Learning how to stay warm in your sleeping bag can transform your paddling trips, especially those taken in the shoulder seasons. I’ve spent many nights waking up shivering at 3am with my teeth chattering so hard that I thought I’d crack a molar and many more in that half-sleep state knowing that I was too cold but already wearing every piece of clothing I brought. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks that changed everything. Now my nights are comfortable, and yours can be too.
Understanding Sleeping Bag Ratings
Sleeping bag ratings can be confusing, but with the ISO 23537 rating system was designed to standardize ratings across all manufacturers. Many new bags now include two ratings: a comfort rating and a limit rating. The limit rating, usually the rating of the bag, is best for a warm sleepers (typically men). The comfort rating is about 10-15 degrees warmer and meant for a cold sleepers (typically women).
If you’re not sure which you are? Think about your bed at home. If you sleep with more blankets than your partner, you’re likely a cold sleeper and focus on the comfort rating when buying a bag.
Once you have a sleeping bag, carry a backpacking thermometer on your trips. Check the overnight low temps and note how you slept. After tracking this data over a few outings, you’ll know exactly which ratings to look for in your next bag.
Buy the Right Sleeping Bag Size
Buying a right size sleeping bag is key to staying warm. A bag that’s too long or roomy forces your body to heat that extra space and expend extra energy to do so. That will cause you to sleep colder. On the other hand, bags that are too tight can cause your body to compress the insulation and create cold spots. That can defeat the purpose of a warm sleeping bag.
Most manufactures offer multiple lengths and sometimes widths. Choose one based on your height and whether you like a roomy or snug fit.
Add Warmth with a Liner
A sleeping bag liner can boost your bag’s warmth by 5 to 15°F, depending on the material. Most weigh around 9 to 12 ounces and that’s worth the weight if you’re going to sleep warmer. Nemo’s Tracer Sleeping Bag Liner, for example, claims to adds 10 to 15°F of warmth.
Liners also keep your sleeping bag cleaner, which can mean less washing and a longer lifespan for your bag.
Pick a Warm Sleeping Pad
Your sleeping pad does more than add comfort. It also provides warmth, especially when the ground is cold enough to suck the heat right out of your sleeping bag. That will make even the warmth bags feel cold. That’s where the R-value rating comes into play. The higher the number, the warmer the pad.
An R-value of around 3 works three-seasons, but in the shoulder seasons, you’ll want more. I prefer a pad with an R-value around 5 for early spring and late fall paddling trips when overnight temps can unexpectedly drop. I’ve had great luck with Nemo’s Tensor pads.
Wear Fresh Base Layers to Bed
The clothing you’ve been wearing all day is likely damp with sweat, and your body needs to expend energy to evaporate that moisture. That can cause you to sleep colder. Instead, change into fresh, dry base layers right before you climbing into your sleeping bag. Keep a dedicated set of synthetic or wool long underwear in your pack that you only wear at night. This keeps them dry and ready when you need them the most.
Additionally, because you lose significant heat through your head, a lightweight beanie can make a surprising difference in your warmth.
Be careful not to sleep with too many layers, because that can compress the insulation in your bag and make you colder.
Keep Your Feet Warm with Down Socks
If you’re like me, your feet get cold during the night even with fresh socks. Down socks, such as these from Garage Grown Gear, create a warm cocoon around your feet and make a noticeable difference on chilly nights.
Eat Candy Before Bed to Help Stay Warm in Your Sleeping Bag
Eating a small snack before climbing into your sleeping bag, can give your body a few extra calories to burn while it works to heat up your sleeping bag. A couple of pieces of candy, some trail mix, or a few crackers with peanut butter work well. You want something that’ll give you quick energy. This helps you warm up faster without having to dig into your energy reserves.
Pre-Warm Your Sleeping Bag
Before you go to bed fill a Nalgene bottle with hot water and toss it into the sleeping bag. Keep it near your feet or core and it’ll help provide a little extra warmth. Make sure that lid is secure!
Pee Before Bed
A full bladers forces your body to expend energy keeping that pee warm. Empty it before going to bed, and if you need to get up in the middle of the night, don’t wait. Get it done so that you can sleep warmer afterward.
Choose Your Tent Site Wisely
As paddlers, we often don’t have a choice of camphttps://oklahomakayaking.com/s, but where you pitch your tent can affect how warm you sleep. If possible get up off the water level. Cold air tends to sink at night and pool around the surfaces of the water and these spots can be 10-15 degree colder than higher ground just a few yards away. Additionally, lakes, rivers, and streams can create cooler microclimates, and in the case of a cooler microclimate, it could be just enough to leave you cold throughout the night.
Look for sheltered https://oklahomakayaking.com/ protected from the wind, which can strip heat from your tent and sleeping bag. A line of trees makes for a great windbreak that makes a noticeable difference. If you can camp on the west side of the river or lake, you’ll catch the warm morning sun, which can help warm up your tent and make waking up much nicer.
Staying warm in your sleeping bag isn’t about luck, and you don’t need to suffer through cold nights. As long as you understand how your gear works and as long as you make smart choices, you can stay warm. Try a couple of these tips on your next trip and let me know how it goes. Being miserable at 3am doesn’t have to be part of your paddling adventures anymore.
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