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[at-l] re: Which is warmer????????????

>>>   The great debate:   Given the same weather, sleep system etc,  which is
warmer,  sleeping nude,  sleeping in minimal clothes,  or layering and using
the sleep system as the outer layer?   What are everyone's opinions???   <<<

here's what the industry says:

don't wear too many clothes in your sleeping bag for two reasons:
(1)  the sleeping bag's insulation is designed to keep the air in the bag
warm with the help of your body.  if you wear too much insulation, you
can't warm up the air in the sleeping bag, thus it feels cold when you move
around in your bag.
(2)  too much clothes, to the point that you start getting constricted
inside the bag, will compress the insulation around you, making it less
efficient.

here's my experience:
(1)  if i ever wear a fleece pullover or jacket to bed, i wake up in an
hour bathed in a pool of sweat.
(2)  if i think the temp will not approach within 10F of the bag's rating,
i wear shorts.  the bag alone works fine.
(3)  if the temp will be close to the bag's rating, i'll wear a thin layer
of long underwear, top and bottom.  this helps a little in extra warmth,
but the main reason is so that i won't wake up from the initial shock of
moving my legs or arms into a previously vacant, and much cooler, area of
the bag.  the bag itself does a good job of keeping me warm enough to sleep
well.
(4)  if the temp will be at or below the bag's rating, i wear the
longjohns, and use a 1L hot water bottle.  the 16oz bottles are easier to
sleep with, but don't last into the wee hours of the morning.  i also wear
a thin wool hat or balaclava - most important.

i like to bury completely into the bag, but i avoid doing so unless i am
very cold, because the bag will absorb your breath's moisture.

for winter, i layer my sleeping bags.  i have a synthetic 40* bag, a down
40* dryloft bag, and a down 20* bag.  the dryloft is key in the winter as
it is windproof - even in a tent this makes a difference.  in the sierra,
where it is rare that temps drop below 5-10*, i use the two 40* bags.  for
more severe temps, i use the two down bags.  i haven't had the pleasure of
sleeping in anything colder than -10*F.  i also have a basic bivy sac, so i
have more combos to try.

one of the best ways to keep warm is sleeping with a partner with bags
zipped together.  much better than a water bottle...


mike
ke kaahawe AT92 TYT94 PCTsoon
mikeh@royalrobbins.com
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