Alcohol for warming?

[Taurë-rana]

I'd like some first hand advice about drinking to warm up.

I find that if I stop walking and get chilled, it's really hard for me to warm up in thermals, fleece, down etc, however much I put on and it can take several hours in a sleeping bag before I feel warm. I have also noticed that if I'm moving around a bit in thermals, they warm up really quickly. I have a theory that I take so long to warm up because these sleeping bags and items of clothing are designed to retain the heat, and if there isn't much heat at the surface of my skin because I'm chilled, they don't work as well. So, if I drink a tot or two of something nice and alcoholic like whisky which opens up the peripheral blood vessels which warms up the skin, will I warm up more quickly?

Before anyone jumps up and down, I know about the dangers of drinking to try and offset hypothermia or to try and warm up when it's really cold, but this is a situation where my clothing/sleeping bag should be more than adequate to keep me warm so shouldn't have the same danger.

[BarryJ]

I don't think using alcohol to "warm up", even under the circumstances you describe, is a good idea. If your skin is taking a long time to warm up after you have been chilled, it is because the body is still limiting circulation to your skin to avoid heat loss because it is still struggling to raise the temperature of your inner organs back to normal. Using alcohol in this circumstance will only slow the process of getting your core temperature back to normal.

I have also noticed that if I'm moving around a bit in thermals, they warm up really quickly.

If it isn't raining, walk around a bit before jumping into your sleeping bag. If it is raining, just keep moving your arms and legs around inside your bag to try to warm up quicker.

[Ent]

First for safety not a good idea but I find that a few drinks means my hands and feet stay warm so appreciate the effect. In my opinion it is ok providing you are not on the way to hypothermia. In that case a very bad idea. I would ensure that the tent is set up first as hypothermia affects the judgement so combining this with a feeling of false warmth could lead to a cascading series of wrong decisions. However, a few drinks in most conditions has not done me or anyone I know harm, at least at night, now in the morning, not so sure.

Cheers Brett

[eggs]

Short response from a web search:

Does drinking alcohol really keep you warm?
No! So says the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems. If the legendary St Bernard finds you stranded in the icy Alps, you would be better off hugging the hound than downing the hooch of the pooch.

Alcohol only gives a false sense of warmth, but the dog could pass along some lifesaving body heat. Even a little nip from the brandy keg will send your blood to the surface of your skin. You may feel warmer, but your blood will actually be cooled.

Many heat sensing nerves are located near the surface of the skin. Drinking can make you temporarily feel warmer. In fact, while you get the feeling of warmth from alcohol, it is really unsuitable because it allows the cold to enter the body.

Having said that - I know my wife has poor circulation and if that is your case too it will affect how fast you feel warmed up or whether you can get the extremities warm even with thermals on.
I would prefer a hot drink to alcohol though.

[Nick S]

Rach, your theory is correct about sleeping bags retaining heat and requiring body heat to create a warm bag, it's the same principle with wearing gloves.
And yes some people do have poor peripheral circulation, I.e. their hands and feet remain inappropriately vasoconstricted even when their core temp is normal.
Best answer would be to do like you say and try and warm up before getting into bag, either by: jogging around in thermals or having a hot dinner and cuppa before bed.

But if you are not in danger of hypothermia, you haven't recently come in from the cold, your tent is setup already like brett mentioned, etc., then having a drink is a relatively safe way of warming up, and yes I think it will make you warm up quicker in your sleeping bag. Of course nobody likes to condone drinking every night as it sounds bad

Have you tried chemical foot warmers? Could be worth the weight. Some you can reboil and use again.

[sirius Tas]

Hi,
Have you tried wrapping yourself in a thermal blanket??? ...it should work well.
As for alcohol....as above...all my first aid training says a definite NO....can cause a host of problems.
Everyone SHOULD carry a thermal blanket or two....so I'd be trying that first along with some vigorous movement and hot drinks....or you could try the St Bernard method ...Can remember one of Malcolm Douglas's shows where he talked about either being a one dog or a two dog night... ....Cheers.

[abowen]

I have taken alcohol on the odd walk but not for warming purpose. Usually only take it for sharing and socialising while cooking or watching the sun go down. I am usually pretty warm by the time i stop walking for the day. If it is cold though I layer up pretty quick to try and keep heat in. On the odd occasion I have also boiled water and used a nalgene bottle as a hot water bottle. Popped into the sleeping bag this is very nice and you have cold water to drink in the morning!
Cheers
Andrew

[Taurë-rana]

Thanks for the answers folks, and thanks Nick for a more medical opinion. I think that poor peripheral circulation probably is my problem, and it's possible that it makes me "feel" cold more than I actually am - once I finally get to sleep when I'm cold, I often wake up very hot so it's the heating up bit that's the problem, not having enough warm layers.
I've been experimenting with seeing how long I can go through winter before I turn the heaters on in my house, and trying different ways to keep warm, and the going to bed bit is easy - a hot bath to raise the core temperature and warm up my skin, and a hot water bottle to cuddle in bed. Unfortunately a hot shower is not usually an option in the bush, but the Nalgene hot water bottle is a good idea - it should stay hotter longer than my Al bottle I would think.
sirius, I haven't tried wrapping in a thermal blanket, but I should try it - I do carry one. And I haven't tried the dog option but a cat on the lap certainly helps at home.
Brett, I know a few drinks works really well as having worked at Ben Lomond I'm aware of just how well it can insulate you against feeling the cold, but I also know how dangerous it can be and besides, I'm into lighter weight bushwalking! I was talking more about just enough to give a bit of a glow. Although for you, it might take a lot more to get to that stage than me given our very different body masses

[whiskeylover]

Hi Rachel,
There are a number of good points above. Most importantly it is obvious that drinking alcohol is not useful for warming.
Much as I love a good drop and jokingly say I take whisky for medicinal purposes, it is really for social and enjoyment purposes.
Avoiding hypothermia involves a number of important factors, which will also help you not get too cold and be more comfortable.
Most importantly,the big four - food, fluids, shelter and insulation.
Food = for energy to warm yourself, sugary foods are good if you are feeling cold for immediate energy, but you also need longer term energy (carbohydrates - like nuts, bread, crackers, noodles, or whatever)
Fluids = avoid dehydration - it makes you more susceptible to hypothermia. Warm fluids are better in the cold, but not alcohol or caffeine - they interfere with the temperature regulating mechanism in your brain, making you think you are warm and stopping your body from adjusting appropriately - how do you think all those young girls can wear so little on a cold night?! Soup or hot chocolate are good.
Shelter = staying out of wind and rain will avoid cooling too much - don't underestimate wind chill factor. Setting up to avoid sitting in the breeze is important.
Insulation = making sure you have appropriate layers on, changing into dry clothes, putting extra clothes on early before you feel cold - not holding off til the last minute - you will lose too much heat. Beanie - you lose a lot of heat from your head. Thermals - light to carry and breathe well. Wind stopper type clothing or put your coat on for wind break. Ground insulation - i.e. good mat under you or while sitting in the evening sit on your pack not on a cold rock etc.
Many people don't understand the connection between energy and cold. Exercising is ok up to a point to warm yourself up but you need to make sure you have the energy to burn to warm yourself up. People get hypothermia because they stop shivering - i.e. they are unable to warm themselves anymore because they have run out of energy to shiver.
Age, general health and fitness, recent illness, previous hypothermia and a number of other factors also contribute to a persons ability to stay warm.

[geoskid]

People get hypothermia because they stop shivering - i.e. they are unable to warm themselves anymore because they have run out of energy to shiver.

This is an interesting point. Whilst I know what shivering feels like , of course, and that when shivering stops while still cold things are now very dangerous, I have never really thought about the bodily 'mechanisms' (for want of a better term) driving shivering and how it is linked to energy.

[Ent]

At Meston in the snow I was stuffed and could not eat much solid food, and even poured the wine out. I just struggled to get my feet warm, body core was ok and hands but not feet. Then I found the red lollies about two hours later and scoffed them and about ten minutes later I felt warm if still stuffed. After Meston I try to pack some sugar hits for such an event.

Cheers Brett

[Drifting]

High energy food, a sweetened drink or even fruit juice might help. Power bars would be the choice I think.

[north-north-west]

People get hypothermia because they stop shivering - i.e. they are unable to warm themselves anymore because they have run out of energy to shiver.

Ummmmmm . . . you are already hypothermic when the shivering becomes uncontrolable. Once it reaches the point where you stop shivering from lack of energy, you are seriously and dangerously cold.