It has been a long and cold winter here. But, unlike prior years, I found myself outside more than not. Which meant I spent a considerable amount of time dialing in a great Cold Weather Sleep System…In a hammock no less.
Before we dive much further, I’ll say that the best part about this Cold Weather Sleep System is the fact that you can use as much or as little of it as you need throughout the entire year. The hammock can be used as a standalone item. The wool blanket or swagman roll can be used on milder days/nights. And the sleeping bag will be best suited for cold nights (in a hammock, tent or on the ground). This sort of versatility means you will get your money’s worth from the gear throughout the year…Rather than just during winter.
Cold Weather Hammock Camping
Let me start by saying, cold weather hammock camping is absolutely doable and you don’t have to spend a small fortune. Just the same, it can indeed be miserable if it’s not done right. To give you a point of reference: I have spent 15º (f) nights in my hammock and slept comfortably…Just the same, I have hammock-camped in 40º temperatures and been miserable. It’s all about layering, picking the right gear and protecting the underside of your hammock from the wind.
As we dive in below: For this layering approach, we are going to start from the inside of our “hammock camp” and work our way in.
Paria Sanctuary Tarp
My Paria Sanctuary Tarp has been with me for over 2 years at this point. It is lightweight, extremely packable and sets up in a hurry with a premade ridgeline. This tarp serves two main purposes for me: It cuts the wind from blowing directly into my space and it keeps rain or snow off of me.
Helikon-Tex Swagman Roll
For my underquilt, I am using the Helikon-Tex Swagman Roll, which is, as I see it, the multitool of outdoors blankets. It can be made into a poncho that you wear, a blanket, a sleeping bag…And as you see above, an underquilt.
As with any multitool, it won’t be as defined for one single purpose. Rather, it will perform a lot of various things well. With that said – I have come to really like this piece of gear. It works very well to block wind from your bottom side while in a hammock. It also serves as a great piece of gear on warmer nights when I only need a lightweight blanket inside of my hammock or wrapped around me.
See more about Helikon-Tex products here.
Thermarest Sleeping Pad
Nothing fancy here. I have a simple $20-30 closed cell foam sleeping pad from Thermarest that I picked up in the camping section of my local catch-all store. It does a fantastic job of providing some insulation to the bottom of my hammock and keeps me a lot warmer. It is rather bulky when compared to a blow-up air mat, which is the only downside I have found.
Tip: This is a fantastic piece of gear to pull out of your hammock and use as a seat around the campfire.
Rothco Wool Blanket
I have the largest model of the Rothco Wool Blanket (90″ x 66″) and it is the heaviest item in my Cold Weather Sleep System, coming in around 3lbs. However, the large size of this blanket and the distinct advantages you gain from it being wool (see below) make it invaluable in frigid conditions. I personally use my wool blanket under my body and overtop of my Thermarest sleep mat to provide a tad bit more insulation from below. There are, however, times where I will wrap it all around the top side of my sleeping bag and body if I need the added warmth.
Tip: Wool blankets are invaluable due to them retaining their warming capabilities even when wet. They are also the only piece of gear that I would wrap up in near a crackling fire, due to the risk of other types of materials burning when embers hit them. See more about Rothco products here.
Paria Thermodown 0º Sleeping Bag
My great experience with the Paria Sanctuary Tarp led me toward their Thermodown 0º Sleeping Bag. I could not be happier with this bag. It is extremely toasty, full of comfortable loft, packs very small, has substantial insulation in the footbed (where I get cold the easiest) and it is extremely high quality. I have spent some cold nights in the Thermodown 0º Bag and woke up very comfortable.
Tip: Do NOT skimp on your sleeping bag. I made this mistake initially and regretted it 30 minutes into laying down at night. Spend the money on something quality such as this Thermodown 0º Bag. See more about Paria Outdoor Products here.
Some Misc Hammock Camping Tips
I personally love hammock camping. And I like it even more in cold weather. But there are some things you will need to put into practice in order to be comfortable and enjoy yourself.
- Layer up:
As I mentioned above, use a layering system. You can always shed layers depending on what temperatures you’re camping in. - At bedtime, remove your socks + use a hot water bottle:
Before you slip away to your hammock, heat up a stainless steel water bottle over the fire, wrap a shemagh around it and shove it down into the footbed of your sleeping bag. Then remove your socks and warm your feet with the water bottle (being careful not to burn yourself…hence the use for the shemagh). The hot bottle will last for 4 hours or so, even on the coldest of nights. - Pack Extra Socks + Store your extras in your sleeping bag:
Pack at least one extra pair of socks for an overnighter. This will be crucial for keeping your feet dry and comfortable once one pair of your socks have become sweaty. Always keep the socks which are removed from your body inside of your hammock/sleeping bag. Your body will warm them up as you lay down and make them more comfortable to put back on in the morning. - Bring a winter hat:
I’m a big fan of wearing a toboggan hat to bed on cold nights. Just like my feet, I cannot stand for my ears to get cold when I’m sleeping. - Bring something to do:
It’s going to get dark earlier in the colder months. So, if you’re not planning on hanging around the campfire very long, you’re going to need something to do. I’ve personally been reading a lot lately. So I like to bring my UCO Candle Lantern and whatever book I’m reading. This makes the nights a lot more enjoyable.
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