Will I be warmer in my sleeping bag inside or outside of my tent, when winter camping?











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I spent one night outside, at -28 degrees F, in an -40 arctic bag. I had no tent, only a small poly tarp between the snow and my bag. I stayed fully clothed but barely slept due to being so cold all night.



Would a tent have kept me warmer?










share|improve this question




















  • 1




    Related outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/15520/…
    – Charlie Brumbaugh
    Nov 18 at 1:39






  • 4




    What insulation (i.e. some type of pad) did you have between your sleeping bag and the ground?
    – Makyen
    Nov 18 at 1:41










  • What makes you think it would not? Additional insulation usually helps, especially if there is the least amount of wind (you did not tell, please add that to your question). A tent is more isolation then a tarp (I assume open at 2 sides). Maybe your question is what temperature ranges you can take with your current equipment?
    – Jan Doggen
    Nov 18 at 11:06










  • how was your bag rated?
    – njzk2
    Nov 19 at 4:45






  • 2




    Leaving as comment instead of answer since your Q is specifically about the tent: Others have hinted, but it should be stressed that for some companies the temperature rating is not the temp at which you can stay comfy, rather it could be the temp at which you will not get hypothermia, or worse, the temp at which you will not die. If you had a "you will not die at -40F" bag, then you may be miserable or even injured even at -20F or -10F. For that cold, you need a company that explains their rating, and test it first. Worse, some companies are not even consistent with ratings.
    – Aaron
    Nov 19 at 15:59















up vote
6
down vote

favorite












I spent one night outside, at -28 degrees F, in an -40 arctic bag. I had no tent, only a small poly tarp between the snow and my bag. I stayed fully clothed but barely slept due to being so cold all night.



Would a tent have kept me warmer?










share|improve this question




















  • 1




    Related outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/15520/…
    – Charlie Brumbaugh
    Nov 18 at 1:39






  • 4




    What insulation (i.e. some type of pad) did you have between your sleeping bag and the ground?
    – Makyen
    Nov 18 at 1:41










  • What makes you think it would not? Additional insulation usually helps, especially if there is the least amount of wind (you did not tell, please add that to your question). A tent is more isolation then a tarp (I assume open at 2 sides). Maybe your question is what temperature ranges you can take with your current equipment?
    – Jan Doggen
    Nov 18 at 11:06










  • how was your bag rated?
    – njzk2
    Nov 19 at 4:45






  • 2




    Leaving as comment instead of answer since your Q is specifically about the tent: Others have hinted, but it should be stressed that for some companies the temperature rating is not the temp at which you can stay comfy, rather it could be the temp at which you will not get hypothermia, or worse, the temp at which you will not die. If you had a "you will not die at -40F" bag, then you may be miserable or even injured even at -20F or -10F. For that cold, you need a company that explains their rating, and test it first. Worse, some companies are not even consistent with ratings.
    – Aaron
    Nov 19 at 15:59













up vote
6
down vote

favorite









up vote
6
down vote

favorite











I spent one night outside, at -28 degrees F, in an -40 arctic bag. I had no tent, only a small poly tarp between the snow and my bag. I stayed fully clothed but barely slept due to being so cold all night.



Would a tent have kept me warmer?










share|improve this question















I spent one night outside, at -28 degrees F, in an -40 arctic bag. I had no tent, only a small poly tarp between the snow and my bag. I stayed fully clothed but barely slept due to being so cold all night.



Would a tent have kept me warmer?







tents sleeping-bags winter-camping






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Nov 18 at 1:41









Charlie Brumbaugh

44.3k15121249




44.3k15121249










asked Nov 17 at 21:43









G.Bourne

312




312








  • 1




    Related outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/15520/…
    – Charlie Brumbaugh
    Nov 18 at 1:39






  • 4




    What insulation (i.e. some type of pad) did you have between your sleeping bag and the ground?
    – Makyen
    Nov 18 at 1:41










  • What makes you think it would not? Additional insulation usually helps, especially if there is the least amount of wind (you did not tell, please add that to your question). A tent is more isolation then a tarp (I assume open at 2 sides). Maybe your question is what temperature ranges you can take with your current equipment?
    – Jan Doggen
    Nov 18 at 11:06










  • how was your bag rated?
    – njzk2
    Nov 19 at 4:45






  • 2




    Leaving as comment instead of answer since your Q is specifically about the tent: Others have hinted, but it should be stressed that for some companies the temperature rating is not the temp at which you can stay comfy, rather it could be the temp at which you will not get hypothermia, or worse, the temp at which you will not die. If you had a "you will not die at -40F" bag, then you may be miserable or even injured even at -20F or -10F. For that cold, you need a company that explains their rating, and test it first. Worse, some companies are not even consistent with ratings.
    – Aaron
    Nov 19 at 15:59














  • 1




    Related outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/15520/…
    – Charlie Brumbaugh
    Nov 18 at 1:39






  • 4




    What insulation (i.e. some type of pad) did you have between your sleeping bag and the ground?
    – Makyen
    Nov 18 at 1:41










  • What makes you think it would not? Additional insulation usually helps, especially if there is the least amount of wind (you did not tell, please add that to your question). A tent is more isolation then a tarp (I assume open at 2 sides). Maybe your question is what temperature ranges you can take with your current equipment?
    – Jan Doggen
    Nov 18 at 11:06










  • how was your bag rated?
    – njzk2
    Nov 19 at 4:45






  • 2




    Leaving as comment instead of answer since your Q is specifically about the tent: Others have hinted, but it should be stressed that for some companies the temperature rating is not the temp at which you can stay comfy, rather it could be the temp at which you will not get hypothermia, or worse, the temp at which you will not die. If you had a "you will not die at -40F" bag, then you may be miserable or even injured even at -20F or -10F. For that cold, you need a company that explains their rating, and test it first. Worse, some companies are not even consistent with ratings.
    – Aaron
    Nov 19 at 15:59








1




1




Related outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/15520/…
– Charlie Brumbaugh
Nov 18 at 1:39




Related outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/15520/…
– Charlie Brumbaugh
Nov 18 at 1:39




4




4




What insulation (i.e. some type of pad) did you have between your sleeping bag and the ground?
– Makyen
Nov 18 at 1:41




What insulation (i.e. some type of pad) did you have between your sleeping bag and the ground?
– Makyen
Nov 18 at 1:41












What makes you think it would not? Additional insulation usually helps, especially if there is the least amount of wind (you did not tell, please add that to your question). A tent is more isolation then a tarp (I assume open at 2 sides). Maybe your question is what temperature ranges you can take with your current equipment?
– Jan Doggen
Nov 18 at 11:06




What makes you think it would not? Additional insulation usually helps, especially if there is the least amount of wind (you did not tell, please add that to your question). A tent is more isolation then a tarp (I assume open at 2 sides). Maybe your question is what temperature ranges you can take with your current equipment?
– Jan Doggen
Nov 18 at 11:06












how was your bag rated?
– njzk2
Nov 19 at 4:45




how was your bag rated?
– njzk2
Nov 19 at 4:45




2




2




Leaving as comment instead of answer since your Q is specifically about the tent: Others have hinted, but it should be stressed that for some companies the temperature rating is not the temp at which you can stay comfy, rather it could be the temp at which you will not get hypothermia, or worse, the temp at which you will not die. If you had a "you will not die at -40F" bag, then you may be miserable or even injured even at -20F or -10F. For that cold, you need a company that explains their rating, and test it first. Worse, some companies are not even consistent with ratings.
– Aaron
Nov 19 at 15:59




Leaving as comment instead of answer since your Q is specifically about the tent: Others have hinted, but it should be stressed that for some companies the temperature rating is not the temp at which you can stay comfy, rather it could be the temp at which you will not get hypothermia, or worse, the temp at which you will not die. If you had a "you will not die at -40F" bag, then you may be miserable or even injured even at -20F or -10F. For that cold, you need a company that explains their rating, and test it first. Worse, some companies are not even consistent with ratings.
– Aaron
Nov 19 at 15:59










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
5
down vote













The tent will definitely be warmer because it keeps the wind away. As you are sleeping your body produces heat and a tent helps keep that warmer air around instead of it blowing away in the wind.



With that said, tents don't provide a huge amount of insulation, and so perhaps a better sleeping bag is needed.






share|improve this answer

















  • 1




    The OP also has not mentioned what type of pad/insulation they had underneath them (i.e. between the sleeping bag and the ground). The insulation used there can make a significant difference in the temperature experienced by the person in the sleeping bag.
    – Makyen
    Nov 18 at 1:45










  • "The tent will definitely be warmer because it keeps the wind away." Ray Jardine claims that over time, a bag in a tent will gain moisture from peoples' breath, such that it's actually warmer in the long term to sleep under a tarp because the increasing moisture from being enclosed in a tent decreases the effectiveness of the bag. That is, the wind over the bag maintains the effectiveness of the bag in the long term.
    – Don Branson
    Nov 18 at 4:16






  • 3




    @DonBranson, that's an extreme case. You'd need a lot of condensation to wet the sleeping bag (and it would have to actually wet it to reduce the insulation, mere humidity would have very little effect). As most tents have some ventilation in the inner, you shouldn't reach this point in normal use.
    – Chris H
    Nov 18 at 8:26


















up vote
3
down vote













Yes, a tent would have kept you warmer




  • Tents block the wind and thus will eliminate wind-chill.

  • While isolation of a tent is not good it will still allow your escaping body head to be trapped inside the tent and raise it's temperature by a couple of degrees. This will already make quite a difference.


The biggest difference, however, is that you should have used a proper, isolated sleeping pad. You mentioned that there was only a tarp between you and the snow: this means that your sleeping bag was compressed where your body weight was pressing on it and you had almost direct contact with the snow. You need a good isolated pad to combat this, there is no sleeping bag in the world warm enough to prevent that kind of energy loss in direct contact to the ground/snow.



That being said, please note that your sleeping bag rating is to be taken with a grain of salt, especially the lower end 'extreme' range: after all, what does 'extreme' mean? You barely survive but with arms and legs frozen off?



See also this question on How are sleeping bag temperature ratings determined?






share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    1
    down vote













    Assuming you have a men's bag, the -40F rating is probably the limit rating, but it might be the extreme rating. If it is the extreme rating then sleeping in -28F, it does not surprise me that you were cold. Even if it is the limit rating, you could still be cold if you did not have the proper pad on the ground, if it was windy, or most importantly are a below average sleeper in terms of warmth. At those temperatures even a slight difference in basal metabolic rate can result in feeling cold.



    You should also consider what you wear in the bag. Additional clothing can compress the bag and therefore decrease warmth. The bag also needs to fit you well. If it is too big or too small, it will be colder. There is also the issue of moisture. If you cloths are wet this can decrease the insulation of the bag. You may want to use a vapor barrier at those temperatures. You do not want to breath into the bag.



    Coupling all of those things, a tent will provide some warmth, but if you were uncomfortably cold at-28F, it is not going to make you comfortable at -40F.






    share|improve this answer




























      up vote
      1
      down vote













      You will always be warmer in a shelter of any sort than you will be out against the raw elements of winter.



      You would be surprised how much warmth a tent can provide, but they still aren't the best shelter in the winter.



      Snow is an incredible insulator, so when there's and abundance of snow, it makes sense to make use of it when making your shelter. When tenting, you want to dig a pit to set your tent in, and pile the snow up around the pit to help break the wind. If it snows while you're sleeping, the snow accumulating on your tent will act as a blanket, and keep your tent that much warmer. This is of course if you have a tent that can hold the extra weight of the snow.



      Winter shelters that are much better than a tent include digging a snow cave, piling up a Quincy, constructing an igloo, or making a trench shelter.



      When I'm winter camping I usually only bring a tarp with me, which I use to make a trench shelter. They're the easiest and quickest snow shelter to build: Dig a trench big enough for you to lay in; lay big sticks across the trench; lay your tarp over the sticks, then pile snow on top of your tarp. I've spent more than one night at 10 below zero in a trench shelter laying on top of my sleeping bag because it gets so warm inside.



      As has been mentioned in other answers, your choice in sleeping pad makes a significant difference in staying warm when sleeping on the ground during the winter.






      share|improve this answer





















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        4 Answers
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        active

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        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

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        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

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        up vote
        5
        down vote













        The tent will definitely be warmer because it keeps the wind away. As you are sleeping your body produces heat and a tent helps keep that warmer air around instead of it blowing away in the wind.



        With that said, tents don't provide a huge amount of insulation, and so perhaps a better sleeping bag is needed.






        share|improve this answer

















        • 1




          The OP also has not mentioned what type of pad/insulation they had underneath them (i.e. between the sleeping bag and the ground). The insulation used there can make a significant difference in the temperature experienced by the person in the sleeping bag.
          – Makyen
          Nov 18 at 1:45










        • "The tent will definitely be warmer because it keeps the wind away." Ray Jardine claims that over time, a bag in a tent will gain moisture from peoples' breath, such that it's actually warmer in the long term to sleep under a tarp because the increasing moisture from being enclosed in a tent decreases the effectiveness of the bag. That is, the wind over the bag maintains the effectiveness of the bag in the long term.
          – Don Branson
          Nov 18 at 4:16






        • 3




          @DonBranson, that's an extreme case. You'd need a lot of condensation to wet the sleeping bag (and it would have to actually wet it to reduce the insulation, mere humidity would have very little effect). As most tents have some ventilation in the inner, you shouldn't reach this point in normal use.
          – Chris H
          Nov 18 at 8:26















        up vote
        5
        down vote













        The tent will definitely be warmer because it keeps the wind away. As you are sleeping your body produces heat and a tent helps keep that warmer air around instead of it blowing away in the wind.



        With that said, tents don't provide a huge amount of insulation, and so perhaps a better sleeping bag is needed.






        share|improve this answer

















        • 1




          The OP also has not mentioned what type of pad/insulation they had underneath them (i.e. between the sleeping bag and the ground). The insulation used there can make a significant difference in the temperature experienced by the person in the sleeping bag.
          – Makyen
          Nov 18 at 1:45










        • "The tent will definitely be warmer because it keeps the wind away." Ray Jardine claims that over time, a bag in a tent will gain moisture from peoples' breath, such that it's actually warmer in the long term to sleep under a tarp because the increasing moisture from being enclosed in a tent decreases the effectiveness of the bag. That is, the wind over the bag maintains the effectiveness of the bag in the long term.
          – Don Branson
          Nov 18 at 4:16






        • 3




          @DonBranson, that's an extreme case. You'd need a lot of condensation to wet the sleeping bag (and it would have to actually wet it to reduce the insulation, mere humidity would have very little effect). As most tents have some ventilation in the inner, you shouldn't reach this point in normal use.
          – Chris H
          Nov 18 at 8:26













        up vote
        5
        down vote










        up vote
        5
        down vote









        The tent will definitely be warmer because it keeps the wind away. As you are sleeping your body produces heat and a tent helps keep that warmer air around instead of it blowing away in the wind.



        With that said, tents don't provide a huge amount of insulation, and so perhaps a better sleeping bag is needed.






        share|improve this answer












        The tent will definitely be warmer because it keeps the wind away. As you are sleeping your body produces heat and a tent helps keep that warmer air around instead of it blowing away in the wind.



        With that said, tents don't provide a huge amount of insulation, and so perhaps a better sleeping bag is needed.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Nov 17 at 21:47









        Charlie Brumbaugh

        44.3k15121249




        44.3k15121249








        • 1




          The OP also has not mentioned what type of pad/insulation they had underneath them (i.e. between the sleeping bag and the ground). The insulation used there can make a significant difference in the temperature experienced by the person in the sleeping bag.
          – Makyen
          Nov 18 at 1:45










        • "The tent will definitely be warmer because it keeps the wind away." Ray Jardine claims that over time, a bag in a tent will gain moisture from peoples' breath, such that it's actually warmer in the long term to sleep under a tarp because the increasing moisture from being enclosed in a tent decreases the effectiveness of the bag. That is, the wind over the bag maintains the effectiveness of the bag in the long term.
          – Don Branson
          Nov 18 at 4:16






        • 3




          @DonBranson, that's an extreme case. You'd need a lot of condensation to wet the sleeping bag (and it would have to actually wet it to reduce the insulation, mere humidity would have very little effect). As most tents have some ventilation in the inner, you shouldn't reach this point in normal use.
          – Chris H
          Nov 18 at 8:26














        • 1




          The OP also has not mentioned what type of pad/insulation they had underneath them (i.e. between the sleeping bag and the ground). The insulation used there can make a significant difference in the temperature experienced by the person in the sleeping bag.
          – Makyen
          Nov 18 at 1:45










        • "The tent will definitely be warmer because it keeps the wind away." Ray Jardine claims that over time, a bag in a tent will gain moisture from peoples' breath, such that it's actually warmer in the long term to sleep under a tarp because the increasing moisture from being enclosed in a tent decreases the effectiveness of the bag. That is, the wind over the bag maintains the effectiveness of the bag in the long term.
          – Don Branson
          Nov 18 at 4:16






        • 3




          @DonBranson, that's an extreme case. You'd need a lot of condensation to wet the sleeping bag (and it would have to actually wet it to reduce the insulation, mere humidity would have very little effect). As most tents have some ventilation in the inner, you shouldn't reach this point in normal use.
          – Chris H
          Nov 18 at 8:26








        1




        1




        The OP also has not mentioned what type of pad/insulation they had underneath them (i.e. between the sleeping bag and the ground). The insulation used there can make a significant difference in the temperature experienced by the person in the sleeping bag.
        – Makyen
        Nov 18 at 1:45




        The OP also has not mentioned what type of pad/insulation they had underneath them (i.e. between the sleeping bag and the ground). The insulation used there can make a significant difference in the temperature experienced by the person in the sleeping bag.
        – Makyen
        Nov 18 at 1:45












        "The tent will definitely be warmer because it keeps the wind away." Ray Jardine claims that over time, a bag in a tent will gain moisture from peoples' breath, such that it's actually warmer in the long term to sleep under a tarp because the increasing moisture from being enclosed in a tent decreases the effectiveness of the bag. That is, the wind over the bag maintains the effectiveness of the bag in the long term.
        – Don Branson
        Nov 18 at 4:16




        "The tent will definitely be warmer because it keeps the wind away." Ray Jardine claims that over time, a bag in a tent will gain moisture from peoples' breath, such that it's actually warmer in the long term to sleep under a tarp because the increasing moisture from being enclosed in a tent decreases the effectiveness of the bag. That is, the wind over the bag maintains the effectiveness of the bag in the long term.
        – Don Branson
        Nov 18 at 4:16




        3




        3




        @DonBranson, that's an extreme case. You'd need a lot of condensation to wet the sleeping bag (and it would have to actually wet it to reduce the insulation, mere humidity would have very little effect). As most tents have some ventilation in the inner, you shouldn't reach this point in normal use.
        – Chris H
        Nov 18 at 8:26




        @DonBranson, that's an extreme case. You'd need a lot of condensation to wet the sleeping bag (and it would have to actually wet it to reduce the insulation, mere humidity would have very little effect). As most tents have some ventilation in the inner, you shouldn't reach this point in normal use.
        – Chris H
        Nov 18 at 8:26










        up vote
        3
        down vote













        Yes, a tent would have kept you warmer




        • Tents block the wind and thus will eliminate wind-chill.

        • While isolation of a tent is not good it will still allow your escaping body head to be trapped inside the tent and raise it's temperature by a couple of degrees. This will already make quite a difference.


        The biggest difference, however, is that you should have used a proper, isolated sleeping pad. You mentioned that there was only a tarp between you and the snow: this means that your sleeping bag was compressed where your body weight was pressing on it and you had almost direct contact with the snow. You need a good isolated pad to combat this, there is no sleeping bag in the world warm enough to prevent that kind of energy loss in direct contact to the ground/snow.



        That being said, please note that your sleeping bag rating is to be taken with a grain of salt, especially the lower end 'extreme' range: after all, what does 'extreme' mean? You barely survive but with arms and legs frozen off?



        See also this question on How are sleeping bag temperature ratings determined?






        share|improve this answer

























          up vote
          3
          down vote













          Yes, a tent would have kept you warmer




          • Tents block the wind and thus will eliminate wind-chill.

          • While isolation of a tent is not good it will still allow your escaping body head to be trapped inside the tent and raise it's temperature by a couple of degrees. This will already make quite a difference.


          The biggest difference, however, is that you should have used a proper, isolated sleeping pad. You mentioned that there was only a tarp between you and the snow: this means that your sleeping bag was compressed where your body weight was pressing on it and you had almost direct contact with the snow. You need a good isolated pad to combat this, there is no sleeping bag in the world warm enough to prevent that kind of energy loss in direct contact to the ground/snow.



          That being said, please note that your sleeping bag rating is to be taken with a grain of salt, especially the lower end 'extreme' range: after all, what does 'extreme' mean? You barely survive but with arms and legs frozen off?



          See also this question on How are sleeping bag temperature ratings determined?






          share|improve this answer























            up vote
            3
            down vote










            up vote
            3
            down vote









            Yes, a tent would have kept you warmer




            • Tents block the wind and thus will eliminate wind-chill.

            • While isolation of a tent is not good it will still allow your escaping body head to be trapped inside the tent and raise it's temperature by a couple of degrees. This will already make quite a difference.


            The biggest difference, however, is that you should have used a proper, isolated sleeping pad. You mentioned that there was only a tarp between you and the snow: this means that your sleeping bag was compressed where your body weight was pressing on it and you had almost direct contact with the snow. You need a good isolated pad to combat this, there is no sleeping bag in the world warm enough to prevent that kind of energy loss in direct contact to the ground/snow.



            That being said, please note that your sleeping bag rating is to be taken with a grain of salt, especially the lower end 'extreme' range: after all, what does 'extreme' mean? You barely survive but with arms and legs frozen off?



            See also this question on How are sleeping bag temperature ratings determined?






            share|improve this answer












            Yes, a tent would have kept you warmer




            • Tents block the wind and thus will eliminate wind-chill.

            • While isolation of a tent is not good it will still allow your escaping body head to be trapped inside the tent and raise it's temperature by a couple of degrees. This will already make quite a difference.


            The biggest difference, however, is that you should have used a proper, isolated sleeping pad. You mentioned that there was only a tarp between you and the snow: this means that your sleeping bag was compressed where your body weight was pressing on it and you had almost direct contact with the snow. You need a good isolated pad to combat this, there is no sleeping bag in the world warm enough to prevent that kind of energy loss in direct contact to the ground/snow.



            That being said, please note that your sleeping bag rating is to be taken with a grain of salt, especially the lower end 'extreme' range: after all, what does 'extreme' mean? You barely survive but with arms and legs frozen off?



            See also this question on How are sleeping bag temperature ratings determined?







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Nov 19 at 7:13









            fgysin

            7,58112345




            7,58112345






















                up vote
                1
                down vote













                Assuming you have a men's bag, the -40F rating is probably the limit rating, but it might be the extreme rating. If it is the extreme rating then sleeping in -28F, it does not surprise me that you were cold. Even if it is the limit rating, you could still be cold if you did not have the proper pad on the ground, if it was windy, or most importantly are a below average sleeper in terms of warmth. At those temperatures even a slight difference in basal metabolic rate can result in feeling cold.



                You should also consider what you wear in the bag. Additional clothing can compress the bag and therefore decrease warmth. The bag also needs to fit you well. If it is too big or too small, it will be colder. There is also the issue of moisture. If you cloths are wet this can decrease the insulation of the bag. You may want to use a vapor barrier at those temperatures. You do not want to breath into the bag.



                Coupling all of those things, a tent will provide some warmth, but if you were uncomfortably cold at-28F, it is not going to make you comfortable at -40F.






                share|improve this answer

























                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote













                  Assuming you have a men's bag, the -40F rating is probably the limit rating, but it might be the extreme rating. If it is the extreme rating then sleeping in -28F, it does not surprise me that you were cold. Even if it is the limit rating, you could still be cold if you did not have the proper pad on the ground, if it was windy, or most importantly are a below average sleeper in terms of warmth. At those temperatures even a slight difference in basal metabolic rate can result in feeling cold.



                  You should also consider what you wear in the bag. Additional clothing can compress the bag and therefore decrease warmth. The bag also needs to fit you well. If it is too big or too small, it will be colder. There is also the issue of moisture. If you cloths are wet this can decrease the insulation of the bag. You may want to use a vapor barrier at those temperatures. You do not want to breath into the bag.



                  Coupling all of those things, a tent will provide some warmth, but if you were uncomfortably cold at-28F, it is not going to make you comfortable at -40F.






                  share|improve this answer























                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote









                    Assuming you have a men's bag, the -40F rating is probably the limit rating, but it might be the extreme rating. If it is the extreme rating then sleeping in -28F, it does not surprise me that you were cold. Even if it is the limit rating, you could still be cold if you did not have the proper pad on the ground, if it was windy, or most importantly are a below average sleeper in terms of warmth. At those temperatures even a slight difference in basal metabolic rate can result in feeling cold.



                    You should also consider what you wear in the bag. Additional clothing can compress the bag and therefore decrease warmth. The bag also needs to fit you well. If it is too big or too small, it will be colder. There is also the issue of moisture. If you cloths are wet this can decrease the insulation of the bag. You may want to use a vapor barrier at those temperatures. You do not want to breath into the bag.



                    Coupling all of those things, a tent will provide some warmth, but if you were uncomfortably cold at-28F, it is not going to make you comfortable at -40F.






                    share|improve this answer












                    Assuming you have a men's bag, the -40F rating is probably the limit rating, but it might be the extreme rating. If it is the extreme rating then sleeping in -28F, it does not surprise me that you were cold. Even if it is the limit rating, you could still be cold if you did not have the proper pad on the ground, if it was windy, or most importantly are a below average sleeper in terms of warmth. At those temperatures even a slight difference in basal metabolic rate can result in feeling cold.



                    You should also consider what you wear in the bag. Additional clothing can compress the bag and therefore decrease warmth. The bag also needs to fit you well. If it is too big or too small, it will be colder. There is also the issue of moisture. If you cloths are wet this can decrease the insulation of the bag. You may want to use a vapor barrier at those temperatures. You do not want to breath into the bag.



                    Coupling all of those things, a tent will provide some warmth, but if you were uncomfortably cold at-28F, it is not going to make you comfortable at -40F.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Nov 19 at 1:00









                    StrongBad

                    6,8401751




                    6,8401751






















                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        You will always be warmer in a shelter of any sort than you will be out against the raw elements of winter.



                        You would be surprised how much warmth a tent can provide, but they still aren't the best shelter in the winter.



                        Snow is an incredible insulator, so when there's and abundance of snow, it makes sense to make use of it when making your shelter. When tenting, you want to dig a pit to set your tent in, and pile the snow up around the pit to help break the wind. If it snows while you're sleeping, the snow accumulating on your tent will act as a blanket, and keep your tent that much warmer. This is of course if you have a tent that can hold the extra weight of the snow.



                        Winter shelters that are much better than a tent include digging a snow cave, piling up a Quincy, constructing an igloo, or making a trench shelter.



                        When I'm winter camping I usually only bring a tarp with me, which I use to make a trench shelter. They're the easiest and quickest snow shelter to build: Dig a trench big enough for you to lay in; lay big sticks across the trench; lay your tarp over the sticks, then pile snow on top of your tarp. I've spent more than one night at 10 below zero in a trench shelter laying on top of my sleeping bag because it gets so warm inside.



                        As has been mentioned in other answers, your choice in sleeping pad makes a significant difference in staying warm when sleeping on the ground during the winter.






                        share|improve this answer

























                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote













                          You will always be warmer in a shelter of any sort than you will be out against the raw elements of winter.



                          You would be surprised how much warmth a tent can provide, but they still aren't the best shelter in the winter.



                          Snow is an incredible insulator, so when there's and abundance of snow, it makes sense to make use of it when making your shelter. When tenting, you want to dig a pit to set your tent in, and pile the snow up around the pit to help break the wind. If it snows while you're sleeping, the snow accumulating on your tent will act as a blanket, and keep your tent that much warmer. This is of course if you have a tent that can hold the extra weight of the snow.



                          Winter shelters that are much better than a tent include digging a snow cave, piling up a Quincy, constructing an igloo, or making a trench shelter.



                          When I'm winter camping I usually only bring a tarp with me, which I use to make a trench shelter. They're the easiest and quickest snow shelter to build: Dig a trench big enough for you to lay in; lay big sticks across the trench; lay your tarp over the sticks, then pile snow on top of your tarp. I've spent more than one night at 10 below zero in a trench shelter laying on top of my sleeping bag because it gets so warm inside.



                          As has been mentioned in other answers, your choice in sleeping pad makes a significant difference in staying warm when sleeping on the ground during the winter.






                          share|improve this answer























                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote









                            You will always be warmer in a shelter of any sort than you will be out against the raw elements of winter.



                            You would be surprised how much warmth a tent can provide, but they still aren't the best shelter in the winter.



                            Snow is an incredible insulator, so when there's and abundance of snow, it makes sense to make use of it when making your shelter. When tenting, you want to dig a pit to set your tent in, and pile the snow up around the pit to help break the wind. If it snows while you're sleeping, the snow accumulating on your tent will act as a blanket, and keep your tent that much warmer. This is of course if you have a tent that can hold the extra weight of the snow.



                            Winter shelters that are much better than a tent include digging a snow cave, piling up a Quincy, constructing an igloo, or making a trench shelter.



                            When I'm winter camping I usually only bring a tarp with me, which I use to make a trench shelter. They're the easiest and quickest snow shelter to build: Dig a trench big enough for you to lay in; lay big sticks across the trench; lay your tarp over the sticks, then pile snow on top of your tarp. I've spent more than one night at 10 below zero in a trench shelter laying on top of my sleeping bag because it gets so warm inside.



                            As has been mentioned in other answers, your choice in sleeping pad makes a significant difference in staying warm when sleeping on the ground during the winter.






                            share|improve this answer












                            You will always be warmer in a shelter of any sort than you will be out against the raw elements of winter.



                            You would be surprised how much warmth a tent can provide, but they still aren't the best shelter in the winter.



                            Snow is an incredible insulator, so when there's and abundance of snow, it makes sense to make use of it when making your shelter. When tenting, you want to dig a pit to set your tent in, and pile the snow up around the pit to help break the wind. If it snows while you're sleeping, the snow accumulating on your tent will act as a blanket, and keep your tent that much warmer. This is of course if you have a tent that can hold the extra weight of the snow.



                            Winter shelters that are much better than a tent include digging a snow cave, piling up a Quincy, constructing an igloo, or making a trench shelter.



                            When I'm winter camping I usually only bring a tarp with me, which I use to make a trench shelter. They're the easiest and quickest snow shelter to build: Dig a trench big enough for you to lay in; lay big sticks across the trench; lay your tarp over the sticks, then pile snow on top of your tarp. I've spent more than one night at 10 below zero in a trench shelter laying on top of my sleeping bag because it gets so warm inside.



                            As has been mentioned in other answers, your choice in sleeping pad makes a significant difference in staying warm when sleeping on the ground during the winter.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered Nov 20 at 20:45









                            ShemSeger

                            45.1k593256




                            45.1k593256






























                                 

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