Non-sleeping bags in winter ?

SpookyPistolero

SpookyPistolero

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
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6,105
Howdy folks-

I'm just curious about something. I really, really dislike carrying around tents and sleeping bags. They're both huge and bulky and heavy. Bleh. I'm too lazy for that.

So I was wondering two things. First, who doesn't use a tent during the winter? (Tarps don't count as a tent.) Second, who sleeps with something other than a sleeping bag? What is it?

Obviously the answer changes quite a bit depending on location, up north no bag would probably mean frostbite and down south you might sweat your butt off with one. Of my locale always falls right in the middle...
 
I haven't used a tent in any season in the past 2 years..I usually build sometype of natural shelter..or if I'm shorto ntime or material I just string up my poncho or a tarp....I wouldn't be caught dead in a NY winter without a good bag though...
 
Hammock, and my Knee sack. Primeloft down, and squeezes into about the size of a cantelope. Awesome!
 
i don't really like tents at all, because they aren't very flexible. same reason i don't like the idea of "tarp shelters" - tarps cut to specific shapes designed to be strung up the same way every time.

i do enjoy using a tarp though, i need to order a larger silnylon one to take the place of my small, cramped heavy duty space blanket. i have a military poncho on the way, which will be a little bit better, but not much.

i don't own a sleeping bag :o i have been looking around at different options. i am thinking i want to try the quilt/pad setup under a tarp, i think that will work best in terms of weight and versatility.

like you, i don't like weight on my back, so i try to eliminate it as much as possible. the last time i slept in the woods, even though i didn't stay all night, i mostly used a fire to keep warm, and used my poncho as a blanket ontop of a fleece blanket. i was pretty cozy under my blanket with the fire going. a pad would have helped alot though...
 
I use a tarp more in the winter than anything else. It allows me to use it as a reflector for the fire and there are no mosquitoes out that time of year. I use a solo tent in the summer for the hot days or when I know it's going to rain.

As for bags, I use em all year round. I hate being cold at night so I at least bring them with me. A good wool blanket can add a lot of warmth and protect you from falling embers and other stuff, I usually wrap it around my nylon bags.
 
mike fitz, i have seen those and one is on my list of things to buy, i'm interested in hearing what you think it.
 
Mike Fitz said:
Has anyone tried the Therm-a-Rest Tech blanket? I picked one up recently to use in conjunction with a heavy space blanket in the colder months or alone on cool nights. Haven't had the opportunity to test it yet though.

http://www.thermarest.com/product_detail.aspx?pID=124&cID=4
Click to expand...

Now there's a handsome devil! I've never seen one of those, can you tell me more about it? I know you've not had a chance to get out and use it much, but compared to other similar weights of sleeping bags, what temperature range are you expecting out of it?

May have to put off getting a poncho liner in lieu of one of those buggers...
 
Well, like I said, I haven't had a chance to try it "in the wild" yet, but it looks like it would do a good job above about 40 degrees or so on its own, either doubled up as a blanket or wrapped around like a cocoon. The draw cord at the foot looks like a good bonus. Quality is very good, comes with a stuff sack and compresses down pretty good. There are snaps on it to connect to their sheets which make the sleeping pad, sheet, blanket a nice system. I don't have the sheet, I've got a Mont-Bell warm up sheet that's designed to be used inside of a sleeping bag instead.

My thought is to use a sleeping pad (Therm-a-rest pro 4 3/4 length, doesn't take up much space) with the warm up sheet and the Tech Blanket, and throw a heavy space blanket on top for colder weather. Overall, it looks like a versatile and good quality piece of kit, especially for the price. I think I got 20% off and free shipping when I picked it up.
 
siguy said:
mini review of the tech blanket

another review

seems like the general feeling is that anything below about 50 degrees wouldn't be so great with this system.
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I'm guessing it probably work best at colder temps with a good tarp/fire setup, and again, with some help from a space blanket or bivy to seal in some warmth. When I looked, I didn't see anything else in the price range that was what I was looking for. Thanks for posting the reviews, 50 degrees is prob'ly closer to the limit on its own then.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
I'm just curious about something. I really, really dislike carrying around tents and sleeping bags. They're both huge and bulky and heavy.
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A good sleeping bag from say Western Mountaineering, Feathered Friends or even Marmot isn't huge, heavy or bulky. I have a 30° FF bag that weighs less than 2lbs and can be stuffed into a 6x13 sack. Yes, they are expensive but well worth it IMO. A sleeping bag is one place I never scrimp money as my life could well depend upon it.

I use a sleeping bag all the time since where I spend most of my time outdoors it's possible to see below freezing temps any month of the year. If it gets too warm I can always use it like a blanket.
 
The only issue with a sleeping bag (down anyway) is that it's not a good idea to keep it compressed in your pack for long periods. Great for backpacking/camping, not so much for a survival/kit bag when you might not need it for long periods of time. I keep the blanket and such in my "run-around" pack for day trips that might turn into a overnighter without warning. It would a pain in the rear to repack a sleeping bag every time I wanted to head out on a few hour hike in the cold.
 
As far as a shelter goes, I have used tarps in the past until recently (well, recently being 15 years ago or so). I now use a little wee tent that I found at Canadian Tire, and I think it is supposed to be for kids, it is really small. I like it though because it keep out the bugs, and when rolled up is about as compact as a closed umbrella. I will wrap this in a tarp on the backpack, since the tarp is ideal for building a quick work station where you can prepare things in the rain, like cut wood, make dinner, stash tinder, or set up the small tent. Ultimately what I am saying is I always bring both.

As far as the sleeping bag goes, I always always use a bag. My chocie is my Canadian military issue bag, which comes as two bags, inner mummy and outer rectangular, both of which are well insulated and relatively light. It also has a hood that is separate from the bag (you just wear it on your head), as well as a ground sheet. It is quite the package! For summer months, I just use the outer bag, it is plenty warm enough. Winter I will use both inner and outer. I prefer a sleeping bag over just a blanket because it is sealed and therefore keeps out critters that may want to snuggle up to you at night. Spiders, scorpions, beetles etc can be unwelcome guests in a blanket, but the sleeping bag helps keep them at bay. I really don't know what is in the miliatry bag for insulation, but it really isn't very heavy; at least not when compared to other camping bags rated to a similar temperature. I guess that stands to reason since soldiers will be expected to carry this thing for long distances on top of all their other combat gear.
 
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Mike Fitz said:
The only issue with a sleeping bag (down anyway) is that it's not a good idea to keep it compressed in your pack for long periods. Great for backpacking/camping, not so much for a survival/kit bag when you might not need it for long periods of time. I keep the blanket and such in my "run-around" pack for day trips that might turn into a overnighter without warning. It would a pain in the rear to repack a sleeping bag every time I wanted to head out on a few hour hike in the cold.
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That's true, but I'd say it's also true for synthetic bags as well. I once had a Wiggy's bag that you could supposedly store compressed with no ill effects. After a year in a decent sized stuff sack in the back of my truck it had about half the loft it once had.

There's certainly a difference between what one should carry on dayhike as opposed to a longer trip. Everyone has to make decisions on what works for them and their environment and sometimes that means making a compromise.
 
Camping/Backpacking: Winter

Warmth:
Heavy wool Blanket 1 or 2.
Lots of clothes LOTS in layers.
Sleep beside Fire.
Foam matt

Shelter:
Tarp

Hiking: Winter

Warmth:
Extra Clothes only.
Fire if emergency, or if overnighter.

Shelter:
Small British Tarp, can be buttoned together as a sleeping bag.

T
 
Mike Fitz said:
The only issue with a sleeping bag (down anyway) is that it's not a good idea to keep it compressed in your pack for long periods. Great for backpacking/camping, not so much for a survival/kit bag when you might not need it for long periods of time. I keep the blanket and such in my "run-around" pack for day trips that might turn into a overnighter without warning. It would a pain in the rear to repack a sleeping bag every time I wanted to head out on a few hour hike in the cold.
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The same would reign true for that insulation filled blanket. Short fiber synthetic insulation (ie primaloft) is the worst for loosing its loft if stored compressed.

Blackhills, I think they suggest tumble drying the bag to fluff it up, I'd send Wiggy's an email and inquire. They probably wouldn't guarantee the insulation for life if it lost degraded so quickly.
 
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