An effective sleep system for winter adventuring requires careful consideration of the elements at-hand, an understanding of oneself both physiologically and behaviorally amidst the cold, and a knowledge of the gear available from which to choose. The tangible assets of a winter sleep system consist of various items that work together to counter moisture as well as insulation loss due to weighted compression of loft, which are two of the most influential factors that can lead to discomfort when sleeping remotely in winter. Knowing how these types of assets complement one another can greatly assist with your personal winter sleep system design. Is having a 0-degree Fahrenheit sleeping bag enough to sleep soundly in overnight temperatures that reach no less than 15-degrees Fahrenheit? Or would someone experience better sleep in the same setting but with a 15-degree Fahrenheit sleeping bag placed atop an insulated sleeping mat with an R-Value of 4.0? The truth is that the answer is dependent upon the individual being considered and that not any one winter sleep system is an absolute solution for everyone. Here, let’s set the framework from which you can make gear-related decisions to better equip yourself prior to departing a trailhead whose sign is half- buried in snow.
GIVE YOURSELF A FIGHTING CHANCE
Careful consideration of the elements at-hand, such as the weather and immediate topography, is critical to sleeping comfortably in winter conditions. Forecasts are rarely accurate in all aspects and should the weather worsen unexpectedly, achieving an upper-hand through some basic forethought can make all of the difference. For example, having an understanding of the natural topography can assist with avoiding cold sinks and sheltering from a relentless wind chill. Additionally, having a feeling for changes in barometric pressures and a meaningful interpretation of approaching cloud patterns can assist with knowing what to expect for overnight weather patterns. Situational awareness is just as important in the backcountry as it is in a dark alley with a flickering light at its end. Ultimately, become an asset to yourself through both education and experience so that you’re only so reliant upon the gear itself.
KNOW YOURSELF, PHYSIOLOGICALLY AND BEHAVIORALLY
Before you choose to brave the winter landscape overnight and dive into gear selection in the development of your winter sleep system, you should understand your personal physiological and behavioral tendencies amidst the cold. Are you prone to heavy sweating when confined to a sleeping bag that’s well-baffled and zippered mostly closed? If so, then the temperature rating of the sleeping bag you choose may be of a higher Fahrenheit than others would normally choose, or you may require a moisture-wicking liner that others may deem unnecessary. Are you naturally more inclined to sleep soundly in colder temperatures? If so, then perhaps a lesser insulated sleeping mat would serve you just as well. Before diving into your gear research and selection, you should reflect on your personal characteristics, both physiologically and behaviorally, for the climate you’ll be enduring. Just as an insulated sleeping mat should complement a sleeping bag, an insulated sleeping mat should complement the unique human variables that are present.
THE INSULATED SLEEPING MAT
The insulated sleeping mat is the foundation from which a winter sleep system is built upon, and to venture without it could easily be argued as reckless. Here, the colder the overnight temperatures, the easier the argument, but we’ll leave that debate for another time. When you position yourself within your sleeping bag, the natural weight of your body compresses the sleeping bag’s insulation against the surface beneath it. As a sleeping bag is reliant upon the loft of its insulation to provide warmth, this compression of insulation and consequent loss of loft would promote the unnerving effect of the cold from beneath. This is where the insulated sleeping mat comes into play so perfectly. With it, there remains at times several inches of R-valued insulation between the ground and the sleeping bag. It’s the insulated sleeping mat that ensures you as an overnight venturer in a winter landscape are fully encompassed in warmth retaining properties, ultimately thwarting Jack Frost’s attempts to lower your body temperature and wreak havoc on what should be a comfortable night’s sleep.
THE SLEEPING BAG
Having identified the proper insulated sleeping mat from which to build upon, selecting the proper sleeping bag then becomes the focus. Choosing between down or synthetic insulation is dependent upon the prevalence of moisture in the climate at-hand and whether the added weight penalty of synthetic insulation can be accepted. After all, a sleeping bag with synthetic insulation is often bulkier and heavier than that of a down alternative for the same temperature rating, and there are times when backpacking (specifically) that synthetic insulation just isn’t convenient.
A good rule of thumb is to run with down insulation that has been treated to enhance its water repellency and ability to maintain loft even when wet as this option is perhaps the most well-rounded.
Once you’ve decided on the type of insulation, the next variable to consider when selecting a proper sleeping bag is its temperature rating. These temperature ratings are most commonly associated with survival and endurement rather than comfort, so you shouldn’t necessarily expect to thrive in 15-degree Fahrenheit weather while using a 15-degree Fahrenheit sleeping bag. Personally, I’ve come to find that a sleeping bag’s comfort rating is often unpublished and left open to personal interpretation, and rightfully so too, so adding approximately 15 degrees or more to a known temperature rating can provide you with an idea as to its likely comfort rating.
Other aspects worth considering when it comes to sleeping bag selection are its profile and special features. Will there be enough room in the shoulder area and foot box for your behavioral movement (or lack thereof) in a cold climate? Is the zipper designed to prevent unwanted cold drafts from entering the sleeping bag at each end? Does a given sleeping bag have features that permit added warmth retention near one’s neck and a purposeful fit around the circumference of their head? When the temperatures begin to drop at night to the point that most stay at home, these unique aspects that are profile and special features can make a significant difference in whether or not a winter sleep system is most effective.
THE SUPPLEMENTALS
Although we as individuals are all different in our physiological and behavioral response to sleeping in cold climates, there are certain supplementals to a winter sleep system that can be a welcomed addition to many. These supplementals include gear such as a sleeping bag liner to assist with moisture wicking and thermal management, a bivy to guard against moisture penetration due to condensation within a shelter, and down garments that can be easily worn within a sleeping bag to provide an added “boost” on the coldest of nights. Again, having given careful consideration well prior to a winter adventure is what enables you to properly prepare here as these types of assets are often included on a case-by-case basis. Have an open mind to the gear that’s available for your winter use and think strategically as to how it may complement other assets.
WHAT MAKES A WINTER SLEEP SYSTEM MOST EFFECTIVE?
In conclusion, what makes a winter sleep system most effective is ultimately yourself as the individual adventurer and your understanding of that which you’ll be enduring. There’s no substitute for education or experience, and all too often, one must endure a safe but near unbearable winter night’s sleep before they know how to thrive in those conditions thereafter. The call of the mountains is relentless to those who enjoy them most, and waiting until spring to venture outward once again simply may not be an option. If this description fits you, then I commend your adventurous spirit and willingness to tactfully venture where most choose not to! May you thrive in conditions where most merely endure!
Have a gear-related question we may help you with? Contact us at GearFool.com and our team of Gear Consultants would be happy to help!
Login