Todd, I have always slept fully clothed in my sleeping bag, the only reason I can see that a person would strip off (to their underwear) would be that they want to keep their bag clean, or am I missing something here? I have often heard this and I have always wondered why. I realize that some bags can't be washed, but if I was stranded and cold I would definately keep my clothes on as those extra layers sure keep me extra warm. That is unless I started to sweat, then in most bags I would peel off a few layers. I have slept in my bag continuously for at least a year.

Any insulation whether it be clothes, blanket or a sleeping bag works by how much warm air it can imobilize and stop from flowing to a colder area. That is why the foam cell therma-rest works MUCH better than the single air pocket air mattress.

It seems to me that clothes could trap air much more effectively when wrapped around me than when laid over the top of a sleeping bag. Also, for the same reason I am always warmer with the sleeping bag around me than over the top of me. However, I may be overlooking something here.

I carry my Wiggys sleeping bag when I am driving in cold snowy weather. At 5 lbs it isn't light, but it is the warmest bag I have come across; I can wash it (it really needs one now <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> ) and I wake up dry in it.

I have thought of adding a really good quality wool blanket or two to my kit for other people, but I haven't found any really good quality thick blankets (made like they used to). Wool is pretty hard to beat. I wouldn't mind a Filson blanket but they come with a pretty stiff price tag. The're worth every cent I'm sure.

I have noticed that it is good to have some carbs to eat before you go to sleep if you want to stay warm in really cold weather. It is probably good to have some hi carb bedtime snacks in your kit for those unplanned cold weather sleepouts, it helps increase the rating of any bag or blanket. Ya gotta keep that fire going! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

-Mac