Need new sleeping setup

Riley12

Riley12

Joined
Jun 26, 2013
Messages
935
Hey, guys, I went on an overnight trip recently, and decided my old wool blanket(wool blend on the low end) has run its course. I run a tarp shelter and usually use the blanket as ground cover then just cover up with my shemagh but last night I had to break out the Mylar blanket. I'm thinking of a small lightweight ground tarp mixed with a mummy bag? But I need something that packs small. Maybe just a new wool blanket?

Here's how I usually set up my shelter

e63cc9118eb89e6d717fa5e32dacc4ab.jpg
 
You can get 35 ºF bags that will pack down as small as a good wool blanket. Start by looking at the Marmot Nanowave. Just over a pound at 17.8 ounces. With it's compression stuff sack it packs at about 8" X 12".
 
I'm guessing your temps stay pretty warm. One thing to keep in mind is that your bottom side insulation will also change if you go to a bag. The wool blanket doesn't compress, but the bag will, so you will likely need something under you. also the ultra-light mummy-bags tend to be a slim fit, so depending on your build, might not be as comfy. I'd go quilt, and pad.

I made a diy quilt with 2.2oz climashild apex and its about 14oz, and is bigger than it needs to be. The equivalent with down would be half that weight. As well as better compression. a light down quilt and a light mat would get you pretty good coverage, and pack small, with low weight.

Temps and budget are info thats needed to really help point you in the right direction.
 
gadgetgeek said:
I'm guessing your temps stay pretty warm. One thing to keep in mind is that your bottom side insulation will also change if you go to a bag. The wool blanket doesn't compress, but the bag will, so you will likely need something under you. also the ultra-light mummy-bags tend to be a slim fit, so depending on your build, might not be as comfy. I'd go quilt, and pad.

I made a diy quilt with 2.2oz climashild apex and its about 14oz, and is bigger than it needs to be. The equivalent with down would be half that weight. As well as better compression. a light down quilt and a light mat would get you pretty good coverage, and pack small, with low weight.

Temps and budget are info thats needed to really help point you in the right direction.
Click to expand...

Warmer temps, nothing below 40 but summer is usually high 90's. Budget is around $50-75
 
Riley12 said:
Warmer temps, nothing below 40 but summer is usually high 90's. Budget is around $50-75
Click to expand...

With so little budget you will have to stick to syntethic bags. Foget about down. The benefits of a mummy shaped bag over any kind of blanket is that you can cocoon inside if the temps go lower than expected closing the drawstring of the hood, which will help tremendously. Also, if you roll arround while you sleep, the bag won't allow you to slip out of the insulation.

My recommendation is to buy the bag first, and then go find the sleeping pad (RidgeRest is about the best out there weight/insulation/price wise). You can make do with an inferior sleeping pad and replace it later on when it gets thrashed or just doesn't insulate that much (compressed over time).
 
Ridgerest is cheap, and durable and works but it doesn't pack small.

(Mine looks like varmints have gnawed on it. It has suffered from being on the outside of my pack while bushwhacking)
 
I would recommend just adding an insulated foam pad. At night a lot of moisture will come up off the ground. If you don't have a barrier under your blanket. That could be your weak spot.

A space blanket and pad could solve your problem.

Another possible cheap solution is to wash your blanket in warm or hot water to tighten it up a bit. Hand washing is best. No top loading machines.


I have a Big Agnes insulated foam air core pad. At least that is what I think they called it. It packs down to between a regular beer can and a Fosters beer can. I think it may be on he high end of your budget now. But I think almost anything you mentioned will be.

You could just try a cheap closed cell pad for about $10.00 and see if that solves your problem.

Not being wise here. But your age could have some to do with it too. I know I sleep way colder than I used to.
 
Florida cured me of sleeping al fresca like this. One trip it was waking up with a snake in bed with me. Anothr was when a migrating nest of fire ants greeted me in the morning. I also have the BA Aircore pad and love it, but made do with a blue foam pad from Walmart for years. And in the temps you face there, it doesn't take much of an expensive bag to suffice. It can be left unzipped and used as a quilt if you prefer and bedfellow exclusion is not a concern.
 
Codger brings up an excellent point. Why I bring a hammock when I go camping in the south, but I also learned about chiggers the hard way being a native westcoaster, we don't have those out here! :D
 
A Blue closed cell foam pad (sometimes called a cot pad) is a great way to go. Tarp on the ground, next the pad, then your sleeping bag or blanket, then the heat sheet over that. Preferably at least a few inches above you to a couple feet.

Back in my Scout days, I frequently slept under a tarp on a foam mat wrapped in wool blankets in a Grubber space blanket A-frame type shelter. As long as you can stay out of the wind, you do pretty good. Heck, there were nights at 5,800-7,400 feet where I'd actually get pretty hot.
 
for the temps you describe and budget, look at making your own (or have someone do it) Climashield Apex quilt/blanket. 2.5 Apex would be sufficient insulation- this stuff packs well, unlike other synthetics that quickly lose their loft. While not as light as down, much better moisture resistance and lots cheaper. It can be used just like a blanket in milder temps or cinched down (top and bottom) in cooler temps. Some lightweight ripstop nylon (I used seconds), Climashield insulation and some Velcro will only set you back $25-30. Mine does double duty in the winter, I add it over my down bag in extremely cold temps- the second layer of syn not only adds insulative value, but your body moisture is pulled out of your down layer into the syn layer keeping the down dry.

Should add this quilt weighs a mere 13 oz and packs to a little larger than a Nalgene bottle

quilt_zpsn7zw4pox.jpg


packed_zpsvptdqu5d.jpg
 
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Pretty much going to echo everyone here, get a bit of foam as a start, and then look at either a DIY or light synthetic solution at your budget point. The more combos you can make, the more adaptable your system. CCF is the best cheap option, there are a lot of bad mats in the middle price ranges, at least with foam its cheap. either a blue, or a ridgerest, depending on what you can find local. then you can do upgrades as you need to. Considering what you've been sleeping on, a CCF might well be luxury!
 
Think I paid $80 for my surplus 2 sleeping bag and bivy combo a few years ago. Came with a compression bag. Usually use the light bag and bivy with a foam pad and air pad.
 
When I'm tarp camping I prefer to have my mss bivy with me and down to the 40s the patrol bag works great with a thermarest pad in the bivy or if you add a diy quilt like suggested. With the bivy you don't need much of a tarp if any, you could get away with a 5x7 or my preferred is a 10x7 by bcusa and the bivy adds an extra layer of protection from rain making it easier to keep your bag/quilt/blanket dry

There is a patrol bag on ebay now for $9 and the bivys are usually anywhere from 35 - $55 shipped in good to excellent condition and in a long ridgerest for $30 and you're set
 
Check out the SOL escape bivvy. Mylar mummy bag with partial zipper and a rain resistant super tough layer. Lots of youtube vids on it.
 
Time to add a solar panel, battery array, and electric sleeping bag. Heck, roughing it doesn't have to be cold or without wifi hotspot. ;)
 
those mylar bags are miserable to sleep in when its humid out. might as well try to sleep with a wet towel wrapped around you. If survival is on the line, they are worth having, but not as an every night thing.
 
the new SOL Escape bivy is not your typical mylar bivy- this one actually breathes some- it's more spendy then their previous offerings, but having some breathability is worth the extra cost
 
After moving into the nest, I will never return to the ground! Hammocks are an excellent alternative, though they may not suite every person's needs.
pt9pc9p.jpg

This is my shelter and comfort bundle. If I'm only staying a night or two, or depending on the time of year I may only bring parts of this. At the same time when I gotta go, I have everything I need really. Single nest ultralight hammock, fabric tarp, bug net, paracord, light weight rope, tree straps, cheap sleeping bag and cheaper stuff sack, a reflective emergency sleeping bag, and a drybag.
VlCUv3H.jpg

Definitely not ultralight packing, but super comfy and no ticks on your p3cker!
 
mtwarden, That's good to know. Although I'd think overall humidity would make a pretty big difference, I was thinking that florida would be about as humid as it is here where I am (semi-topical coast) you'd still be pretty wet. But I don't know how the conditions change in winter there, we tend to average a pretty high relative humidity all year, where maybe that changes as it cools there? I also grew up where its dry, so humidity really bugs me while sleeping. For others it might not be a big deal.
 
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