservatively rated, and I am much happier.

 

[Jnasa]

It depends if weight is a concern or not. If you have a cheaper bag can double up. That’s what my dad did for use back in the day. I use a canvas bedroll for car camps and it helps also. Not light weight though.

Another consideration is make sure your bag is clean. I washed my bag before last season and got it aired out where it was less compressed. Made a noticeable difference in performance. If the material gets compressed it doesn’t trap air as well and decreases its insulation value.

 

[Straight Arrow]

After a cold, wet day on the trail backpacking, my wife wrapped warm rocks from the campfire in a tee shirt and put them in the bottom of her sleeping bag. She slept much warmer than I that night.

 

[pabearhunter]

QUILT!

 

[yakimanoob]

+1 for a warmer pad if you haven't already maxed that out. Thermarest xtherm or the new Nemo extreme conditions tensor will make a MASSIVE difference in how warm you sleep.

+1 for a bottle of hot water in the foot of the bag

But to answer the main question: I've found draping down layers *over* the bag to be much more effective than wearing down layers *in* the bag, but it all depends on the specifics of your setup. If either layer is compressing the other, you're losing out on potential warmth for the same weight.

I should say that I sleep warm, at least relative to my wife (who uses a 9°F bag year-round), but in my experience you get a lot more versatilty and bang-for-your-buck/lb by finding a way to incorporate the warm layers you use during the day into your sleep system vs buying a bigger, bulkier, heavier bag.

I own a 20°F bag and a 35°F quilt, and it's been a long time since I've reached for the 20° even in sub-freezing temps.

As always, YMMV.

 

[belshawelk]

I use a light thin ( wool like) sleeping bag that put inside my main bag. The layers between trap the heat.

 

[Laelkhunter]

A small wool blanket or wrap to put around your legs and feet will really help staying warm. Doesn't weigh much but can make the difference.

 

[npaden]

I have the sea to summit reactor liner and I would say it legitimately makes my 15 degree down bag good down to about a 5 degree bag.

Only negative to me is that for some reason it seems prone to static electricity for some reason. Can be downright shocking sometimes!

 

[yakimanoob]

A small wool blanket or wrap to put around your legs and feet will really help staying warm. Doesn't weigh much but can make the difference.

A small wool blanket comes in real handy for keeping your legs warm and dry while glassing too!

 

[MNElkNut]

If I feel my pad could be insulated better, I put a wool blanket over it. Helps a lot and is a wee bit more comfy as well.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Wool is the important part. It will maintain it's insulative qualities even when wet or damp. Synthetic or cotton garments that are wet or damp will make you feel colder (I found anyway).

 

[Vic Colfari]

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.

 

[Bambistew]

Simple hack, add fleece blanket as a liner to bag. I have used one for a long time and impressive how much warmer a bag can become. Warms up? Remove the blanket. Nice and soft and just feels nice and cozy!

The wife takes a down blanket. its a game changer for her. It packs to nothing and weighs nothing as well. Its also nice to toss in the day pack and have on the hill for extended sits.

It was like $30 on amazon.

She also has down booties and both help her sleep comfortably.

I will use a bag liner if its super cold. I have a 10deg bag and have slept comfortably down to zero with layers, and a liner. Its rated for comfort not survival though.

 

[JohnCushman]

Happy Nappers - Perfect Play Pillow & Sleepy Sack In One!

12 NEW Happy Napper Characters to Choose. The Perfect Play Pillow Pulls Open to a Sleepy Sack Surprise! Happy Nappers Are Your Go Anywhere Friends. Playtime, Nap Time, Anytime!

www.happynappers.com

 

[Dave N]

Happy Nappers - Perfect Play Pillow & Sleepy Sack In One!

12 NEW Happy Napper Characters to Choose. The Perfect Play Pillow Pulls Open to a Sleepy Sack Surprise! Happy Nappers Are Your Go Anywhere Friends. Playtime, Nap Time, Anytime!

www.happynappers.com

Which one do you have?

 

[JohnCushman]

Which one do you have?

I went with my old woobie