no sleep bag camping

I've used that combination a couple of times, in combination with my puffy and hiking tights and rain pants, but only where it didn't drop below 45-50* F at night

I'd replace the tent and thermarest with something lighter before I would leave the sleeping bag at home.

Closed cell foam pad 6 oz aprox
small tarp 10 oz aprox

If you don't need a sleeping bag you don't need an emergency blanket – just wear your base layer garments.

I've only tried it with a low in the mid-50's (tropical humid, Hawaii) and even then I draped a fleece over my head in order to sleep in.

Kathryn, perhaps you could post your full gear list in the appropriate forum and specify what kind of trips you'll be taking it on. If your weight is really a concern, I'm sure there are less drastic measures that can be taken. It sometimes just takes another set of eyes to find them.

But to answer this question directly, unless you're a very experience backpacker and you've had the chance to test out your no-sleeping-bag rig in the conditions you'll use it in, I would be very hesitant to ditch the sleeping bag. Perhaps if you're going down to 50 degrees at night you'll only be uncomfortable. Below that, I think you would be unsafe.

Jack Stephenson Sr., founder of Warmlite, originally started out trying to make a multi-layer aluminum coated Mylar "sleep system". Sort of like four or five nested "tents". He eventually gave up, after many attempts, realizing that down is more efficient in terms of weight, construction, comfort, and warmth.

Of course, if you are looking for something that works in 60° night time temps, almost anything would work.

I could see pulling it off in hot summer weather. I use a small Prolite pad when I want to get pack volume down. With that and a bivy, a poncho tarp or Gatewood Cape and all my layers on, it wouldn't be bad in the 50's or higher.

Like other said, you can get some really light sleeping bags. I had a MontBell 40F down bag that was just a pound and packed down to Cantaloupe size. My go to summer bag is a synthetic 32F bag that is 2 pounds.

As others wrote, post your gear list int the Gear List Forum for evaluation. There are all kinds of little tricks to saving weight and not spending a week's pay.

In hot weather, I sometimes use a 6.5oz Klymit X-Lite Recon and 9.5oz Sea to Summit Reactor liner(weights include their stuff sacks). Very comfortable. I've also tried the <4oz SOL emergency bivy once, just playing around, but I keep that in my daypack and don't want to tear it up.
Keep in mind we're talking temps like I'd be sleeping in with a sheet over me in my house.

16oz sleep system:

Edit: btw, my 50F quilt only weighs 4oz more than that S2S Reactor, and I should be able to use it 5 months out of the year here in the South, possibly 6.
I answered because you asked, but really think the sleeping bag liner was a waste of money, and just use it a few times per year because already I have it.

That's something you do in am emergency. You don't sleep.
You would be better off sleeping next to a campfire.

Where and when do you intend to use this approach?

…

So my conditions will be 13,000 ft at least 2 nights. expecting 20 – 30 degrees and I am guessing from all of the responses that this is a bad option. I would like to locate a bag that is light weight and very compact – and not spend $300+. I am looking on gear swap and ebay. my current bag is 3.5 lbs and even with compression bag not that small.

Appreciate all the good advice. I will keep looking for a light weight quilt or bag.

Kathryn

Yes Kahtryn, bad idea. With a puffy and a space blanket you would survive, but only survive. No comfort or sleep. Also, assuming you are a woman based on your name, you would have a rougher time as a woman because women generally sleep much colder than men.

A better option for an unintentional or intentional bivouc is to set up a tarp lean-to style and build a fire in front. You would be warm enough to get some sleep, waking up somewhat often to add more wood. Very effective, but only reliable in dense and sheltered forests.

I got my western mountaineering summerlite for $200 here on gear swap. Just keep looking. A good down bag can last you decades.

I think its a really bad idea. You would be very cold. Look at enlightened equipment. There are frequently light quilts on gear swap too.

> 13,000 ft at least 2 nights. expecting 20 – 30 degrees and I am guessing from all of
> the responses that this is a bad option.
It's not even an option imho! But 'bad' is certainly correct.

I have slept in my walking clothing in the open – on hot sand under a hot cliff when it was >35 C in the day. Even so, at 3 am I did retreat into our tent.

Cheers

I've slept inside a Mylar space blanket bag below tree line in the Sierras in summer & it was horrible. Very quickly there was a lot of condensation inside & it got cold & miserable. Warmer than no bag, but not fun.

Thanks to all. I won't attempt. Rather new at this and just looking for ideas – but this one of mine wasn't that great!

K

"13,000 ft at least 2 nights. expecting 20 – 30 degrees"

Freezing through the night is a special kind of misery not soon forgotten. I'd shave weight somewhere else. Post your gear list and let's get your pack weight down some other way.

I don't think bad idea. Good down to some temperature, like 50 F or something. Try it.

Space blanket better as an emergency shelter that will keep you alive if caught overnight when not expected. I carry one with me.

I strongly agree with Jerry and the rest that space blankets are more of an emergency solution. Miserable but safe. The vapor barrier type thing can work under very cold conditions but would be particularly bad for warmish nights.

As Greg mentioned, the reason why down bags/quilts seem to be the default is a simple one. There is no other breathable, comfortable system as efficient per unit weight, or a compact. For example, if you just bring clothes that will get you through the colder night, then you will not need many of them during the day. When you separate out the clothes you have just for sleeping you will find they are heavier that the quilt solution – more surface area, more weight, less efficient per unit weight. For maximum warmth for minimum weight and volume there is no solution like a down bag or quilt. If your motivation is just to save weight go with a smaller, lighter quilt.

I don't have my complete gear list, but pack is 3.14, bag 3.5, cooking gear for 4 is 1.2(not stove and fuel someone else has that), therma rest 1.2, therma pad for sitting .6, ground sheet (?not sure by I think about 1), tent for 2 (1/2 of weight) 3 lbs

then all the personal items, food, clothes for 5 days and 4 nights beginning at 8,000 ft. up to 13,000 and back to 9,000.

I have a 2.12 lb backpack coming to see if it fits ok and if it does that shaves 1 lb. if I can get a lighter bag that might shave another. I know the tent weight could come down, but tent partner likes this particular tent and it's just over 6 lbs.

any thoughts?

You can get a polycro ground sheet which is only a couple ounces.

Are you saying your bag is 3.5 lbs? You can get a 20 degree down bag that is 2 lbs. That would save you 1.5 lbs right there. If your current bag is synthetic it would also gain you some more space. The great thing about down is that it will usually last a life time unless you just plain wear it out. Synthetics will crap out pretty fast. I have one that is 10+ year old and it is essentially slowly turning into powder inside. My down bags bought 15 years ago are as good as new.

I still have, and occasionally use for car camping, an REI rectangular down sleeping bag that I acquired in 1974. A good down bag is definitely a life time purchase.