Don’t freeze! 9 tips for staying warm in your sleeping bag

1. Choose a sleeping bag that fits you properly, not one “to grow into.” If the bag is too large, you’ll spend more time and energy heating the extra air inside. If it’s too short or tight, it will insulate worse because the padding gets compressed.

2. The comfort temperature of your sleeping bag should be 5–7°C lower than the expected nighttime temperature. If the forecast says “0°C,” take a bag rated for “-5°C.”.

3. Sleep in dry clothes. Change your “daytime” outfit for a “sleeping” one. During the day you sweat, and damp clothing causes heat loss.

4. A significant amount of heat is lost through contact with the ground — use a good sleeping pad. You can insulate further by placing an empty backpack or a coiled rope under the mat. Also, put your clothes in the sleeping bag’s stuff sack — it makes a soft pillow.

5. Wear a buff, neck warmer, or scarf if your sleeping bag doesn’t have a special “collar” to keep cold air from entering.

6. Do not zip sleeping bags together. Warm air escapes when you turn over and through gaps near the neck area.

7. Always wear a hat — your head must stay warm.

8. Put a bottle of hot water at your feet.

9. Don’t breathe inside the sleeping bag. Some people believe this helps warm it faster, but the moist air condenses on the inner fabric, making it damp.