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Trail News

Sleeping Warm on the Trail

12/16/2016

0 Comments

 
by Gerry Rowan
​
A few rules will help ensure you sleep warm while backpacking or camping:
•    Never sleep on the ground. Use a foam or inflatable sleeping pad. Cold or frozen ground will suck the heat out of your body. If a sleeping mat isn’t available, make a pile of dry leaves and/or pine boughs to sleep on.
•    Always use a ground cloth. This could be a small plastic tarp or a commercial backpacking ground cloth. It’s important to stay dry and not soak up moisture from the environment. Many sleeping pads are designed to be waterproof. A large, lawn-sized plastic trash bag can function as both a ground cloth and a windproof sleeping bag cover. 
•    Select a sleeping bag that is adequate for the temperatures you will be camping in. Generally, the better the insulation quality, the more the bag will weigh. As a result, backpackers tend to choose a bag that is too light in insulation for the conditions they will encounter. 
•    Add a sleeping bag cover that is both windproof and waterproof. These covers protect against precipitation, fog, and ground moisture; also, the trapped air between the bag and the environment will greatly help maintain warmth in the bag.
•    Different brands of lightweight, fleece sleeping bags can be added to a heavier sleeping bag as a liner to increase its insulation. The lightweight bags can be used in cold weather much the same way that zip-in linings extend the use of coats and jackets. 
•    Dress for sleeping warmth by
o    Wearing a hat. A watch-cap-style hat works well to keep your head warm while you sleep.
o    Wearing gloves. Select gloves that have added liners—these provide a good deal of warmth while hiking and work well for warm sleeping.
o    Wearing warm, heavyweight hiking socks. Always start your evening with a pair of dry socks. Damp socks will wick heat away from your feet. Allow the socks you hiked in all day to dry overnight.
o    Not sleeping in coats or pants unless you have to. Zippers, pockets, and hoods can be uncomfortable to sleep on all night. Wool or dual-layer long underwear is ideal to sleep in and makes a great base layer for cold-weather hiking clothing.
o    Always sleeping with your mouth and eyes uncovered. Carbon dioxide will build up inside a sealed sleeping bag. 
o    Using a hot-water bottle. Fill a water bottle with hot water and take it into your sleeping bag. It will help you warm up the bag and provide drinking water during the night.
o    Choosing the right tent. Remember, heat will dissipate through the walls of the tent. The greater the volume of the tent, the greater the outside surface area; hence more radiation of heat. Generally, smaller tents are better in cold weather and larger tents in hot weather. 
o    Pitching your tent so it’s as protected as possible. Use the landscape as a wind-, rain-, or snowbreak. Consider building a windbreak when camping on cold, windy nights. 
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  • About
    • News >
      • Newfoundland 2024 Trip Report
      • Newsletter Archive
      • Meet PA Hikers
      • Trail Care Stories
    • Contact
    • About KTA
    • Work For KTA
    • Strategic Plan
    • Volunteer with KTA
    • Our People
    • Our Story
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Press
    • Multimedia
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Advocacy >
      • Kids Trail Ambassador Program
    • Donate >
      • Monthly Giving: Keep Trails Alive
      • Planned Giving: The Heritage Society
      • Giving for the Future: Endowment Fund
      • Hike to Give: 100-Mile Trail Challenge
    • Membership
    • Events >
      • KTA Leave No Trace Level One Training
      • Wales 2025 >
        • Wales Interest Form
      • Keystone Hiking & Outdoor Weekend 2025
      • Backpacking for Beginners 2025
      • LHHT Slackpack 2025
  • GET OUTDOORS
    • KTA Gear Loaner Program
    • Trails
    • Pennsylvania Hiking Trail Trailers
    • Maps
  • Trail Care Program
    • FAQs Trail Care
    • Report a Trail Issue
    • 2025 Weekday Trail Care
    • #8 MST-Tioga
    • #09 AFT
    • #10 WRT
    • #11 CKT CO
    • Trail Love Events
    • KTA’s A.T. Section
  • Hiking Awards
  • Store
  • CLUBS
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    • KTA Grants-to-Clubs
    • Report Club Hours