Sleeping Warm

I really don’t like being cold at night when camping. You know when you are so cold that you don’t want to get up to go to the bathroom. You lie there awake for hours not wanting to get up, knowing that you will be even colder when you climb back into your sleeping bag. In reality, you will be warmer if you get up and go. The body is trying to keep all the liquid in your bladder warm, which makes you feel cold.

There are several things you can do to keep warm at night. Wearing all those clothes doesn’t keep you any warmer. Mentally when you go to bed, you feel warmer. As the night wears on you will get cold because you are holding all that moisture next to your body with no place to go. Wear as little as you are comfortable with. I understand that having to get dressed to go to the bathroom is not a fun option. If you are truly warm, you will sleep all night.

I have found that throwing a few hand warmers in my bag makes a big difference. It will keep you warm all night. For some 1 is enough, for others you might need two. The small warmers don’t seem to make much difference, so the bigger the better.

You can also heat rocks to place under your tent or sleeping bag. I have learned the hard way that you need to let the heat evaporate the moisture in the ground before placing your sleeping bag or tent on top of the rocks. Place at least 8” of dirt on top of the rocks. If you don’t you will either have hot spots or set your bag on fire. I have had the sad experience of being soaking wet, although warm, from the steam coming up from the ground at night. It is best to prepare your sleeping area at least an hour or two before you set up your tent or set out your bag on top of the coals.

Good luck and have fun. Try new things. Maybe you will come up with something new.

Ray