another 2-nighter: 2 types of shelter used.

[JV3]

Between the expense and the danger, I'm pretty reluctant to go the propane heater route. I'm leaning towards getting bivy bags to supplement my current sleeping bags instead. Thoughts?

not sure how much bivy bags contribute since i've never used one before. i'm guessing you're car camping since you have little kids so my immediate thought is bring wool blankets to go over the bags? if you're hiking first, what i've done in the past is wear all my hiking clothes inside the bag too (including a 100% wool hat and gloves on - i was really pushing it though since i really should've bought a 0 deg bag to begin with instead of my 20 deg one) but my feet still got cold so i bought wiggy's booties to supplement my wool socks. more pics here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/928770-another-2-nighter-emberlit-stove-and-happy-feet!.

you can also use the wool blanket on top of your sleeping pad for increased insulation. another option to the wool blanket is kifaru's woobie or doobie. it's much lighter, warmer, and packs smaller than wool blankets...only problem is it's pricey. this is what i've settled on to increase my bag's warmth and when it's above freezing, i can use it standalone. a high r-value sleeping pad works too or you can double up on the closed cell foam ones.

 

[Mikel_24]

Reasoned1, as the previous poster said, if you are car camping weight shouldn't be an issue so your best choice is to pile on more insulation on top (say another rectangular shape sleeping bag) and improve the insulation from the ground. Doubling up on closed cell mats is a good idea but even better is puting an inflatable mat (as thick as possible) UNDER the closed cell mat. It will provide a much better cushion and you will be a lot more comfortable. Whatever you do DON'T USE INFLATABLE MATS alone, since they are extremely cold (don't insulate at all). There is an exception though... and it is called Neo Air from Thermarest. You do inflate it, but it insulates a lot. A friend of mine has one and it is the best thing on earth after sliced bread. Anyway, that mat is just too expensive and delicate to be worth for car camping.

If you are going hiking... then weight will be an issue. Using all your clothes all the time is a nice idea, unless you end up with so much bulk that you barely fit inside the bag and end up compressing the bags insulation. It happened to me once. If you are wearing too many elastic clothes one on top of the other, you risk retricting blood circulation, and that won't help either!

One thing anyone should pay close attention to when buying a sleeping bag is, besides chosing the right temperature range, checking the size! Too small of a bag and you won't fit, or will compress the insulation. Too big of a bag and you will need to warm up extra air inside of it and it won't be efficient. Get the right size and everything will work nice. If you have the cash for it, there are brands that make sleeping bags with elastic inner baffles (fabric and seams). RAB had the Ice Line line of sleeping bags. Last time I checked... well... I couldn't afford it! I bet there are other brands that may have similar systems to adjust the size.

Happy shopping!
Mikel