Staying warmer In the mountains (hot tent?)

[ThurstonCokid]

My main issue with backcountry hunting is how cold i get.. it’s never run me out of the hills before, but it has made it to where I’ve gotten close to 0 sleep. I have a 0 degree bag and absolutely freeze in conditions under about 30 I’d say. I’m looking for ways to stay warmer. My usual set up is blow up pillow and pad, sleeping bag and 2 person tent. Do i need to invest in a hot tent with a stove option? If so what options should i look for. (On a budget) and also it needs to fit in a pack and be somewhat light. Thanks for tips and any other ideas!


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[Jingles]

Unless you are back packing consider getting a bedroll cover of canvas i.e. like the outfitters mannies are made of I use one and have been in below freezing temps but ben as warm as a bug in a rug til I had to get out of the bag Adds about 10 to 15 degrees of warmth.

[fishngamereaper]

Your zero bag is a survival rating not comfort. A negative bag would be my first choice but good ones are expensive. Try throwing in a couple hot hands warmer's. They can increase bag temps to a comfortable level. But that being said teepee tents these days are awesome and light weight stoves are abundant.

[farmin4u_98948]

Look at this thread.  https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,243893.0.html

[zwickeyman]

Puffy jacket and pants take my 30 degree comfortably down into single digits. I always carry my puffy jacket anyway. I also have a hot tent for late season and they are great

Does your pad have some R value/insulation. That will help a bunch. I think my pad has a 4.2 R value, totally guessing here but I think it helps about 10 degrees

[Bill W]

put your sleeping bag in a bivy bag and it should warm things up.  When I'd get cold I'd slip a garbage bag over the foot of my sleeping bag.  It would warm things up but also keep condensation in. A bivy bag should breathe and not hold in the water.

[follow maggie]

I colder rated bag and a liner inside it are in order for you. You didn’t say what you wear to bed, but long johns & warm socks help a lot, and a stocking hat is super important for me.

Like others have said, the temp rating of a sleeping bag doesn’t mean you’re comfortable to that temp. There’s just too much variability in what each of us defines as comfortable. The rating means you won’t freeze to death.

[444Marlin]

Down or synthetic bag?  Brand?  Draft tube and collar?

A stove's weight in down could go a long ways to warming you.  I have a hot tent, but the stoves are not for all night burning.  They are great for drying out gear, and keeping you toasty until bed time. You could probably get a couple hours out of it once you fall asleep, but then you'd have to stoke it again.  I do save a bit on packing in fuel, since I can cook some meals and heat water on top of it.

[JimmyHoffa]

Do you camp under trees or out in meadows?  On clear nights, the meadows can get really cold, under trees can help keep you warm.  On cloudy nights it can be about the same.

[mburrows]

Not all 0 degree bags are equal. Just like some bow manufacturers say their IBO speed is 350 when its actually lower, same goes for sleeping bags.

Depending on your bag manufacturer consider trying a different brand along with a pad that has a higher r value.

[WapitiTalk1]

10-15 degree fib. If you want to ensure your bag or quilt will keep you warm at 15 degrees, buy a 0 degree product. There ya go.

[444Marlin]

10-15 degree fib. If you want to ensure your bag or quilt will keep you warm at 15 degrees, buy a 0 degree product. There ya go.

He said he was getting cold in a 0 degree bag in 30.  I'm guessing his bag has lost it's loft or he doesn't have good draft collars.  I agree with you, that a bag 10-15 degrees lower rating than the lowest expected outside temp.  I still sport a wool knit hat and wool longjohns.

[Stein]

When it gets below freezing, I start packing my -20 Marmot that is crazy thick when the down uncompresses.  I use one pad until about 0 and if I'm still out (which is pretty rare these days) I would take a second pad.

Some guys count ounces, which I do to some degree, but I don't even know how much my winter bag weighs because it doesn't matter.  After one night, it gets pretty detrimental to not get sleep.

Bag ratings vary as does the individual.  Some sleep hot, some sleep cold.  Either way, also try upping your fat intake in the pm and calories in general.  An old winter camping trick I was taught in the 90's was to put a slab of butter in your hot chocolate right before bed.  Still works, if you overeat fat before bed your metabolism ticks up and it helps.  I'm not a big eater in the backcountry except when it's cold and I consciously eat as much as I can get down.

[Magnum_Willys]

I'm toasty in a two man with rain fly with a zero degree bag with a downmat 7 down filled 3" inflatable pad.   All I can think is the pad?   

[Stein]

10-15 degree fib. If you want to ensure your bag or quilt will keep you warm at 15 degrees, buy a 0 degree product. There ya go.

He said he was getting cold in a 0 degree bag in 30.  I'm guessing his bag has lost it's loft or he doesn't have good draft collars.  I agree with you, that a bag 10-15 degrees lower rating than the lowest expected outside temp.  I still sport a wool knit hat and wool longjohns.

Yeah, especially with synthetic bags, you need to treat them right.  If you leave them in the trunk on a hot summer day they are going to lose some loft as well as not storing them right.  Same thing for down to some degree, but in my experience it is a bit more forgiving.  Synthetics also have a shorter lifespan from my experience, so one of those might be a factor with yours.