Cold weather camping

[Irving]

Well, if throwing my zero degree bag over me last time kept me comfortable enough to sleep, but only if I didn't move, I just can't imagine that a liner or thin wool blanket will do crap in comparison. I have to keep perspective before I run off and but more stuff.

On another note, I have plastic tent stakes and I hate them. I also have the thin steel ones that come with tents and those are just as bad. Steel triangle shaped, or twisted aluminum ones any better? I can pretty easily bend the aluminum ones in my hands, so I feel like those might be more fancy visual marketing than anything.

[ChickNorris]

I vote nothing.

[Irving]

I need to concentrate more on having hot food to keep my mood up I think.

[Irving]

It's going to be cold this week. Think I'll sleep outside and experiment a little.

[ChickNorris]

There you go.

[henpecked]

Murdochs has 12 inch steel bars in the electric fence area.
Sportsman guide has a -30 oversize canvas sleeping bag with flannel inside for 100 bucks. We even use them in the summer

[Irving]

I was looking hard at those cheaper below zero bags for sure.

Costco or Sam's has a bulk box of Mountain House stuff for $60 (iirc), and I can eat that stuff for every meal. With the single burner propane stove, that should make it easy. Might even treat myself to some coffee.

[whitewalrus]

I'm at the Army Surplus store now. They have a military bivy for $59, and it's basically like a jacket shell. I'm wondering if I wouldn't be better off buying a large, square, 45 degree bag for half the price, or even a wool blanket to throw over the top of me. I'm not planning on hiking my camp in, so neither of those would be too large.

The military bivy is just a gore-tex shell - it will help a little, but if you are already inside a tent, getting more layers like the extra sleeping bag you mention would keep you warmer.

I have the 3 bag system the military uses, its great if you are taller person, but if you don't need the modularity of the system, there are other choices. I got it because I typically archery hunt, be it early or late out in the plains.

My advice: keep your clothes for the next day inside the bag, it will act as additional insulation and then it will be warm when you wake up and get into them. As mentioned by Hummer, soups and hot liquids can really warm you up and raise your morale.

[whitewalrus]

I was looking hard at those cheaper below zero bags for sure.

Costco or Sam's has a bulk box of Mountain House stuff for $60 (iirc), and I can eat that stuff for every meal. With the single burner propane stove, that should make it easy. Might even treat myself to some coffee.

The MRE's are great for not having to deal with meal planning, throw a case in the truck and go.

[def90]

You don't need a below zero bag. Get a pair of puffy pants and a puffy jacket. Wear the pants and jacket inside the bag. It will bring the rating of the bag down another 20 degrees or more as well as you will already be dressed in nice and toasty outerwear for when you eventually get up in the morning. Don't wear a bunch of stuff underneath the puffy jacket and pants, let the down jacket and pants do the insulating work. Also you need to break the thermal connection between you and the ground, get a good pad or two or three. If you are car camping put a pad or two under you as well as a thick comforter.

Other things I do are.. get a nice beanie, one that is long enough that you can pull down over your face, it's amazing how much warmer you are when you have a beanie pulled down over your face. Get a pair of those down booties as well for your feet.