I brought a summer sleeping pad by mistake to camp overnight in -20C - What I learned...
Channel: Snowcelt
Date: 2024-02-20

Gear Links
Thermarest Polar Ranger (Long) Sleeping bag https://shorturl.at/jDI14
Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt Regular/Long https://rb.gy/co6gvm
Trekology UL80 Sleep pad https://rb.gy/co6gvm
Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm Sleep pad https://rb.gy/5ygm28

Hi folks! 

Welcome to a follow-up video to my recent coldest overnight winter camping adventure! 

To keep me warm, I had originally planned to use a Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm sleeping pad plus a half-inch foam mat under me, combined with a Thermarest Polar Ranger sleeping bag and topped by a Revelation quilt from Enlightened Equipment. 

Unfortunately, this combination proved to be unsuccessful in keeping me warm and cozy all night, mainly because I forgot to check my gear before leaving and brought my Trekology UL80 sleeping pad instead, one that has a very low insulative r-value and is essentially, a pad only suitable for summer.

I wasn't in any real danger as my sleeping bag is rated to a limit of -30C and my car was only a 20-minute walk away, in case things really got bad. 

In this video, I show three attempts to maintain warmth with the gear I had and whether they passed or failed. I also discuss how improving insulation, as well as reflecting radiated heat using Reflectix is also useful in gaining a few extra degrees of heat within the sleeping bag. Such temperature gains could mean having a warm night, a miserable night, or potentially avoiding hypothermia, frostbite or worse.

So, I think that I was lucky it was only an uncomfortable night. Nevertheless, it was a useful learning experience, given that even had I brought my better sleeping pad, it might have leaked or been punctured and I would have been in a similar position. 

NB! 
I am not a survivalist, nor any type of bushcraft expert, let alone any sort of adrenaline junkie. I definitely do not recommend trying this out for fun. I have a pretty good set of gear and had just enough to get me through the night. At such temperatures, frostbite and hypothermia are very real hazards and NOT to be taken lightly! 


 For the record, I purchased all of the gear in my videos with my own money and my opinions are solely my own.

The footage was filmed with a GoPro 11.

Come along with me on my adventures! You are most welcome! Check out my other videos, maybe give me a like, and consider subscribing. 

All the best, Kevin. :-)