Siblings sharing a sleeping bag led to an unexpected cold night in the mountains

My two sons insisted on using a single sleeping bag rated for 30 degrees. Temperatures dropped to 40, and they both woke up shivering because the bag couldn't retain heat with movement. I now always pack individual bags with proper ratings for each child. Look for reviews that discuss heat retention with multiple users.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_anna1mo ago

Heard a podcast say two bodies create dead air spaces.

the_lisa1mo ago

That podcast might be oversimplifying it a bit. The dead air is really the trapped cold air from all the movement shifting the insulation around.

troyh341mo ago

Hold on, the bag was rated for 30 degrees but they were cold at 40? That seems backwards since it should be adequate for lower temps. Movement must have completely compromised the insulation, creating those dead air spaces the podcast mentioned. I've always assumed sharing would add warmth, but this shows how wrong that can be. Proper individual bags are non-negotiable for safety in the mountains.