Stuffable Sleeping Bag Evaluation - Urban Survival

My stuffable sleeping bag is a great idea, but will it actually work in cold weather? Watch me find out as I sleep in it outside in -2 celsius.

To make the sleeping bag I took some parachute panels and sewed what is basically an oversized sleeping bag without insulation. This bag is meant to stuffed with improvised insulation including leaves, paper, cardboard, clothing, plant fibers, tarps, plastic bags, etc. When unstuffed the sleeping bag is very compact and lightweight.

This is a great solution for me since it's ultra lightweight and can be jammed into any bag or kit or even as a scarf. Mors Kochanski had a similar idea to this which he called the Survival Scarf. It was smaller and had only one stuff sack instead of the two that I put in mine. He used his as a blanket, vest, ground mat, bivi, and all kinds of other cool ideas.

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[rubbernecker13]

US army sleeping bags come with an outer gortex shell. I'm sure you know gortex sheds water and wind but breathes all the moisture out. Maybe you can make one with a cozy flannel inner and gortex outer stuffable one or something someday. I wonder also if you could make it a modular ghillie suit/sleeping bag type thing if you needed to avoid zombies or looters or something and be able to get up and flee or fight if found.

[envirosponsible]

@rubbernecker13 Wow, slow down! I can't write this down fast enough.  Those are awesome ideas bro. You just blew my mind. What else is in that brain of yours?

[CdnLifeguard71]

Interesting concept. Are you going to test it with different materials for the stuffing? ie. cardboard like you mentioned. Not an expedient shelter, nothing quick about it but cool none the less.

Nate

[envirosponsible]

@CdnLifeguard71 I used a tarp for insulating material on my torso during this video and it worked really well. I'd like to try paper or cardboard but don't know when I'll be able to. Later Nate.

[BushcraftOnFire]

Excellent and fair evaluation Bro! Well done. I like the idea of the bag.. You have an inner and outer bag... Is that correct? How much does the entire setup weigh? GREAT video!

[envirosponsible]

@BushcraftOnFire Thanks BCOF. It has an upper and lower bag so to speak, and there's a spot between them that I slide into. I haven't weighed it yet. It's still stuffed so I can try it on a really cold night, like under -10 c. Excellent channel by the way. I'm a sub.

[rubbernecker13]

@envirosponsible Your stuffable idea is awesome, good thinking. Carrying a bunch of insulation is a pain in many situations. Two real situations came to mind thinking about it later. Your sleeping bag would be sweet for backpacking. Also, I may have to make some sort of ghillie suit bag this next fall if neighbors loot my garden. I've often been robbed blind in the past but am in a new location so we'll see. Hopefully they put the fear in their children too so I don't have to. Thanks for ideas.

[skecanj]

Btw, even wet leaves have an insulating effect. Anything that gives dead air space - wet or dry - will insulate you. Of course, dry is preferred, but wet will work.

[skecanj]

Portable, would drastically cut down on debris hut-making time if you're on the move in a SHTF situation. I know with a debris hut you lose a lot of heat if you have no door, so you're right in wanting a hood or something for greater warmth.

I can relate to the calming effect... kind of womb-like, sleeping in leaves. Insulates you from noise, too.

[DOSphantom]

Well for colder you could always cover some of it in dirt of whatever partially, or make a shelter, maybe use an emergency blanket and small fire to get some radiant heat going, no reason you couldn't wrap a blanket around you before you slide in.

[woodsinme]

There are videos on here of some innovative shelters. The idea of a bag is pretty cool but it has a couple of wrinkles. I do like the concept. Given if you could put that stuffed bag in a crevice that was already reasonably dry it would be awesome. As long as you can find something to stuff it with. You would be looking for sheltered places. Looking at approaches,water and raw materials. Thanks for posting! I know it takes time and I appreciate it. I am a youtube slacker. I have one vid up.