In 90 degree + weather what bag/sleeping combo do you use?

[aslostasyou]

Ok, I've about had it and I'm looking for some ideas...

I live in FL and love to camp here. The outdoors are amazing in my area. Ocala, Oseola, on the West Coast we have Islands, etc... But it's just too damn hot and sticky!

I have a Kelty all purpose bag that I have most recently resorted to fileting open and laying on top of but even then the heat just collects on my back and I sweat almost non-stop.

What are some other options out there? Short of just laying down the camp pad and throwing a sheet down I don't know what else to do to keep cool. I've got a battery operated fan but it only helps so much. I need another bag (looking for down) that's smaller and I'm not sure if I can get a bag that will suffice for both hot and cold.

I've been thinking about investing in a cot as well (OJ recent review) but I'm not sure if that'll help at all and I'd rather spend money on a new bag or blanket that will help with my immediate need.

Thanks all!

, J

 

[whipp]

I use a cot and a fleece sleeping bag liner - no sleeping bag. The cot lets air circulate underneath you which can be a big help in the heat/sweat department.

 

[Dave]

I just use a flat cotton sheet when it's hot and muggy. The secret weapon is a 12volt fan!

 

[kellymoe]

I use my North Face -5 degree down bag in all seasons. I spent a week in the Sierra last month http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17588
Every night I would unzip my bag all the way and use it as a blanket. I have been doing this for several years now. Summer months I cover up when needed and in cooler weather I either use it as a blanket or in really cold weather I zip it up and use it as it was intended. I cant think of the last time I used it zipped up all the way. I was in 30 degree weather last month and the blanket method worked fine. In July I was in 120 degree heat in Death Valley and just slept on top of my pad. I think the key to the system I use is the pad. If you have a thin or cheap pad it doesn't matter what kind of bag you have.

I forgot to add that when car camping in extreme heat I have the option to use a 12v swamp cooler from www.swampy.net the model I have is the Mighty Kool and uses very little energy. During the day I can use it powered by my 15w solar panel. At night in the tent I use a small 12v battery from one of those kids power wheel cars, it lasts all night and I can use the solar panel to recharge it during the day.

 

[Overland Hadley]

I need another bag (looking for down) that's smaller and I'm not sure if I can get a bag that will suffice for both hot and cold.

Sleeping bags are like skis, you will end up needing a whole quiver of them.

 

[kellymoe]

Sleeping bags are like skis, you will end up needing a whole quiver of them.

That is what I used to think. I grew up believing the myth that you will be warmer if you sleep naked or nearly naked in your bag. Then I started doing ski tours in the Sierra. The guys that I went with carried super light Summer bags. I asked how they could stay warm in those things? They said just sleep with more clothes on. I tried it the next time out. I did a multi day kayaking trip where weight was an issue because we would be portaging around un runnable rapids. I brought a 1.8 lb bag and slept in a synchilla jacket. The bag was rated to 45 degrees and the outside temps at night were in the 20's. I slept like a baby. Now a I always carry a light bag on my backpacking trips and ski trips. If I start getting cold I just add another layer. The key is not to go to bed in damp clothes if at all possible. This system has allowed me to go two decades without buying a new bag.

 

[dosentmater]

hi how about a hammock they are used a lot in tropic areas ,
and can help keep criters at more than armes length

 

[bigredpigdriver]

ok I will be the one to sound like snob...I have a silk liner I use when its to hot...It also pack small...but I found a cooler of beer helps to...not much sleep but then you dont really care:beer:

 

[Pskhaat]

Why exactly would one require any covering at all atop one's body at 90+F? I sleep with at most a light sheet here in AZ where at night it often does not fall below 90+F at all and when going to bed can mean `double-digits' 110+F.

Fans and moving air on bare skin seems to always help, and a spray bottle of water to cool off too.

I almost forgot to mention: I camped with a dude that had a `pad' made of those taxi-cab-seat-cover beads. He swore by it. I've never seen one for sale but always wanted to try it.

 

[1leglance]

Hammock...all the way..
Let's air move under you...
very light wgt
get the Hennessy or better yet the Clark or setup your own (with bug netting) and you are good to go.
The key with Hammocks is to sleep on an angle to the ropes which will keep you flat
I love mine and need to get back to using it.

 

[Nullifier]

Well being in Fl myself I have a few suggestions for you to think about. First is that the Temps being 85+ at night this time of year is hard to deal with ,but the biggest issue you feel is the 95%+ humidity. Camping out west in the dry heat is a lot different then Fl with the humidity. There is no great way to deal with it, however here area few tips. First get a square bag the extra size helps. We use a Kelty 50 Degree synthetic bag. One side is basically a thick sheet the other has some fill so you can put the right top layer on.

Second is ventilation. This is a two fold issue. Improving ventilation under you is important so something like a roll-a-cot will solve that one. However equally if not more importantly is having a tent with a lot of ventilation. This can be tricky here due to the rain we experience this time of year. You have to do this because in my experience the collective heat developed in the tent is a major factor.

Having said all that these are my rules toward Fl camping. Do not camp may-nov. if you live south of gainsville. If you live in North Fl then do not camp June-sept. In those months hit Motel Six or sleep in the car with the a/c on.

 

[Pskhaat]

...the biggest issue you feel is the 95%+ humidity. Camping out west in the dry heat is a lot different then Fl with the humidity...

There's no doubt truth in that. But don't believe that "dry heat" is that dry when monsoon season is here (now) and you get the best of both worlds: humidity and horrible heat. Granted it ain't as bad as 95%+ unless it is raining but there are some nights I've prayed I was doing some FL beach camping.

 

[adventurebuddies]

That is what I used to think. I grew up believing the myth that you will be warmer if you sleep naked or nearly naked in your bag. Then I started doing ski tours in the Sierra. The guys that I went with carried super light Summer bags. I asked how they could stay warm in those things? They said just sleep with more clothes on. I tried it the next time out. I did a multi day kayaking trip where weight was an issue because we would be portaging around un runnable rapids. I brought a 1.8 lb bag and slept in a synchilla jacket. The bag was rated to 45 degrees and the outside temps at night were in the 20's. I slept like a baby. Now a I always carry a light bag on my backpacking trips and ski trips. If I start getting cold I just add another layer. The key is not to go to bed in damp clothes if at all possible. This system has allowed me to go two decades without buying a new bag.

That old myth about sleeping naked to stay warm is bogus nowadays. But it had it's origins in the days when warm clothing was really bulky before today's lightwieght, compressable high tech materials. SO, back when you had to wear multiple layers of heavy, bulky wool your body's diameter increased substantially so you pressed against the insulation in your bag, making the bag's insulation less effective. Now you should sleep with your clothes on using a lighter bag because otherwise your carrying redundant weight so you're doing it just right. People always ask me how I can pack gear for multiday winter mountaineering into a small pack. Why carry a bunch of warm clothes into the mountains only to leave them in a pile at night because you don't need them in your bag. Just make sure your clothes aren't so thick that they compramise the bag.

As for hot weather, the hammock with breathable mesh works like a miracle. Of course your bug net will need to drape to the ground to keep your back from getting eaten. I high quality hammock from southern Mexico is second to none. They are so nice that they're really like mattress replacements. But they cost about $150. If you can't sleep in a hammock, silk is definately the way to go. It stays far cooler than the other fabrics.

 

[Spikepretorius]

Sleeping bags suck. Hot or cold, doesn't matter. I don't use them.

 

[BiG BoB]

I usually camp in a dome style tent, and if I know it wont rain, and its hot, I leave the fly off for added ventalation.

As for a sleeping bag, get an old bed sheet, one thats getting a bit thin. Fold it over to a large sleeping bag size, and sew along the bottom and up 2/3 of the side. A bit of space is a good thing, but if you're making it from a large bed sheet, you may have some excess to cut off.

Used one of these for years until I got a free silk liner with a new bag (free plug for Kathmandu gear)

Oh, and in the tropics, best thing you can do to stay cool and not feel the heat is to stay hydrated! Drink lots and you'll suffer less

Sean