Camping in the beautiful ice - budget sleeping bags?
 

Hi all,

Firstly, I've just joined so hello all :)

Buut....:helpsmilie:....please?

Ok, here's the situation : In 3 days I'll be of no fixed address. So what to do? Well, I'm waiting on some money to hit my bank account. Until then I have maybe 40 quid. I already picked up a tarp so that's sorted. I'm going to start my way down to Cornwall to meet a friend.

But as I live in Edinburgh, Scotland, I'm expecting really cold temperatures. Which will be a shock as I've never camped before in my life. However, I've been reading up a lot on what I can do and I think things might be ok.

Last night Edinburgh hit -2c. That's pretty chilly. And I'm expecting the weather to be as cold for some time now. Wow, I'm nervous! Butterflies, baby.

Anyway, as I say I've been reading up. I'm going to try and make a ground mat out of fiberglass insulation and cardboard under that. Then I'm going to pitch my tarp so as to defend against the wind.

Next step is choice of sleeping bag. I have £15,maybe £20 to spare,and I would like an army issue bivi bag but that's not looking possible now. So the 2 choices I've narrowed itdown to are:

The Pro Action Jaguar 200gsm mummy bag (Which has pretty good reviews)

Buy Pro Action Jaguar 200gsm Mummy Sleeping Bag. at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for .

And the 400gsm Pro Action sleeping bag (Which also has pretty good reviews,albeit none of the reviews seem to say if they were tested in cold conditions)

Buy Pro Action 400gsm Sleeping Bag. at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for .

So anyway, assuming I don't want a bad spell of hypothermia,or, even worse, a bad spell of death, which sleeping bag would you recommend, and do you think either will be able to protect me? I'll also be wearing a layer of clothing in the camp, separate to what I'll have been wearing during the day.

I'm temptedto go for the 200gsm one because it is a mummy bag and the reviews mention cold weather once or twice. However, the Pro Action sleeping bag has 400gsm - will this make it the clear winner with double the thickness, even though it is not a mummy design?

I'm sorry to bother y'all with such a boring and probably pointless looking topic but I really wanted to get an answer off some experienced campers.

Thanks in advance for any help,

Kind regards,

Jamie

Firstly, hello and welcome on board....
 

I recently spent the night in a mountaineering tent, with a £50 thermarest mattress and a £80 3-season mummy bag good for at least 0 according to the bumph. I froze my proverbials off and it was about -2. Admittedly I was sleeping on snow, but still: this was a sealed tent, with a dog in there too!

Cardboard and ground insulation is a must, but don't expect a comfortable night. I would even invest in several blankets if I were you.

Seriously, I'm not sure what you are planning is very safe... Are there no other options?

There are plenty of experienced campers on here but I am not one of them. Heed what they say very closely, IMO...

Good luck

If your broke and want to make a warm shelter the easy way to learn is go to a library and read up some Ray Mears stuff, If you can afford to however at the least buy an ex army sleeping bag -quite cheap and a couple of fpoam mats. Keep all you spare clothes in the bag with you they help minimise air movement and keep you warm, Better still pay more you get more but get a very warm Bag look in the Sales I use a dreamcatcher down bag and a Exped Down filled airmat and have camped in sub -15 temperatures but remember these things cost more so your going to need £300 - 400 to get really good gear. Another way is to buy a Buffalo top and wear it in the bag. Also go to a few proper mountain shops seek there advice and set your budget before you walk through the door walk away before buying then compare your results. (Remeber the salesman wants a sale so work things to your advantage go for ex display last years stock etc etc. Good luck

Thanks a lot for the replies guys :)

There's an army surplus store in town, so I'll go along tomorrow and see if they'll sell me something reasonable.

I looked in the attic and just found a massive role of loft insulation. I'm pretty sure I can rig some up to a mat to make a decent pad.

J

Edit :: This thing is cheap as hell - would it do me any good?

Tents, Camping, Army Surplus and Outdoors Supplies - Leith Army Stores

And how about this inside it?

Tents, Camping, Army Surplus and Outdoors Supplies - Leith Army Stores

The comfort on that is -3c. So with a bivi bag that might go to what, -5c? And then, with the tarp set up correctly to protect me from wind, and a woolly sweater and jeans and woolly socks and gloves on and a hat... What aremy chances? lol

One last thing, even though it hit -2last night - the minimum for the next 4 nights is a vast improvement :

BBC Weather | Edinburgh

The worst is 4c and the best is 13c. Crazy. I'm going to test it tomorrow, which will be 6c and see how I get on in the back garden.

If you want an honest answer - I think you would be wasting what little money it appears you have available. If you have wool clothing that is a bonus and wool socks, But you need insulation between you and the ground and a foam mat will do the job they cost about £5.00 Thermarest or a self inflating job will be better range from about £15.00 up over you dont need to go for branded names. If you still feel pushed to the limit Large bubble wrap from packaging makes a warmish base if you put several layers down.

I don't get it. You have £40, you're homeless, and you're trying to go visit a friend at the other end of the country?

Instead of spending your £40 on camping gear (why are you camping if you're trying to get somewhere?), keep the money and don't spend it unless you have to. £40 will get you 3 days in a youth hostel if you need it / enough food for two+ weeks.

I would borrow a pen, find a piece of cardboard and write 'SOUTH' on it. Hitch hiking at night in a nice warm truck cab will be better and safer than a half-arsed attempt at urban rough camping - and you might get to Cornwall, with enough cash to get your friend a present.

I think Martin has give you the best answer so far go with it.

If that's the fibreglass insulation you referred to earlier I'd forget it. It might look all fluffed up on the roll but it'll flatten out as soon as you lie on it and be useless as insulation. Worse than that, once you get it on your skin it'll irritate more than a politician's promise. You might find your warm bed to be in A&E (been there, done that!)

I've no idea how you're travelling but if it's dry you could get away with camping out in those temps if you're careful and follow some of the advice others have given - ground insulation, stay out of the wind etc. It won't be comfortable but you'll probably still be alive the next morning. I've done the occasional night like this down to -5C (and lived). If it rains though you need to be very careful. Once you get wet you'll chill down very quickly.

If you're going to hitch, try to get some distance done before you've spent a night in a hedge. It'd hard enough hitching when you still look respectable but two nights of wild camping will just about finish off lift possibilities

Everyone's got a learning curve, and you're at the steep beginning of yours. Go slow and you'll do fine; start in abruptly, as you appear to be contemplating, and you'll be uncomfortable at best, in actual danger at worst.

What this means in practice is that you want to experiment with equipment and techniques when and where the consequences are reversible and not severe...or under the guidance of someone experienced. If you're going to spend the night outdoors in below freezing temps on a groundmat of fiberglass insulation, you really want to do this in your own backyard, or at least within easy reach of friends and the refuge they'll provide when it all goes sour. As it will, per the explanation above.

I'll add only that there are several varieties of outdoor experts. Some pursue hobbies involving spending a lot of voluntary time outside in inclement weather: fishers, climbers, campers, bicyclists, motorcyclists. Quite a few learn their skills in the scouts or the armed forces. Others know how to make it all work for little or no money: these folks are often referred to as "homeless," or "bums." It's the latter who really have the information you're seeking, and believe me, they won't often be found lurking here on the Hubb. You'll find, though, that they know where to get free clothing, bedding, food and shelter, how to stay dry when it's wet and warm when it's cold....and how to stay out of reach of those who prey on such people, an important consideration.

There's real skill in it, and (see above) a steep initial learning curve, but there are lots of folks out there doing it. Some are pretty messed up, but others are fine, often fascinating people. It might not look good on your resume, but some of what you'll learn is readily transferable to a more conventional life.

I speak from the perspective of one who was, at various times long ago, homeless and destitute--and who has ever since made lifestyle choices involving living outdoors under more comfortable circumstances. Don't make the mistake of thinking that the salesclerk in your local outdoor recreation emporium will be able to teach you what you need to know about living in the open without much money. With occasional exceptions, only people who've actually lived that way will know much about how it works.

In framing it this way I hope it's clear that I don't mean to sound critical of any ideas or advice found here.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your journey.

Mark