Sleeping outside is not easy when you are not used to it: you can quickly get cold feet, frozen fingertips, or simply be cold all night. And covering yourself well is not enough.
The most important thing to sleep warm when you live outside is the choice of your sleeping bag:
SLEEPING BAGS IMAGES
So unless you’re going to Alaska in winter or Greenland, the best survival sleeping bags are those that can withstand the extreme cold. There are several criteria to take into account when choosing the best sleeping bag:
1- The outside temperature: even in the extreme cold of -5° or -10°, your bag will keep you warm. The military type material is perfect: the bag will be warm, waterproof, solid and practical. As is often the case, it is ideal for survivalism.
2- Closure: the bag must close at the top: either with an adjustable hood where you can let a small part of your face protrude, or with an additional collar to protect and isolate your shoulders.
3- Size: how your bag looks when closed. Maybe it is important for you that your sleeping bag takes up little space.
4- Weight: the lighter your bag, the better. This will depend on the fabric you choose, whether it is feather (lighter but not waterproof) or synthetic (more waterproof but heavier). See just after “the fabric”.
5- The fabric: you can choose a sleeping bag made of down: it will be lighter, more breathable, better insulated and more compact. But it is less resistant to rain and humidity.
If you choose a synthetic sleeping bag, you are choosing a cheaper and more waterproof equipment, but it is heavier and more cumbersome.
The fabric of the survival sleeping bag must be very strong, durable and sturdy so that it does not tear on the first branch that comes along. Hollow fiber inner fabric is ideal because the fiber allows more flexibility and a better distribution of the “comforter” effect and heat.
The other advantage of hollow fiber is that it allows air to pass through: it therefore provides better thermal insulation since air is the best insulator in the world!
ADVANTAGES OF NATURAL FIBER: If you choose your sleeping bag in feathers and not in synthetic material, you will have an optimal quality to sleep:
- the natural fiber is thermoregulating (allows air to pass through while evacuating humidity or perspiration)
- your sleeping bag will be softer and lighter
- with a better thermal insulation
- its life span is longer.
6- What shape for your sleeping bag ?
You can opt for a sarcophagus type bag: tightened at the feet, for an optimal thermal insulation!
Or a blanket bag: this type of sleeping bag is more comfortable because it is wider at the feet, which of course gives less protection against the cold.
Finally, you can also opt for a hammock, very practical to sleep in height when the ground is suitable (2 trees or poles). There are even hammock sleeping bags all in one, of this type:
Other criteria for a good sleep in bushcraft
To sleep well, you will have to choose the sleeping bag that will suit you perfectly.
But there are other points to consider, such as the type of terrain, the temperature outside, whether you are in a tent or not, and whether you have a sleeping pad or not.
Of course, it is also important that you have insulating clothing that is warm enough without making you sweat. So avoid cotton and prefer wool or thermal synthetics. You can choose your ideal clothing by clicking here (link coming soon)