6 Tips To Avoid Sweaty sleeping bag

Lack of breathability and warm-rated sleeping bags usually cause sweatiness.

So how to avoid them?

1. Choose your Cloth Carefully

The type of cloth you wear can have a big impact on your temperature and thus how much you sweat.

However, whether you should wear fewer clothes to stay cooler or more clothing to make it harder for your body heat to spread is hotly debated. Some people recommend wearing something light and cotton, while others say cotton is a no-no

Pro tips: breathable cotton is an excellent material for breathability.

2. Check The Temperature Rating of your sleeping bag

If your sleeping bag is rated for 30 degrees and you’re sleeping in a 65-degree environment, no wonder you feel like you are sleeping in hell.

The good news is that this is a simple problem to solve. Sleeping bags rated for higher temperatures are likely to be less expensive.

Before you do anything else, check the temperature rating of your sleeping bag. If you notice it’s designed for cold temperatures, you may need to get a second, lighter option for warm-weather camping trips, you are going to spend some money but it is probably worth it.

3. Ventilate Your Tent

Getting some air flowing through your tent can help you stay cool. If the air is trapped for an extended period of time, it can make your entire tent feel warm and muggy.

Furthermore, if you open a window (while keeping the bug screen zipped up), you can unzip your sleeping bag and allow yourself to cool off. You can return to sleep once the sweat has evaporated and you’re feeling more at ease.

A rainfly is frequently included with your tent. If you sleep without the rain cover, you can significantly adjust the temperature. This is obviously only possible if it is not raining.

4. Avoid Humid places

The more humidity there is, the worse it gets.

So, avoid camping in highly humid areas entirely. Otherwise, you may need lighter sleeping bags that allow you to easily ventilate.

5. Use A Liner instead of a sleeping bag

There are sleeping bag liners that can be used as a sleeping bag, they are way lighter and cheaper than a sleeping bag and it is impossible to sweat in them.

Sleeping bag liners are my go-to when it comes to summer camping and hiking trips.

6 Use Less Sweaty Sleeping Bag Alternatives

Perhaps a sleeping bag isn’t the best option for you. Luckily, there are many great alternative.

Comforters or regular blankets

Standard blankets and comforters are easy to use, more comfortable than a sleeping bag, and tend to breathe a little better than sleeping bags.

It’s also very simple to add or remove layers to control your temperature and thus the amount you sweat.

Regardless of how convenient this option is for sleeping, it is not the best option for hikers or backpackers. However, if you’re car camping and drive right up to your campsite, this could be the ideal option for you.

Quilts

Camping quilts are frequently regarded as superior to sleeping bags, even when camping in extremely cold weather. They can measure up to even the warmest sleeping bags, so you won’t end up freezing if the weather turns cold.

However, if you’re trying to avoid a sweaty bed, that feature may cause you some concern. The good news is that there are camping quilts designed to help you avoid sweaty beds and provide more breathability.

Bivy Bags

Bivy bags can also serve as a great substitute for both your sleeping bag and tent. As a result, they are an excellent choice for hikers, backpackers, and car campers. A bivy bag is essentially an outer shell for your sleeping bag. You enter, zip yourself up, and you’re safe from bugs and other critters in your sleeping area.

In terms of heat retention, these bags can be used with a variety of sleeping materials. If you prefer not to sleep in a sweaty sleeping bag, you can tuck some blankets into your bivy bag or simply sleep in warm clothes.

Hammocks

Hammocks are a great option for anyone looking for a cooler sleeping environment. Because they are suspended in the air, hammocks provide significantly more airflow than other types of camping beds. As a result, sweating is less of an issue.

Hammocks can become extremely cold due to the increased airflow. As in, sleeping below 50 degrees (even with a sleeping bag) may be unbearably uncomfortable.

There are, thankfully, ways to insulate a hammock. You can use a hammock-shaped sleeping pad, such as this one from Amazon (these are effective but tricky to get positioned just right). The sleeping pad is inserted into the hammock, and you sleep on top of it, much like a sleeping pad in a tent.

Alternatively, an underquilt can be used. An underquilt is essentially an insulated blanket that is intended to be hung directly beneath your hammock, with an air gap between you and the underquilt. The underquilt does an excellent job of keeping you warm.

Down Blankets

When you don’t want to carry a lot of blankets but still need something lightweight and warm, down blankets are ideal. You don’t have to worry about zipping up a down blanket, and it feels more like your own bed.

It’s also much easier to pull the blanket away from yourself if you’re getting too hot. Rather than struggling out of a sleeping bag, simply flip back a down blanket and you’re free to cool down. It’s a simple, easy way to stay comfortable without bulking up your pack.