Cold

**Rouskof** · 02-23-2018, 06:26

Does it make sense to sleep in your down jacket / down pants inside your top quilt when it is very cold ?

**cmoulder** · 02-23-2018, 06:58

Originally Posted by Rouskof

Does it make sense to sleep in your down jacket / down pants inside your top quilt when it is very cold ?

Yes, I do it all the time.

It's one of the best ways to reduce pack weight and gear volume in the winter. I use a 0°F (-17.7°C) HG Incubator UQ paired with an EE Enigma +20°F TQ for temperatures down to a few degrees below zero (coldest this winter has been 4°F) combined with an Eddie Bauer down parka (with hood!) and Montbell TEC down pants and am fine.

Been doing this for many years, even as a ground dweller, of course using a carefully chosen air mat (Xtherm) and 3/8" closed-cell foam pad instead of UQ.

Keeping pack weight low in the winter is a bit of an art and it requires a lot of experimentation to discover what works for you.

**HoosierT** · 02-23-2018, 08:28

I almost always sleep in my down jacket. It allows me to take my arms of my quilt and not feel the cold air so badly as compared to my merino thermals. Even at 55* I sleep in it and use my 2.5 osy Apex TQ. BTW I use a Montbell Superior so it's not exactly big and puffy which is why I find it sooooo comfortable to sleep in and it's hooded so I often wear the hood when sleeping for ear warmth.

**OlTrailDog** · 02-23-2018, 09:31

If you are cold enough almost anything will make sense to get warm....except Rockets Redglare's hanging over a campfire.

Climbers often minimize gear because hardware weighs so much. An elephant foot combined with a down parka is one way to make that happen. The Feathered Friends Vireo system is made specifically to mate with a down parka also. Once you are up and moving you should generate enough BTUs to stay warm. Personally, I have not used this type system, but have definitely augmented my sleeping bag with additional insulated clothing layers. That way I can take a sleeping bag that is more compact and weighs less.

**Rouskof** · 02-23-2018, 10:38

Ok, that encourages me.
The few tentatives I made, I had the impression that wearing my down pants and parka, I could not warm up my topquilt enough for my feet to stay warm, but maybe was it just an impression. Or maybe I should consider down camp boots...

**TrailSlug** · 02-23-2018, 10:45

If you are having to wear this to keep warm then you should consider getting a warmer quilt. If your feet are cold then you should also consider a sewn footbox. I have chronic cold feet and my LocoLibre Ghost Pepper quilt with footbox keep my feet warm and many times I have to take off my socks they stay so warm. This amazes me as I rarely have warm feet.

**Otter1** · 02-23-2018, 10:49

Originally Posted by TrailSlug

If you are having to wear this to keep warm then you should consider getting a warmer quilt.

Agreed. Unless the lower temps you are experiencing are a rarity, then supplement your existing quilt all you can! I strongly recommend, however, not adding the jacket &/or pants UNTIL you feel cooler. Putting them on at bedtime (when I'm not yet cold) has resulted in perspiration - which in turn made me.....COLD!

**curtiseddie** · 02-23-2018, 10:52

Absolutely! It's like stacking quilts.

**TallPaul** · 02-23-2018, 10:53

Often my feet are cold but not my upper body. So I’ll stuff my down coat into the foot box of my TQ and it seems to help

**HoosierT** · 02-23-2018, 10:56

You should also look at what socks you're wearing if you're feet are perpetually cold. Most socks fit too tight and cause a drop in adequate circulation to keep your feet warm. Synthetic/down booties or possumdown socks (Zpacks sells some) can easily solve this. If it's not super cold as to not warrant my booties, then I just wear slightly oversized smartwool socks and have never had cold feet. Per the above, I also use a quilt with a sewn footbox below 50* so there's that too.