What’s the best way to stay warm in my rooftop tent?

[OTH Overland]

Good info here. Liners are a great option, and layering know-how is key.

Avoiding sleeping bag compression is another good tip you mentioned. However, I've used a wool blanket draped over my O* sleeping bag to great effect to substantially INCREASE the overall R-value (I went from feeling quite cold to warm in fairly short order with no other changes). I've done this with my young children's bags as well to warm them up. One benefit over a liner is that you can easily add or remove all or part of it from you (while remaining in your bag) to regulate temperature. If it's large enough, you can even place half of it under your sleeping bag to improve the R-value of your insulated sleeping pad.

As a side benefit, wool maintains it's insulating properties when wet, which is a bonus. It's a very value piece of equipment to have in the cold weather kit.

We use the two person Dolomite One sleeping bag from North Face. I like that it has two top layers so you can unzip them separately and control how much insulation combined together it has a +15 degree rating and have found it to be comfortable down to around 20 degrees before Michelle digs out a wool blanket or down quilt to add to the mix. Not as much need for the extra insulation now we run a diesel heater, but nice to have knowing that one night the heater will likely cease to play nice (or when if forget to pack all the parts for it..lol)

 

[deniseharrison]

Thanks for help.

 

[HufferFish]

Camped outside of Taos New Mexico one late June with no tent. The night got so cold and freezing rain came down intermittently (not sure the altitude), I wrapped myself in my sleeping bag and rolled myself in a tarp like a human burrito. When I woke up, I was frozen shut. Broke out of it when the sun came up.
Bring a tarp everywhere now cause you just never know.

 

[Sea Diamond]

No one has mentioned a hot water bottle...dang it, I guess I am getting old

 

[North American Sojourner]

if you can get it up the ladder...these make pretty good rtt heaters (good ventilation is still a must for obvious reasons...)

View attachment 267622

You never fail me. Thank you. LOL
Zim

 

[North American Sojourner]

i live in a cold climate in the winters, several below freezing days. What’s the best way to stay warm while camping?

You're already up in the breeze so limit the cold air coming under the tent. Make a sham like on your bed that goes around the bottom of the bed.
Then get a good sleeping bag. Not from Walmart.
North Face or better.
Remember there are folks sleeping at 25.000 ft right now on Everest. Dig deep.
Zim

 

[CR-Venturer]

As the designated advocate of the cheapest solution possible, I'll share my solution.

I camped last winter on the shores of a frozen lake east of Edmonton Alberta, so possibly the furthest north of anyone so far, at -15c or even a bit colder. I used a three bag system of a fleece sleeping bag liner, inside a mummy bag, inside a third bag rated probably -5c max. I wore a fleece balaclava over my head and stayed deep in those bags, but I was toasty warm all night.

I boil water and fill a Nalgene bottle, put that in the bag a half hour before bed.

My RTT boot bag is actually an insulated catering bag that zips shut and is fairly waterproof. I throw a couple hand warmers in the boots at bed time and zip em up, and they're warm in the morning.

The two sleeping bags were free, and the fleece liner was bought ages ago from Walmart for cheap. The insulated shoe bag was also free.

To reduce condensation, I kept all the windows open. It lets the breeze in but it didn't matter much when it's that cold already. I still had some condensation, perhaps a diesel heater would eliminate that, but I wasn't ready to spend the 200 bucks. Maybe this winter I will get one. We'll see.

 

[LeoHenry]

To stay warm in your rooftop tent, use an insulated sleeping bag and add extra blankets or a sleeping pad for insulation. I learned this while camping and explore new places; it makes a big difference in keeping cozy!

 

[grubworm]

What’s the best way to stay warm in my rooftop tent?

try doing your taxes up there....
that should make your blood boil...thus warming up rest of your body!


ha! maybe i am making light of this, referencing fat dogs and doing taxes to stay warm...but i am wondering if there is a cut off most folk have when it comes to cold temps. i can see if there are a couple nights dipping down into the 20s, but if its that cold the entire trip...is there really any fun or enjoyment?

just wondering. i live in the south and i guess we are more used to operating in warm temps

 

[CR-Venturer]

What’s the best way to stay warm in my rooftop tent?

try doing your taxes up there....
that should make your blood boil...thus warming up rest of your body!


ha! maybe i am making light of this, referencing fat dogs and doing taxes to stay warm...but i am wondering if there is a cut off most folk have when it comes to cold temps. i can see if there are a couple nights dipping down into the 20s, but if its that cold the entire trip...is there really any fun or enjoyment?

just wondering. i live in the south and i guess we are more used to operating in warm temps

I love cold weather camping, especially in the snow. It's so incredibly beautiful and peaceful. Also, you have the wild to yourself because many don't want to brave the cold!

I should add, I'm actually considering a winter expedition on the ice roads north of Fort MacMurray, all the way to Fort Chipeweyan, the oldest European settlement in Alberta, and possibly on to Ft. Smith in the NWT. The ice road crosses frozen bogs and rivers, and only exists in winter.

 

[rgallant]

@grubworm for me anything under -25C about -13F is the limit, you are never really warm and conditions can get a bit dodgy quickly

 

[ThundahBeagle]

No one has mentioned a hot water bottle...dang it, I guess I am getting old

Nalgene

 

[Sea Diamond]

Nalgene

I was referring to the old fashion rubber hot water bottle...a popular canadian nightime sleeping accessory ;-)

But I must say the real game changer for us has been the introduction of the shower tent. To wash "without" the windchill, and then climb into your RTT that has been prepped with your hotwater bottles is like heaven!

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I've said it before: 3 Dog Night!

Canine or who ever

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I was referring to the old fashion rubber hot water bottle...a popular canadian nightime sleeping accessory ;-)

But I must say the real game changer for us has been the introduction of the shower tent. To wash "without" the windchill, and then climb into your RTT that has been prepped with your hotwater bottles is like heaven!

Oh yes. I have those, too. Sometimes use them for warming my aching back. Made from the same stuff as old, 1970's, grade school kickballs!

We have 2 or 3 of these kicking around. One at the foot of the bed, one for each of us to put near our chests. Wrapped in a towel at first. Gotta be careful, though. The water eventually cools, especially if you get too hot while sleeping and move the covers. The bottle could actually be a heat sink

 

[Sea Diamond]

1970 kick balls...yes...I'm sure you're correct. In Canada we played a game with those balls called Dodge Ball. I'm sure it's considered far too violent to be sanctioned in today's schools.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

1970 kick balls...yes...I'm sure you're correct. In Canada we played a game with those balls called Dodge Ball. I'm sure it's considered far too violent to be sanctioned in today's schools.

Yes and yes. Yes We played dodge ball with kickballs, and yes, the no longer allow the game here.

To me, though, that was the one game where a skinny, quick kid with lightning reflexes could out-play the jocks

 

[Birddog]

i live in a cold climate in the winters, several below freezing days. What’s the best way to stay warm while camping?

Take a good friend with you.

 

[CR-Venturer]

Saw this on a recent video from a guy in WA state who was doing some high altitude winter snow camping. He was using an insulated liner like this inside his RTT along with a simple, cheap little 12v electric heater. He said it worked fantastic. I really like this idea, as I think it would also really help reduce condensation, so I may actually pull the trigger on one and rig it up to work with my chinesium RTT.

 

[El-Dracho]

View attachment 287144
Saw this on a recent video from a guy in WA state who was doing some high altitude winter snow camping. He was using an insulated liner like this inside his RTT along with a simple, cheap little 12v electric heater. He said it worked fantastic. I really like this idea, as I think it would also really help reduce condensation, so I may actually pull the trigger on one and rig it up to work with my chinesium RTT.

Made a similar insulation for my pop top roof by myself. Very satisfied with the DIY solution. If interested, you will find a detailed description in the DIY subforum here.