How to Sleep More Warmly at Night

With cold weather overnights having just arrived this week, and Winter just around the corner, I wanted to offer some often overlooked tips to help you sleep more warmly at night … Even if you use a winter-rated bag.

They will not only help you to feel more rested in the morning, but help reduce the chances of a cold-related medical emergency.

• Put on a Hat:  While my grandmother exaggerated a bit when she told me that we lose “80%” of our body heat through our heads, research has indeed shown that we still tend to lose a lot of heat there through radiation due to blood flow.  So simply wearing a hat when we are cold will generally make us feel warmer, whether or not we are already wearing a warm coat.
• Wear Wool:  When it comes to clothing, wool is regularly disregarded in favor of cotton.  After all, cotton feels soft and cozy, right?  But there is reason why search-and-rescue crews refer to cotton as “death fabric” … It loses 100% of its insulating ability when wet; doesn’t dry easily; and doesn’t wick.  By comparison, wool maintains 80% of its insulating ability even when wet; dries easily; and naturally wicks.  If you are concerned about the itch, buy some Merino wool.
• Eat a High-Fat Snack or Meal before Bedtime:  Your body is effectively a furnace that generates heat through the interaction of oxygen and chemicals coming from the macronutrients that we eat (carbohydrate, protein, and fat).  Fat, then, is like a log that you throw on a fire, that burns slowly, but gives off sustained heat.  By comparison, simple carbohydrates are like kindling on a fire, that burn quickly, but die out just as fast.
• Invest in a Good Sleeping Pad:  While I admit that a sleeping pad offers much appreciated comfort, its real value comes from the insulation that it provides between your body and the ground.  Without one, then, even sleeping in a bag on the floor of your tent in the Summer will cause you to lose much core body heat through conduction.  A fews ago, I grimaced painfully when I paid roughly $200 for a NeoAir mattress from Therm-A-Rest, but it has more than paid for itself in so many ways.

Keep in mind that these tips are not just applicable to camping, but a survival situation or where you need to care for someone until helps arrives.

To learn more, consider taking a Basic Wilderness Survival or Wilderness First Aid course.