Keeping Warm

[Kisatchieman]

I bought one of those back in the winter and it works great near your feet/legs on cold days in front of the computer. Noticed a couple of days ago that they are still on the shelves at my local WM. Normally they take down the heaters in summer and replace them with air conditioners and fans.   

 

[SoulRaven]

Being from cold wet WA. I can tell you the best thing to do when sleeping or living in a cold environment is layering... from blankets to clothes there is no better and safer way to stay warm...<br /><br />PS never ever run a heater when sleeping, this is just plain stupid no matter how cold....

 

[CplDevilDog]

Surprised no one mentioned the Hot Hands and similar chemical heaters. Too expensive for every night but keep an emergency supply for those really cold nights.

 

[Seraphim]

Sleep with a friend <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[maritimecamper]

I found in moist climates i had to leave abit of heat on, to keep the mold away. The moisture stays in the bottom ft. of the rv

 

[Guest]

A GOOD down sleeping bag works wonders I have never not owned one...all my life...an essential in my world....a heater to just warm the van up before bed and in the morning....a 110v ceramic heater when shore power is available...a buddy heater when not...<br />Bri

 

[tinythetrucker]

keeping warm in a cold environment takes practice, Alps makes an all in one sleep system bag pad combo very very good system and as others have said cotton kills for many reasons if you cant afford store bought gear and have access to a surplus stores the army put out an excellent winter survival book and many stores have it. I would have some source of heat to knock the morning chill heater buddy is my favorite also you will cause moisture and it will be very important to start off dry every night so make every effort to dry everything during the day even if that means going to the laundry every day. I live in North central US and it regularly get down to below "OMFG" cold it is possible but always have a plan b even if its running your vehicle all night its better than the alternative.

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;For me, it's wool all the way! Synthetics are fine.. till you get around a campfire burning cedar. My wool army pants (in the winter) laughs at those synthetic pansies with the holes melted through. Cotton in the summer (often BDU's) do me fine. Got a wool blanket that has a duvet cover made from denim that keeps me just as warm as those puffy synthetic ones. Also my smokin' hot girl, Coco, keeps the heat a' comin'. ..Willy.

 

[kappydell]

Ive slept in -30 degree weather in back of an unheated van in a double sleeping bag and a sweat suit (sipper hoodie on top)over long johns. I wore doubled up socks (cotton under wool), wool gloves, and a wool watch cap under the raised hood of the hoodie. The only thing that got cold was my nose, I have a ski cap for the next time.
It can be done without breaking the bank - the solution is layers!

 

[josephusminimus]

kappydell +1

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

I stayed in my ford focus for a bit and found it easier to stay warm in a smaller vehicle, for me a wool blanket below and a cheap walmart sleeping bag, then a better sleeping bag on top, and a cashmere blanket ( a comfort thing for me) and a good pair of socks. Polar fleece pants, and a sweat shirt....<br><br>In PA I have been very comfortable in -2 degrees with this arrangement. Also a small dog would sleep under the covers with me, hence the nick name "bed heater"....

 

[Niall-CorollaLiving]

Reading those temps above, makes me feel bad. It's 38 and I am trying to crawl from the covers where it's comfortable.

 

[erw1988]

Given, I'm in Texas:<br><br>When it's cool (40 - 60 degrees Fahrenheit,) we sleep underneath a tiger blanket and a comforter. That typically does it, with sleeping clothes (PJs, T-shirt, etc.) and our body heat.<br><br>When it's cold, below 40 degrees, then we add knit blanket on top of the two blankets and then we sleep in layers, which means a thermal shirt, t-shirt, long johns and (in my case) cargo pants or jeans, two pairs of socks and a beanie or ear wraps. I think the coldest it's gotten here this season has been 18 degrees, and we stayed comfortable in this setup. That's without adding heat.&nbsp;With our privacy panels up (reflectix/cardboard/industrial garbage bag panels) we can keep the heat in the back of our car for a while and probably shed a layer comfortably.

 

[cyndi]

erw1988, What is a tiger blanket? Googling only gives me blankets with tigers on them.<br><br><br>

 

[erw1988]

A tiger blanket is a thick blankets that are usually found in gas stations or road-side stalls. I'm not sure what the material is. They typically have tigers, wolves or some other animal on them against a natural scene or trippy background. But, mostly, they hold heat in real well.

 

[Rollin]

My daughter and I were up in&nbsp;Chicago&nbsp;last week and sleep in the van. The low's got in the teens at night. She took the bed and had all 3 of my wool blankets to keep&nbsp;warm&nbsp;with. She said in the morning that she sleep good and was warm all night. I&nbsp;slept on the van floor on a yoga mat with 2 poly/? quilts over me and was pretty cold but not&nbsp;miserable.&nbsp;&nbsp;We both wore shorts and&nbsp;tea-shirts to sleep in, no head covering. Getting up in the morning was a bear though! I don't own a heater yet as I still live in FL. &nbsp;As soon as I start&nbsp;traveling&nbsp;the country you can bet I will own a Mr. Heater!

 

[offroad]

cotton kills - very true mantra. it has no insulation value, and when wet will pull heat from you. many blue jean folks have frozen to death from no insulation.&nbsp;<br><br>if your body is sensitive to wool- synthetic- etc it will be more sensitive to freezing. &nbsp;find something as a heat source. water bottle sounds smart.&nbsp;

 

[Unchained]

It has been mentioned in this thread (and others) but cannot be said often enough- wear a hat to bed when it is cold! You lose an enormous amount of body heat when your head is not covered, and a wool or synthetic cap/beanie/ski hat can be the difference between a good nights sleep and a miserable night fighting off hypothermia. There is a reason that many people wore 'night caps' back before the days of central heating <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img"><br><br>I also second the recommendation of 'tiger blankets'. You can find them at Big Lots for about $15, and they are one of the best bargains around for keeping warm on cold nights. Knitted or crocheted afghans (see your local thrift shop for these) are also excellent, as the spaces between the knots trap warm air if they are used under a quilt or heavy blanket.<br><br>Lastly, drinking/ eating something warm before bed seems to help on cold nights; something I learned years ago while backpacking in the Sierras.

 

[Rob S.]

Sure the solution is in layers.<BR><BR><BR>There are too many people rigging up inefficient/complicated battery systems&nbsp;and Mr. Buddies when<BR>they really just need to buy wool.

 

[monical]

A hat is suitable