BWCA What do you use underneath you? Boundary Waters Winter Camping and Activities
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10/18/2018 12:38PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Planning a winter trip, was wondering what people use underneath them, cot thicker mats, or something else, help my girlfriend stay warm, thanks.
 
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paddler1953
senior member (51)senior membersenior member
  
10/18/2018 01:35PM  
I go with two pads under me. One is an inflatable Therm-Rest Prolite 4 and the other is a closed cell foam pad. I've camped down to -32 F in upstate NY with this under my sleeping bag and been very cozy. I'm also considered a "warm" sleeper so it may not be enough for you. The unfortunate thing is you need to get out there and find out for yourself what works. There's no easy way but hopefully you'll receive a lot of suggestions so you can narrow down your choices.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time....be well.

snapper
10/18/2018 04:31PM  
Exped downmat 9 long and wide on top of a Therm-a-Rest Zrest. the Zrest is light, cheap insurance in case the downmat punctures and it serves as good padding on the toboggan for my Marcum!
10/19/2018 08:36AM  
Same idea as tg, Exped 9 with the option of adding a closed cell foam pad underneath. Been down to zero with the Exped9-BA PomerHoit combo alone and comfortably. The CS pad I tahe for sitting and kneeling with the option to add to my sleeping system.

butthead
10/19/2018 10:00AM  
Another two-padder here. Thermorest Zlite and an Exped Downmat UL7 W. It's important to look at the R values of the pads you are considering. I think the Zlite is 2.6 and the 7UL is 5.9 for a total of 8.5 (they are generally considered additive). I'd love to have a Downmat 9, but the UL7 works for me year round and does fine in winter with the Zlite, at least down to -20ºF. As TG mentioned, a lot of folks use an inflatable and a closed cell as a safety net. If my inflatable pops, the closed cell will work. I might be a bit chilly, but won't freeze.
Kraut88
senior member (53)senior membersenior member
  
10/19/2018 11:24AM  
So what do you guys do when sleeping on a cot? Would an Exped Downmat work here as well or too bulky and sliding around?
SevenofNine
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10/19/2018 12:52PM  
Kraut88: "So what do you guys do when sleeping on a cot? Would an Exped Downmat work here as well or too bulky and sliding around? "


Most don't sleep on cots as the air gap under a cot really chills you. It's for this reason and more I'm sure that you see hammock campers use an underquilt.

What I use when winter camping:

1. Exped 9 LW.
2. Cheap Z fold under the Exped.
3. Reflective blanket under the Z fold.
10/21/2018 08:27AM  
Yea what Greg said above. A cot is about the coldest thing I have slept on, stopped that right after a few attempts. I am warmer sleeping on frozen ground or an ice sheet than on a cot.

butthead
DanCooke
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10/21/2018 09:46AM  
I have never tried a cot or hammock in any season. The ground has worked well enough. Starting out winter camping in the early 70's. first it was a 1/2" of Ensolite closed cell foam pad under a Holiday village down bag that was inside of the green cotton with red pheasant hunting scenes liner. Transitioned to Two Polar Plus Bags on top of a lighter 1/2" closed cell pad in the late 70's. Then transitioned to Two 1/2" closed foam pads under the polar plus double bags.
Some time around 2005? I bought a Big Agnes down outer bag park series and used a polar plus inner bag on top off a 1/2" closed cell foam pad with a Downmat 9 on top of that in the Big Agnes pad sleeve. Slept at minus 45° below open to the sky with my down jacket long johns and mukmates on at 7900' elevation, and several times at minus 30° in the BWCA with this set up. I had a very large outer non insulated bivy bag to go all around me to keep snow from contacting me and keep my shed clothes next to me. As the Park series has now lost some loft I have transitioned the inner bag to a 0° down bag, and upgraded the downmat to a Exped Downmat 9 deluxe.

I believe even if you hot tent in the winter your sleep system MUST be able to keep you warm even if sleep under the stars.
I go camping to have fun not to endure. Sleeping warm is a very important to me.
I still seem to end up in the snow bank under a tarp even though I bring a hot tent and stove. Room issues inside the tent seemingly makes it easier to sleep outside.
10/21/2018 12:34PM  
Camp Time roll-a-cot and Exped Downmat 9 LW is my sleep system... cozy and warm on many trips. I like being up off the ground and having the extra storage room under the cot.
Gadfly
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10/22/2018 08:39AM  
I use an exped down mat with a roll up foam pad underneath and a sleeping bag rated to -10. We always camp right on the lake and I have never really had any issues even in -30 to -40 temps. I usually put on clean dry clothes before bed as well to make sure I'm not bringing any moisture inside the bag and then hang the bag every day to make sure the moisture from my breathing is dried out.

Kraut88
senior member (53)senior membersenior member
  
10/22/2018 08:56AM  
Thanks guys for the input! I spent several nights in sub zero weather in my hammock and was plenty warm with the appropriate quilts and set up. This season I have added a hot tent (or hot tipi I should say) just to have something for my buddies and I to get out of the cold for a while, dry things off and to prepare meals in comfort. I also got the roll-a-cot and hence was wondering about insulation underneath. Like anything else I guess it's a learning curve, but I hear what you are saying about the sleep system being able to function even if there is no stove/heat. I think for starters I'd try the cot with double padding and bring the hammock, tarp and underquilt as a back up. That way I wouldn't have to invest in additional gear and it would also give me the option to sleep under the stars if I wanted to.
tonyyarusso
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10/22/2018 02:21PM  
Exped DownMat 9 on the ground, quilts or both quilt and pad in a hammock.
SevenofNine
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10/22/2018 03:52PM  
Kraut if you could rig up your cot so you can use your underquilt under it that should suffice wouldn't you say?
10/23/2018 08:06AM  
were going to skip the cot and just use padding and Exped 9's under us, if we car tent camp were using carpet also, going to do some testing this weekend.
Othello
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11/07/2018 12:01PM  
Therm-a-rest NeoAir XTherm and Ridgerest (CC) pad if on the ground, and appropriately rated quilts if in the hammock. I agree with what others have said about the cot being a challenge due to the cold air space under you. Multiple pads on top, and/or an underquilt, if it could be effectively rigged, could work.
ForestDuff
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11/10/2018 11:05PM  
I go with two Thermarest Prolite 4 pads year round. Couple Velcro straps to keep them from sliding around. Side and stomach sleeper. I also always toss a couple handwarmers in the sleeping bag in the winter.
Merlin
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11/11/2018 12:51AM  
I use the standard closed cell blue foam pad and thermarest (Prolite currently). Works like a champ down to -40.
11/12/2018 11:47AM  
I usually have a reflectex mat cut to fit the floor of my tent. On top of that I put my Exped Synmat 9 LW. If it's really cold out I may also use a REI Camp Bed pad under the Exped. Been comfy to -15, no cold issues coming from underneath.
 
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