13 Tips For SLEEPING WARMER Every Backpacker Should Know

00:00 Hey Y'all
00:12 Eat A Snack Right Before Bed
01:58 Nalgene Heater
03:03 Avoid Hot Drinks Before Bed
04:20 Change Out Of Hiking Clothes As Soon As You Get To Camp
05:37 Use Properly Rated Sleeping Bag and Pad
07:20 Down Booties
09:03 Hand Warmers
10:05 Mylar Emergency Blanket
10:46 Hooded Puffy Coat
11:24 Be Choosey With Your Campsite
12:38 Take Another Warm Body
13:13 Pile Up The Leaves
13:46 Heat Up Rocks
Warm Feet = Better Sleep: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
www.nature.com/articles/43366
Hot Drinks Cool You Off: www.smithsonianmag.com/scienc...
www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/...
www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/did...
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[@yogalandawellnessyolandati7654]

My best tip: Don’t get too cold before bed. It’s easier to stay warm than to get warm. Bundle up at camp and stay warm before bed - if you get in your bag to “warm up” you’re going to have a long cold night

[@sailor-rick]

Hypothermia causes a whole host of secondary problems, some of which never quite go away. No advise this time, just an anecdote: I went canoe camping with my 14 year old son. We camped along the river and it got very cold on the first night. I had brought my low temp bag and a good pad, but my son brought only a lightweight bag and a relatively thin pad. Of course I made him use my kit and I used his... that's what dads do! At 3:30 in the morning I woke-up freezing (I'm normally a hot sleeper) and by 4 I was shivering uncontrollably. So I got up and dug myself a little Dakota fire hole and built a small fire that I could stand over. I stayed alive that way, but I must have substantially lowered my immunity that night because the next day I developed a slight fever and couldn't seem to feel warm all day, even though we paddled all day. That night was warm, but I was already weak from the bad previous night. I slept well, but I had a very hard time getting up in the morning. We made it back to our pickup point about noon and when we got home I went straight to bed. 8 hours later I woke up with a fever and a bad rash that I was sure was poison ivy. I didn't have any calamine lotion or Benadryl lotion so I used some other kind of skin lotion that felt like I was blow-torching my skin. I quickly showered off the atomic-acid-feeling stuff and resorted to ice-packs. The rash got worse over the next several hours and eventually it wrapped around my entire midsection and around my lower back. The next day the pain was incredible so I went to the doctor. It was shingles. Shingles! I'm not that old and I don't get sick. Evidently, two nights ago I had lowered my immune system so much that I allowed a dormant virus (childhood chicken pox) to take hold. Hypothermia causes a whole host of secondary problems, some of which never quite go away. Semper Parati.

[@katherineloging6284]

Using a sleeping bag liner helps as well. Depending on the liner, it can add about 10 degrees of extra warmth to the sleeping bag. It also helps keep the bag cleaner too! 🙂

[@OldPackMule]

Use a neck gaiter (preferably wool) and a knit cap. Keeping the neck warm makes a HUGE difference.

[@Henning_Rech]

1. Be fat (but you will regret during the day when hiking 😅 ) 2. More about campsite selection: above tree line on a big rock - it stores the heat of the day 3. Sleep early, start early, before sunrise - the first half of a night is typically warmer

[@sheilawilliams6803]

I'm fat too and I think it makes for a cold butt at night

[@mediocrepoetry]

I'm fat and have Raynaud's. Trust me, it's not about the bodyweight.

[@Vladimiradventurephotography]

Here are a few tips from my camping mostly in cold seasons including winter. 1. Right before getting into sleeping bag do some jumping jacks to raise body temperature. 2. Insulated sleeping pads are more important than sleeping bags. You can have very warm bag, but without good insulation from the ground you will freeze, combining 2 pads like foam and air pad is good way to stay warmer(layers). 3. If I have good insulation from the ground and not so good sleeping bag, by putting jacket and other clothes on top of the bag will help(layers). Just don't compress sleeping bag insulation too much. 4. Don't overdress inside your sleeping bag. Bag insulation needs to be warmed up by your body heat, having too much clothes reduces insulation of your bag. I sleep warmer in winter with just wool base layer and properly rated sleeping bag than if I wear extra layers. 5. Hat is important, but you can still loose a lot of heat through your neck and shoulders. Balaklava works well. 6.Gloves help a lot to sleep warm. 7. Hand warmers life can be extended by sealing them in Ziploc bag after some use, they need oxygen to burn. Ziploc will slow it down. 8. Finally for true emergency, when you have sudden extreme drop in temperature vapor barrier liner like HotSac VBL from Western Mountaineering can really help. In a pinch you can do the same with a big trash bag. You are not going to have very comfortable sleep, but it will get you through the night. Be safe.

[@cardiacbob]

raise... not raze.

[@TheHikingChick1]

Excellent advice!

[@SupremeOverlord10]

Very good advice, thank you. I'm a southerner and have thin blood, I guess. I find that after a hard day of hiking, I have less tolerance/ability to deal with cold weather at night. At times it's only gotten to lower 50s and I get really cold. The point is; if you are worn out you are less able to fight the cold.

[@Vladimiradventurephotography]

@@SupremeOverlord10 It is very important to have solid, high calories meal after the hike at the end of the day. I am often so tired that just want to quickly make my camp and go to sleep. So I practically make myself eat even if I don't feel hunger. You need fuel to stay warm.

[@gwashington65]

Thank you.

[@user-bz3ew2rk6y]

Thank you for this video. As someone who backpacks in Minnesota frequently, including the winter, staying warm at night is of paramount importance, both for comfort and safety. I was also a Boy Scout leader for many years with several Zero Hero awards under my belt. The tips you mention are great, and I wanted to share a couple more. 1. You must cover your head. It adds 10 degrees of warmth. I always bring a poly beanie. If it is particularly cold, I bring a balaclava. I also bring a very light weight merino wool neck gaiter, which I can bring up over my nose if necessary. I do not like wearing my hooded puffy to bed, as it can get damp, and when you get out of your bag in the morning, you want your puffy dry so you can put it on. 2. Something for your hands. You mentioned this. I am the type of sleeper who gets cozy in my bag when I get in it, but as the night goes on, I move around and typically my hands come out of the bag. I always sleep with a pair of silk liner gloves. Super light weight. Does the trick. 3. The boiling water in the Nalgene trick works, but keep in mind it takes fuel to do it, and it takes time to do it. If I do it, it is one hour before I go to bed. Shove that bugger in the bottom of your bag, and it makes crawling in a joy. 4. Something on your feet. You also mentioned this. I use down booties, but if that is an issue, then some wool socks. 5. Others have mentioned this. Urinate before you go to bed. The body spends a lot of energy keeping the urine in your bladder warm. Get rid of it. 5. Lastly, right before bed, go for a walk. This should be a moderate walk to get the blood moving, but do not break a sweat, as that will backfire on you. Love your videos. Keep them coming!

[@HostileTakeover2]

I'm in the same situation (SM & the Zero's are my favorite campouts) and those are all the same points I make. These days I generally don't bother with the hot water trick (great socks/booties) but do recommend to others, and the merino buff is enough for me in anything but 10 below or lower so rarely bring a balaclava for myself, but everything else... poly beanie (also a merino beanie that stacks so I have options), light walk (good excuse to check on the campers, pitstop, & check over gear), etc.

[@carolinenunez3455]

When my future husband and I met, we went on a backpacking trip between semesters at college, so, end of January. He grew up in Los Angeles and we were (and still are) in Southern California. we went up to about 5,000’, and that is COLD here in January! He had only a flannel sleeping bag, and insisted he’d be fine. I knew better, and after the first night, when he almost froze to death, we rigged up this system: piles of pine needles and leaves, and then the pads on top. Then his flannel bag, opened up. The top layer was my opened up down mummy bag. We were indeed warm! But it was very tight; anytime either of us needed to shift position, we had to tuck the whole thing around us again. But it worked!

[@HostileTakeover2]

Always enjoy that "Hey Y'all!" Brightens up my day each time.

[@user-zq7fb4ot9k]

Dixie's advise is excellent, listen to her. I'm a veteran of winter climbing in the NH Presidential Range to include the severe and unpredictable Mt. Washington. It's extremely important to follow Dixie's tips on what not to ingest prior to being down and having the correct temp ratings for your bag and pad. I've learned a few things myself from watching Dixie, she's the best.

[@dougsundseth2303]

A tip you didn't mention (unless I missed it somehow) and a correction to several people below: To stay warmer, don't drink alcohol. It is high energy, which is good. And it does makes you _feel_ warmer, but it does that by opening your capillaries (warming your skin), but that increases heat transport and cools your core off faster. Several people say that you should urinate before sleep because your body then won't have to heat the urine. This is incorrect. Energy transfer rate is proportional to temperature differential, insulation, and surface area, none of which is changed by urination. In fact, the urine in your bladder would act as a heat reservoir since it's already at body temperature. But you should still urinate immediately before going to sleep because nothing will cool you off faster than having to get out of your bag in the middle of the night to visit the nearest flat rock.

[@kellyohara806]

While living in a country without central heat in my home, I learned to tuck my pajama top into my pajama bottoms (or whatever type of tops and bottoms you are sleeping in.) This holds the body heat in. This also works for daytime.

[@PrincessofErised]

Many moons ago, I took my first overnight backpacking trip. We did EVERYTHING wrong. I wore jeans, we camped near water, had no stove, everything was heavy, slept in a canvas contraption, were in the mountains in fall, and had no water filter. It was misery. I had camped before, but I always had the car to retreat to in case it got bad. I woke up with frozen lashes and a deep chill. Luckily, some hikers took pity on us and we had hot coffee to wake up, defrost, and get the hell out of there. Now I feel like I could rock that trip now that I have watched every one of your videos.

[@Indypackrat]

I remember a miserable night once when the weather turned from bad to worse. Freezing rain caused my tent to collapse several times during the night. Being in and out of my bag had me shaking cold. I started doing push-ups in my tent and it did the trick. Didn't sleep much but the push-ups helped me get thru the night.

[@musingwithreba9667]

The hot water in the Nalgen bottle does indeed work. Not boiled, tho, just hot. It also ensures you have liquid water in the morning for tea and breakfast if it's cold enough to freeze otherwise. But, if you have gear that is properly rated for the weather, then you don't need to have the hot water in the Nalgene, other than to ensure you have liquid water in the morning 😉 Having the dog snuggle up in your sleeping bag works too 😊 I tend to NOT drink anything for at least an hour before I go to bed. And then empty my bladder directly before getting in my sleeping bag. This makes it more likely that I won't need to get up to pee and get cold in the middle of the night. Which I rarely do, but you never know! Having a full bladder will cause your body to feel cold because it has to keep the urine from freezing, or so I've been told by Les Stroud, Survivorman himself. He also suggests eating a small snack of something high in fat like cheese, peanut butter, or dark chocolate before bed. The digestive process will keep your body warm for a while. I've gone camping at temps as low as -22C (-7.6F) and I wouldn't recommend it unless you're properly kitted out and prepared. Or you're in a hot tent with a blazing fire going 🥵😂 Winter camping can be fun tho.

[@Super64heavy]

I too can attest to the hot water bottle technique.( Winter camping with a hammock) Keeps the warmth circulating all night.👍👍

[@rharnatkiewicz]

boiled water works just fine, that is why we use a sock

[@yaemz123]

Urine in the bladder is no different than water in the bloodstream. Your body tries to keep the whole body warm. As urine is extracted from your bloodstream, it is already warm, and your body uses no more calories keeping it warm than it was using keeping it warm while it was part of your blood. When you are awake, you will also be adding more water by drinking, so any supposed caloric reduction from urinating is more than offset by the additional water you drink. The reason you urinate before bed is so you won't have to get up to do so during the night.

[@sailor-rick]

I love cold winter camping. Here are some more tips to keep warm at night: 1. Here is a strange one, but true: If you have to pee in the middle of the night you will stay warmer if you get up and go pee right away. If you hold it, your body has to spend extra calories keeping the fluid in your bladder warm. If you empty it right away those calories can be spent warming other parts. 2. Only drink a hot beverage right before bed if you are already cold. It's okay to bring your body temperature up to a comfortable range by drinking hot chocolate, but don't keep drinking it after that or you'll trigger the ole' sweat factory.. 3. Change into your sleeping attire only after you have completely stopped sweating for the day. For me that is after I have made camp and started the fire (or fixed dinner), but I'm a hot sleeper so your mileage may vary. I often sweat after I eat, for some reason. Perhaps it's for the same reason that hot beverages can make you sweat. Or perhaps it's a metabolic thing. Anyway, don't change clothes until you have completely stopped sweating for the day. 4. The hot rock works very well. Many times I have placed three warm rocks on a towel on the tent floor in a triangular formation and then placed a very hot rock on top of it. Obviously keep it far from your bag or any melt-able items. If a rock explodes it will always be while it is being heated and never while it is cooling. It may crack while it is cooling, but it will never explode while it's cooling, so it is perfectly safe to put it in your tent on top of other rocks. 5. I have accidently done this one: Don't pitch your tent on a frozen swamp by mistake. When I woke up there was an an inch of water covering the whole floor. Everything got wet except what I was wearing. Even my sleeping bag was wet because I used a short pad, but it was thick enough that it held most of me above the water and probably saved me. I had to spend an extra day drying things over a fire and repeatedly wringing out my only towel. It was 8 degrees Fahrenheit that morning. I was unable to recover my groundcloth which remained frozen beneath the swamp. I feel really bad about that bit of litter, but I was trying to stay alive. 6. I layer my socks and gloves. I put silk against my skin and wool or synthetic on the outer layer. If my boots are wet I will put bread bags over my socks... or those thin plastic shopping bags that weigh nothing.

[@HostileTakeover2]

Excellent tips. #s 1, 3, and 5 are very often overlooked but make a huge difference. Tent placement, if I can't find a spot clear of frost/snow/whatever, I try to lay down a bunch of rush or evergreen branches. And sleeping gear... even just sitting around camp, I usually sweat even a little so wait until I'm in my tent for the night before I change into my sleep gear. There's a couple of minutes where I'm chilly but the chances of sweat are virtually none, and knowing I have that clothing and warm sleep is worth the weight to me.

[@sheilahenry7279]

Great tips! Thanks

[@yaemz123]

Your body used calories to keep that urine warm when it was in the bloodstream. It takes no more work to keep it warm in the bladder than in the bloodstream. I don't know why people keep spreading this false claim.

[@MarieSunesen]

Enlightened equipment apex booties. Best gear I've ever bought as a cold sleeper. So warm, weights next to nothing and takes up no room.

[@lizkeene4125]

I agree. I was going to post the same thing. Get the thickest ones. I love them.

[@martydav9475]

You're very impressive at presenting information in a clear and straightforward way - no silly music or annoying cutaways; it's impressive and informative.

[@n4spd396]

Used green coniferous tree branches instead of leaves under my sleeping pad and awning setup during winter time, HUGE improvement. But do this as a backup option! Don't leave a trace for no reason!

[@user-cp9sh2ur3u]

Dixie: try the reusable hand warmers. You drop them in hot water to recharge the chemical process

[@annarborthenorris5455]

I used those as a kid when we went sledding. Heavier, didn't stay warm for long, and only recharged a few times, getting cooler each time. They may have improved since then, but I would bring hand warmer back up until I knew they were sufficient

[@lindacondray7918]

Instead of the little hand warmers, I have the back/shoulder pain reliever pads as emergency heating in our cars. Idea also is to put them over heart/ lungs to warm up blood as it flows through you. These are bigger and often keep putting out heat for way more than the time stated. I don’t hike or worry about weights to grams, so you may need to consider weight differences vs added use length.

[@MrA1582000]

Place them over major arteries, neck, groin

[@cailin5309]

They have sticky hot hands pads .. I have stuck those on my chest and back before even though they say not to stick it on bare skin. I mean, it’s just common sense that if it’s burning you to take it off..

[@katherinelangford981]

I've wrapped a spare shirt around me feet when they've gotten cold, works decently. Down camp booties sound lovely.

[@Incandescentiron]

I was very happy to have a mylar emergency blanket on my last camping trip when it got much colder than I had expected. I laid it over the top of my sleeping bag and was the difference between sleeping and not sleeping.

[@campbub]

when i was a kid we winter camped in the yard… run of the mill 90s camping tent, sleeping bag etc. We never got cold, what made all the difference was we put a big layer of straw under the tent. If you’re in a pinch in the field gather up as much as you can of leafs and pine needles and put them under your tent!

[@aubreyansell1019]

Good information! But you should know u can put very hot water in a smart water type bottle,I did every night in the smokies, it was snow, wet windy every day and I got so cold. I used 2 bottles, 1 at my foot area and 1 at my chest. It made all the difference! I think snow sleet rain changing all day has a way to just make everything damp to wet! I put wet stuff under my plastic next to the shelter wood, it will soak up a lot of the wetness! The plastic also keeps drafts From getting to you. Yes the hood is a must!

[@tommylitchfield3450]

One thing that really caught me by surprise was hearing or reading somewhere to not hold your pee during the night. The reasoning was that your body is continuously warming a bladder full of water all night. I would always hold it as long as I could to keep from getting out of my warm bag. After reading the tip, I carried a juice bottle with a wide mouth inside the tent and used that instead of going out and it really seemed to help me get back to sleep when I woke up cold. If you really trust the seal on the bottle you use, you can put the bottle at your feet, at least in theory :)

[@corbinfauntleroy382]

When you are cold, you have to pee more. Being warm ensures I don't have to get up in the middle of the night.

[@ericsweetadventure]

Inside your legs, ideally your armpits, inside your wrists and even inside neck towards sides under your jaw are areas where there is substantial blood flow near the surface. Using some of these items like the Nalgene or one time use heater packs against those areas (obviously in a sock etc to avoid burns) will help pick up the heat and run in thru your blood/body efficiently. Arm pits are nice because both sides of the heated object are being transferred. Always great videos! Thx

[@user-kx9mt1kb5k]

It is also a good idea to forgo drinking alcoholic beverages in the cold , strong spirits may give you a warming sensation in the beginning, but they thin your blood and send your warm blood to your extremities, thus dropping your core temperature down and make you colder in the end, despite that initial deceptive warming sensation . Stay safe out there! When I was out in the cold with sub-par warming layers for sleep, I had to get up periodically through the night and do jumping-jacks just to bring my core temperature back up and stop from shivering; it sucked with very little bouts of sleep through the night, but I managed to get through it without it developing into hypothermia.

[@nathanarganbright950]

A warm Nalgene is game changing when it's cold!

[@jasonarthurs3885]

I cycle commute on Vancouver Island year round. In this part of Canada we rarely see snow or freezing temperatures, but we do get close. During winter, I sport a pair of heated, weatherproof cycling gloves - game changing for my 90 minute ride through temperate rainforest, at 5 degrees C, dripping wet. Heated socks are next. As an avid back country camper, it never occurred to me to use the heated gloves (soon, socks) whilst camping.

[@preacherman9018]

Merino wool socks and base layers of similar. Alpaca is excellent too head to toes. My alpaca hat is the best. Wool Neck warmer is a most versatile piece of kit. You keep it on through the day and it helps keep the blood passing through the carotids warm. Remove it before bed and drape over the eyes, ears, neck or wherever needed. Never where jewelry or anything around the neck while sleeping. That can be dangerous. Best regards for staying comfortable.

[@gomertube]

I bought a sleeping bag long enough to hold warm clothes in the foot area. It’s about six inches of extra space and it’s so nice to pull a sweater out of there to put on for a quick trip outside or for the dawn. No shivers from cold clothes!

[@sonipitts]

One tip I got from Shug Emery's hammock camping videos is to always pee before you go to bed, and get up to pee if you feel the urge at night, especially if it's cold out (which sucks, but do it anyway). Your body will use extra resources trying to keep all that extra waste fluid at body temp, causing you to feel colder. And, as we all know, trying to sleep when you have to pee is harder and you'll sleep lighter because of the discomfort, which means more calories burned due to being more awake.

[@xungnham1388]

You are parroting a myth. Thermodynamically, it is impossible for pee inside of you to use extra calories to keep it warm. It is already at body temperature when it is made inside your body and it is stored near your core. Any heat that pee can lose is lost back to your body. Any calories used to warm up pee was lost when you drank fluids colder than your body temperature.

[@aliasnick4602]

Dixie!

[@DamianBloodstone]

If you want some of the warmest sleep socks, try Wiggy's sleep socks or Sun Downers. He also has booties and all are synthentic materials. I use the sleep socks with my +50 bag as my indoor bag (long story). His stuff is top shelf and his regular socks will keep your feet dry even if your boots or shoes are wet summer or winter. No, I don't work for Wiggy's, but I would if I could. All of your tips are great. I'm looking forward to doing winter camping this year.

[@verdexj160]

Wiggys socks are terrific to keep your feet warm. I dare you to try their other products.

[@unleashyy]

Cheers on a very helpful video! My 2 cents both about the hot water bottle and a drink before bed - it doesn't have to be boiling hot - about 70°C (160F) would do it. With hot water bottle it will be still hot enough to last several hours and makes it easier on the bottle material (especially if you have a polypropylene one) and eliminates risk of burns. In case of a drink - shouldn't be hot enough to lead to sweating (provided appropriate layering). All being said, my feet tend to be super cold, and down booties and a set of jumping jacks before wrapping up in my sleeping bag have been a great boost, especially when sleeping in freezing temps. Also, don't forget that out body temperature fluctuates throughout the 24h cycle and the coolest it gets is about 4-6am - so it is completely normal if you feel like putting on something extra particular in those hours. Of course, outside temperatures usually hit their nadir at that time as well, which only underlines my point. All best, Dan M

[@RyanGr33n]

3:56 I love that you just said “yamightcould” 😂

[@robertalexander9931]

Good information. One good snack before bed is macaroni and cheese, even the instant ones. They provide calories over a long time, helping keep you warn, wear gloves to bed if your gloves are wet, and a dry pair of socks will work also. As the old saying goes, if your feet are cold, put on a hat. This is true. I always carry a wool hat every time I go backpacking even in the summer. You may get a cool night and can get a chill. Plus the ones you mention I always do a few exercises maybe 5 min to just warm up, don't over do it to the point of sweating, just before I get in my sleeping bag, your body warmth give a quick warm up to the air inside the bag and the bag itself. Best of all, don't use a beach blow-up air mattress. There's no insulation in them like a purpose made a backpacking air mattress, which has insulation in them. I live in New England and have camped from -21° F, actual temp, not wind chill temp, -5°F with 20 mph winds. Slept in snow storms, sleet freezing rain. With and without my Scout troop, no one was affected by the cold, even the severe cold. Take time and learn about what to do in the cold temps, and you can have a great experience. Oh and don't burry you head inside your sleeping bad, breathing moisture will condense and you will get colder. Don't close you tent completly allow some ventulation.

[@mhoefler914]

Glad you mentioned the hooded coat for sleeping. I am a very cold sleeper and had to research and experiment with keeping warm all the time. Always take a warm hat that can be included or removed within the 'hood' of the sleeping bag. Take a wind resistant hat that folds down across the back of your neck. My friends and I spent an overnight in a local park after cross-country skiing and did not know it would hit a record minus 20 degrees. After getting away from the fire it was brutal and difficult to sleep. I finally realized I needed to cover my mouth area with a bandana (not breathing into the down bag) which helped to keep the air going into my lungs, not as super cold. (FYI the only car that started that morning was a VW bug.) Remember the 5 ways your body loses heat: evaporation, convection, conduction, radiation and respiration. Remember it is a lot easier to retain the heat you have rather than to re-create it. Put on a hat sitting around at night, go to bed warm from food or exercise, wiggle your feet to increase circulation at 3 am, and take a very warm bag even if it is heavier. Even though the old 'research' that said we lose half our body through our head has been debunked, the head is still a sensitive part and apparently 7 % to 10 % of heat loss is through the head. Your body wants to protect the control panel. See for yourself.

[@scottg2305]

Light exercise like jumping jacks will warm bag faster with generated heat. Need to make sure you don’t break a sweat. Need to be careful heating rocks because porous ones hold moisture that will cause them to shatter.

[@clayl9202]

Excellent tips in this one! Even a few I've never heard of, and I'm old. :-D One thing about heating rocks: any rock that is smooth and rounded has been in water, likely for a long time (even if it was a log time ago). These are the ones that are more likely to have moisture in them and, because of this, explode when heated in a fire. A nice warm rock will stay warm for a long time, easily through most of the night. Great idea, and safe, with a little common sense. Second -- make sure you're well-hydrated before you go to sleep. If you've gotten enough water that day, you'll stay warmer through the night. If you wake up cold in the early morning hours, try eating an oatmeal cookie and drinking a pint or so of water. You'll sleep great for the next 3-4 hours that way. Something about oatmeal warms you up; I learned this during long days in the Wisconsin cold while deer hunting. Thanks for all you share, Dixie!

[@bk3328]

I saved the insulated liner from old winter boots and wear them as slippers. They are very effective and pack well.

[@judithpearson3968]

Good advice, Dixie. Some of the tips can even be used in times of cold weather and power outages. Hope you're feeling OK. Hsve you gotten the cardiac monitoring results. Am thinking about you and I continue to pray for you.

[@mpl2288]

Thermacare heat wraps work great, the ones for your back, one around your lower back and one around your belly will keep you warm for many hrs! 😊

[@rossjamieson2681]

Love your videos! I have a pair of possum & wool socks - from New Zealand where Australian possums are an introduced pest species. These socks weigh next to nothing, are toasty warm and live in my quilt foot box for the night 🧦

[@kriseikenbery112]

My mom told me they heated up stones, wrapped them in towels, and put them down by their feet at night. She said they called them “ hot pigs!”😊

[@RAINSMAN79]

My tip: there are several options for insulation under you in a hammock but nothing compares to an under quilt. Buy once cry once and sleep comfortably and warm.

[@wayneplunkett6920]

Instead of a hot, hot drink before bed, try a drink like hot chocolate that has cooled a bit but is still very warm to moderately hot according to your personal preference. Works for me.

[@lindaselover2536]

Dixie - try getting some large socks knit out of Kiviut (musk ox) or yak fiber. Another thing that I forgot - I found that wiping all of the sticky sweat off of my body before putting on my sleeping clothes always made me feel so much better. I used baby wipes, but you could use a small cloth - just warm up a bit of water so it is not too chilly. I sleep in light weight silk long underwear - and have a 2nd layer of smart wool for those really freezing nights. Down booties or a larger pair of clean wool socks for my feet.

[@amoledor]

I’ve missed your videos and your welcome “hey y’all!”

[@leannevandekew1996]

Fir boughs work great and smell fabulous. They do leak tree sap, but that smells fabulous for years.

[@lauraelliott6909]

Fir pitch is one of my favorite scents! It's heavenly!

[@a.w.thompson4001]

When I was a kid we vacationed in Canada and slept in lean-tos on pine boughs. The smell and view of stars above were heavenly.

[@bofus-hiking]

❤Thank you! My trail name is Shivers for a reason 🥶

[@philiphenderson9966]

Mylar survival blankets I have found work well if you scrunch them up and put them on the tent floor under the torso part of the sleeping pad.

[@ThanatosWings]

Where the fly raises up from the ground a bit, put leaves there to block the holes from cold coming in. They will still allow enough air flow to breath comfortably. Use tyveck under your sleep pad or tent. Wear your puffy and rain gear to bed. Use turmeric in dinner, it is an anti-inflammatory so your hide won't be struggling so much at the end of the day to remove inflammation and you can just relax better and rest. Sleep with your dog under your own quilt and on your mat beside your body. I got a wide mat for this reason. Cuddle around them. They're body temp is higher than yours and will keep you warm. And they will appreciate the mats lack of pressure on their muscles caused by sleeping on ground. Wear both pairs of your hikes socks on top of one another. Eat complex carbohydrates (aka real, not processed food, nuts, grains, dehydrated cooked vegetables) your body will warm inside from working to break down food. I just got back from a hike that went from heat warnings to freezing temps and that's some of what I did.

[@Simple_But_Expensive]

The greatest heat loss is hands, feet, groin, top of your head. You don’t have to worry about your groin. I wear a knit cap, light cotton gloves, sweatshirt and pants, and clean socks. Since I generate a lot of heat when I sleep, I usually end up stripping the gloves and sticking my feet outside my quilt to tune my heat levels. Sometimes I end up stripping it all. I also keep my hamdwarmer in the bad, but I rarely use it.

[@tomsitzman3952]

Keeping warm in the cold is just simple Work Physiology. 1) acclimatization, spend a few weeks in the area to acclimatize your body to the cold temperatures, 2) dress to keep your temperature under your clothing Tropical temperature range of 70F to 90F by use layers for expected temperatures 3) Eat and nibble high calorie foods all day, not sugar . Build a Modular Sleep System for expected temperatures. Wear your Ninja suit to bed,( wool tops and bottoms, alpaca socks, hooded puffer jacket). When the pee call comes at 3:30 in the morning you can jump out of the tent and get back in without chilling off. 4) Use your body heat to warm the sleep system. The Sleep system does not create heat. It traps the heat your body produces. If you are using Heat Packs, this should be your first clue that you did not have enough layers to your sleep system or have a sleeping bag rated for your trip. Remember that your toes and fingers are radiators, just as your car has a radiator to carry away access heat, your fingers and toes serve the same function. By putting Heat pads on your feet and hands you have fooled the brain into believing you are over heating and will divert blood to the skin to cool the core down, which will drop your core temperature making you colder. You want to be warm enough in your sleep system to keep your feet comfortable but at the same time prevent overheating. Cold is very subjective. What is considered cold in Manitoba is very different than in Florida. In Manitoba grade school kids go out for recess until the temp drops below -30C. A good start on learning keep warm is checking out on YT Modular Sleep Systems MSS. It's not Rocket Surgery. In my 81 years I have winter traveled on x country ski trips, Snowshoe trips, bike trips and kayak trips through ice flows on rivers and a bunch of other cold weather adventures. Always enjoy your journey., It should be fun and stretch the mind and body to be your best you. It's Great to spend winters outside. You will know when you are one with the snow, the First time you take a Snow Bath.

[@paulsmart5199]

Hey Jess Hope your doing well. Great to see more videos and info.. I'm going to request again that you do the west coast trail hike on Vancouver Island

[@annalomonossoff640]

I use a small water bladder that can take heat, and use that instead of nalgene for weight savings. Super toasty, really cosy. It's two fold because it's also my back up water carrying capacity :)

[@InventorGadget]

Puffy coat AND a beanie, of course! 🥶😂

[@Northanteus]

The leaf insulation and heated rock stuff is known survival / bushcraft techniques for staying warm in the wild! 😄 Just dig a shallow hole and bury the hot rocks where you're going to lay. 👍 Some people heat up all of the rocks and just shovel dirt over top of the fire itself and layer things over that to stay warm for hours. Look up videos on that.

[@Antzus81]

Good tips. An extra point about leaf-litter - I found out this has the opposite effect in wet weather! Wet leaves seem to sap the warmth out of you. Better is to sweep them away and set your sleeping kit direct down on the earth.

[@hobofab]

I have tested the hot water bottle trick in 40 degree temp in my hammock tent and it definitely works. It stayed hot for a good hour and then I fell asleep.

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

... Nalgene's work great for hot or cold liquids ,, for the possible need for night heat use a metal Nalgene ,, can boil the water directly in the bottle wipe soot off put in heavy sock before placing in sleeping bag area of choice ... Also to help be a little warmer in shoulder seasons and winter months ,, use a fleece sleeping bag liner ,, makers claim 15-20 degree gains with your sleeping bag ... plus they help keep your bag cleaner ... For me the older heavy wool socks with down booties made the difference ... have used synthetic puffy and put feet in the sleeves ,, works .. .. Mylar emergency blankets have multiple uses ,, would like to see a brand make them with one side orange or red ,,,, even from the air on an overcast day , the silver just looks gray like a rock patch with no sun ... Heated rocks need to be buried 6-12 inches and covered with soil ,, under your bed site ..... for reference see Pilgrim sleep system on Jeremiah Johnson .... ... Bed of leaves or pine boughs will insulate from the ground ,, just need about 12 inches ...

[@christimartin8512]

No matter how warm my sleeping bag is, when temps are below 40 degrees, my face, especially my nose gets SO cold that it keeps me awake. I finally figured out that a sleep eye mask with a little flap that covers the tip of my nose works perfectly! The best ones are the free ones you get on intercontinental flights. They are made of a jersey t-shirt type fabric and are very soft and a little bit cushioned. They can double as a pot holder too, so throw one in your pack the next time you get one, along with those free foam ear plugs!

[@anitasimmons3599]

Thank you for another great video. A word of caution especially to those of us that are getting older, medications can really cause issues with staying cool or warm. Be aware of this, if you are on any new medications or, responsible for a group. There are some really fantastic comments on this video. Dixie, thank you again for taking the time to create this video.

[@tomlovesdiy]

I put a layer of mylar emergency blanket in the bottom of my DIY sleeping bags. Combined with a layer or two of synthetic Climashield batt insulation it's super effective. Also carry a small - 30"x48" piece as a topper. Also made a small "baby blanket" with Climashield inside. Put inside my bag it adds a lot of warmth. The most important thing to keep warm is insulating you core, neck and head. The old adage; "If your feet are cold put a hat on". One tip. Set up your shelter first and (for a tent) then you pad and bag or quilt. Fluff them up to get as much loft as possible. I always keep a couple items of clothing next to my pad. I can put them on later if I get a little cold. TomLovesDIY.

[@blurglide]

Mylar blankets only reflect heat that's radiating through the air. They do almost nothing without an air gap, so sleeping on top of it isn't effective. Now...if you could attach it underneath a hammock or something, then it'd work well.

[@tomlovesdiy]

Good point. I Agree. Its only reflective. Because the Climashied is between the mylar and the inside fabric, I think it creates some very small air spaces. In any event, it keeps me warmer than laying on down. Cheers.

[@georgemartin1498]

Great video as usual Dixie! As you allude to, personal experience is the ultimate information. I tend to be cold during the night. Just came back from an overnighter in the Rockies. Measured dawn temp of 30F. Not really winter temps but in my -10F bag (the “womb”)inside my tent, with separate sleeping clothes I was yummy comfortable 😊

[@GraeGloomvale]

I use Dutchware Up Booties and they are synthetic, warm, and very light!

[@ISuckatHiking]

Thru hiking the AT starting in February 2024 so there's tips will help!

[@fredir3596]

I’ve used the hot rock twice. One time it had gotten into the teens and my friends bag wasn’t enough. We warmed up a rock by the fire and wrapped it in his pants. He couldn’t believe how well it worked.

[@Karen-dq8nw]

Down pants and down mittens - very lightweight, compressible, and super warm. Not for Dixie or others allergic to down! But for others, a great system.

[@rogerwilco1777]

I have a single wall Kleen Kanteen that i basically only use as a handwarmer, sleeping bag buddy.. Just fill it up with boiling water and it'll be blistering hot to the touch for hours.. plus you can make tea/coffee at the same time.

[@cjssurf]

You can get back warmers simulator to the hand warmers that you stick to your back if you hurt it. Game changer if you are cold too

[@trailname_ziplock]

I used a buff over my head and neck a lot of nights. Also I found that my rain gear (frog toggs) kept me really warm at night (as long as they weren't wet from rain)

[@Alsatiagent]

@6:33 some kind of inflate bag is preferable to your breath which is full of soon-to-be-cold moisture.

[@martinhafner2201]

I've always used a full head/face/neck balaclava. It gets the cold off my neck and face, which is a really big deal.

[@kennethschaidle5995]

The leaf info is great. I never could understand people scraping away the leaves to bare ground before they set up their tents. I'm going to have to check out the article you mentioned about not drinking hot fluids before bedtime. Intuitively it seems like a hot drink should help keep you warm, and it seems to work in my experience.

[@cardiacbob]

You scrape away the leaves to ensure you're not setting the floor of the tent on poky sticks or rocks.

[@cailin5309]

I think initially the warm drink warms you up but as the night goes on the body has to expend energy to keep that liquid inside you at body temperature. Energy = heat .. so it’s burning more of your body’s heat to keep the fluid warm that it could be using to keep your blood and body warm. Hope I explained that well 😂

[@johnsullivan6560]

Check out a reusable hand warmer called Hot to go heat packs. These are in various sizes thick flexible sealed bags that contain a fluid that is a concentrated salt solution. Inside the bag is a small metal disk that when you click it causes the solution to crystal which gives off a genial warming. To return the salt back into a fluid just boil the bag in water until it melts. They can then stay as a fluid until you need them. Repeat as many times as you need. Great for pockets and sleeping bags. Only gets really hot when boiled.

[@sk-wx1cf]

Informative as always. One thing that is not on your list is doing something like pushups or situps before you get into bed, to get you warmed up (not enough to sweat though!).

[@kcstafford2784]

pushups in your bag in the morning to climb out....

[@LWilli5]

I've used the Nalgene hot water bottle method. Put hot hands along my femoral artery and in my armpits. Slept with my down jacket, but I just cover-up with it, I don't wear it. Slept in just my warm base layer and pile all my clothes on top to make a nice warm air pocket. Topped off my clothes pile with an emergency blanket. My sleeping pad is an R-4 and it have put a section of Reflectix on top of that to radiate body heat. I also do some quick jumping jacks or something to get the blood flowing. I pushed the limit of my 20 degree quilt on a 23 degree night (Do Not recommend!) but I was fine with all the stuff above.

[@Steven-js8yk]

Keeping hot water in a Nalgene bottle is brilliant because you keep it in your sleeping bag close to your body heat, which means you wake up in the morning with fluid water to drink and to make coffee with or oatmeal instead of your entire water supply being frozen solid. It's the same principle as keeping your sawyer filter in a ziplok freezer bag inside your sleeping bag to keep it from freezing

[@anthonycheaford1962]

Excellent tips; I especially liked the cinnamon info to go with a porridge supper. I've added a car windscreen reflector shield to my camping kit - cheap, light weight, slight cushioning, can fit inside your sleeping bag & provide heat reflective insulation next to your body (from head down to thighs). I've not tested it yet, but theory seems sound to me

[@tomnoyb8301]

Sleeping in Merino tights and fleece to reduce body-oil to sleeping-bag transfer; never wearing more than a thin body-layer. If cold, add other clothing in a blanket fashion (on body and inside sleeping-bag). Clothing laid outside bag reduces loft and falls off during night (requiring reaching out into the cold to reposition). Thus, spare clothing warmth-layers belong inside sleeping-bag. Hiking shirt makes an ok warmth-layer when laid on top (like a blanket), but a negative addition when worn. Fleece has a hood; Merino-balaclava's under 3oz. Down balaclava doesn't breathe well enough. Booties are ok. Most forget gloves when sleeping. Hands are #2 warmth-loss location after head. Carrying 4-pairs, even in summer. Dixie correctly mentioned fattier-snack before bed. Fat has best calorie-to-weight ratio and burns/warms the longest, Wind coupled with water is the real enemy of warmth. Camp under foliage (trees) to reduce condensation. Open vents/doors and/or pitch tent high enough to avoid condensation. Never sweat while sleeping. All gear must breathe, including sleeping-bag (looking at you Cumulus). If one wakes-up sweating, a terrible mistake's been made. A lot of these other ideas, such as Nalgene-bottles are rife with landmines and are suboptimal vs warmth-to-weight. Keep drinking-water within arm-reach to stay hydrated. Suck-it-up and pee when urge strikes - don't put it off.

[@lisaphares2286]

Yes pee right before settling in for the night, getting up will cause your sleeping equipment to lose a lot of the heat. Urine being mostly water actually helps you retain heat, think of that piece of meat you cooked vs the nalgene bottle. The meat being composed of less water cools quicker (carrots and meat of same size in a stew, you can burn your mouth on the carrot for a long time after you can eat the meat safely). And your body doesn’t distinguish between things in the trunk of your body, it heats it all the same and water helps retain heat longer. Keeping yourself hydrated while hiking heats the water with the excess heat you produce while active and allows you to retain heat longer especially if you eat salty foods that make you retain water so you don’t pee it out. Having a full bladder will make you uncomfortable and with the discomfort of cold exacerbates the feeling of cold so relieving one of these makes the remaining one feel less of a problem. And for the over 40 female, if you are experiencing hot flashes, refined carbs, sweets and even no calorie sweeteners will cause hot flashes, so I avoid those when out in the cold to prevent sweating. Though they’re really good for warming you up quickly if you’re chilled!

[@lindaselover2536]

Thanks for sharing your tips. My puffy did not have a hood, so I purchased a down balaclava to wear at night. Before, I used my neck buff and a beanie, but my wool beanie always falls off. I would take a few hand/foot warmers for emergencies - wish I had had them on my first trek on the JMT - a couple of nights my feet would just not warm up. The next year, I used them for a trail runner who got soaking wet and chilled - so I shared my tent, all of my dry warm clothes, and with hand warmers and a hot drink she finally stopped shivering.

[@CombatBanana]

Enlighted equipment booties are crazy light and they are synthetic. Also no hot spots because they are boxed. And custom colors :D

[@wildflowerwonderer9426]

I have a rechargeable hand warmer that can be used as a portable charger too. It was like $40cad on Amazon. Has 3 temp settings and actually gets quite hot on high. It has been a God sent on cold nights in the woods as well as everyday life in the winter (I live in canada) I would highly recommend getting one.

[@viewsandreviews180]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. I believe you covered most of the tips I’ve heard throughout the years. There’s only one option you didn’t mention; hot tents and super shelters. When in higher latitudes , like Canada, hot tents with a stove is a good option. If the fire in the stove is banked properly it can heat all night and the temperature difference between inside and outside is amazing (up to 30 or 40 degrees). Hot tents are heavier as is the stove but in colder months gear is usually carried on a sled which also makes a difference. Mors Kochanski came up with the super shelter and you can research his recommendations for it.

[@AsheeBree]

Hey Dixie, have you looked into carrying soap nuts for cleaning instead of a soap? they're extremely light weight and natural soap alternate.

[@richardhatch1346]

Yes to Nalgene bottle!

[@Thecolonel795]

A mylar“Space Blanket” was the first piece of camping gear I bought way back in 1973. I like lining the foot box of my sleeping bag with it. It best reflects and retains the natural body heat if barefoot. I also put my pants and socks down in the foot box too so in the morning the socks and pants are toasty in the morning.

[@melissabillmire8641]

As always, great suggestions on how to keep warm at night when getting ready to hit the sack. After a long days hike and it ends up getting colder than expected. A lot of good suggestions from other people in this awesome video.

[@BumblebeeAdventure]

Great tips like always!!!

[@bruceparr1678]

I always get a good fire going before setting up the tent.

[@felixantoinetremblay]

When you're outside in steadily below freezing temperatures, wide mouth Nalgene bottles are a must. If the cap starts freezing, you'll want some leverage to open it without having to dip it in hot water. Moreover, you'll often carry hot water to keep it from freezing, which is something a Nalgene bottle is made for.

[@christimartin8512]

I have been wondering about whether or not a Smart water bottle would hold up under the hot water test, so I just tested one. I had a spare empty one in the corner of the pantry, so I heated up about 28 ounces or so to steaming, but not quite rolling-boil, then carefully poured it into the Smart bottle, leaving some air space for expansion and contraction, then put the lid on. The bottle was too hot to hold for more than a second with my bare hands, but it did not warp or leak. Since the plastic is thinner than Nalgene, I would recommend being careful handling and pouring (maybe use a funnel), then using a long athletic sock, like a tube sock to insulate it protect your skin from the hot bottle, but it WORKS. The bottle may be sucked in on the sides a bit in the morning, but it still works just fine and will reshape in time. Bonus: you may still have slightly warm water for morning coffee or tea!

[@grumpyoldman6767]

When considering the Nalgene bottle consider the extra fuel weight along with the heavier bottle. You’ll need to boil an extra 1-2 liters a day. For shorter trips, 1-3 days I bet the hot hands are lighter.

[@mhelen7360]

Excellent tips, Dixie, as are the comments. I'm going to keep these for a cold house during power outages.

[@richardross7219]

Very good video. We used the hot rocks in tents without floors in Boy Scouts 60 years ago. Enough of them would warm up the tent. Good Luck, Rick

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

...Hot rocks are not meant to heat the tent ,,, if using hot rocks bury them 6-12 inches under your bed sight but cover them with dirt to protect you from lighting up ....See instructions on not being a pilgrim on Jeremiah Johnson .... Yes,, more of a survival method than daily use ...

[@richardross7219]

@@rockytopwrangler2069You can do what you want with the hot rocks in a tent. In those days, the tents were canvas without floors. Modern tents would be chancy. We used a pile to warm the tent, a few in our sleeping bags to prewarm it, and some to warm/ dry our shoes. Burying the rocks would be a lot of work that would be a great disturbance to the site. In those days, we kept the campfire going all night so that the rocks could be rewarmed. While rewarming rocks, we often had story telling or discussions. In those days(well before LNT) we practiced leave it better than we found it. I've survived about 20 years of camping with Scouts and 2 years with the Army. There are many ways to do things. I think that the last time I used the hot rocks was late 60s or early 70s on the AT. I saw Jeremiah Johnson when it first came out and watch it again every few years. He just buried his fire(but not enough).

[@sherrierifenberg2199]

Great advice! TY!