Increasing temperature rating for sleep set up

[Catcher]

I have a 3 season tent with a ground sheet (Mont Moondance 2) a 3 season sleeping bag and in insulated inflatable mat rated at 4.3. If I need more warmth what would be the most effective lightweight solution? Thermal underwear, a sleeping bag liner?

[Moondog55]

It depends.
More information about the sleeping bag please.
If it's big enough to wear clothes inside it wearing the clothes is the easiest.
If it's a very slim and tight fitting bag then the answer will depend on the weight of the bags shell and the fill.
If you think you can handle the feeling, using a vapour barrier liner will give you 10C extra, using a windproof sleeping bag cover will give you 5C extra
Did you say the bag you have is good for -5C? and if so is that comfort or extreme rating?
Best bang for kilo carried is usually an extra pair of warm socks and a down vest
The EU rating is always taken with the copper mannequin wearing winter underwear a hat and sox so the real rating is about 5C less if not wearing that layer
There are lots of ways to sqeeze more performance from gear

[paul_gee]

I tend to operate the other way around. Depending on the weather, if its on the cooler side, I'll start by wearing a set of merino thermals. My standard tent / hut outfit. I might start out using my bag as a quilt. If it gets even colder overnight I'll zip my bag up - it's easier to zip up a bag through sleepy eyes then put on thermals.

[Tintin]

As a weight conscious decision I would say a beanie or some sort of head wear. Then I'd say thermals or any other layers which are comfortable to sleep in.

[Catcher]

The sleeping bag is a Snugpak Softie Elite 3 rated as: Comfort: -5°c Extreme: -10°c

[Moondog55]

I take the Snugpack temperature ratings with a more than a grain of salt as they are not EN rated, if you are a warm sleeper it may be a -5 bag with all your cold weather clothes on but my own experience says more like 8C
The bag looks as if it is big enough to wear your jacket inside and as Snugpacks target market are reserve soldiers and scouts I can see them giving that rating when wearing one of their LW insulated jacket and pant suits inside it
I'm interested in why you chose that particular sleeping bag tho

[Franco]

I'm with Moondog.
Apart from a soft warm hat, loose fit clean fluffy socks and some chest insulation (there are very light cheap vests around , mine is from Aldi about $30, Uniclo has something like that for $60 (?)...) will increase your insulation noticeably and also works for those 2AM nature calls so you don't waist half an hour thinking about it.
BTW, contrary to what you may read, shoving your head inside you sleeping bag for a short while will increase the temp there and of course you in the meantime breathe warm air too. No you will not die doing that for 15m or so...

[Catcher]

I take the Snugpack temperature ratings with a more than a grain of salt as they are not EN rated, if you are a warm sleeper it may be a -5 bag with all your cold weather clothes on but my own experience says more like 8C
The bag looks as if it is big enough to wear your jacket inside and as Snugpacks target market are reserve soldiers and scouts I can see them giving that rating when wearing one of their LW insulated jacket and pant suits inside it
I'm interested in why you chose that particular sleeping bag tho

I got it because it seemed to meet my needs from the reviews that I read. I had a certain price limit and temp rating I needed and weight/compressed size and of all the sleeping bags that made the short list this one was the best reviewed on Bushcraft forums/blogs/Amazon, not very scientific I know!

[Catcher]

Also I'm 6ft 1 and it was mentioned a lot this was a good bag for taller people

[Moondog55]

Also I'm 6ft 1 and it was mentioned a lot this was a good bag for taller people

Nothing much worse than a bag that isn't big enough
Just try getting inside with the extra clothing on now before you go, if you can do that no problem
if not then you can sew a few buttons onto the bag and button the jacket over the shoulder area, I find inside the bag warmer

[Gadgetgeek]

Not the worst choice you could have made. the main thing is avoiding constriction, compression and sweat. I have had good experiences with sleeping bag liners, but they are a pain to get in and out of. Thermals, beanie, and fluffy socks are the next layer. Just keep in mind that any layer you plan to wear inside it should be a dry one, so I don't like the thought of using my walking insulation for sleeping, but the honest truth is, even if its not a comfortable night, if you can warm up enough, you will dry out a synthetic layer, so it should keep you alive at least. Lastly an AMK heatsheet under your pad will help a bit, and blocking wind is important too, so using it like a taco will help some as well.

[Catcher]

Well it's on it's way from Amazon. I guess I could send it back if I've made a dreadful mistake! I did not see much else available in this price range that would be ok in cold temperatures.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Ever since I got an Exped neg. 9 { comfort rating } down Sleeping bag I take it along and my thermals if it is going to be cold. The bag is extra long which is ideal b/c I am 6 " 2 tall.

[walkerchris77]

Go sleep out in your backyard if you can on a really cold night. Good way to test stuff and if your equipment isn't warm enough u can run back inside.

[Moondog55]

Go sleep out in your backyard if you can on a really cold night. Good way to test stuff and if your equipment isn't warm enough u can run back inside.

Although it is hard to find places in Australia where the back yard temperature is in the negatives needed to test Alpine gear

[walkerchris77]

True moondog. I live in ballarat so its sometimes close to alpine temps.

[Moondog55]

True moondog. I live in ballarat so its sometimes close to alpine temps.

Almost I agree but not quite -18C or if so very seldom

[Gadgetgeek]

There are other things you can do to weight the test, sleep on a large un-insulated air mat, sleep in a spot that is shaded during the day so that it has minimal radiant heat from the ground. It obviously won't get you an alpine equivalent, but might help give a better idea.

[Moondog55]

Also; although I've never tried it; you could go to bed wet and overtired to simulate a long day in bad weather

Try as hard as I could and I've found nobody with a large freezer facility willing to allow me to try out my clothing and gear
Conversely all of those things are what we try to avoid to maximise our warmth and comfort

[Kingsleythelost]

Come to Canberra we get pretty close here in our back yards...-5 ... -10

[Moondog55]

Come to Canberra we get pretty close here in our back yards...-5 ... -10

I was thinking more like Everest South Col temperatures there -30 to -50C

[Eljimberino]

Xtherm Max mattress. VAT free from Facewest.