The Low-Tech Trick To Stay Warm In Your Sleeping Bag When You're Camping In The Cold

Camping is an incredible activity to experience year round. Spring is the perfect time to enjoy the wildflowers in full bloom and the first days of warmth. Summer is ideal for soaking up the sun, immersing yourself in lush green forests, and cooling off in natural swimming holes. Autumn is pure bliss with colorful leaves, misty mornings, and cozy evenings around the fire. Even winter has its own special magic — quiet campgrounds with fewer crowds and sparkling frost-covered earth. Though the cooler months are beautiful times to enjoy nature, some campers struggle to fall asleep in cold weather. 

Regardless of when you decide to visit your bucket list camping destination, staying warm at night is going to be crucial. Even during the height of summer it can get chilly at night, especially if you're camping at a high altitude or in the desert where the temperature changes drastically from day to night.

Having the right gear will certainly help you keep warm in your tent, but sometimes even the coziest sleeping bag isn't enough to completely ward off the frigid feeling of a cold night. If you're unprepared, you may be in for a rough experience. Everyone talks about how wonderful camping can be, but hardly anyone mentions how difficult it can be to fall asleep when you're shivering. Instead of spending your night tossing and turning, here's a low-tech trick: try working up some body heat before you fall asleep. You don't need any special gear or gadgets, all you need to do is get your heart pumping. A little exercise in your sleeping bag can help raise your body temperature enough to fall asleep in cold weather.

Years ago I went on a week-long wild camping excursion in the early spring. It was my first big backpacking trip, and we packed super light. The weather forecast was pleasant, but after hiking and camping for a few days, things took a turn for the worse. A major cold front came through, and it began to snow. I had only packed a three-season sleeping bag and an inexpensive camp pad. Luckily, we stumbled upon an Appalachian Trail shelter, but I still spent the night shivering and sleepless. I wish I had known then that exercising in my sleeping bag could have warmed me enough to sleep well. 

One Reddit user wrote about a similar experience in the r/Ultralight subreddit. "Just got back from a camping trip and honestly, I had one of the coldest nights I've ever experienced," ProfessionalSock9171 wrote. "Temps dropped way more than I expected and even with my sleeping bag, extra socks, and layers, I could not get warm. I was shivering half the night and barely got any sleep." They went on to ask the community for any tips and tricks to staying warm "when your gear just isn't cutting it," and Reddit users had some great advice.

A lot of commenters responded that proper preparation is key, but others offered some low-tech tricks that really would have come in handy on my backpacking trip. Multiple commenters mentioned that movement before bed can be a game changer. Experts agree that some light exercise before going to sleep can keep you warm. You don't want to do so much that you get sweaty or are wide awake, but some sit-ups or planks in your sleeping bag can warm up both you and your bag. 

If doing some sit-ups in your sleeping bag doesn't do the trick, some Reddit users suggest that you pack up and keep hiking. "Hike on and sleep once the sun comes up or if it's a short trip, hike back out," u/Auraculum wrote. "Hiking in the dark is better than sitting there waiting for hypothermia once you realize you messed up." Hypothermia can come on quickly, so it's crucial that you find a way to warm up fast.

Before giving up and embarking on a potentially dangerous night hike, try warming up some hot water over the fire or your camp stove. Put it in a water bottle, wrap that in a sock, and keep it inside your sleeping bag, close to your core or perhaps between your legs where your femoral arteries are. A warm water bottle is a great way to increase the temp within your sleeping bag. Some campers use coals from the campfire to keep warm. Once the fire is extinguished you can safely gather the hot coals and place them in a metal can to use as a radiant heat source inside your tent, or bury them underground and put your tent over top. Just make sure not to burn yourself! 

Before you go to bed, eat a decent meal and drink a warm beverage. Digestion helps your body generate internal heat, and a nice warm cup of tea does wonders. Stay away from alcohol as it causes your body to lose heat faster, even if you feel temporarily warmed. Make sure your entire body, including your head, are tucked inside your sleeping bag so that you aren't losing any heat.