Alternative Sleep Systems

D

Diamond Dog

Joined
Jun 25, 2007
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I'm thinking about using just a wool blanket instead of a sleeping bag and one of those blue tarps you can find at wally word for a sleep system. What are you opinions on this? Will I freeze my arse off with just a wool blanket? I'll be using some clothing as insulation as well (thermos). I like the idea of this combo but not sure how well it would do. I think about the old school cowboys and seeing how they managed with just a wool blanket roll when camping out. I will be in a mountainous environment, elevation anywhere around 7-9 thousand feet. Possibly it may be raininy (never know). I'm not really an ultralight guy but I really don't like carrying bulky items. The wool bed roll would be ideal on the bottom of the pack. What say you all-any advice would be great.
 
Wool is pretty heavy. Try more of a layering system of clothing so you don't need to depend so much on bulky items. That being said 7-9 thousand feet is pretty cold. Take a quilt bivy combo.

-RB
 
I was thinking about that too. The thing is I don't want to spend the $$$ on some of the gear I see at the stores-too expensive for me. But the wool blanket is not cheap but I can justify that I can use it for around the house as well. I'm not real up on what a bivy is exactly is that just a type outer shell to stuff a sleeping bag in?

Anyone have any experience with one of those tube tents? I'm trying to get ideas on cheaper alternatives for sleep gear-I spent alot of dough already this year getting my family camping stuff.
 
This is my sleep for two gear. golite tarp, spaceblanket ground sheet. Quilts we made on top.
IMG_3602.jpg

Bivy with my quilt inside. Waterproof bottom breathable top.
Picture043.jpg
 
At 7-9 thousand feet, you may have to relook your sleeping system. A bivi bag is just an outer bag that can go directly onto the ground and helps protect your sleeping bag...they also add a little to the temperature rating and most are water resistant to water proof. Whatever you do, don't forget a ground insulation mat or at least make sure there's enough ground insulating material to pile under you (leaves, fir bows, etc.).

Once you get below 40-50 degrees and add precipitation, you really need to reconsider the need for a quality sleeping bag/system. Make sure you have a good tarp or overhead cover to conserve heat and keep precipitation off of you and ensure you have good ground insulation. Use a good fleece/wool hat, gloves and socks to retain heat. Most tube tents are pretty flimsy...I would look at a decent Silicone-treated tarp or even an Army poncho before a tube tent. A quality wool blanket would be okay, but it could unroll (causing you to lose heat) and it’s pretty heavy.

ROCK6
 
Yeah I like the Army ponch idea as well. I like your sleep system bear! I have one of those thin rubber yoga mats do you think that would work as a ground insulating mat? I have the usual car camping gear but that stuff is too bulky to hike with. In the mountains it can be hot during the day and cold at night especially around that 3-4 oclock hour--burrr. I do have some wool socks, hat etc. I figure if the wool blanket is more on the heavy side then I can lighten up on my shelter sytem.
 
Clothing is your first line of shelter always. Lots of people keep extra clothes with them on the trail but do not ever include it in their sleep system. I am only speaking from years as a lightweight backpacker and leader of many backpacking groups and trips. Use it all as a sleep system. You can use an army ponch/tarp, that is what I use when I only worry about my shelter. A closed cell foam pad from wally or target will always be a standard. Cheap, light, and it does the job, insulate. They are not big on comfort but so what it's a few nights out of the bed. You may have all the gear you need already. Wear the clothing in layers, pick up a cheap $15 Adventure Medical Bivy that weighs 3.5 ounces. I must leave now to an adventure of my own. Hope this helps.
-RB
 
Sew a wool blanket together to make a sleeping bag and then sew in a cotton or silk liner but don't fully sew it at the top then in an emergency you can stuff insulating leaf debris between the two !!!

This is quoted from Tom Brown Jr.....

By taking two old and well worn blankets and sewing them together you can make an excellent sleeping roll that is lightweight and will keep you warm no matter how cold it gets. When you sew the two together, leave an opening in one end so that it can be easily stuffed with fiber during a survival outing.

As you get into the camp area stuff the blankets with leaves, cattail down, thistle down, or bark fibers, then roll the blanket around you. The colder it gets, the more stuffing you can put into it.

When you break camp, dump out the blankets and roll them up into a light ball on your back. This type of blanket sleeping bag will take care of you in style without having to carry in a big conventional sleeping bag.
 
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+10 on the layered clothing.

Remember the cowboys of old didn't just sleep in a wool blanket. They had their undeclothes, clothes and their big duster coats on. Often gloves, hat, even a scarf.
 
I've tried to go as low tec as I can for the past few years...and what I found..and I might catch alot of flack for saying this..but spending dough on a sleeping bag is probably the single most important investment you'll make if your serious about the outdoors...Probably even more so than a beloved knife..for shelter a poncho or tarp is fine but spend a winter night in an inadequate bag...and you'll catch my drift.. you can't go home at that point.. you can only stoke up the fire and try not to freeze, but you can forget about sleeping..Layer your clothes get a therma rest pad and a good bag..sure these things can improvised, and that's a great thing to practice.. and in the summer I don't use a sleeping bag at all around here, but come late september..the rules change..It is definitely worth the money..(rant officially over)
 
One word of warning about indiscriminate layering. Multiple layers that are not sized for layering can get tight and constricting. This can inhibit blood circulation and make you colder.

-- FLIX
 
Those cowboys were pretty tough; they froze their butts off. I've met a few who were used to sleeping out on the bare ground under a jackpine in freezing conditions. If camping out in severe cold, you do NOT want to wear clothing "as insulation"; it absorbs moisture and its insulation value plummets. A good insulated ground pad, a sleeping bag rated for the conditions, and polypropylene long johns and top, and a toque will ensure a good night's sleep.
 
Pitdog thanks bro I never thought of that--I may give that a try!

RR-I know a lightweight good sleeping sytem is the way to go-but the wifey would probably have a fit due to the fact I've been on a custom buying binge lately! :-)but I want to try out some other alternative things--I kinda like toughing it out sometimes if I'm by myself.

Flix-I agree with this. Last summer I went camping-slept in the tent with the family but all I used was an acrylic blanket that looks like one of those old school truck bench seat covers and I woke up freezing. I put on another shirt (3 on total) my pants over my long johns and but on my fleece jacket and I felt colder than when I first woke up!
 
I have to agree w/ Rescue Riley. A good bag is really nice. It will also pack down to less volume than a plain tarp will. While they can be expensive, you don't have to spend 3-400 on a bag. Depending on the temp rating, 120-160 can get you a good quality bag. You could probably spend a bit less if you got a synthetic fill, but then it would not pack down so small.

If you can't spring for one, and you can't sell a couple knives to get one, then do the wool blanket thing. Depending on the temps, it should work. If it won't get below 50F or so, you could probably just run fleece bags, wich would weigh even less. I do think the wool blanket is very versatile, which is a justification. Check Sportsman's Guide, Cheaper Than Dirt, and FelineVet for less expensive blankets. They are very thick and heavy, and large, and some apparently smell like mothballs. Depending on what you need, you may be able to cut one down for smaller folks. Those are the cheapest I know of though.
 
I've tried the Wool Blanket, Tarp thing @ about 8,000 feet. This was in the middle of July. It was okay until about 1:00 am then it got real cold, for the rest of the night I was the self appointed campfire tender.

Since then I've used a North Face Blaze sleeping bag.
 
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