Introduction
Many hikers, hunters, and skiers often complain of the cold when sleeping outdoors. This mostly occurs in colder climates, usually in the mountains, and often while sleeping in a tent. People don’t think much about their sleeping arrangements until they are shivering in a cold sleeping bag under the stars! Then they start to think about what they could have done differently. But many people live in cities and are often not exposed to situations where they must create a warmer environment for themselves outdoors. Here are some tips from 40 years of snow camping in severe conditions in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
A sleeping system
That’s right, you need a system! A sleeping system consists of several items: dry expedition underwear, a warm hat, a hot water resistant sleeping bag, a well insulated sleeping pad, and some type of bag pillow (Thermarest ™) so that you can store your additional clothing. . Put your money in your system to sleep. This is where your physical and mental energies recover for the next day. If you don’t sleep well, you don’t ski well.
Hot
While you can get away with a 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 degrees Celsius) bag for cabin sightseeing, a -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 degrees Celsius) bag is a must for winter tents and camping in the snow. Minus 40 degrees is the only temperature where Fahrenheit and Celsius are the same. Recently, the outdoor industry has devised a way of testing sleeping bags called the European Standard (EN ™) test system. Many outdoor activities companies now use independent labs to test how well sleeping bags respond to a standardized test, a standardized test. The EN rating label that comes with the bag will also recommend different bags for men and women, as women typically sleep fresher than men.
Due to this new classification system, the difference between the -20 bag of one company will be much closer to that of the -20 bag of another company. Regardless, some people just sleep colder than others. If you’re the type of person who uses an electric blanket at home, buy a -20 bag! It may be heavier, but you’ll be warmer and happier in the long run. Get a long bag so that you can warm and dry your inner ski boots at the bottom of the sleeping bag while you sleep. Winter bags should have a good hood and a draft tube that runs the length of the bag to prevent drafts. Get a double zippered bag so you can ventilate your feet if it gets too hot. Winter bags have a narrower cut to minimize internal convection currents, which increases heat. At the store, test the bag and see if the zippers pull freely and don’t snag with excess material. Get a product with a lifetime warranty and a good return policy. A clean bag is a hot bag. Always store your down or synthetic bag in a cotton storage bag to allow the bag to dry completely. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. Tumble drying a sleeping bag with a tennis shoe is an old idea and has been shown to ruin the bag’s delicate feathers. I usually take my bag out of the dryer and shake it to loosen stubborn clumps of feathers.
Change your clothes
Avoid wearing your day clothes to isolate sleep. Whether you know it or not, your body is covered in a thin layer of sweat, no matter how dry you feel. For maximum warmth, always wear dry underwear. The first thing to do when entering your tent or cabin is to put on dry socks and put on a dry hat. These items are rarely used but provide great comfort. They are also useful if someone in the group is very cold on the verge of the end of hypothermia. They are just common sense. One strategy when camping in the snow or skiing in a cabin is to rotate two sets of underwear and socks at bedtime (expedition or middleweight, depending on the season). The next morning, don’t change. Underwear just changes roles. Sleep in a fleece balaclava for extra warmth paired with a clothing-filled fleece pillowcase.
Some more tricks
After dinner, heat up some hot water and fill a plastic water bottle. Now tuck it into a sock and place it in the bottom of your sleeping bag. The sock prevents you from burning your feet from the hot bottle, because it will be hot! Insulating your sleeping bags will keep you warm for many hours and help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep. Be sure to wear a polyester and wool stretch cap at first, even if it’s hot. It is easier to stay warm than to go to sleep comfortably and try to warm up after you are already cold.
Have fun out there!