Hot rocks under hammock?

[Madison320]

I was wondering if you could help stay warm by placing rocks heated in your campfire under your hammock. Anyone ever tried this?

[angrysparrow]

Yes, actually. It was discussed a few months ago in this thread.

[Madison320]

Dang, I was thinking about a couple of rocks, not a bed of red hot coals!

I like the idea of bringing a rock inside your sleeping bag though. That seems like a really good idea.

[Mustardman]

Rather than a hot rock, try a Nalgene bottle full of hot water. Works similarly, without the risk of exploding

I've used the Nalgene trick on numerous occasions and it can really make the difference between shivering all night and being toasty warm.

[Madison320]

That's a genius idea!

[Madison320]

Now I'm wondering what's the best way to heat up a Nalgene bottle.

Can I sit it next to the campfire? Will that melt the bottle? Or do I need to boil water in a pot and pour it in?

[angrysparrow]

Or do I need to boil water in a pot and pour it in?

Bingo. You don't want to try to heat the bottle itself.

[Ramblinrev]

Fill a plastic soda bottle up to the top leaving no air space in it and cap it tightly. Then you can set it right in the fire and heat the water. I don't know about nalgene. But if it works for soda bottles it might work for them. The soda bottles a cheaper to practice on.

[Madison320]

I saw Survivorman do that. He hung the bottle from a string right in the fire. Looked like the bottle was deforming but it didn't break open.

[Mule]

I have just boiled some water in my pot and poured it into a Platypus one liter bladder bottle and it stayed warm most of the night under my legs. I just poured hot water into the bottle while some cold water was still in the bottom. My Platypus bottle plain don't leak, so I trust them.