Camping+ Sleeping in below zero temperatures

[jon r]

hi, I have not yet camped out with just a tarp, bivi-bag and sleeping bag in these harsh conditions, i thought it would be fun or an experience to try it out. What is your advice for sleeping in cold temperatures in England?

I have a tarp and US issue Bivi +sleeping bag system that is supposed to be able to go down to -30 if used correctly so im guessing this should do the job just fine. One thing i wanted to ask about though is my Bivi bag... It has a flap at the top that can go over your head (do all bivi bags have this?), this may sound like a stupid question but is that sensible to have a totally enclosed bivi-bag? Wont air get short in there? and wouldn't your breath condense on the inside making your sleeping bag etc all wet? In the summer i have stuffed this flap down infront of my head so that it was not over my face, is it advisable to enclose the bivibag right up in cold weather? The bivi bag is goretex so does this mean that it is breathable but waterproof?

Many thanks for answering my questions!
Jon

[Shewie]

It sounds like your setup will do just fine to me Jon. If the hood is similar to the uk issue bivi bag then you can cinch it down around yourself but leave your face exposed. You can wear a balaclava if it get too cold though.
You definitely don't wan't to be breathing into your bag all night because you'll get condensation on the underside which will wet your bag eventually. Not too big a deal if it's just for one night but overtime it would give you problems trying to dry it out.

[jon r]

excellent! thanks for the advice! That was really quick too

[jon r]

good idea about the balaclava

this is what my bivibag looks like... in some ways, when its all closed up it looks more like a camo body bag than a bivi bag

[Mesquite]

...... in some ways, when its all closed up it looks more like a camo body bag than a bivi bag

Someone told me that's what they doubled for.....

[Wayland]

In the age of sail, dead sailors were sewed up into their hammocks, with the last stitch going though their nose to make sure they were dead and not just drunk.

Things don't change much.

[Stryker]

Great post Jon, this is one of the things I've been meaning to get round to trying.

[jon r]

is wearing a balaclava necissary? i have a normal 'Thinsulate' hat would this do a good job? Do most people wear a balaclava when sleeping out like this?

[Wayland]

I wear a hat and it helps a lot. I have a beard so I don't need a balaclava I guess.

[Barn Owl]

A hat is fine,a snood type allows more scope to cover and uncover your face to suit though.

[Shewie]

is wearing a balaclava necissary? i have a normal 'Thinsulate' hat would this do a good job? Do most people wear a balaclava when sleeping out like this?

You should be fine with a hat Jon, I've only worn a balaclava once and that was mainly due to the fact I'd brought the wrong sleeping bag and was trying to make up for it.

An open tarp is a little different to a tent as you tend to feel the cool air move around you, not so noticeable in mild weather but you definitely notice it more in cold.

[rik_uk3]

Jon, please don't go on your own the first couple of trips, or at least make sure you are spitting distance from your car or home.

[jon r]

yea i'll try it out in the garden first...

[calibanzwei]

Don't forget some old-skool methods of keeping warm at night:
Star-jumps before bedtime (personal favourite).
Sigg bottle (or equiv.) used as hot water bottle.

I'll allow others to continue.

[widu13]

Keep a fire in, build a self feeding fire. With a reflector and sufficient distance away not to frazzle your nylon tarp it may still warm up the area by one degree but the psychological effect is immeasurable.

A couple of rocks heated in the fire wrapped in socks. Choose the rocks carefully so they don't explode.

Also have a wide mouthed and CLEARLY labelled bottle to wee in, so when you are warm you don't have to get out partially clothed to pee, cool down and then have to warm up again. As long as you haven't dribbled! the bottle can also be used as a hot water bottle.

Not so important at a camp with friends with a big fire but very important when by yourself, DON'T go to bed bladdered. Alcohol thins the blood and you WILL be colder.

Enjoy yourself.

[stooboy]

I generally get my outer wear down to the thermals and sleep in them, with a baraclava as it dosent fall off when i roll around, a buff to keep the neck warm and a pair of gloves for the fingers, and a must is dry socks surprise how sweaty feet get cold quick, im a wrestles sleeper and often wake up with my head on my arm half out my bag

fill up your water bottle with warm water and put your sock over it save risking exploding rocks

good insulation underneath i.e. thermarest or some such.

[stevesteve]

My first real night out in snow was the Herts meet last week and I was in a tent as I had the kids with me.

The only time I was chilly was when i woke up at about 05:00. My hat had fallen off. As soon as I put it back on I was toasty again.

So that is the only advice I could give... keep your hat on

Cheers,
Steve

[Andy2112]

That sleep system is the US Army Modular Sleep System and iiirc it provides enough warmth for a soldier for 4 hours sleep at -40c. You should be ok but just take heed of the sound advice in the previous posts mate. Oh, and enjoy yourself, lol

[sasquatch]

That sleep system is the US Army Modular Sleep System and iiirc it provides enough warmth for a soldier for 4 hours sleep at -40c. You should be ok but just take heed of the sound advice in the previous posts mate. Oh, and enjoy yourself, lol

That's what I've got, if you want to keep toastie put the green bag inside the black bag and don't snap those together. Then you can snap the black bag to the bivi if you want. If you do it the way it says to do it you get cold coming through all the snaps. Putting the bigger thinner bag in the smaller bag keeps it real cozy. I fold the bivi under my chin to breathe out of the bag to avoid condensation and sleep with a dutch hat on when it's freezing. The USMCSS are great in my opinion, been out in the snow a few times last year and just last weekend, didn't want to get out of my bag in the morning! Have fun fella!

[widu13]

I've also got the same system. All in it's not light and is the size of a small US state but for £80 brand new I wasn't complaining. The lightweight bag actually compresses quite small for summer use.

[woodstock]

is wearing a balaclava necissary? i have a normal 'Thinsulate' hat would this do a good job? Do most people wear a balaclava when sleeping out like this?

A little tip for cold weather camping do some running on the spot before getting into you bivi and remove all clothes down to your base layer you will be much warmer

[woodstock]

A hat is fine,a snood type allows more scope to cover and uncover your face to suit though.

or a marino wool buff excellent bit of kit

[redandshane]

All of the advice is good but you know what I would seriously suggest a hammock if there are trees availabe
Get up off the ground Get comfy Keep dry
I ground bivvied last month for the first time as opposed to hammock and have since traded my proper bivvy bags on as a result lol
Still as long as you enjoy it

[Graham_S]

If you're sleeping on the ground, make sure you've got plenty of insulation beneath you.
An extra roll mat is always handy, It can make a huge difference.

[Kerne]

Lots of good advice here.

When I last set up my tarp expecting sub-zero temperatures I set it up with one end close on the ground so that these was only one entrance and less air circulation:
(mine is the one in the middle)


A thermarest, a down bag and my HH hoodie and I was toasty warm all night despite the very hard frost.

I got the tarp set-up from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkBeZ...layer_embedded

[jon r]

Thank you for all the advice everyone!

Ive got my tarp up, im going to sleep out tonight. Will be going out in a minute... I have put a thick layer of spruce boughs down to form a good matress aswell as having my ground mat on top. Ive got all 12 guy lines on the tarp so that is snow settles on the roof it wont cause too much strain.

Im staying near the house so i can come inside if things get too cold. Im wearing a balaclava too so i should be ok.

Wish me luck

[Toddy]

Best of luck with it Jon
I love that feeling of waking up warm with cold fresh air around me

I second (third?fourth?) what folks said about the head covering and insulation below you, it makes an almightly difference.

cheers,
Toddy

[forestwalker]

For the ultimate "warm in the cold" experience sleep in a snow trench, looking up at the northern lights and the milky way spread across the sky like if one of the Norse gods had cascade spewed his milk. Doing that at -30 C is one of the best memories of my life.

[squantrill]

is wearing a balaclava necissary? i have a normal 'Thinsulate' hat would this do a good job? Do most people wear a balaclava when sleeping out like this?

Jon advantages of a balaclava is that it will be harder to fall off if you move around and your face stays warm.
That said I cant stand things on my face when I sleep so I always use a wool hat, although I have found thinner the better as it stays on your head longer and keeps you warmer for longer.

[andythecelt]

It's worth trying a few types of balaclava to see what suits you best. I can't stand anything over my face either so I have an open faced pile number. With that and a beard the only parts of my face exposed are the bits generally used to it.