I need cheap heat!

**domromer** · 11-12-2009, 10:31

I'm going to the AZ hang next weekend and it's going to be way colder than any other hang I've done. Mostly I just camp in the summer when lows don't get below the 40s. My planned set up was to bring my 20" thermarest along with a fairly wide piece of closed cell foam that I would put at the top to go under my shoulders. My sleeping bag is -15. SO that should work fine where it's not eing compressed by the hammock. What else could i use to stay warm? I've heard people talk about tyvek and other thermal insulation. Not really sure what I should try.

**Cannibal** · 11-12-2009, 10:34

Bet there is some gear to be borrowed at that thing. Might be a good opportunity to give an underquilt a shot.
What are the expected temps? That pad combo should be able to take you pretty low unless you are a real cold sleeper. Probably into the 20s anyway.

**domromer** · 11-12-2009, 10:41

I expect it will be in the low 20's. The elevation is 6800ft which is just a tick lower than where I live so the weather should be about the same.

I imagine your right about their being gear to borrow. but I wouldn't want to depend on it.

**oldgringo** · 11-12-2009, 10:44

Wear more clothes to bed.

**domromer** · 11-12-2009, 10:48

Originally Posted by oldgringo

Wear more clothes to bed.

I plan on it. I'm be bringing my down coat and long underwear to wear under my pants which I'll keep on. Also fresh underclothes for the night so I'm not damp from sweat at all.

**Dutch** · 11-12-2009, 11:15

Heat up a Nalgene bottle of water and trhow it in the bottom of you bag.

**KerMegan** · 11-12-2009, 11:36

couple of hot packs from the sporting good store, hot water nalgene with fleece cozy,, good wool or fleece sleeping hat...just random suggestions- I rarely even see 20 degrees, much less sleep out in it..
HTH, KM

**Roadtorque** · 11-12-2009, 13:43

This will be the first test of my mt. washington 4 UQ. If it's as warm as every says it is I will have warmth to spare. Maybe I can bottle some of it and send it your way

**Hooch** · 11-12-2009, 14:09

Hot water Nalgene bottle to the groin. It will warm the blood as it comes by in the femoral artery and, hence, keep you warmer.

**BillyBob58** · 11-12-2009, 14:11

Did you say MINUS 15 bag? As long as your head is well insulated, you should be way more than warm enough on top, even using the bag as a quilt. just watch your technique when moving around- drafts can be more of a problem with a quilt than when inside a bag. Are you using the bag quilt style or are you crawling inside? If inside, have you got inside a bag before while in a hammock? That can be quite a challenge, so you might want to read up on that, if that is your plan.

If using the bag as a quilt, the problem can be inadequte seal around the neck and shoulders, but people here manage it. A dedicated quilt often has a snap so you can form a head hole and get a pretty good seal around the neck and shoulders. A mummy bag probably won't allow you to do that, so you might have to work on a system to stop those drafts. But you have so much reserve in your bag you might have no problems, you might even be too hot.

But if it is a mummy bag, and you are used to the hood, that is a lot of head warmth lost if used as a quilt, so be ready to compensate for that.

I would think those pads would be more than warm enough for the 20s as long as you have no trouble staying on them, and are not a super cold sleeper. Have you used them yet? If time allows, and you don't have a double layer hammock, a Speer SPE can be a huge help managing pads in a hammock I was TOASTY on time at 18*F with a full length Ridgerest and an ancient torso size Thermarest UL ( 1" thick? 1 lb).

If your bag is synthetic and you sleep zipped up inside it, you will pick up a few more degrees of bottom warmth, even after compression.