10 Ways to Sleep Warmer at Night
If you’re out camping or backpacking in this shoulder season, you need to prepare for some cold nights. If you’re pushing a summer-weight sleeping bag into the fall, here are 10 ways to sleep warmer each night.
1. Fully close your sleeping bag and use the hood
Duh. Zip your bag all the way up. Wrap and cinch the hood securely around your head to keep all your brain heat from escaping into the cold night.
2. Use the neck baffle if you’ve got one
A neck baffle is located near the top of the sleeping bag below the hood. It is designed to create a seal above your shoulders and keep all the warm air below it from being pushed out as you move around. In my experience it adds noticeable warmth at the expense of mild claustrophobia. I feel more trapped in the bag than I like and generally use it only on the coldest nights.
3. Wear a liner balaclava and/or hat
Add an insulating layer to your head and neck to increase warmth. A liner balaclava weighs almost nothing, insulates your neck, and stays in place no matter how much you toss and turn. If you’re wearing a hat, look for a style that fits securely and stays on even when you move around at night.
4. Pre-heat the bag with a chemical heat warmer or hot water bottle
About an hour before you go to bed activate and place a chemical heat warmer into the foot of your sleeping bag. Alternatively, place a bottle of hot water there instead—just be absolutely sure it will not leak during the night.
5. Use a sufficiently warm sleeping pad
One of the primary purposes of a sleeping pad is to insulate you from the cold ground. If you’ve been using a thin pad with an R-value of less than 3, consider upgrading to a warmer model.
6. Wear long underwear
Layer up inside the sleeping bag with a cozy set of long underwear for additional warmth.
7. Change your socks
Don’t wear your sweat-soaked socks to bed—the moisture will steadily rob heat from your feet. Carry and wear a dry pair for sleeping.
8. Invest in a sleeping bag liner
You can purchase a separate sleeping bag liner for placing inside the bag. A range of options are available, from lightweight polyester liners to heavy-duty fleece liners to battery-powered super-heaters like this new offering from Ravean. They can add considerable warmth but require additional weight, bulk, and inside-the-bag hassle.
9. Eat a high-fat meal or snack before bedtime
Fat is a longer-burning fuel than carbs and helps keep your internal furnace pumping all night long. If you wake up cold in the middle of the night, adding more fuel to your heat tank (a.k.a. a midnight snack) can work wonders. (Don’t keep food in your tent, though!)
10. Keep the bag dry
You sweat all night long, even if you don’t realize it. That moisture penetrates your sleeping bag and can slowly reduce its warmth over time. Whenever possible, dry out your sleeping bag in the sun. Also avoid breathing into your hood—your moist breath can dramatically compromise its insulation.
Happy fall!