Trying out new sleep system to beat the cold

[JeremiahH]

Almost morning time, you still Alive

Yup still alive since I went into the house at 3:30 am lol
Just couldn't beat the wind chill on my pad

 

[JeremiahH]

I got into my setup around 11 pm. buttoned and snapped myself in and started off with no problems. with temp around 14*

 

[JeremiahH]

I started having draft management problems right away and could feel the wind chill starting to take it's effect on my upper face and eyes that weren't covered. I rolled my face away from the wind for awhile but after a couple hours and temps dropping quickly I had to adjust some things.

Around 1:30 my pad was getting colder and colder. plus I couldn't keep my feet warm. I broke stuff down then wrapped my sleeping pad like a taco in the SOL blanket. I have a really light synthetic down vest that I stuffed down into my feet and I used the soft shell jacket that was my pillow and pulled it over my face. The other emergency blanket, thermal bag, and sun shade were still underneath me. After about 30 mins or so I could feel myself finally drifting to sleep.

 

[JeremiahH]

The wind was off my face now and my pad was noticeably warmer but after a little while and only what seemed like minutes of sleep I was awake again and as I moved I developed too many cold spots under my feet, legs, and torso. The wind creeping in seemed to suck whatever warmth I was putting into my pad right back out of it.

Around 3:20 am with temp at 7* and real feel or windchill of 0* (according to my phone which is appeared identical to actual temps at my house) I got up and went into the house.
Sorry for the ringer volume in the way

 

[JeremiahH]

This morning temps were even lower.

I am going to re-gear for tonight, set up my fly creek 2 to stay out of the wind and try a different arrangement putting the sun shade and thermal bag on top of my pad still wrapped with the sol blanket and other emergency blanket on the bottom. I'm going to wear addtional pair of thick wool blend sox over my merino sox.

I did wear my lightweight puffy jacket the whole time last night inside my epiphany quilt and that worked great. The quilt was definitely working great and my whole body except for underneath stayed nice and warm, even below the 10* temp rating of the bag.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I would ditch the synthetics and go straight wool too.

 

[Nick Muche]

Might want to just get a good pad with high R value, bet that would solve it. Likely the same weight as what you are using too.

 

[JeremiahH]

I would go straight wool on all the under pieces if I had them. I'm currently still shopping around for merino stuff. I know I will probably end up getting another pad for late season or just in general and sell this one but if this works out then I might just keep my astro air. The emergency blankets and sun shade pieces don't weigh much. I will post up some weights when I'm done with this test.

 

[ScottP]

I am going to re-gear for tonight, set up my fly creek 2 to stay out of the wind and try a different arrangement putting the sun shade and thermal bag on top of my pad still wrapped with the sol blanket and other emergency blanket on the bottom. .

Do you have an old thermarest pad (foam)? or find one? Or some open cell foam to put under you? I'm not totally familiar with the SOL bag and the windshield protector, but believe those are designed to reflect radiant heat. Laying on them is not going to give you much protection from conductive losses to the cold ground. Also, blocking the wind with a closed tent is huge at these temps, a slight breeze at 10F drastically increases the boundary layer conductance and results in increased heat loss through your bag, hat/balaclava, etc. You want a layer of still air around you.

 

[desertcj]

This morning temps were even lower.

I am going to re-gear for tonight, set up my fly creek 2 to stay out of the wind and try a different arrangement putting the sun shade and thermal bag on top of my pad still wrapped with the sol blanket and other emergency blanket on the bottom. I'm going to wear addtional pair of thick wool blend sox over my merino sox.

I did wear my lightweight puffy jacket the whole time last night inside my epiphany quilt and that worked great. The quilt was definitely working great and my whole body except for underneath stayed nice and warm, even below the 10* temp rating of the bag.

I've read that it's best to put the reflective material on top of the sleeping pad. Not sure if that would make enough of a difference though? You could look into a stove to heat your shelter. Obviously it would work better with a more enclosed shelter...

 

[JeremiahH]

Do you have an old thermarest pad (foam)? or find one? Or some open cell foam to put under you? I'm not totally familiar with the SOL bag and the windshield protector, but believe those are designed to reflect radiant heat. Laying on them is not going to give you much protection from conductive losses to the cold ground. Also, blocking the wind with a closed tent is huge at these temps, a slight breeze at 10F drastically increases the boundary layer conductance and results in increased heat loss through your bag, hat/balaclava, etc. You want a layer of still air around you.

I now have the windshield screen on top as well as the thermal bag. They both have foam in them but it's not much. They are super light. I ditched the Coghland emergency blanket and have the SOL emergency blanket wrapped around my pad sun shade and thermal bag like a sandwich. I have the shiny side of the blanket out instead of the orange side. This all may fail tonight as well but I will keep gearing up as needed. Probably have to break down and get a well insulated pad. I just don't like the way the Zlite pads and foam pads pack so I may look for an inflatable with better R value.

 

[JeremiahH]

Have everything ready for another try this evening. It's supposed to be 4* by 6 am so this is another good night for trial. I have a closed shelter now so I'm hopefully getting rid of the wind factor. using the BA fly creek UL 2
still the same pad. Nemo Astro Air uninsulated
Dollar store thermal bag and windshield sun shade on top of pad.
Then system wrapped with SOL Emergency blanket , reflective side out.
Under my tent is my usual ground sheet of light tarp material I cut out of a sheet that they use to cover pallets of lumber. Pretty thin stuff

Have the Epiphany inflated and ready for the cold. I pushed some down back into the footbox after inflation which I did not do last night and believe that was a partial problem to cold feet. An additional thicker pair of sox may help tonight until I look into down booties or something similar.
I also wrapped on Enlightened Equipment pad strap around my bunch to hold things in place and also for clipping my quilt into.

 

[Mike7]

Very interesting Idahohunter. I've never tried any of those combinations you are testing, but find putting my short thermarest ridgerest pad on top of my insulated air pad (when sleeping in temps below 20-25 degrees) to make a big difference. I have the ridgerest cut down to about 19 x 48 " so it covers all of the heavier torso areas where my sleeping bag is compressed. It weighs a little less than 8 oz, rolls up pretty small, and makes a great sitting pad at that size as well.

 

[unm1136]

Stove.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Idahohunter,
You need an Xtherm. This system that you are trying is probably twice as heavy and still not as warm. It also packs extremely small.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Stove.

A stove only burns while you're feeding it wood. You have to have a sleep system that will keep you warm without the stove.

 

[JeremiahH]

Very interesting Idahohunter. I've never tried any of those combinations you are testing, but find putting my short thermarest ridgerest pad on top of my insulated air pad (when sleeping in temps below 20-25 degrees) to make a big difference. I have the ridgerest cut down to about 19 x 48 " so it covers all of the heavier torso areas where my sleeping bag is compressed. It weighs a little less than 8 oz, rolls up pretty small, and makes a great sitting pad at that size as well.

I may end up doing that. A short foam pad cut down to size, just may be the ticket for next week.

 

[JeremiahH]

Stove.

I've been interested in doing this but don't think the tent I use would be a good option to modify. I have been looking at other tarps with stove combos

 

[desertcj]

A stove only burns while you're feeding it wood. You have to have a sleep system that will keep you warm without the stove.

I don't think that's accurate. Does a fire only burn as long as you are constantly adding wood? Once you get some good coals going, it should keep putting off heat for quite a while. Just add another solid piece of wood every couple few hours or when you wake up from being cold. Hey, we are talking about staying warm in single digit temps here!

 

[Justin Crossley]

Backpacking stoves burn hot and fast. You will not be staying warm for "a few hours".

Unless you want to be up all night feeding the fire, get a sleep system that is adequate for the temps you will be experiencing.