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Post by bo on Feb 20, 2018 9:16:36 GMT -8
I'm a naturally small and skinny person, 5'3" and barely 105 lbs. I have a lot of trouble gaining weight, and my lack of body fat means I tend to be really susceptible to the cold. This has been pretty troublesome for me when it comes to hiking and camping, as I burn through my reserves quickly during the day and then almost always keep losing energy at night due to never feeling warm. I want to find some strategies to get myself better prepared to hike longer during the day and stay warmer at night and around camp in the morning and evening when the temperature drops.
Any advice? Clothing or gear that might help? Diet while on the trail?
Thanks in advance!!
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 20, 2018 18:00:36 GMT -8
Welcome, Bo!
I'm thinking about your problem, and of course clothing matters--make sure it's all good quality wicking, down insulation, all that. But you'll also need to eat a LOT, and a lot of it fats to keep warm. I have a history of getting cold in camp in the evenings, and hot soup, a good meal and all helps. But I also carry a really warm hat, a down jacket, and a pair of fleece pants even in summer (well, I'm usually at altitude in summer, so overnight temps can drop well below freezing at times). You'll almost certainly need a bag rated a fair bit higher than the lowest temps you expect.
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Post by bo on Feb 21, 2018 11:44:36 GMT -8
Thanks for the advice! I guess it might be time to invest in some higher-quality warm clothes... and up my BLT intake haha. Good point about getting a bag that's rated warmer than the lowest expected temps. I've been using a 30 degree bag and wearing sweaters to sleep, but still tend to be surprised by how chilly it can get at night.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2018 18:54:44 GMT -8
boOn backpacking trips she eats at 5AM, snacks till 10AM when she has a 400 to 500 calorie intake, lunch, snacks, a big snack at 3PM, she eats at 5PM, 7PM, and goes to bed with some food item; like a gel. Otherwise she gets cold. She has a 0 degree down bag, sleeps in expedition weight socks, mid weight long johns, a down balaclava, and has a 700 weight down jacket at the ready, for summer. All so she can be able to be warm. Gortex or Gortex like items will be your friend, wind blockage. We have gone with high density, high calories foods and snacks.
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Feb 21, 2018 21:22:19 GMT -8
I eat more at breakfast than any other time. My appetite is often suppressed by fatigue at dinner, so I often break it into two parts. I find a little break in between helps me eat more overall. Getting enough hydration and electrolytes helps, too. I finish with a cup of hot chocolate before turning in.
I don't need much insulation on the go, but I add layers in camp as I feel the need. I use a warmer sleeping bag than most people under any conditions.
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mk
Trail Wise!
North Texas
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Post by mk on Feb 22, 2018 14:24:32 GMT -8
The forum members have a lot of good advice on staying warm(er) -- a couple of things that have helped for me is a high-calorie, high-fat snack right before bed and sleeping on a closed-cell pad in addition to my thermarest. I, too, have a decreased appetite by dinner, so my bedtime snack is a peanut butter Snickers, which always tastes good to me. (and I almost never eat them other than when backpacking.)
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Post by ed84093 on Feb 22, 2018 21:54:15 GMT -8
Hey Bo welcome to the forums. As a newbie as well I don’t have a ton of experience myself. Additionally I’m 215 lbs, down from my max of 250, so your problem isn’t familiar
... lol. That stated I remember reading in one book that you can put a hot water bottle or rock wrapped in a bag, in your sleeping bag. Sounds like a great idea to me. I’m thinking out loud here but an extra thick pair of socks would help? There are spots on your body which have a high proportion of blood vessels that can act like a radiator. These would be the bottoms of your feet, your hands, nether regions, head and armpits. Keeping these covered and extra insulated (socks, gloves, hats, etc) I would imagine anyway keep you warmer? Also eating something “heavy” and hot, like a stew or cup of clam chowder, etc., both adds thermal energy as they are warm, but also a larger source of calories that I think take longer to break down (ie fats). You could also get some hand warmers that you shake up and put them in your gloves?
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Post by dannoh on Mar 19, 2018 13:32:10 GMT -8
You might want to check out the Columbia line of base layers, it has a metal foil liner to help keep you warm. Both the wife and I use them for our climbing and backpacking trips. they work really well.
I would also second that putting warm water into a Nalgene and then putting it into a sock will help keep your feet warm at night.
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