Pathfinder I
Bed wear what do you wear when camping
- Thread starter Roger352
- Start date
A sleeping bag.... hahahahahaha
Shorts, unless its really cold then sweat pants. But that's rare.
Shorts, unless its really cold then sweat pants. But that's rare.
I use a Cacoon Mummy liner, REI base layer pants and a t shirt. stay plenty warm. Switched from a mummy sleeping bag to a 30* Kelty rectangle bag and with the Cacoon which adds 10* more warmth, it's perfect for me.
Beanie hat/toque/watch cap. That'll make a pretty big difference in sleeping comfort if you're chilly.
I sleep warm, so I can get by with gym shorts and a T shirt.
For backpacking, you can carry a lighter bag and stretch the comfort range by wearing a puffy jacket and long johns, but for car camping, you may as well bring a warm bag and a thick pad/mattress.
The idea that you'll sleep warmer by stripping down is a myth, usually perpetuated by military folks.
I sleep warm, so I can get by with gym shorts and a T shirt.
For backpacking, you can carry a lighter bag and stretch the comfort range by wearing a puffy jacket and long johns, but for car camping, you may as well bring a warm bag and a thick pad/mattress.
The idea that you'll sleep warmer by stripping down is a myth, usually perpetuated by military folks.
Pathfinder I
When I was camping back in September in the Finger Lakes of NY it got down into the low 40's at night. I have mummy bag that I use. The first night I wore seat pants and a long sleeve t-shirt and was still cold. The second night I stopped down to just boxers and was very warm and comfortable. Still trying to figure this out myself. I have heard that eating a bit of chocolate before bed helps to keep you warm as your body is working to digest the food. Though I believe this would also prevent you from sleeping well since your body is working instead of resting.
I usually go with just boxers and a t-shirt if it's above 6 degrees C. I might throw on a beanie, but once it dropped down to -5C so it was my full jeans/t-shirt and hoodie, plus a beanie and extra blanket.
If your sleeping bag is only rated down to freezing, don't try and take it in -5, you're gonna have a bad time.
If your sleeping bag is only rated down to freezing, don't try and take it in -5, you're gonna have a bad time.
Benefactor
Enthusiast III
I sleep cold, so I need all the help I can get.
When it gets chilly I wear vintage duofold long johns and top. It is a cotton/wool blend that is comfy and warm.
If it gets colder, I add a wool blanket on my bag, wool socks, and poly beanie.
TR
When it gets chilly I wear vintage duofold long johns and top. It is a cotton/wool blend that is comfy and warm.
If it gets colder, I add a wool blanket on my bag, wool socks, and poly beanie.
TR
Off-Road Ranger I
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On our 2016 tour of the southwest least March we experienced a couple of nightime lows down to 11 degrees. Most nights it was getting down to the higher teens and low 20s. We had brand new Big Agnes 15 degree bags atop of cold weather pads atop our cots. We froze our butts off. After 3 nights of this, we got into phone range and I called BA for some tech support. We had been wearing our long johns and it seems when you wear long johns it keeps your body from heating up the bag. Back at camp that night we stripped down to our shorts and sure enough, we stayed warm all night long, as long as we stayed atop the pads. Lesson learned.. More can be read about this lesson/adventure in the April/May issue of Toyota Trails magazine.. Take a look, as I am looking for criticism that my loved ones cannot provide. In the meantime I'll keep writing lke some deranged madman..
Off-Road Ranger I
Yoga pants and a long t-shirt, usually a beanie in Winter. Between middle of the night fire tone-outs or running outside to scare off/dispatch livestock predators, I just always wear something I can fly out of bed in. It just carries over on the trail. I carry 15F degree bags May-Sept and -30F bags Oct-April. I've never been cold.
Off-Road Ranger I
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Off-Road Ranger I
For some reason my legs never get cold, I wear them snowshoeing even. But then again I'm from Northern MN, so it may be a nordic thing. But with a -30F bag I've never been cold sleeping.
Off-Road Ranger I
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Hmmm, -30 bag.. now that is a sleeping bag! But you're right about the cold. It's all about what we, our parents, our grandparents and all the way back, are acclimated to. We may very well be relocating to a much cooler climate than here in Pa. I'm good till down around 10 to 15. Lower than zero though? Not bad, however, I have been in -42, and that is nothing to play with. Hmmmm, a Nordic Viking in Yoga pants.. Ahhhh,, I don't wanna see that.. :)
Member III
Shorts, maybe at t-shirt. I learned my lesson on layering in a sleeping bag. Your body heat can't get to the bag to start it insulating properly. Coldest I've been in so far is high teens, low twenties *F and I don't care to be in much colder.
Off-Road Ranger I
The -30 bags are bit excessive for the majority of exploring i do in the Idaho Rockies, but were "free" as part of a trade a few years ago. I thought they'd be ridiculous, but these Marmots weigh less than than my 15F bag. -7F is the coldest I've used them and I rarely crawl inside, just use it as a quilt. One bonus is sleeping in a snowcave, it's like sleeping on a feather bed, only need 1 ensolite on the bottom compared to 3.
A Viking chick in yoga pants, that is a pretty funny thought. :D
Off-Road Ranger I
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First your bag needs to be rated for the conditions, but one thing I learned long ago is that bags use YOUR body heat to keep you warm. Much like a dry suit for scuba diving. Your body heats the air, the insulation keeps the bag from losing it. If you are wearing jeans and the like your body can't heat the surrounding air. If the bag is suited for the environment, I will usually wear a pair of breathable pajamas. If it is a little colder, breathable thermos.
I want to see a Viking chick in yoga pants!
I want to see a Viking chick in yoga pants!
Pathfinder III
Old school long underwear with a pair of clogs by the door (not the wood kind, leather with lug soles) to pop out for a minute or two.
Influencer II
Not really a myth, you have to look at the context. If you are humping 80lbs of gear all day, conducting section attacks, generally sweating your"bag" off, then crawl into your sleeping bag in your sweaty gear, you will freeze. Especially up here in the GWN. We don't really get the chance to "chill" by the camp fire after a long day. That's why we strip down, and still practice it on Arctic Operations training. It lets the body dry out, and you sleep warmer because of it. If you have the "luxury" of extra clothes, then by all means wear them.
