Cold sleepers and bags

imported
#1

I have a friend coming on the trail with me next summer, from about Kennedy meadows to the Oregon border. She is a relatively cold sleeper and she is worried about not getting good sleep due to cold weather. About what temp bag should she be looking at? About how could will the trail get (won’t hit the Sierra’s till late June). I’m thinking that a 0-15 degree bag will do her just fine.

Lastly, to put it in perspective she has a naturally low body temp, normally stays around 94* when healthy.

As always, any and all help is appreciated.

taildragger

#2

I used a 20 degree bag the entire way on the PCT. We started early and went thru the Sierras in early June. I was only cold at night a couple of times up in Washington, when it snowed, and not too bad at that. The PCT is a HOT trail. I generally sleep a bit cool - which is why I kept my 20 degree bag for the whole trail (both AT and PCT). But I slept with it open a lot more often than I slept with it zipped.

Ginny

#3

If she really is a cold sleeper…I would do overkill say an zero degree bag. I hated being cold and I was on the JMT in hot August with a down 20 degree bag and was cold all the time.

So was my oldest son in his 15 degree bag…I wish I had went to either a 0* or 5* sleeping bag. You can always unzip if you get to cold. Try putting on all your things and still can’t sleep because you are cold…not a happy hiker LOL

AlohaTink

#4

Her having a low body temp should mean she sleeps warmer, because she needs to raise her ambient temp to a lesser degree to reach “normal”.

I too have a low body temp, hovers around 96.6-96.8. I am a very warm sleeper, I have a semi rect Marmot bag rated to 25 degrees (Wasatch) and regularly take it down to 10-12 degrees w/o a tent, and been down to -2 inside a tent.

Tabasco

#5

I highly recomend the extra weight of a cordura bag liner. I use one in my 20 degree down bag and its warm enough for winter hikes in New England plus as an added bonus you can wash it and cut down on the hiker funk. Nothin like soft cordura on your skin versus ice cold sleeping bag material too.

Feral

#6

I chose to leave my silk liner at home and use sleeping clothes. I found that I would get twisted up in the liner during the night. I picked silkweight Patagonia underwear which have several advantages:
-They weigh about the same as a silk liner.
-It helps keep me warm during that midnight trip to the privy
-They can be washed in hot water with the rest of my clothes
-They keep my bag from getting that hiker funk
-If need be they can be worn during the day for extra warmth, although I normally reserve them for sleeping only.
-As Feral said, they feel much warmer than nylon when you first get in your bag.

If your friend decides they are overkill, they are easy to send home. If your bag is too warm, you still have to carry the weight.

30-30

#7

Low body temperature is one symptom of hypothyroidism.

Slow Motion

#8

Up until now I felt silly wearing jammies in the woods. Thanks for the great explanation - endorsement.

:slight_smile:

kbatku