How to Add Extra Insulation to a Mummy Sleeping Bag

If you own a mummy sleeping bag, and it's not keeping you warm enough when on camping trips in cold weather, you may be looking for ways to increase the amount of insulation used with the bad. While it is never a good idea to open up the sleeping bag and insert additional stuff (you could ruin the sleeping bag), there are are few different ways to make mummy bags warmer. Here is what you will need to do.

Step 1 - Sew or Pin an Extra Blanket into the Sleeping Bag

A great way to make your mummy sleeping bag warmer is to sew in an extra blanket on the interior lining of the bag. To do this, you'll need to turn the sleeping bag inside out and know how to use a needle and thread. The extra blanket doesn't need to be very thick. To the contrary, a thin blanket will create the extra layer of insulation you need to help keep you warm (a thick blanket might render the insulation in your mummy bag ineffective). If you don't want to sew the blanket into the sleeping bag, you can use safety pins to pin it in place.

Step 2 - Use a Thicker Sleeping Mat

One of the easiest ways to create an extra layer of insulation for your mummy sleeping bag is to simply use a thicker foam sleeping pad. Thicker foam pads help to insulate you and your sleeping bag from the cold in the ground. So, choose a sleeping pad that is about 1 or 1 1/2 inches thick instead of the cheap 1/2 inch types.

Step 3 - Use Hot Water Bottles

Fill a couple of hot water bottles with hot water and place them inside the sleeping bag. Alternatively, you can place them inside a large wool sock or other piece of thick clothing and place them between your legs and feet when you're sleeping. This will help to keep the femoral artery in your legs warm which is directly affects how warm the rest of your body feels.

Step 4 - Share Your Tent

When on a camping trip in cold weather, always make sure that you have a buddy in your tent. The added body warmth of an additional person in your tent will help to make both of you warmer inside your mummy sleeping bags.

Step 5 - Keep Your Head Covered

Sometimes, the head covering with a mummy sleeping bag can be a bit uncomfortable. Nevertheless, you should always make sure that your head is covered when sleeping in a sleeping bag in cold weather. A lot of the heat in your body is lost through the top of your head. So, even if it is just a simple baseball cap, use some sort of head covering while sleeping in your mummy sleeping bag.

Step 6 - Eat a Hot Meal Before Bed

Before you go to bed, always tried to eat a hot meal not more than 30 minutes to 1 hour before sleeping. Also, try to add a few more carbohydrates to your last meal before bedtime. A hot, carbohydrate filled meal will help better maintain your body's natural warmth.