I ditched my 1.3 kg sleeping bag for a clothing system that weighs 1.1 kg total and kept me warm at –6 °C in the Scottish Highlands. No bivvy, no pad—just what I wore or carried.
The 4 Layers (1.1 kg Total)
- Layer 1 – Merino 200 g/m² base (top + bottom): 380 g. Worn 24/7.
- Layer 2 – Grid-fleece mid (Patagonia R1 style): 300 g. Ventilation + warmth.
- Layer 3 – 60 g/m² synthetic puffy (hooded): 320 g. Sleep insulation.
- Layer 4 – Wind shirt (0.7 oz/yd² nylon): 110 g. Convection blocker.
The Sleep Sequence
- Arrive at camp sweaty? Change base layer—dry merino only.
- Eat 500 kcal hot meal; metabolism spikes core temp 0.5 °C.
- Boil 500 ml water, pour into steel bottle, hug to chest.
- Crawl into a debris hut or under a tarp lean-to on 20 cm of leaves.
Inside the Shelter
- Pull puffy hood up, zip wind shirt over everything.
- Stuff day clothes (fleece + wind shirt sleeves) into a pack liner—makes a 5 cm pillow with R-value 1.
- Tuck bottle between thighs; lasts 4 hours above 40 °C.
Micro-Adjustments
- Too warm? Unzip puffy 10 cm at chest.
- Too cold? Pull arms inside puffy sleeves, cinch hood to “snorkel.”
- Damp base? Sleep sitting for 20 minutes—gravity drains moisture.
Real-World Test
Night 1: –4 °C, light rain. I added a sit-pad (closed-cell foam, 50 g) under hips—gained 1.5 °C. Night 2: –6 °C, clear. No pad needed; leaf litter hit R-2.
Why It Beats a Bag
- You’re already carrying the clothes.
- No pack bulk—puffy compresses to 1 L.
- Dry faster—hang layers at dawn.
Emergency Variant
Lost your pack? Use Layer 1 + pine bough mattress + hot rocks in a fire pit 30 cm away. Still good to –2 °C.
Master this and a –5 °C bag becomes dead weight. Try it on your next overnighter—report back.
Comment below: What’s your go-to clothing sleep hack?