Wanting to spend as little money as possible on new gear while camping for a few nights.
Would a sleeping bag currently in use serve better as an emergency blanket? Would it have to be against your skin from the inside out? Would it fail completely?
The comfort rating on my current bag is about 10C, and I anticipate that it will drop to 4 or 5C.
Although it will trap humidity, it will increase insulating value. This is the reason they should only be used in an emergency; as humidity accumulates in your sleeping bag’s insulation, especially when it’s down, some of its insulating value will be lost. You will feel warmer in the short term, but you will eventually become damp and cold.
It’s far preferable to pack an additional layer of insulation, cover your bag with a quilt, or just adopt a sleeping arrangement that will keep you warm.
I appreciate your response. Is there a lightweight hiking option that would allow me to hike lighter and carry less gear while yet providing me with an extra 10 degrees of warmth? Or should I just spend a lot of money on a good bag? (Since it’s just one trip, I’d want to avoid doing this.)
fleece liner may be a pricy option that is still cheaper than a new bag/quilt. but dont dick around with cold conditions and poor equipment. itll kill ya quick or leave you not getting hardly enough sleep at night
10C is a big gap. A mid weight quilt over top of your sleeping bag would work well, but that’s not going to be a low cost solution. A warm liner can help, but it’s not going to make up 10 degrees.
A sleeping bag is just one component of the situation. What kind of insulation will there be between you and the earth?
I have a decent compact inflatable mattress which is really good
Does it have insulation? Recognizing that sleeping pads have a R value is crucial. It’s imperative that you shield yourself from the earth as well. Having said that, you can utilize a variety of lightweight bags and quilts in addition to your main bag to add extra warmth. Using an insulated ground mat and a 0 degree bag as my primary, I wrapped myself in a large vehicle camping -20 bag from Cablelas during my coldest winter camping experience. worked wonderfully.
You may position the space blanket in between your sleeping bag and pad. However, I doubt it will have a significant impact in comparison to the inconvenience and noise (they make a lot of noise when you move!). I once used one in a hammock beneath me.)