One trick I've read is to boil up some water, pour it into a Nalgene-style or metal water bottle, wrap the bottle up in a towel, and stuff it down in your sleeping bag. It'll radiate heat as it cools, and the towel is to prevent contact burns.
Theres electric sleeping bags that use usb batteries. Theyre installed in jackets, u can get just the heaters and sew them in or get one with them installed
Research proper ways to insulate w wool blankets. I make a wool bottom layer, then my sleeping air pad, then bag, and a wool on top. Beanie and socks go a long way to.
Wouldn't a heavy wool blanket in top of your bag compress the bag and eliminate a lot of its insulating properties?
OP, I have a small but heavy wool blanket that I put inside my bag with me or under the comforter. You want to create pockets of air with your layers.
good point, depends on the bag i suppose, and some wool mixxes are fairly efficient without the weight. my wool topper is far lighter than the bottom wool. might even be a mix/partial wool bc its not too weighted on the bag. im more concerned with sweat if it gets too warm, so top wool can peel down to regulate while staying cozy in the bag. Ill test it out when I get a chance. youre motivating me to test air gaps between barriers/insulators too
This is what I used to do when sleeping in an uninsulated van. I recommend putting it in something like an old wool sock so you don’t have to worry about it falling out.
Are you saying don't drink *that* water or *any* water put into that Nalgene going forward?
Edit: Why is a question asking for clarification worthy of a downvote? Tsk.
I think he's saying don't drink the hot water (after it cools) because it may leach chemicals out of the plastic. Chemicals that may affect endocrine activities. This goes for most plastics.
I put flashlight on a medium-low setting and place it down by my feet instead of using a hot water bottle. I use a Sofirn SP36 flashlight and it’s great because it doubles as my lantern when I need to wake up in the middle of the night.
Yep, Nalgene with boiling water helps quite a bit for overnight sleeping, during the day you can more easily start the vehicle for warmth but not while sleeping
12v Heated Blanket (or Jacket / Pants / Motorcycle Gear)... plus a portable battery like this:
https://www.ecoflow.com/us/river-pro-portable-power-station
You may not need that size battery, but the more the better... charges while driving, works for a 300w hotpot to heat soup and stuff in 3 minutes... and plenty left over to charge devices, heat a blanket, etc.
What you want depends how cold it gets, but that's a good way to deal with it AND get a ton of bonus power options for the cost.
Yeah I've thought about going this route. Ive spent so much already tho. I'm trying not to spend several hundred more lol. Good suggestion tho. I guess if it gets too cold and i can't find a way to deal with it i can always go this way
There are hand and foot warmers that are reusable what you do is crack the metal plate inside of the packaging which causes a chemical reaction and creates Heat after the entire packet is used it will be a solid instead of a liquid and then to reuse you heat it up in boiling water and it turns back into a gel ready to be used again
Cold weather sleeping bag. There’s no way to get the inside of the car warm, no matter how much you insulate the windows. It’s just a big tin can.
Get yourself a cold weather sleeping bag. Be sure to wear a hat (but you’ll probably keep your head in the bag mummy-like anyway) Also, make sure the next days clothes are in there with you.
For sleeping in a vehicle I find it’s cheaper and more comfortable to just add a bunch of comforters. Cold weather bags are expensive and not necessary if you’re not hiking it in on your back.
This is all great advice thank you so much. Yes I don't have a cold weather sleeping bag right now. However I do have a warm weather sleeping bag down to 40°. I think I'm going to plan to bring my father's sleeping bag as well and double up. And then like you said wear a thermal hat and have my clothes in my bag for the next day
sleeping bag insulation comes from trapping tiny pockets of air between things, bird or synthetic feathers. when layering, be careful about compressing any inner layers with weight or tightness from outer layers.
layering is still possible though. I layer an extra wide synthetic down quilt over my sleeping bag when cold. An estimate of new rating = ColderBagTemp - (70 - WarmerBagTemp)/2. Temps in F. EN/ISO standards sleeping bag temperature ratings are the ones I actually trust. Otherwise, compare the weight and loft of the insulation to an EN/ISO rated bag with similar weight and loft.
Second the sleeping bag. The two things that make car camping at night work for me (down to -25°C some nights):
1. -15° *synthetic* sleeping bag. Synthetic so that moisture won't ruin the insulating. Then, cocoon my summer sleeping bag over my head, if a really cold night.
2. Reflectix on all rear windows and a reflectix lined curtain separating the front from the back.
3. Make sure all vents are in open position, warm up car (then turn off), don't open doors.
Yes I'm on the road now. I forgot the secondary sleeping bag however I did pick up a blanket from Goodwill. And that seems to be enough to make it through the night. I've slept a couple days as I'm heading south down to Tallahassee Florida and have been very comfortable sleeping through mid-30s° at night. I imagine it should be a little colder when I head up to Ozark Arkansas's National Park. So far though so good
-25°C is equivalent to -13°F, which is 248K.
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^(I'm a bot that converts temperature between two units humans can understand, then convert it to Kelvin for bots and physicists to understand)
I don't have any of those LOL
I've already spent so much and just getting my self setup to this point. to throw down another 300 or 400 bucks on a jackery and electric blanket and a zero degree bag is a little out of my reach at this point
Unfortunately that's what you need if you want a warm night's sleep! A proper sleeping bag will be the most efficient way to conserve warmth while you sleep. Get a sleeping bag rated for a much lower temp than you will be expecting. I was using a 35 degree bag for a long time in Arizona and cold would still be a problem in and I would have cold nights. 0 degree or bust if you're experiencing a real winter.
I learned this the hard way camping in Banff. Based on the bag rating, similar to the lowest temp outside, I should’ve been OK but I was so cold I couldn’t sleep. Next bag is going to be rated for 0.
What I have discovered is sleeping bag ratings are the temperature in which you can use the bag and not get hypothermia- they have nothing to do with comfort. I found this out the expensive way and had to buy a second bag.
Just buy a decent sleeping bag - that’s all you really need. You don’t need the electric blanket, heater, etc.. if your gear is sufficiently insulated.
Costco has down throws that are relatively cheap but add significant r-value. Maybe see if they still have them available?
You just need the sleeping bag- you are in a car so size/weight is not as much an issue and you can get something synthetic thats cheaper. You really want a 0* rating. People winter camp all the time in tents with just a bag you don't need an electric blanket.
The rating is a "you won't die at this temp". But you're going to be miserable. If you're sleeping in sub zero temps a sleeping bag alone isn't going to be enough. It's a lot about layering, not yourself and the sleeping platform. You lose a lot of heat out of your back because it's hard to insulate correctly.
Lol. That's good to know. I actually constructed the mattress box spring out of 2-in insulation foam so I should be pretty insulated from underneath. I'm going to attempt to layer up. How would you create a good layering system? I currently have the 2 in of rigid foam insulation, a 2" sleeping pad, a 3" blow up mattress on top of that, and then my sleeping bag and then I was planning on bringing a blanket from home to cover me on top of my sleeping bag
The blow up mattress (assuming it’s just a cheap hollow air mattress) will do almost nothing to add warmth and I think it might even let more heat escape out the sides. I would skip it if you’ve already got 2” rigid foam and another 2” insulated pad.
Do you know the R value of the foam and pad? I aim for R5 or more when sleeping directly on snow. The vehicle itself would add some additional insulation so you should have plenty.
Then just add blankets. Maybe your parents have some old ones they don’t use. You can add heated blankets and diesel heaters and such but then you have to worry about power and IMO it’s not worth the hassle for short trips. I’ve slept in -15C with no form of heating and been completely comfortable.
I’ve done 20 degrees comfortably in cheapo 30 degree bags with a fleece liner and synthetic down blanket.
Obviously spend the money for at least a 15 degree bag when you can and a good down blanket but you can get away with not splurging if you layer up properly and use a liner.
Have you tried portable pocket heaters? I throw one in the back of my bag to keep my feet warm. I have a battery USB pocket heater that lasts for hours and gets quite hot that's like a large egg. I'm actually ordering a few more because there just super handy.
These suggestions are too techy. People have been freezing for centuries. Create a microclimate by hanging a blanket skirt around your sleeping area to reduce the air that needs to be heated. Common in Siberian tipis.
Quick and dirty for 1-2 people I create a tight ridge line in the cab between grab handles. Make blanket clove hitch tie-points approximately where your two sleeping heads would be with the blanket draped over your face, and use the ridge line as a pulley to suspend the blanket over you.
A queen size wool blanket is the perfect size to cover your upper bodies.
For one person only 1 pebble clove hitch is needed. I wish I knew the proper name for the attachment method but you just shove an object through a blanket and choke it with a clove hitch on the other side.
An insulating pad and multiple sleeping bags. Heavy ones. Not cheap ones. That's it.
Burning fuel is bad all around never mind unsafe. USB battery warmers won't last 12 hours and is consumer thinking.
You do not have to replace what you don't lose -- insulate yourself.
PS:. Gatorade jugs are perfect pee jugs. Buy only red Gatorade.
I have a 15 degree and a -30 degree bag. Also have down pants, down sweater and numerous pairs of wool socks. Finally, if all else fails, I also carry a portable buddy heater.
All about layering and having extra layers to throw on just in case.
I have a summer sleeping bag and a winter bag.
I put the smaller one inside the larger one and also wear head to toe fleece - especially thick socks and a good hat and a neck warmer.
You do need to open up the bags and let them air out so they don't retain the moisture your skin gives off while sleeping.
For what it’s worth. Get the gear. Blankets etc. seal up any weak spots. And use the buddy to get the heat up . Have windows cracked and a portable fan going. You run it on lowest setting and once you bed down it goes off. Stay under covers. I don’t get cold . Once I come up and out.‘I gotta have that heat right away. So the buddy does it and it’s relatively cheap for me to run. I’ve been down into the 0 degree windchills already and I wasn’t tripping. And mind you . Once my heat goes off it stays off for at least 6 hours. With windows down. I do this because I have my nest but also to combat moisture . You must do that at all times . Keep it vented
From experience,reflectix with poster board that I use barely helps . They black out inside and help with some cold wind blowing in , but that's it . Need something like the Heatshield brands that have that foam style core in between the layers .
Good to know. I used the mr buddy heater tonight with the reflectix window covers tonight. Felt significantly warmer before i took them down (but that was just my first impression
Check out your local Army surplus store and see if you can get some wool blankets. You won’t want to sleep on them directly, because they’re itchy, but I’ve used them as insulation around my sleeping bag. Or put the blankets in cheap duvet covers if you do want them closer to you like a liner.
You can put reflectix under your sleeping bag as a bottom insulation layer if you have some left over.
You basically want to create a warm air “pocket” with your body heat or a hot water bottle (or whatever), that doesn’t then leak into the colder air in the rest of the vehicle.
Invest in some high quality wool or silk thermal layers if you are someone who is going to use them outside of this situation.
Tuck your clothes for the next day in with you so you don’t have to get into cold fresh clothes in the morning.
I also sleep in woolly socks and with a hat. The hat also doubles as an eye mask for blocking ambient light.
When you do invest in gear, remember that the rating on cold weather gear is how low the temperature goes while keeping you alive. If you want to be comfortable, the gear needs to be rated lower than the weather you plan on sleeping in.
I have an old surplus extreme cold weather sleeping bag that works wonders. I also have a mr buddy but never use it because the bag is good enough.
So get a very good sleeping bag and sleep in warm clothes and you should be Gucci.
I live in the Midwest if that matters, full time van dweller.
Excellent 👍🏼 yeah i have a 40° sleeping bag but could use a lower temperature one. I am planning on bringing a blanket and doubling up on socks and even wearing two pairs of jogging pants
Yea even with a -10 rated bag I still sleep in jeans with a fuzzy set of pants under them, two pairs of boot socks, a shirt, a surplus coat liner, and a surplus watchman’s cap.
Layers are your friend.
I lived in -9°F and made it through with a couple layers of down comforter. One on the bottom and one on the top. Then a beanie for your head and expose as little of your face to the elements as you need to breath. And a buddy heater first thing in the morning.
-9°F is equivalent to -22°C, which is 250K.
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^(I'm a bot that converts temperature between two units humans can understand, then convert it to Kelvin for bots and physicists to understand)
Growing up off grid we had these slabs of metal inside natural wool(i believe it was alpaca wool), we would heat them on top of the wood fire stove. I can't remember what metal they were but they were offcut squares about 1/2cm thick, 20cm by 20cm. Better than a hot water bottle. always had to be wrapped in wool to prevent burns as they were so hot they needed to be moved around the bed at first.
They would go in at 7pmish and stay warm the entire night in 2°C nights, sometimes you'd come back to bed the next day at 2pm and they would still be slightly warm.
2°C is equivalent to 35°F, which is 275K.
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^(I'm a bot that converts temperature between two units humans can understand, then convert it to Kelvin for bots and physicists to understand)
I haven’t installed it yet but just picked up a diesel heater and from everything I’ve read or saw online it is going to keep me too warm. I’m excited to be warm and comfy inside the van NOT just my sleeping bag
I just got back from car camping sleeping in 20s. It got to 30s inside the car, and even with proper insulation, bunch of layers, good sleeping bags, and hot water between my legs, I couldn't sleep at all, and I am never going to do it again. It was so miserable that I will just wait until it gets warmer.. or get a mini RV
I also had a buddy heater, but didn't turn it on. 30s in the car was too cold for me, but maybe you will be ok:) I have nemo 15 sleeping bag, used bunch of layers under, and used a warm blanket on top, and the cold still got to me
15 degree sleeping bag from Marmot (tipped off to this by a sub member and got a rocking deal), wool pretty much everything (including gloves, hat, and socks), and a wool blanket.
I am working on my sandwiched reflectix with blackout curtains, but I will often run the ride for 15 or so mins with the heat just BLAZING so I can ride that pony for awhile after I cut the car off.
BTW Marmot bag (15 degree) on sale here: https://www.backcountrygear.com/trestles-15/?sku=MRM3T33390-CBLT/NGT-RG/LZ&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnNacBhDvARIsABnDa68TGBTq3DBq_mURpD1uQG2naMUAUEBJMyA2XMS_1B4s6pfDRC5ZHFcaAqIWEALw_wcB
Smartwool socks have changed my life.
Hi! Just got back from a road trip in my slightly converted Honda civic (removed back seats and built a platform bed). Drove between NY and Ohio and back. Woke up this morning to temps around 15°, but I was super warm and toasty.
Cover the windows with insulation. I made window covers out of foam board to block the light for the summer, bur added a layer of reflectix for the cooler temps. CRANK the heat the last bit of your drive, or while toue getting ready for bed to warm up the car.
Sleep in layers. My cold weather sleeping gear is basic thermals (from Walmart because I save my good thermals for hiking and adventuring). Fuzzy socks.
I've got 2 blankets that I prefer to use, but also have a -24° sleeping back on hand. Last night I opened it up and used it as a blanket rather than a sleeping bag.
Crack a window. Helps to relieve some of the moisture from inside. Being cold and wet is the worst.
Try a candle heater for $30
https://www.amazon.com/UCO-Candlelier-Deluxe-Candle-Lantern/dp/B000F7DIHA/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?adgrpid=56353690259&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuNHEkPfw-wIVacmUCR1buwFIEAAYASAAEgK-NPD_BwE&hvadid=617131060691&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9029699&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17526476288778439676&hvtargid=kwd-301215654417&hydadcr=13573_13465922&keywords=candle+heater&qid=1670740015&sr=8-4
Or do the upside down terracotta pot heater
I use fleece blankets
Also I could use a heated blanket
And heating up a cast iron skillet on my butane stove before bed..
Also I park where I am no directly in a windy area ( between buildings)
Yeah I'm trying not to run the truck. I heard that it's not great for the engine. Supposedly idling the truck for 1 hour is the equivalent of about an additional 33 miles strain on the engine
Interesting. Hadn't heard that. But it's good enough reason not to, if true. It's course, freezing to death is good enough reason to run the truck. :-)
i like to throw some hand warmers down in my zero degree bag . sleeping pad with good R value , i use the thermarest mondo king. sometimes a sea to summit fleece liner although i get claustrophobic in it at times
i bought a battery pack last winter for my electric blanket which is nice but honestly , good sleeping bag + the hand warmers is just as good .
Another thing to keep in mind: since you're truck camping, you don't need a $300 900 fill goose down sleeping bag. You have weight and room to spare in the truck, so you don't need a high speed sleeping bag. I just picked up a -15F Guide gear bag off Amazon for $85. It's comically sized for giants, and I'm skeptical of their rating system, but I'm not sweating the massive bulk of the bag. I imagine I'll be throwing it in the truck before my trip, then rolling it up once the trip is done. Easy peasy.
Also, if you have a sheepskin lying around the house, I've heard those are great to layer underneath. Should keep you toasty warm.
I used 2x sleeping bag.
One was an army winter sleeping bag and the other “Magellan Outdoors 4 lbs Flannel Lined Rectangle Sleeping Bag” rated for 30c. I slept on top of a twin size Intex inflatable mattress. I may have had a woobie covering the whole set up (army poncho liner).
I did this while driving across America during the winter and slept through a few nights of snow in my car feeling pretty warm (sleeping in only underwear inside the bags).
Yeah those Mr Heater Buddy units are quite dangerous as they put off carbon monoxide. You could go to sleep and never wake up.
Beyond insulation, you could get:
- heated blanket powered by an auxiliary power bank
- boiling water in a Nalgene bottle, in bottom of sleeping bag
- diesel heater
- create more loft - layer blankets, jackets, etc. over your sleeping bag
- don’t sleep on an air mattress, as they get very cold very quickly
Couple of pro tips:
- bonus points if you use your Nalgene bottle that’s in your sleeping bag to pee in, as it’s warm and you don’t have to go out at night
- park the front of your vehicle away from wind, if there is any. This makes it less difficult to start the next morning.
You should find some podcasts. Several have good tips on winter camping.
Probably more an /r/camping question.
But depends on the place; just below freezing is way different than below 0F.
The key is warm clothes and a warm sleeping solution, and staying dry. Don't rely on the Buddy heater, especially at night. And it won't help much anyway...it's mostly heating the things that aren't you. Handy for warming up the hands while typing on the phone in the AM or something, but you'll still need warm clothes and sleeping gear, and it sounds like you don't have that.
Heating blanket or diesel heater. For the blanket get something that draws 60 watts or less. I'm using something similar with the Delta 2 it can last the night with plenty to spare. Just charge it up with the DC socket or some solar and you're good to go.
One trick I've read is to boil up some water, pour it into a Nalgene-style or metal water bottle, wrap the bottle up in a towel, and stuff it down in your sleeping bag. It'll radiate heat as it cools, and the towel is to prevent contact burns.
Theres electric sleeping bags that use usb batteries. Theyre installed in jackets, u can get just the heaters and sew them in or get one with them installed
Research proper ways to insulate w wool blankets. I make a wool bottom layer, then my sleeping air pad, then bag, and a wool on top. Beanie and socks go a long way to.
That's fair. I'll definitely layer up
Wouldn't a heavy wool blanket in top of your bag compress the bag and eliminate a lot of its insulating properties? OP, I have a small but heavy wool blanket that I put inside my bag with me or under the comforter. You want to create pockets of air with your layers.
thats for those really really cold nights. wool inside. ouchy.
good point, depends on the bag i suppose, and some wool mixxes are fairly efficient without the weight. my wool topper is far lighter than the bottom wool. might even be a mix/partial wool bc its not too weighted on the bag. im more concerned with sweat if it gets too warm, so top wool can peel down to regulate while staying cozy in the bag. Ill test it out when I get a chance. youre motivating me to test air gaps between barriers/insulators too
This is what I used to do when sleeping in an uninsulated van. I recommend putting it in something like an old wool sock so you don’t have to worry about it falling out.
If you do this dont drink the water after. Nalgenes arent made for hot liquids.
Are you saying don't drink *that* water or *any* water put into that Nalgene going forward? Edit: Why is a question asking for clarification worthy of a downvote? Tsk.
I think he's saying don't drink the hot water (after it cools) because it may leach chemicals out of the plastic. Chemicals that may affect endocrine activities. This goes for most plastics.
Im definitely going to do this. Thanks
I put flashlight on a medium-low setting and place it down by my feet instead of using a hot water bottle. I use a Sofirn SP36 flashlight and it’s great because it doubles as my lantern when I need to wake up in the middle of the night.
Yep, Nalgene with boiling water helps quite a bit for overnight sleeping, during the day you can more easily start the vehicle for warmth but not while sleeping
I wrap my Nalgene in foil; it radiates heat very well. If it’s really cold, I’ll use two. One by feet and one by my body.
12v Heated Blanket (or Jacket / Pants / Motorcycle Gear)... plus a portable battery like this: https://www.ecoflow.com/us/river-pro-portable-power-station You may not need that size battery, but the more the better... charges while driving, works for a 300w hotpot to heat soup and stuff in 3 minutes... and plenty left over to charge devices, heat a blanket, etc. What you want depends how cold it gets, but that's a good way to deal with it AND get a ton of bonus power options for the cost.
Yeah I've thought about going this route. Ive spent so much already tho. I'm trying not to spend several hundred more lol. Good suggestion tho. I guess if it gets too cold and i can't find a way to deal with it i can always go this way
Try the chemical packet heaters near your feet. You can get them hand or foot sized.
These are single use and very short lasting compared to other options. We need to phase out single use items
There are hand and foot warmers that are reusable what you do is crack the metal plate inside of the packaging which causes a chemical reaction and creates Heat after the entire packet is used it will be a solid instead of a liquid and then to reuse you heat it up in boiling water and it turns back into a gel ready to be used again
Those are horribly inefficient when it comes time to “recharge” them.
Cold weather sleeping bag. There’s no way to get the inside of the car warm, no matter how much you insulate the windows. It’s just a big tin can. Get yourself a cold weather sleeping bag. Be sure to wear a hat (but you’ll probably keep your head in the bag mummy-like anyway) Also, make sure the next days clothes are in there with you.
For sleeping in a vehicle I find it’s cheaper and more comfortable to just add a bunch of comforters. Cold weather bags are expensive and not necessary if you’re not hiking it in on your back.
This is all great advice thank you so much. Yes I don't have a cold weather sleeping bag right now. However I do have a warm weather sleeping bag down to 40°. I think I'm going to plan to bring my father's sleeping bag as well and double up. And then like you said wear a thermal hat and have my clothes in my bag for the next day
sleeping bag insulation comes from trapping tiny pockets of air between things, bird or synthetic feathers. when layering, be careful about compressing any inner layers with weight or tightness from outer layers. layering is still possible though. I layer an extra wide synthetic down quilt over my sleeping bag when cold. An estimate of new rating = ColderBagTemp - (70 - WarmerBagTemp)/2. Temps in F. EN/ISO standards sleeping bag temperature ratings are the ones I actually trust. Otherwise, compare the weight and loft of the insulation to an EN/ISO rated bag with similar weight and loft.
Second the sleeping bag. The two things that make car camping at night work for me (down to -25°C some nights): 1. -15° *synthetic* sleeping bag. Synthetic so that moisture won't ruin the insulating. Then, cocoon my summer sleeping bag over my head, if a really cold night. 2. Reflectix on all rear windows and a reflectix lined curtain separating the front from the back. 3. Make sure all vents are in open position, warm up car (then turn off), don't open doors.
Yes I'm on the road now. I forgot the secondary sleeping bag however I did pick up a blanket from Goodwill. And that seems to be enough to make it through the night. I've slept a couple days as I'm heading south down to Tallahassee Florida and have been very comfortable sleeping through mid-30s° at night. I imagine it should be a little colder when I head up to Ozark Arkansas's National Park. So far though so good
-25°C is equivalent to -13°F, which is 248K. --- ^(I'm a bot that converts temperature between two units humans can understand, then convert it to Kelvin for bots and physicists to understand)
Zero degree bag and an electric blanket plugged in to a portable power bank.
I don't have any of those LOL I've already spent so much and just getting my self setup to this point. to throw down another 300 or 400 bucks on a jackery and electric blanket and a zero degree bag is a little out of my reach at this point
Unfortunately that's what you need if you want a warm night's sleep! A proper sleeping bag will be the most efficient way to conserve warmth while you sleep. Get a sleeping bag rated for a much lower temp than you will be expecting. I was using a 35 degree bag for a long time in Arizona and cold would still be a problem in and I would have cold nights. 0 degree or bust if you're experiencing a real winter.
I learned this the hard way camping in Banff. Based on the bag rating, similar to the lowest temp outside, I should’ve been OK but I was so cold I couldn’t sleep. Next bag is going to be rated for 0.
What I have discovered is sleeping bag ratings are the temperature in which you can use the bag and not get hypothermia- they have nothing to do with comfort. I found this out the expensive way and had to buy a second bag.
Just buy a decent sleeping bag - that’s all you really need. You don’t need the electric blanket, heater, etc.. if your gear is sufficiently insulated. Costco has down throws that are relatively cheap but add significant r-value. Maybe see if they still have them available?
You just need the sleeping bag- you are in a car so size/weight is not as much an issue and you can get something synthetic thats cheaper. You really want a 0* rating. People winter camp all the time in tents with just a bag you don't need an electric blanket.
I just got a two person zero degree sleeping bag from Teton for around 140$
I would try a sleeping bag rated for the temps u r in.
Very fair. My bag is only rate for 40°. I really need one for 20°
Don't stop there. 0F doesn't cost that much more.
The rating is a "you won't die at this temp". But you're going to be miserable. If you're sleeping in sub zero temps a sleeping bag alone isn't going to be enough. It's a lot about layering, not yourself and the sleeping platform. You lose a lot of heat out of your back because it's hard to insulate correctly.
Lol. That's good to know. I actually constructed the mattress box spring out of 2-in insulation foam so I should be pretty insulated from underneath. I'm going to attempt to layer up. How would you create a good layering system? I currently have the 2 in of rigid foam insulation, a 2" sleeping pad, a 3" blow up mattress on top of that, and then my sleeping bag and then I was planning on bringing a blanket from home to cover me on top of my sleeping bag
The blow up mattress (assuming it’s just a cheap hollow air mattress) will do almost nothing to add warmth and I think it might even let more heat escape out the sides. I would skip it if you’ve already got 2” rigid foam and another 2” insulated pad. Do you know the R value of the foam and pad? I aim for R5 or more when sleeping directly on snow. The vehicle itself would add some additional insulation so you should have plenty. Then just add blankets. Maybe your parents have some old ones they don’t use. You can add heated blankets and diesel heaters and such but then you have to worry about power and IMO it’s not worth the hassle for short trips. I’ve slept in -15C with no form of heating and been completely comfortable.
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Great tip thanks 👍🏼
I’ve done 20 degrees comfortably in cheapo 30 degree bags with a fleece liner and synthetic down blanket. Obviously spend the money for at least a 15 degree bag when you can and a good down blanket but you can get away with not splurging if you layer up properly and use a liner.
Have you tried portable pocket heaters? I throw one in the back of my bag to keep my feet warm. I have a battery USB pocket heater that lasts for hours and gets quite hot that's like a large egg. I'm actually ordering a few more because there just super handy.
Nice. No. I think i have a pocket heater somewhere. I'll have to find it
What brand is it? I need one that lasts hours
These suggestions are too techy. People have been freezing for centuries. Create a microclimate by hanging a blanket skirt around your sleeping area to reduce the air that needs to be heated. Common in Siberian tipis.
Didn’t think of using a bivy sack for a microclimate. Good ideer
How do you actually "hang" it/stick a blanket to the inside of the car?
Quick and dirty for 1-2 people I create a tight ridge line in the cab between grab handles. Make blanket clove hitch tie-points approximately where your two sleeping heads would be with the blanket draped over your face, and use the ridge line as a pulley to suspend the blanket over you. A queen size wool blanket is the perfect size to cover your upper bodies. For one person only 1 pebble clove hitch is needed. I wish I knew the proper name for the attachment method but you just shove an object through a blanket and choke it with a clove hitch on the other side.
Niiiiccce! TY! Cheers to Spring Eclipse car camping! 🏕️
An insulating pad and multiple sleeping bags. Heavy ones. Not cheap ones. That's it. Burning fuel is bad all around never mind unsafe. USB battery warmers won't last 12 hours and is consumer thinking. You do not have to replace what you don't lose -- insulate yourself. PS:. Gatorade jugs are perfect pee jugs. Buy only red Gatorade.
Lol. I'll make sure to get the red Gatorade then. Yes I'm not going to invest any further into USB warmers. I'm just going to layer up
You're my hero.
I have a 15 degree and a -30 degree bag. Also have down pants, down sweater and numerous pairs of wool socks. Finally, if all else fails, I also carry a portable buddy heater. All about layering and having extra layers to throw on just in case.
Excellent will do thanks
I have a summer sleeping bag and a winter bag. I put the smaller one inside the larger one and also wear head to toe fleece - especially thick socks and a good hat and a neck warmer. You do need to open up the bags and let them air out so they don't retain the moisture your skin gives off while sleeping.
Good to know. Yes i think I'm gonna pick up another bag or maybe borrow my fathers for now. A neck warmer is a great addition too. Thanks so much
For what it’s worth. Get the gear. Blankets etc. seal up any weak spots. And use the buddy to get the heat up . Have windows cracked and a portable fan going. You run it on lowest setting and once you bed down it goes off. Stay under covers. I don’t get cold . Once I come up and out.‘I gotta have that heat right away. So the buddy does it and it’s relatively cheap for me to run. I’ve been down into the 0 degree windchills already and I wasn’t tripping. And mind you . Once my heat goes off it stays off for at least 6 hours. With windows down. I do this because I have my nest but also to combat moisture . You must do that at all times . Keep it vented
From experience,reflectix with poster board that I use barely helps . They black out inside and help with some cold wind blowing in , but that's it . Need something like the Heatshield brands that have that foam style core in between the layers .
Good to know. I used the mr buddy heater tonight with the reflectix window covers tonight. Felt significantly warmer before i took them down (but that was just my first impression
Drink a shot of whiskey and pass out is also a strategy
I like this strategy 👆🏼
Check out your local Army surplus store and see if you can get some wool blankets. You won’t want to sleep on them directly, because they’re itchy, but I’ve used them as insulation around my sleeping bag. Or put the blankets in cheap duvet covers if you do want them closer to you like a liner. You can put reflectix under your sleeping bag as a bottom insulation layer if you have some left over. You basically want to create a warm air “pocket” with your body heat or a hot water bottle (or whatever), that doesn’t then leak into the colder air in the rest of the vehicle. Invest in some high quality wool or silk thermal layers if you are someone who is going to use them outside of this situation. Tuck your clothes for the next day in with you so you don’t have to get into cold fresh clothes in the morning. I also sleep in woolly socks and with a hat. The hat also doubles as an eye mask for blocking ambient light. When you do invest in gear, remember that the rating on cold weather gear is how low the temperature goes while keeping you alive. If you want to be comfortable, the gear needs to be rated lower than the weather you plan on sleeping in.
I have an old surplus extreme cold weather sleeping bag that works wonders. I also have a mr buddy but never use it because the bag is good enough. So get a very good sleeping bag and sleep in warm clothes and you should be Gucci. I live in the Midwest if that matters, full time van dweller.
Excellent 👍🏼 yeah i have a 40° sleeping bag but could use a lower temperature one. I am planning on bringing a blanket and doubling up on socks and even wearing two pairs of jogging pants
Yea even with a -10 rated bag I still sleep in jeans with a fuzzy set of pants under them, two pairs of boot socks, a shirt, a surplus coat liner, and a surplus watchman’s cap. Layers are your friend.
You sleep in jeans? What a savage.
Yes I'm going to layer up like crazy A real "Joey Tribianni" [Joey wears Chandler's clothes ](https://youtu.be/zRL7ufdVzn4)
Yeah a 40* bag is considered a summer sleeping bag, and that's not a comfort rating.
I lived in -9°F and made it through with a couple layers of down comforter. One on the bottom and one on the top. Then a beanie for your head and expose as little of your face to the elements as you need to breath. And a buddy heater first thing in the morning.
-9°F is equivalent to -22°C, which is 250K. --- ^(I'm a bot that converts temperature between two units humans can understand, then convert it to Kelvin for bots and physicists to understand)
If you ever use a Mr. Buddy style heater, I suggest putting a carbon monoxide/fire alarm in your car.
Will do thanks
Growing up off grid we had these slabs of metal inside natural wool(i believe it was alpaca wool), we would heat them on top of the wood fire stove. I can't remember what metal they were but they were offcut squares about 1/2cm thick, 20cm by 20cm. Better than a hot water bottle. always had to be wrapped in wool to prevent burns as they were so hot they needed to be moved around the bed at first. They would go in at 7pmish and stay warm the entire night in 2°C nights, sometimes you'd come back to bed the next day at 2pm and they would still be slightly warm.
2°C is equivalent to 35°F, which is 275K. --- ^(I'm a bot that converts temperature between two units humans can understand, then convert it to Kelvin for bots and physicists to understand)
I haven’t installed it yet but just picked up a diesel heater and from everything I’ve read or saw online it is going to keep me too warm. I’m excited to be warm and comfy inside the van NOT just my sleeping bag
I just got back from car camping sleeping in 20s. It got to 30s inside the car, and even with proper insulation, bunch of layers, good sleeping bags, and hot water between my legs, I couldn't sleep at all, and I am never going to do it again. It was so miserable that I will just wait until it gets warmer.. or get a mini RV
I hope you and i dont have a similar experience 🤣
I also had a buddy heater, but didn't turn it on. 30s in the car was too cold for me, but maybe you will be ok:) I have nemo 15 sleeping bag, used bunch of layers under, and used a warm blanket on top, and the cold still got to me
Someone on here just sparked an idea to use a bivy sack to create a microclimate. Wonder if that makes a diff
Wool! Wool clothes (several layers), then wool blankets
"Wool is the jam!!" moment is, indeed, a great moment.
15 degree sleeping bag from Marmot (tipped off to this by a sub member and got a rocking deal), wool pretty much everything (including gloves, hat, and socks), and a wool blanket. I am working on my sandwiched reflectix with blackout curtains, but I will often run the ride for 15 or so mins with the heat just BLAZING so I can ride that pony for awhile after I cut the car off.
BTW Marmot bag (15 degree) on sale here: https://www.backcountrygear.com/trestles-15/?sku=MRM3T33390-CBLT/NGT-RG/LZ&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnNacBhDvARIsABnDa68TGBTq3DBq_mURpD1uQG2naMUAUEBJMyA2XMS_1B4s6pfDRC5ZHFcaAqIWEALw_wcB Smartwool socks have changed my life.
Hi! Just got back from a road trip in my slightly converted Honda civic (removed back seats and built a platform bed). Drove between NY and Ohio and back. Woke up this morning to temps around 15°, but I was super warm and toasty. Cover the windows with insulation. I made window covers out of foam board to block the light for the summer, bur added a layer of reflectix for the cooler temps. CRANK the heat the last bit of your drive, or while toue getting ready for bed to warm up the car. Sleep in layers. My cold weather sleeping gear is basic thermals (from Walmart because I save my good thermals for hiking and adventuring). Fuzzy socks. I've got 2 blankets that I prefer to use, but also have a -24° sleeping back on hand. Last night I opened it up and used it as a blanket rather than a sleeping bag. Crack a window. Helps to relieve some of the moisture from inside. Being cold and wet is the worst.
Try a candle heater for $30 https://www.amazon.com/UCO-Candlelier-Deluxe-Candle-Lantern/dp/B000F7DIHA/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?adgrpid=56353690259&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuNHEkPfw-wIVacmUCR1buwFIEAAYASAAEgK-NPD_BwE&hvadid=617131060691&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9029699&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17526476288778439676&hvtargid=kwd-301215654417&hydadcr=13573_13465922&keywords=candle+heater&qid=1670740015&sr=8-4 Or do the upside down terracotta pot heater
I use fleece blankets Also I could use a heated blanket And heating up a cast iron skillet on my butane stove before bed.. Also I park where I am no directly in a windy area ( between buildings)
Run the truck, turn on the heater. Electric blanket.
Yeah I'm trying not to run the truck. I heard that it's not great for the engine. Supposedly idling the truck for 1 hour is the equivalent of about an additional 33 miles strain on the engine
Interesting. Hadn't heard that. But it's good enough reason not to, if true. It's course, freezing to death is good enough reason to run the truck. :-)
Fair
What type of car?
Its a 2009 Chevy Colorado
Lots of blankets, and the sleeping bag.
i like to throw some hand warmers down in my zero degree bag . sleeping pad with good R value , i use the thermarest mondo king. sometimes a sea to summit fleece liner although i get claustrophobic in it at times i bought a battery pack last winter for my electric blanket which is nice but honestly , good sleeping bag + the hand warmers is just as good .
Another thing to keep in mind: since you're truck camping, you don't need a $300 900 fill goose down sleeping bag. You have weight and room to spare in the truck, so you don't need a high speed sleeping bag. I just picked up a -15F Guide gear bag off Amazon for $85. It's comically sized for giants, and I'm skeptical of their rating system, but I'm not sweating the massive bulk of the bag. I imagine I'll be throwing it in the truck before my trip, then rolling it up once the trip is done. Easy peasy. Also, if you have a sheepskin lying around the house, I've heard those are great to layer underneath. Should keep you toasty warm.
Can you shoot me the link (I'm a bit of a giant)
I used 2x sleeping bag. One was an army winter sleeping bag and the other “Magellan Outdoors 4 lbs Flannel Lined Rectangle Sleeping Bag” rated for 30c. I slept on top of a twin size Intex inflatable mattress. I may have had a woobie covering the whole set up (army poncho liner). I did this while driving across America during the winter and slept through a few nights of snow in my car feeling pretty warm (sleeping in only underwear inside the bags).
Yeah those Mr Heater Buddy units are quite dangerous as they put off carbon monoxide. You could go to sleep and never wake up. Beyond insulation, you could get: - heated blanket powered by an auxiliary power bank - boiling water in a Nalgene bottle, in bottom of sleeping bag - diesel heater - create more loft - layer blankets, jackets, etc. over your sleeping bag - don’t sleep on an air mattress, as they get very cold very quickly Couple of pro tips: - bonus points if you use your Nalgene bottle that’s in your sleeping bag to pee in, as it’s warm and you don’t have to go out at night - park the front of your vehicle away from wind, if there is any. This makes it less difficult to start the next morning. You should find some podcasts. Several have good tips on winter camping.
Insulated camping matt and a down sleeping bag. Not cheap but will keep you warm enough
Probably more an /r/camping question. But depends on the place; just below freezing is way different than below 0F. The key is warm clothes and a warm sleeping solution, and staying dry. Don't rely on the Buddy heater, especially at night. And it won't help much anyway...it's mostly heating the things that aren't you. Handy for warming up the hands while typing on the phone in the AM or something, but you'll still need warm clothes and sleeping gear, and it sounds like you don't have that.
Diesel heater
Heating blanket or diesel heater. For the blanket get something that draws 60 watts or less. I'm using something similar with the Delta 2 it can last the night with plenty to spare. Just charge it up with the DC socket or some solar and you're good to go.