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snakecharmer
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quote SevenofNine: "The one night you get no sleep due to being cold you will regret the day you thought of leaving your bag at home."
Bingo. My buddy brought a fleece blanket on our late-June trip. He froze his noogies off a couple of nights.
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Scout64
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I have used a sleep sack. Suppose to add 5 degrees of warmth. I had a sleeping bag in the pack, just never took it out.
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tonyyarusso
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No sleeping bag? Unlikely, but maybe. Bed sheets? Hell no. Sometimes that would be fine, but other times very, very much not, and I'm not willing to trust a forecast that much. I've had late-July overnight lows in the 30s (and that wasn't even far north), and was uncomfortable enough even with what I had to not want to think about without it. This is Minnesota - pack accordingly.
Normally in the summer I'm using a 40-degree down bag (23 ounces, packs the size of a cantaloupe) with a silk liner. Now, I might be willing to consider something involving heat-reflecting and/or insulating materials. While I haven't actually tried a night in one yet, I'm told that some people will use something like the SOL Escape bivy, Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme bag liner, or the two combined as a summer to early fall sleep system.
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housty9
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Even if i don't use, it make for extra cushion.
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Savage Voyageur
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I sleep in a hammock when I camp. My underquilt keeps me very warm and I use my sleeping bag for a cover more less. This June was hot and I did not have anything on top of me. I could have just used a sheet or lite fleese blanket.
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kanoes
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to the original question? never.
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OldieMoldy
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Sometimes it's hot all right, but just imagine a surprise front that blows in; wind, cool temp, and of course rain. It won't take many hours and the heat of your body gets leached away. You don't have to have freezing temps for hypothermia. All over America weather records are being broken. Best to be ready for it.
If that wasn't enough, what if someone gets hurt or sick; you'll need a sleeping bag for them.
Best Wishes, Rob
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OldieMoldy
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Ingvald, I've heard of bland camp meals being "tuned up" with bear spray, not me though! Maybe that guy Arnold Schwartzengerguggle.
On this idea of near approaches to hypothermia; 'most times we think in terms of getting the person near a fire. Not bad as far as it goes, but only a small part gets toasty. For myself, when I really need to get warm I guzzle hot tea, the idea being to get the warmth inside me and not much heat escapes! By the time I'm desperate to go I'm usually getting warmed up. Kind of heat applied from the outside and the inside.
I know I got a little off the thread but the verdict was in wasn't it?
Rob
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Ingvald
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I wouldn't skip a sleeping bag for the very reason Oldie pointed out- hypothermia. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. If you get dumped and/or face a three day soak, exactly how are you going to stay warm and keep your core temp up? I'm pretty sure hypothermia is high on the list of life-threatening conditions in the BWCA. Planning a trip based on ideal conditions is running a risk I wouldn't take.
Oldie- maybe you could use the pepper spray to keep warm!
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jcavenagh
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Also use a hammock...I found this summer that I could push the UQ off to the side for most of the night. Usually around 3am, I would wake up chilly and pull the uq back under me.
As for a bag, I used a Big Agnes bag as a quilt. I recently purchased a used down quilt with a 40* rating. Didn't get the chance to use it yet. Maybe tomorrow night??
Anyway, I would be hesitant to go into BDUB without sleeping insulation.
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Beaverjack
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I'd rather forego the tent. I've often used a sleeping bag shell and slept on the ground. Wind can screw with this method some.
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Kendra
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We forego 2 bags and share 2 bags (open) to cover up with.
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ozarkpaddler
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I do it all the time here in the Ozarks, but never up there. Have seen too many wild temperature changes to take the chance.
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jb in the wild
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It's currently 46 degrees up in The BW right now and it's the middle of August. Take a bag with you.
JB
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h20
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Not in the BW or northern minn or Wisc. Nights right now in the low 60s. Bring the bag.
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WhiteWolf
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I did on my most recent trip (8-3 to 8-5). After I had a bunch of gear ripped off,, I have been only able to afford a quality 15F down bag which to me in the dead of summer is over kill. I used a simple twin blanket. It worked fine. One night when it was in the 50's I got a little chilled and just put on sweat pants and a long sleeve shirt. I was fine after that. IT packed up the same size as my Big Agnes Mystic ,, and weighed several oz's less.
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Whichwaysnorth
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Has anyone left the sleeping bag at home in these warm summer months and replaced it with a simple twin sized bed sheet?
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cowdoc
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I've had August nights in the mid 40's. On our trip this year, the last week of June, we could see our breath the first 2 nights and weather radio said upper 30's for low lying areas. I'm just saying.....
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mcsweem
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I rarely bring a bag, usually just a fleece blanket or 2. But I sleep in a hammock with a really warm pad
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Mad_Angler
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I just got back. My wife and I shared a flannel sheet and a fleece blanket.
A few nights, we were too hot. We layed on the flannel sheet and finally covered up with the blanket around 2-4am.
A few nights, we were a bit chilled. We wore longjohns or flannel pajama pants. We also slept directly on the mats with both the sheet and blanket on top of us.
I would do it again. The size and weight of two small light blankets was a lot less than 2 sleeping bags.
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alpine525
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I have camped enough in Minnesota to know to always expect the unexpected - especially for temperatures. We typically camp in August or early September and we have experienced everything from very warm nights to very cold nights. Would never camp without a sleeping bag. If it's too warm for the sleeping bag, I use my silk liner which I always bring with, and sleep on top of the sleeping bag. Sleeping bags pack down so small it really isn't an issue with size or weight.
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nojobro
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I would never forego the sleeping bag.
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MeatHunter
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I foolishly went last year with just 2 flannel sheets. I rank that as one of my "poorer decisions" of the year, right next to my showering with a hairdryer to same time in the morning. Was cold every night. I knew better too. Never again.
Will always bring a bag. Too hot, lay on top. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
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shoreviewswede
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Not a chance.
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SevenofNine
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The one night you get no sleep due to being cold you will regret the day you thought of leaving your bag at home.
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LuvMyBell
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I always bring a sleeping bag. In addition I use a sleeping bag liner to keep the inside of my bag clean. In cooler months I use a fleece liner. In warmer months I use a silk liner.
If it is too warm to get inside the bag, I sleep on top and use the liner as a sheet.
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Moonman
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Not uncommon for August nights to get VERY cold compared to the day. I always say a canoeist can put up with anything during the day, rain, high winds, cold, hunger, no fish, etc, as long as they are warm and dry when sleeping at night. The new day brings a new outlook. Long experience in the bush has demonstrated to me the prudence of always bringing a good sleeping bag.
Moonman
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Mashuga
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I have always taken a sleeping bag appropriate for the season I'm going. I can't remember the last time I actually used it as a sleeping bag though. Years ago the wife made fitted sheets with elastic in the corners for the thermarest pads. It takes a few seconds to put those on and I use the bag as a blanket. I can't take being confined in a bag anymore. I need to be able to move around. The sheet gets stuffed in with the bag.
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keth0601
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I forego the sleeping bag.
I use a down quilt.
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