BWCA Winter Sleeping Bag. Boundary Waters Winter Camping and Activities
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Winter Camping and Activities
      Winter Sleeping Bag.     

Author

Text

mjax127
member (38)member
  
12/21/2014 09:56PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Alright so question here, a group of buddies and myself are going to go winter camping in the BWCA in late Feb. We are renting a canvas tent with a stove, so should get nice and toasty in there, question is with that type of tent, do you all think that I could get away with my normal 40 F bag and some blankets? I am just thinking of weight for my back and space in the sled. I have a big sleeping bag that is rated to -30 F but weighs 12 lbs its huge...... just trying to see what i could get by with let me know guys thanks!
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
12/21/2014 10:34PM  
quote mjax127: "Alright so question here, a group of buddies and myself are going to go winter camping in the BWCA in late Feb. We are renting a canvas tent with a stove, so should get nice and toasty in there, question is with that type of tent, do you all think that I could get away with my normal 40 F bag and some blankets? I am just thinking of weight for my back and space in the sled. I have a big sleeping bag that is rated to -30 F but weighs 12 lbs its huge...... just trying to see what i could get by with let me know guys thanks!"


Unless above freezing for the ambient temp outside-- NO.
The canvas tents warm up nicely when the fire is going-- when the fire goes out-- the only thing between you and the ambient temp outside is maybe five degrees of canvas heat island and your bag.
By the time you add up the weight/bulk of your 40F bag and enough blankets to stay warm at say -10F--- you might as well bring the beast rated at -30F or wake up every 2 hours or so and stoke the fire which wouldn't reccm.
tonyyarusso
distinguished member(1403)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/21/2014 10:41PM  
I've never actually used a stove / hot tent myself, so as a cold camper I'm going to say you should have a sleeping bag that would at a minimum keep you alive (if perhaps uncomfortable) if for some reason you couldn't use the stove at all. Going out with only a 40-degree bag sounds like a really good way to end up on the news...
SteveElms73
distinguished member (423)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/22/2014 08:32AM  
This is the exact question I had when I first got into hot tenting. I initially thought I'd be toasty warm all night long and that I could load the stove with wood before going to sleep and it would burn slowly all night long. Well after 2 hours the stove goes out and the inside of the tent is the same temp as the outside. I went out and bought a bag rated to -60 (I know it may be overkill but I get cold at night) and it works great in the hot tent once the stove goes out. So I agree with the other posters here in that you should opt for a warmer bag. Can you rent a bag from the same place you are renting the tent?
12/22/2014 08:50AM  
quote tonyyarusso: "I've never actually used a stove / hot tent myself, so as a cold camper I'm going to say you should have a sleeping bag that would at a minimum keep you alive (if perhaps uncomfortable) if for some reason you couldn't use the stove at all. Going out with only a 40-degree bag sounds like a really good way to end up on the news..."


This....and what the others said.
Gadfly
Guest Paddler
  
12/22/2014 11:56AM  
a 40 degree bag is probably pushing it. The temps in late Feb can get just as cold as mid Jan. We were camping the last week of March and we had temps as low as -17. As mentioned above the heat from the stove is only going to last so long, even if you have quality wood it will keep the tent warm for only an hour or so if temps are below zero.
Another thing to consider is getting yourself off the ground. To be honest the sleeping bag I use is only rated to 0 but I also have an exped downmat that does wonders. We were up the gunflint last December and it never got above 0 the entire time we were there and the people at the outfitters where we left out vehicle said it was -20 each night with one night getting close to -30. I slept well each night and I believe getting up off the ground a little bit made a huge difference.
12/22/2014 12:38PM  
quote Gadfly: "a 40 degree bag is probably pushing it. The temps in late Feb can get just as cold as mid Jan. We were camping the last week of March and we had temps as low as -17. As mentioned above the heat from the stove is only going to last so long, even if you have quality wood it will keep the tent warm for only an hour or so if temps are below zero.
Another thing to consider is getting yourself off the ground. To be honest the sleeping bag I use is only rated to 0 but I also have an exped downmat that does wonders. We were up the gunflint last December and it never got above 0 the entire time we were there and the people at the outfitters where we left out vehicle said it was -20 each night with one night getting close to -30. I slept well each night and I believe getting up off the ground a little bit made a huge difference.
"


I was there then too...what a difference a year makes eh'?
SevenofNine
distinguished member(2472)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/22/2014 03:04PM  
No, your 40 degree bag is a bad idea. I view my sleeping bag/system as part of my survival gear. You need a bag/bags that will handle the cold, period.
SteveElms73
distinguished member (423)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/22/2014 03:08PM  
Just to add to this...in my opinion a decent sleeping pad or pads is just as important as the sleeping bag. You'd be amazed at how much heat gets sucked out of you from underneath
DanCooke
distinguished member(1271)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/22/2014 04:25PM  
I have always used two bags. For the last 9 years a Exped downmat 9 deluxe sleeping pad . A hot tent goes cold quickly and you should be prepared to be able to sleep with no heat, just in case.
Campcraft
distinguished member (157)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/22/2014 07:03PM  
That 12 lbs. won't bother you at 2am.

Mike
12/22/2014 08:26PM  
Bring that 40 degree bag...probably rectangular?...put it outside of a lightweight compact 15 degree bag. Still way under the bulk and weight of your 12 lb monster. You should be ok. Good mat makes a huge difference.
wvevans
distinguished member (409)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/22/2014 08:36PM  
quote lindylair: "Bring that 40 degree bag...probably rectangular?...put it outside of a lightweight compact 15 degree bag. Still way under the bulk and weight of your 12 lb monster. You should be ok. Good mat makes a huge difference. "
This is my advice as well and also what I do. People just starting out think that a hot tent means sleeping in a toasty warm tent all night. Until the second night.
SevenofNine
distinguished member(2472)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/22/2014 08:48PM  
quote Campcraft: "That 12 lbs. won't bother you at 2am.


Mike"


Mike, well put.
misqua
distinguished member (238)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/23/2014 11:37AM  
For even better insulation from the cold ground, use a closed cell foam pad, they are light and very cheap and will definitely increase the effectiveness of an isulated Big Agness aircore, or exped. I'm speaking from experience from not, and then to, using one on nights it was around -10F and the round was just as cold (I was cold camping). The closed cell pad made an amazing difference.
misqua
distinguished member (238)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/23/2014 11:44AM  
I meant to say, put the closed cell foam pad on top of Exped or BA aircore. Place it right under your sleeping bag for the best performance. I tried putting in on the ground first, but found out that it works best, by being on top of the other pad and just under you.

Mnpat
distinguished member (158)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/23/2014 08:57PM  
I would spring for a sleeping pad before a new bag. Even the best bag is useless without a good pad. I use a 0 degree bag with a liner for all temps. A summer bag with blankets and a good pad will suffice.
12/23/2014 11:52PM  
I love my snowtrekker and four dog stove but sh...tuff happens and if you get wet during the day (far from your tent or tent isn't set up), have a tent fire at night, run out of or can't collect enough wood you'll be sorry or dead if you don't have a warm enough bag. two bag systems work great. doesn't hurt to try it out in your backyard or screen porch on a cold night. agree with the advice on a good pad. Exped downmat FTW! But because I always worry about the worst case scenario and pack redundantly I also carry a closed cell foam pad or roll of reflectix.

tg
12/30/2014 05:30PM  
The lower rating the better,I wouldn't even think of going with less than a -10 degree F. bag with extra insulation if needed.
ZaraSp00k
distinguished member(1470)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/02/2015 11:32AM  
my bag is rated at 0F, one night I survived -25F overnight temperatures by doing sit ups to warm up after waking up cold every 2 hours, I had gone to sleep about 7PM, so it was a VERY long night, morning seemed to take forever to come
SevenofNine
distinguished member(2472)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/02/2015 11:46AM  
quote ZaraSp00k: "my bag is rated at 0F, one night I survived -25F overnight temperatures by doing sit ups to warm up after waking up cold every 2 hours, I had gone to sleep about 7PM, so it was a VERY long night, morning seemed to take forever to come"


This is a classic reason why you get the best bag you can or go to a cheaper double bag system. There's been times where I was cold but if I can throw anything on over my bag/bags it saves me. One year I left my inner bag home what a mistake.
Mnpat
distinguished member (158)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/06/2015 05:10PM  
Don't trust the rating that the bag manufacturers put on the bags. Only a few manufacturers have true en ratings. The ones I know of are marmot feathered friends and western mountaineering. A true 0 degree down bag will have over 3 1/2" of loft on the top. 4 1/2" for a minus 40 bag.
My marmot has a full inch more of loft than my friends mountain hardware of the same rating. I especially dont trust any ratings of synthetic bags. I have never seen one perform even close to the ratings. A liner is good for a little more warmth also.

I just spent the weekend in the bwca sleeping in -20 temps in a 0 degree bag and was toasty warm.
01/07/2015 09:39AM  
quote tonyyarusso: "I've never actually used a stove / hot tent myself, so as a cold camper I'm going to say you should have a sleeping bag that would at a minimum keep you alive (if perhaps uncomfortable) if for some reason you couldn't use the stove at all. Going out with only a 40-degree bag sounds like a really good way to end up on the news..."


+1
01/07/2015 09:48AM  
Your sleeping bag is one of if not the most most important piece of winter camping Don't cut corners at that end.
Also much can be done on what you wear to bed,a balvacada or other similar hat and your layers of close you wear to bed.
Also have good insulation underneath.

Even cold camping I believe your tent can add 10 degrees warmth in how it is utilized. The right combination of aeration to prevent frosting and trying to hold your warm air in is critical.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next