Shelter Sleeping bag

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brassmonkey110

Member
Hey all,
I live in the Midwest where it gets.. real cold. Like 60 below happens from time to time. Any recommendations on a sleeping bag to keep in the truck? Everything I can find is obsessed with light weight and high price. I’m happy with heavy and cheap, as I’m not looking to hike with it or anything. Can’t seem to find anything that fits the bill though. (I’d also take a super warm blanket).
 
1911user

1911user

Veteran Member
Look into the Military Modular Sleep System. It's a gore-tex bivy, an intermediate sleeping bag, a heavy sleeping bag, and a compression stuff sack. mix/match the parts to meet the expected temperatures. It covers summer down to almost -40 and no tent needed with the gore-tex bivy.

This page describes it with pictures. I'm not recommending buying here; don't know anything about the store.
www.allamericansurplus.com

Army Sleep System Individual Parts — All American Military Surplus

For the Modular Sleep System we sell all of the pieces individually as well as a set. The Military Modular Sleeping Bag consists of two Mummy-style sleeping bags - the Patrol and the Intermediate Cold Weather. Each are constructed of water - resistant, ripstop nylon. Each Mili
www.allamericansurplus.com www.allamericansurplus.com
 
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Slydersan

Veteran Member
Midwayusa.com usually has some end of winter season sleeping bags on sale about now. I got a Browning brand bag that is good to -40 F. I haven't had the chance to use it yet, but it is definitely big and heavy and seems well made.

Adding - OK I was slightly off, it's only good to -30F but it is on clearance again. They have a couple of others good to -30, that's about as low as I saw doing a quick search. You can always add one of those fleece liners for about another 20 degrees or so of warmth. Here's the link

www.midwayusa.com

Browning McKinley -30 Degree Sleeping Bag 36 x 90 Nylon Clay Black

The Browning McKinley Sleeping Bag is a hooded rectangular sleeping bag that is great for those extra cold nights spent outdoors. The bag features a...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com
 
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summerthyme

Administrator
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Slydersan said:
Midwayusa.com usually has some end of winter season sleeping bags on sale about now. I got a Browning brand bag that is good to -40 F. I haven't had the chance to use it yet, but it is definitely big and heavy and seems well made.

Adding - OK I was slightly off, it's only good to -30F but it is on clearance again. They have a couple of others good to -30, that's about as low as I saw doing a quick search. You can always add one of those fleece liners for about another 20 degrees or so of warmth. Here's the link

www.midwayusa.com

Browning McKinley -30 Degree Sleeping Bag 36 x 90 Nylon Clay Black

The Browning McKinley Sleeping Bag is a hooded rectangular sleeping bag that is great for those extra cold nights spent outdoors. The bag features a...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com
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Add three yards of heavyweight fleece fabric (not the cheap decorative stuff from JoAnns... 300 weight PolarFleece type stuff) and you'll get at least 10 degrees more coverage...

Summerthyme
 
1911user

1911user

Veteran Member
For cold winter sleeping, insulation from the ground is very important. A roll up foam pad or 2 would be good or something like a hammock.

Blocking the wind would also be important. A tarp or 2 and some rope would give some shelter options.
 
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L.A.B.

L.A.B.

Goodness before greatness.
A company called Wiggie’s comes to mind.

Have to find a link…

OK, bartp40 nailed it above.
 
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Doc1

Doc1

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I'm far from being a cold weather expert, but I know the basics. All sleeping bags thermal effectiveness is improved by sleeping in your warmest clothes. Also make sure that you have warm socks and a warm hat. You lose a lot of heat through your head and feet.

Anything you can do to keep the wind off, from a tent to a tarp to even a space blanket will help a lot. Stay dry! Never bed down in a gully or stream bed, even if it's dry at the moment. An overnight rain could fill the stream and at best get you wet. At worst you could be surprised and wash away or lose your gear.

If you're not worried about the weight, old US Army down-filled bags are pretty good, though they're hard to find these days.

Best
Doc
 
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brassmonkey110

Member
I actually have a wiggys parka and it isn’t bad at all. Probably should have thought of them for a bag. Trying to stay away from down since it doesn’t love being compressed for long periods and doesn’t insulate when wet. In my mind a truck bag is for “I screwed up” situations, where as down is for when I’ve done everything correctly.
 
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brassmonkey110

Member
1911user said:
For cold winter sleeping, insulation from the ground is very important. A roll up foam pad or 2 would be good or something like a hammock.

Blocking the wind would also be important. A tarp or 2 and some rope would give some shelter options.
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This is EXCELLENT advice and I really appreciate it. In a perfect world I could sleep in the 4Runner, but I haven’t seriously winter camped since boy scouts and i forgot how cold the ground is. Foam pad incoming.
 
medic38572

medic38572

TB Fanatic
brassmonkey110 said:
Hey all,
I live in the Midwest where it gets.. real cold. Like 60 below happens from time to time. Any recommendations on a sleeping bag to keep in the truck? Everything I can find is obsessed with light weight and high price. I’m happy with heavy and cheap, as I’m not looking to hike with it or anything. Can’t seem to find anything that fits the bill though. (I’d also take a super warm blanket).
Click to expand...

A sleeping back with that degree is going to cost you. Goose down is much more expensive but the best. Second your going to use it in the back of the truck I presume. Then you need space between your bag and the cold steel floor rubber mats. 3rd a portable heater buddy heater runs on propane and they will shut off if to much corbon monoxide builds up. 4th I would insulate the topper with half inch foam insulation. 5th I would also have a small cot to help keep you off the bed.
 
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hd5574

Veteran Member
We have a number of sleeping bags...the back of the truck has a bed rug liner..works wonderfully. ..we also had the top sprayed with a liner..stops condensation in the back..
Then we have a double bed size memory foam mattress topper on bottom....then two sleeping bags..zipped together to form one large bag for both of us...rather heavy bags..but nothing special....over the top of the bags we have a heavy quilt...we also take our pillows.
As back up we have our 2 weight down bags.. in the back...total of 4 down bags....all are rectangular. ..so can be used as bags or covers over the top..we can adjust for the conditions..

We made quick 5 trips from Virginia to Arizona. .hard driving from Virginia to Oklahoma City then sleep in back and then the rest of the way to Phoenix. ...the bed was soft and comfortable. .. we were not spring chickens when we were doing this. ..the last trip I was 70. Some of trips were in the winter and a couple of times the weather was brutal. ..the wind and weather on I-40 can make you cold to the bones.

We have collected the bags over a number of years..and the same with down bedding at the house...I have found that I prefer down blankets..to down comforters because I can control the amount of warmth by layering them..

If we are truly going into a solar minimum I want all the down I can get....I have a very lightweight jacket from L.L.Bean that they call a down sweater.. I can wear it under another jacket..and have the warmth of down and not worry about it getting wet. I have also collected wool sweaters over the years...wool will keep you warm even when wet.

Doc is correct about the old army down sleeping bags..once many years ago I spent the night in one in the back seat of an old Ford on the side of the road in a snow storm. ..best description. ...snug as a bug...
 
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Publius

TB Fanatic
A little off topic or maybe not but resent talk of fuel oil shortage it may be a good time to shop for these items not just for the car or truck but for home use, blankets work to a point then you realize you need something more to keep you from freezing to death and thats high performance insulation thats used in modern sleeping bags.
Military Surplus and U.S. mil-surplus is a good start shopping but if you are big going around you may want to shop around for sleeping bags to properly fit your body size! The insulation inside a sleeping bag works on "Loft" fluff to trap warm air and slow it's escape into the great outdoors or in you're case the freezing indoors of you're home, Now if your sleeping bag is to tight a fit the insulation is being compressed and as a result the lack of Loft, not good so look around for a sleeping that fits you. Yes buying non-surplus is expensive so start shopping now and by fall you may have one or two on hand before winter can hit.
 
Freeholder

Freeholder

This too shall pass.
Layers. Yes, a good sleeping bag, and yes, padding underneath you, even in the truck. But several layers of fleece and/or wool blankets in addition to the sleeping bag. And a large space blanket over the top. Emergency space blankets are really, really cheap (or were, last time I bought some), and those are good, but you really want the bigger, heavier tarp-type ones if you can. The emergency blankets are more like plasticized aluminum foil, and thin foil at that, and won't last for many uses.

Also, keep some thick, clean, dry wool socks and a wool stocking cap -- even a balaclava -- with your emergency bedroll. Having socks on your feet and a hat on your head will make a huge difference in your comfort level. I wear wool socks to bed all winter even here in Kentucky in my house. When we lived in a cabin in Alaska, which often dropped to freezing inside the house in the winter overnight (even with the wood stove going), I wore a hat to bed, and sometimes a balaclava (not very romantic, but at least it's warm). My daughters used to wear long johns and two or three flannel nightgowns to bed. Layers on your person as well as in your bedding are important.

We have some of those fleece throw blankets, and add them to our blankets on cold nights. They make a huge difference -- the fleece traps a lot of air in it for insulation. They do worm their way off the bed, even when trapped between two blankets, so have to be rearranged frequently.

Kathleen
 
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summerthyme

Administrator
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Freeholder said:
Layers. Yes, a good sleeping bag, and yes, padding underneath you, even in the truck. But several layers of fleece and/or wool blankets in addition to the sleeping bag. And a large space blanket over the top. Emergency space blankets are really, really cheap (or were, last time I bought some), and those are good, but you really want the bigger, heavier tarp-type ones if you can. The emergency blankets are more like plasticized aluminum foil, and thin foil at that, and won't last for many uses.

Also, keep some thick, clean, dry wool socks and a wool stocking cap -- even a balaclava -- with your emergency bedroll. Having socks on your feet and a hat on your head will make a huge difference in your comfort level. I wear wool socks to bed all winter even here in Kentucky in my house. When we lived in a cabin in Alaska, which often dropped to freezing inside the house in the winter overnight (even with the wood stove going), I wore a hat to bed, and sometimes a balaclava (not very romantic, but at least it's warm). My daughters used to wear long johns and two or three flannel nightgowns to bed. Layers on your person as well as in your bedding are important.

We have some of those fleece throw blankets, and add them to our blankets on cold nights. They make a huge difference -- the fleece traps a lot of air in it for insulation. They do worm their way off the bed, even when trapped between two blankets, so have to be rearranged frequently.

Kathleen
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I sewed some "emergency quilts" that we keep in the vehicles... 80" X 60" heavy fleece with a mylar "space blanket" sandwiched in between. They DO "crackle" from the space blanket, but they are insanely warm, and the mylar has held up for years..

Summerthyme
 
Meemur

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
Something I've learned from living in the heartland: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That is, there are just some days where you don't travel, period. You park the 18 wheeler, the Jeep, the 4 x 4 and hunker down at home or a hotel.

Winter sleeping bags, tons of wool blankets, and other safety equipment is great! But it's even more awesome if you can avoid having to use the equipment while being stuck out on the road in the first place.

Things can still happen to home heat, but it's a lot easier to keep warm in a house vs. a car or truck in the middle of high winds.
 
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Crusty Echo 7

Veteran Member
Look into Snugpack, they make several kinds. I’ve been issued those and the standard four part bags. Personally, I prefer the latter because it gives you more versatility. Just learn to roll it up correctly.
 
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Old Gray Mare

TB Fanatic
I remember camping on a dental floss budget in winter. A friend had given me a well used and abused down bag. I found out the hard way it was not able to retain enough warmth for winter camping. That was a very, very long night. By putting the down mummy bag in side a rectangular warmer weather bag I was able to winter camp in comfort. It wasn't pretty but it worked. Sometimes you have to improvise till it works. Winter camping at worst meant the teens maybe single digits not -60.

If you're going to be sleeping in the back of a pick up in winter, hopefully under a cap, you'll need some insulation between you and the metal truck bed. Heavy moving blankets are relatively cheap, sturdy and soft. I wouldn't use a blow up pad, that would only put a layer of cold air under the bag.

A hot water bottle can be a God send on really cold nights.
 
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anna43

Veteran Member
I think layers are best if you're talking stranded in a vehicle or at home and not out in the open. Best sleeping bag you can afford, space blanket under, doubled wool blanket under, sleeping bag, wool blanket over and space blanket over. I've also used a second pillow above my head like an "L" sleep on one leg and have the other upright above the top of your head. Always have a couple extra pairs of gloves and socks plus a change of clothing. You MUST stay dry. Be sure to pee before you get into your nest or you'll have to get back out about the time you get it warmed up.
 
Jeff B.

Jeff B.

Don’t let the Piss Ants get you down…
If you go to the Wiggys site, they’ve got some bags on sale that might well meet your needs.

Jeff B.
 
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Publius

TB Fanatic
Publius said:
Some years back I did a thread on this equipment and some may find it helpful so here's a link.
LINK: Tips - Sleeping Gear, Sleeping Bags and Accessories.
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With heating oil and Gas looking like it's headed for $9 to $10 a gallon the sleeping bag option may start looking good, forget about running water and flushing toilet but have it all shut off and the water lines blown out with an air compressor and pour antifreeze in all the traps. and toilet sponged out of all water and a big wad of toilet paper stuffed in the bowl to keep sewer gases from entering the house.
Setup some kind of outhouse and not sure what to do about water to drink and cook with.
Yeah at $10 a gallon you're looking at $5,500+ to fill a 550 gallon fuel tank thats a good deal beyond what most can pay out from one year to the next on top of high gasoline prices and higher food prices.
 
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