Any advice for camping in the cold?

Seeking Advice
1

I’ve only camped in the summer before. I’m going to be hitchhiking from New England to Texas and then California this November. I’m going to be expecting nighttime temperatures in the 30s while I’m in New England. And then when I get to the desert and California it will be cold again maybe 20 degrees I’ve never been.

I have a sleeping bag that is rated for 32 degree weather and a Nemo inflatable sleeping pad. Is there a way I could layer these pieces of gear to stay warm and safe even if it gets down to say 10 degrees (just to be safe).

I’m looking to spend as little as possible and I want everything to stay compact (yes I realize this is contradictory). May even get a woman’s sleeping bag. So if there’s a way I could use my current supplies and just get some things to supplement them so I can sleep in below freezing weather I’d appreciate some advice from someone more experienced. It would also be nice to be able to shed some layers for sleeping during the warm parts of my trip.

2

Don’t hitchhike

3

Luca said:
Don’t hitchhike

[deleted]

4

Haru said:

Luca said:
Don’t hitchhike

[deleted]

No it’s not, not in this day and age.

5

Go for a 20f or 0F down bag and a high R value sleeping pad.

I personally prefer quilts, but there are allot of solid bags out there as well.

6

Ren said:
Go for a 20f or 0F down bag and a high R value sleeping pad.

I personally prefer quilts, but there are allot of solid bags out there as well.

I second getting a 0 or 20 rated bag. Also, buy a good base layer that you wear only to sleep, so it stays dry. Throw in a Bivvy sack if you still feel cold. Have fun out there.

7

>and a Nemo inflatable sleeping pad.

Which one? This is critical as you’ll need an insulated one or you will freeze.

Your 32° rated bag will prevent you from dying at 32 degrees. You will be cold at anything below 40°. I live in New England and I would not go camping right now with a 32 degree bag.

20° or 0° down bag with high Rvalue pad is the way to go, but that is not going to be cheap.

1 wool blanket could be great to supplement that, and you can find them pretty cheap in military surplus stores.

8

It is November btw

9

Yesterday, I purchased a synthetic 40 degree quilt to put over my HG down quilt. I purchased a Long Wide Enlightened Equipment Revelation APEX Sleeping Quilt 40 degree since it was on sale ($176). I understand you can make a synthetic quilt very easily (no baffles) and save some money.

PS You could use your existing pad and a cheap closed cell foam pad, if you have concerns about the R value of your sleeping pad.

10

A couple considerations to think about. First and foremost which Nemo are you using, and what’s its R value? This is important because if you’re not well insulated from possibly frozen ground, no other recommendations will matter, you’ll freeze regardless. If it’s a lower R value you could bring a wool blanket to put under the Nemo, which would help.

As for supplementing your current setup, I’d start looking for sleeping bag liners, which will help you push an inadequate bag past its limits.

Another thing I use regularly is a Costco down quilt (don’t think they sell them anymore, might try eBay), to go on top of the bag, and add another layer of down insulation. They’re cheap, lightweight, and warm. I use these at home in the cooler months as well.

Water. If you’ll be camping in or near freezing temperatures you’ll need to reconsider how you’re storing, and where you’re sourcing your water. In freezing conditions filtering water isn’t an option (it will permanently damage your filter). If you just plan to store your water in bottles, consider some kind of insulation, to help prevent it from freezing, I’m a big fan of these.

Stove, assuming you’ll be cooking meals, you might also be melting snow to make water. In this case, canister stoves aren’t your best bet, as they don’t do well in freezing temperatures (especially with elevation). Instead consider a white gas stove, they work a lot better in cold temperatures, and are a lot more efficient at melting & boiling snow to make drinking water, they’re also a cleaning burning and cheap fuel that’s readily available.

Lastly is simply insulation & layering your clothes, so some kind of base layer, a mid, then a shell. Traditional thermal long underwear is ok, but wool or silk tend to work a lot better. The long underwear plus a pair of wool sleep socks (loose fitting, and only for sleeping) will help you stay warm in below freezing temperatures.

I wouldn’t advise hitchhiking, but please be safe out there!

11

You have a summer bag and possibly a summer pad.

Could you supplement them somehow and survive? Probably. Maybe. It will be bulky and annoying and you’ll probably still get cold.

Buying winter gear would be more compact, work better and is much easier to use. Winter comping is more expensive. It is much more important to have good gear when the temperature drops.

12

You will need an insulated sleeping pad. I’d also carry some of those heat pads that you can activate and stick onto your clothes can really help in a cold situation, they can last like 8 hours

13

Assuming you have a stove and can boil water, you can fill up a couple of Nalgene bottles with hot water at bedtime. Make sure the seals are good, so they don’t leak. Plastic wrap over the mouth of the bottle adds a layer of leak protection. Put the bottles in socks (preferably wool) and put them in your sleeping bag. Added benefit, on particularly cold nights, is that you will have unfrozen water to drink (and cook with) in the morning.

Sleeping bag liner is light, compact, inexpensive and can add up to 10F of additional warmth to a sleeping bag. Also works as light sleeping bag in warm weather. Go with synthetic.

Invest in a decent insulated sleeping pad with high R-value. Ground cold is no joke. In a pinch, if your bag can be collapsed flat, you can place it underneath your pad for additional separation from the ground.

If you have a mummy bag, learn to cinch it down so that only your face is exposed. Maximizes trapping your body heat inside the bag. If your sleeping bag isn’t mummy style, wear a hat, and try the best you can to keep your shoulders and neck covered.

If possible, change into dry socks and clothes at bedtime. Don’t sleep in damp socks and clothes.

14

Wool blankets would supplement your current bag well.