One thing you might consider if you want to do more deep winter camping is a synthetic quilt to put over you sleeping bag. I own one from the US company Enlightened Equipment and my wife uses it over her -4° bag in the winter. Hopefully it wouldn’t be too hard to import to Germany. And you might be able to use it alone in the summer.
I actually have a synthetic Apex233 quilt that I used for the last 2 years on both my thru-hikes. I didn't bring it on top because the both of them are quite bulky together, but I think I'll bring it next time 😊😊
Elli and Otto, you are a great team. I admire your professionalism and the honest appraisals that you give of tried and tested equipment. Another really interesting video and beautifully presented. Cheers. Sheffield South Yorkshire. PS you're so good with Otto !
Love your videos, Elli. I'm a proponent of down bags but respect and understand your decision to avoid them. You might try a silk bag liner, it should increase the cold tolerance of your bag by about 2-3 degrees C. There are a couple of other bivy bag options. One is made by SOL here in the US and while they're designed for emergencies, I know quite a few people that have relied upon them to make their bags warmer when camping on snow or glaciers instead of incurring the expense of buying a -30 C bag. Testing out new ideas is all part of the adventure.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! A bivy bag sounds like a good idea, should have thought of it and will definitely try it. Thank you so much for following along :)
Props for this winter night camping video. Perhaps a solution for your sleeping system, is a sleeping bag liner. The brand 'Sea to summit' has several made from fleece, in different temperature ranges. F.i. an extra 4/8/10 degrees Celsius. Cheaper than a dedicated 'Cold winter sleeping bag' but it will do the job. (Also, put a (soda drink bottle) bottle cap in your tent peg bag. If you encounter hard soil, you can put the bottle cap on the tent peg and push it in with your hand/feet more easily).
Thank you for sharing your experience! I actually even own a sleeping bag lineer but totally forgot abouzt it. Definitely will take it with me next time :)
Sleeping bag comfort ratings are usually 6to8 degrees out. So a bag that claims a comfort rating of -3 is probably more like+4. Your content is really good, keep it coming 👍
Yes, maybe I was a bit too optimistic 😂 (thought I would get away with more layers). I had it in -2 and it performed so well, but I pushed the "limit rating" there, so probably no surprise 😂 Thank you :)
I'm wouldn't say this i accurate. Only cheap bags may be. Quality down bags from respectable manufacturers are pretty accurate. Such as western mountaineering, cumulus, Roberts, etc
Some spectacular woodland in Germany, those trees are so tall!! I think wild boar trying to get into the tent would’ve concerned me more than the cold! 😅
Thank you so much :) They can smell humans and will normally avoid them whenever possible. So probably unlikely that they would try and get into the tent, unless maybe if there's food in it.... Which is why I try to be safe and hang my bag/food :)
The ”limit” temp for any sleeping bag is too cold. I always use a bag with at least 5 deg lower ”comfort” rating than what the weather forecast is showing. On winter trips I just use the warmest bag I own, regardless of forecasted temp. It is ”comfort” rated to minus 30C… 😅 you simply can’t have too warm bag in winter. Just accept a higher weight. It is always worth it.
I thought I would get away with it with layers and a warmer sleeping mat, but yes - you're right of course.... The thing for me is: I often times do longer distances/multi-day hikes so I need something not too heavy and not too bulky. And getting something warmer (synthetic) is quite heavy/bulky and expensive which is why I didn't get anything else yet.... I don't want something that's too bulky for multi-day hikes. Switching to down would probably solve some issues (not as bulky and more lightweight), but yeah.... it's down and I tried to avoid it and just accepted to be a bit cold..... But yes, this made me think if I should start looking for something second-hand.... Thank you for sharing your experience :)
I have a couple suggestions in those cold nights. Heavy wool socks and Booties from Enlightened Equipment. They are not down yet pack very small. Also eat a fatty meal. Sounds crazy but it’s true, a heavy meal will keep your internal furnace burning all night. The last option, get more dogs!! Also: You are such a good human for Otto!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for sharing your experience :) Boots are definitely a good idea. Same for the meal. I actually had quite a big portion, but a lot of veggies too and not a lot of oil/nut butter. Will try it next time - thank you :)
Another hiker here who tries to stay with synthetic sleeping bags etc. It's difficult. I use Haglöfs Musca -26, which has a comfort rating of -17 degrees of celsius. But of course, this is heavier at 2.6 kg! Still, it's a good sleeping bag. What sleeping bag were you using? You could also try to add a warm water bottle to the sleeping bag before sleeping. It helps a lot! Also if you have a summer sleeping bag you could add that into your cold-weather sleeping bag. Also, there are sleeping bag liners that help a bit.
It really is hard when you're not using down, thank you for sharing your experience! That's the Ajungilak Aputi Fiber -10.... yes, I should have definitely added my summer sleeping bag or a liner for more warmth. It wasn't horrible, but I was hoping that I would be warmer. More layers for next time :)
Somebody should definitely start to list vegan-friendly hiking equipment and clothes because I find it often really difficult to find those. Many times for example with clothes you are not completely sure if there is leather or not. Many backbags are like this. Or shoes. And then again finding lightweight vegan-friendly sleeping bags, tents, etc is very time-consuming. Surprisingly, no manufacturer hasn't noticed this and focused on vegan hikers. There are many of us and in the future, there will be even more!@@ellihikes
Super video Elli, a bit of everything wise which is so useful for others . Loved the cooking wise , I always use noodles with everything tooo . I recommend getting some down booties as they useful but also a sleeping bag liner. I also used my down jacket too with sleeping bag . Sleeping bag temp rating are so unclear too. Lovely seeing Otto giving you hugs in the morning too. Looking good Elli , take both 🌷
Thank you so much, Chris :) Hahaha, yes - noodles are the best!! Yes, that would have been a good idea, I actually have both, but didn't even think of them when I packed the backpack ;)
How fun!! I love your frankness and candor about your experience being a little afraid and cold. The Thermarest looked fantastic - it's so thick! Thanks for another great video! Tschüß!
Hello Elli and Otto. So what's with the Tea ? Have you consumed Germany's supply of Coffee lol and I bet you were glad you were in some woods where you're allowed to have a gas stove this time. (No cold water meals like your last trip - yippee) Otto looked so happy today, very warm in the tent with all his gear on, and looking very cute as always. Don't know if he would wear them, but have you ever thought about getting him some Dog Booties ? for them chilly night's in the tent. Ok then Elli I can help you with your cold feet during the night, you have two options. Option #1 Stay home In front of a roaring fireplace. Option #2 do what I do when I'm out in my Kayak during winter, I wear a per of electric-heated socks. (MAKE SURE YOU GET A GOOD PER THERE IS A LOT OF CHEAP RUBBISH FOR SALE) The per I have cost about £100 but they last for 6 hours on full power and longer on medium and 27 years on low (But that could be a lie) Don't know if they're something you would be interested in. But If you would like a link let me know. I have heard of animal-friendly Down sleeping bags. I believe they just use feathers that have fallen off naturally and pick them by hand. However, I would think these would be Very Expensive, but it's an option you could look at. Have to add you have some Beautiful video footage of the woods that looked amazing the next morning in the snow. As always take care. 😋✌
Hahahahaha, I actually like tea a lot too :) I even imported some from the UK last summer when I travelled back to Germany. Definitely wouldn't have done it without a stove 😅 The heated socks sound interesting, will look into them - my sister has heated gloves that apparently work really well too. Thank you so much for following along :)
You two did great!!!! I could not afford or felt the expense of a winter sleeping bag for going out just a few winter times was a lot! So I bought a sea to summit fleece liner. When I hiked the AT I had a bivy sack to put over the sleeping bag as a vapor barrier. Both worked. Both together work great but don’t get too warm and sweat. Down booties work great for cold feet. Otto amazing little dog!!! My 75lb dog want to get on my bag! She has her own and sleeping pad wears a sled dog jacket also. Be well and Trail on! 🥾🐕
Thank you so much for your comment! I actually even own a sleeping bag liner but forgot about it .... the bivy bag sound like agood idea, will definitely try that :)
It's great that you are trying new experiences. Few tips from me: if you have source of heat (gas stove) and water, try to use it to make a sleeping bag warmer - pour a hot/boiling water to a bottle (nalgene is good) , wrap it in some material (socks or bandana) and put into foot of sleeping bag before sleep. You can also consider to use additional layer for you bag, inner (liner) or outside (smth like swagman roll with climashield apex insulation. I know that you dont like to use down, but try to find something like down socks - a big game changer for me while sleeping in cold temepratures... Good luck and keep going. HAVE FUN
Thank you for sharing your experience! I actually used the hot water bottle too (but didn't film it), which definitely helped :) Good idea to use a liner. I actually even have one from Sea to Summit but didn't think of bringing it along 😅 Booties/socks sound great 😊👍
Another fantastic video Ms Elli. It was so peaceful and beautiful with the snow. Woodpeckers thru the days here and always love to hear the lonely night songs of owls. I know it would add a lil more weight, might possibly check into sleeping bag liners. I’ve never camped below 20* Fahrenheit, but the thicker fleece type makes a big difference with my sleeping bag at those temps. The noodle dish looked quite tasty and breakfast did too😋 I couldn’t help but think how much more satisfying that would be over the cold soaked meals on your last trip. Otto was a trooper too as always. Enjoyed this adventure and I thank you again. Take care, keep safe and see you next time👍🏻🙏🏻😃☺️
Thank you so much for the kind words :) Yes, it was so beautiful. For some reason, I didn't hear woodpeckers in forever so it was so nice to hear them there! The sleeping bag liner is a great idea, I actually own one but didn't even think of taking it 😅🙈
What about a wool throw and heated socks? And maybe a bivvy bag over the top of the sleeping bag? I love that thermometer. Where do you buy that please? X
Good idea! Especially if I'm just doing a 1night where weight isn't that big of an issue..... The bivy bag sounds like an option too, will definitely look into that :) I found the thermometer on Amazon: amzn.to/42lthtS
Hi Elli! Another great video. I have the XTherm and took it out in Dec when overnight temps dropped to 20 degrees F. I always use a CCF pad underneath for a little extra padding (shoulder issues) and to allow the inflatable pad to work more efficiently. So far, I think it has performed well! The bulk of synthetic vs down is always a tradeoff, but winter backpacking usually lends itself to carrying a bigger pack depending on conditions and your loadout. I will sacrifice some weight for comfort in the winter months!🥶 Your meals sound delicious. Do you ever use powdered milk? Warm regards to you and Otto!😎🥾
Thank you so much for following along and sharing your experience. Yes, you're absolutely right. It's better to take a bit more and be warm and comfy.... I'm always trying do get both because especially for multi-day hikes in winter with Otto's stuff + food it's just so much stuff. But yes, very hard to avoid if you don't want to freeze.... :/ I sometimes use powdered oat or coconut milk, but it's just not as creamy as dairy milk which is why I don't really feel like I need it. Just doesn't make much of a difference for me...
Another lovely video, thank you. Have you thought of getting a lightweight insulated blanket to put over your sleeping bag if it's going to be really cold? That way you would avoid having to buy a new, higher spec sleeping bag that you may not use that often. If things are too warm, you can just leave the blanket at home. I use a Snugpak jumgle blanket when things are a bit chilly, but I've never tried this out in -10 like you
Thank you so much for following along and sharing your experience! I've not thought of that, but great idea - I think I would use my quilt for that next time. It's lightweight and opens up to basically a blanket. Will definitely try it :)
Das ist so cool! Toll, dass du das gemacht hast. Welches Zelt hast du da? Ich plane momentan auch eine Winterübernachtung in Brandenburg. Zum Glück ist es grad nicht ganz so kalt… Tolle Videos! :)
Vielen lieben Dank 😊🤗 das ist das Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1, ein freistehendes Zelt :) Der Winter scheint irgendwie schon fast vorbei zu sein 😥, aber vielleicht kommt ja nochmal was :) Viel Spaß 😊
Hi Ellie, is that the BA hv ul 1 tent your using, I too am doin the WHW in April best of look ,think I met you last year on the beinglass campsite I was inquiring about your tent.
I switched from a bag to a quilt, changed my sleeping to another level while camping. Did you have any frost inside your tent? That tent is amazing in humid and hot weather with such great ventilation. I have the same one and love it, but haven't used it in super cold temps yet.
I've switched to a quilt 2 years ago and used it for my 1650mi last year (loved it!), but the sleeping bag is a bit warmer (lower temp rating) which is why I chose it this time. Yes, the tent is great for ventilation, it didn't have any frost inside :)
@@ellihikes nice! I'm planning a trip in two weeks and trying to squeeze everything into my 50 l pack. Super challenging with the winter gear. The quilt really helps being able to compress smaller than a bag.
It's always nice to see what other people cook, thanks Elli Was the rucksack high enough to avoid boar ? (we killed all the boar in the UK in the 1200s) The mat looks good but too expensive for me. Otto was loving it 😊 Are they Zamberlan boots ?
Thank you so much :) Yes, it was high enough (I think the perspective looked a bit weird on camera, but high enough off the ground)! I don't think they are, I bought them in a thrift shop for 10€ 😂 Love them for dog walks because they are a bit too large/wide and I can wear 3 pairs of socks in them which makes them perfect for winter :)
Is wild camping legal in Germany? Would some kind of throw work over the bag? Or a sleeping liner? I also have a little electronic handwarmer which is amazing.
no, it's not legal (in almost all federal states, but rules vary a bit in regards to what is considered camping.... bivy bags are more of a grey area in certain parts because they aren't explicitely forbidden). But in general, the same rules as in England: Not legal unless you've got the permissio of the land owner. Yes, I definitley should have thought of taking my sleeping bag liner, that would have helped :)
Thank you so much, it’s great that you found your way to the channel :) I used my old BA just for this trip as I thought about sleeping in an open shelter and wanted something freestanding. For my longer hikes, I‘m always using my x-mid - I’m so happy with it and it’s more spacious for Otto :)
Richtig cooles Video! Hat mir sehr gefallen. Hoffentlich findest du für dich noch ne wärmere Alternative zu deinem aktuellen Schlafsack. Ich weiß nicht, ob das als alternative was für dich sein kann, aber gerade jetzt mit der NeoAir Xterm vllt nen Quilt mit Apex Isolation?
Liebsten Dank :) Ich bin tatsächlich seit 2 Jahren mit einem Apex 233 Quilt unterwegs, den ich total liebe. Aber der ist für mich nur so bis -3°C warm genug. Normalerweise reicht mir das, bei meinen Wanderungen muss es möglichst leicht sein und ich bin im WInter selten unterwegs. Deshalb dachte ich jetzt, ich nehm meinen alten Schlafsack von früher, der deutlich dicker ist.... Mit nem Liner dazu wäre es wahrscheinlich optimal gewesen...
Sooooo relaxing watching you cook.
😇😊😊
Seems like the best dog ever! so calm and cool
I'm obviously biased but he really is 😊😅😍
Thank you for showing us what it is like to winter camp. It means I do not have to😂
😅😅😅🤗 thank you 😉
One thing you might consider if you want to do more deep winter camping is a synthetic quilt to put over you sleeping bag. I own one from the US company Enlightened Equipment and my wife uses it over her -4° bag in the winter. Hopefully it wouldn’t be too hard to import to Germany. And you might be able to use it alone in the summer.
I actually have a synthetic Apex233 quilt that I used for the last 2 years on both my thru-hikes. I didn't bring it on top because the both of them are quite bulky together, but I think I'll bring it next time 😊😊
Really nice video! Congratulations on surviving those temps. Looking forward to seeing the West Highland Way series! Best wishes
Thank you so much :) So excited to hike the WHW again :)
Elli and Otto, you are a great team. I admire your professionalism and the honest appraisals that you give of tried and tested equipment. Another really interesting video and beautifully presented. Cheers. Sheffield South Yorkshire. PS you're so good with Otto !
Another cracking video
Aww, thank you so much :)
Love your videos, Elli. I'm a proponent of down bags but respect and understand your decision to avoid them. You might try a silk bag liner, it should increase the cold tolerance of your bag by about 2-3 degrees C. There are a couple of other bivy bag options. One is made by SOL here in the US and while they're designed for emergencies, I know quite a few people that have relied upon them to make their bags warmer when camping on snow or glaciers instead of incurring the expense of buying a -30 C bag. Testing out new ideas is all part of the adventure.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! A bivy bag sounds like a good idea, should have thought of it and will definitely try it. Thank you so much for following along :)
Props for this winter night camping video.
Perhaps a solution for your sleeping system, is a sleeping bag liner.
The brand 'Sea to summit' has several made from fleece, in different temperature ranges.
F.i. an extra 4/8/10 degrees Celsius.
Cheaper than a dedicated 'Cold winter sleeping bag' but it will do the job.
(Also, put a (soda drink bottle) bottle cap in your tent peg bag.
If you encounter hard soil, you can put the bottle cap on the tent peg and push it in with your hand/feet more easily).
Thank you for sharing your experience! I actually even own a sleeping bag lineer but totally forgot abouzt it. Definitely will take it with me next time :)
Really good bottle cap tip thanks
Sleeping bag comfort ratings are usually 6to8 degrees out. So a bag that claims a comfort rating of -3 is probably more like+4. Your content is really good, keep it coming 👍
Yes, maybe I was a bit too optimistic 😂 (thought I would get away with more layers). I had it in -2 and it performed so well, but I pushed the "limit rating" there, so probably no surprise 😂 Thank you :)
I'm wouldn't say this i accurate. Only cheap bags may be. Quality down bags from respectable manufacturers are pretty accurate. Such as western mountaineering, cumulus, Roberts, etc
Some spectacular woodland in Germany, those trees are so tall!! I think wild boar trying to get into the tent would’ve concerned me more than the cold! 😅
Thank you so much :) They can smell humans and will normally avoid them whenever possible. So probably unlikely that they would try and get into the tent, unless maybe if there's food in it.... Which is why I try to be safe and hang my bag/food :)
The ”limit” temp for any sleeping bag is too cold. I always use a bag with at least 5 deg lower ”comfort” rating than what the weather forecast is showing. On winter trips I just use the warmest bag I own, regardless of forecasted temp. It is ”comfort” rated to minus 30C… 😅 you simply can’t have too warm bag in winter. Just accept a higher weight. It is always worth it.
I thought I would get away with it with layers and a warmer sleeping mat, but yes - you're right of course.... The thing for me is: I often times do longer distances/multi-day hikes so I need something not too heavy and not too bulky. And getting something warmer (synthetic) is quite heavy/bulky and expensive which is why I didn't get anything else yet.... I don't want something that's too bulky for multi-day hikes. Switching to down would probably solve some issues (not as bulky and more lightweight), but yeah.... it's down and I tried to avoid it and just accepted to be a bit cold..... But yes, this made me think if I should start looking for something second-hand.... Thank you for sharing your experience :)
I had 200g of down added to my Winter sleeping bag in anticipation, unfortunately Winter decided to be too warm 😂
😅 so true! it's been the same here. We had a lot of snow in november/december, but almost nothing since then....
the best camp
I have a couple suggestions in those cold nights. Heavy wool socks and Booties from Enlightened Equipment. They are not down yet pack very small. Also eat a fatty meal. Sounds crazy but it’s true, a heavy meal will keep your internal furnace burning all night. The last option, get more dogs!!
Also: You are such a good human for Otto!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for sharing your experience :) Boots are definitely a good idea. Same for the meal. I actually had quite a big portion, but a lot of veggies too and not a lot of oil/nut butter. Will try it next time - thank you :)
I would need my electric blanket, but good for you to test !
😅😊😂
Another hiker here who tries to stay with synthetic sleeping bags etc. It's difficult. I use Haglöfs Musca -26, which has a comfort rating of -17 degrees of celsius. But of course, this is heavier at 2.6 kg! Still, it's a good sleeping bag. What sleeping bag were you using? You could also try to add a warm water bottle to the sleeping bag before sleeping. It helps a lot! Also if you have a summer sleeping bag you could add that into your cold-weather sleeping bag. Also, there are sleeping bag liners that help a bit.
It really is hard when you're not using down, thank you for sharing your experience! That's the Ajungilak Aputi Fiber -10.... yes, I should have definitely added my summer sleeping bag or a liner for more warmth. It wasn't horrible, but I was hoping that I would be warmer. More layers for next time :)
Somebody should definitely start to list vegan-friendly hiking equipment and clothes because I find it often really difficult to find those. Many times for example with clothes you are not completely sure if there is leather or not. Many backbags are like this. Or shoes. And then again finding lightweight vegan-friendly sleeping bags, tents, etc is very time-consuming. Surprisingly, no manufacturer hasn't noticed this and focused on vegan hikers. There are many of us and in the future, there will be even more!@@ellihikes
Super video Elli, a bit of everything wise which is so useful for others . Loved the cooking wise , I always use noodles with everything tooo . I recommend getting some down booties as they useful but also a sleeping bag liner. I also used my down jacket too with sleeping bag . Sleeping bag temp rating are so unclear too. Lovely seeing Otto giving you hugs in the morning too. Looking good Elli , take both 🌷
Thank you so much, Chris :) Hahaha, yes - noodles are the best!! Yes, that would have been a good idea, I actually have both, but didn't even think of them when I packed the backpack ;)
You only need to turn the yellow "wings" to deflate the XTherm, not to inflate :)
Hahaha, yes! Realized it seconds later.... I don't know where my head was 😅
How fun!! I love your frankness and candor about your experience being a little afraid and cold. The Thermarest looked fantastic - it's so thick! Thanks for another great video! Tschüß!
Aww, thank you so much :) Really appreciate the kind words :)
Hello Elli and Otto.
So what's with the Tea ? Have you consumed Germany's supply of Coffee lol
and I bet you were glad you were in some woods where you're allowed to have a gas stove this time. (No cold water meals like your last trip - yippee)
Otto looked so happy today, very warm in the tent with all his gear on, and looking very cute as always. Don't know if he would wear them, but have you ever thought about getting him some Dog Booties ? for them chilly night's in the tent.
Ok then Elli I can help you with your cold feet during the night, you have two options.
Option #1 Stay home In front of a roaring fireplace.
Option #2 do what I do when I'm out in my Kayak during winter, I wear a per of electric-heated socks.
(MAKE SURE YOU GET A GOOD PER THERE IS A LOT OF CHEAP RUBBISH FOR SALE)
The per I have cost about £100 but they last for 6 hours on full power and longer on medium and 27 years on low (But that could be a lie) Don't know if they're something you would be interested in. But If you would like a link let me know.
I have heard of animal-friendly Down sleeping bags. I believe they just use feathers that have fallen off naturally and pick them by hand. However, I would think these would be Very Expensive, but it's an option you could look at.
Have to add you have some Beautiful video footage of the woods that looked amazing the next morning in the snow.
As always take care. 😋✌
Hahahahaha, I actually like tea a lot too :) I even imported some from the UK last summer when I travelled back to Germany. Definitely wouldn't have done it without a stove 😅 The heated socks sound interesting, will look into them - my sister has heated gloves that apparently work really well too. Thank you so much for following along :)
Wow, another great episode 👏 you and Otto really cheered me up ❤ watching your video makes life so much happier. Thank you for sharing ❤
Thank you so much for following along and for the kind words :)
You two did great!!!!
I could not afford or felt the expense of a winter sleeping bag for going out just a few winter times was a lot! So I bought a sea to summit fleece liner. When I hiked the AT I had a bivy sack to put over the sleeping bag as a vapor barrier. Both worked. Both together work great but don’t get too warm and sweat. Down booties work great for cold feet. Otto amazing little dog!!! My 75lb dog want to get on my bag! She has her own and sleeping pad wears a sled dog jacket also.
Be well and Trail on! 🥾🐕
Thank you so much for your comment! I actually even own a sleeping bag liner but forgot about it .... the bivy bag sound like agood idea, will definitely try that :)
It's great that you are trying new experiences. Few tips from me: if you have source of heat (gas stove) and water, try to use it to make a sleeping bag warmer - pour a hot/boiling water to a bottle (nalgene is good) , wrap it in some material (socks or bandana) and put into foot of sleeping bag before sleep. You can also consider to use additional layer for you bag, inner (liner) or outside (smth like swagman roll with climashield apex insulation.
I know that you dont like to use down, but try to find something like down socks - a big game changer for me while sleeping in cold temepratures...
Good luck and keep going. HAVE FUN
Thank you for sharing your experience! I actually used the hot water bottle too (but didn't film it), which definitely helped :) Good idea to use a liner. I actually even have one from Sea to Summit but didn't think of bringing it along 😅 Booties/socks sound great 😊👍
Another fantastic video Ms Elli. It was so peaceful and beautiful with the snow. Woodpeckers thru the days here and always love to hear the lonely night songs of owls. I know it would add a lil more weight, might possibly check into sleeping bag liners. I’ve never camped below 20* Fahrenheit, but the thicker fleece type makes a big difference with my sleeping bag at those temps. The noodle dish looked quite tasty and breakfast did too😋
I couldn’t help but think how much more satisfying that would be over the cold soaked meals on your last trip. Otto was a trooper too as always. Enjoyed this adventure and I thank you again.
Take care, keep safe and see you next time👍🏻🙏🏻😃☺️
Thank you so much for the kind words :) Yes, it was so beautiful. For some reason, I didn't hear woodpeckers in forever so it was so nice to hear them there! The sleeping bag liner is a great idea, I actually own one but didn't even think of taking it 😅🙈
You’re most welcome Ms Elli☺️
Hopefully that’ll help in the future🙏🏻
Thank you again for sharing with us on here👍🏻🙏🏻😃☺️
I’ll be doing the WHW in March … I hope I see you and Otto 😊
Oohh, that would be so cool 😊
What about a wool throw and heated socks? And maybe a bivvy bag over the top of the sleeping bag?
I love that thermometer. Where do you buy that please? X
Good idea! Especially if I'm just doing a 1night where weight isn't that big of an issue..... The bivy bag sounds like an option too, will definitely look into that :)
I found the thermometer on Amazon: amzn.to/42lthtS
Hi Elli! Another great video. I have the XTherm and took it out in Dec when overnight temps dropped to 20 degrees F. I always use a CCF pad underneath for a little extra padding (shoulder issues) and to allow the inflatable pad to work more efficiently. So far, I think it has performed well! The bulk of synthetic vs down is always a tradeoff, but winter backpacking usually lends itself to carrying a bigger pack depending on conditions and your loadout. I will sacrifice some weight for comfort in the winter months!🥶 Your meals sound delicious. Do you ever use powdered milk?
Warm regards to you and Otto!😎🥾
Thank you so much for following along and sharing your experience. Yes, you're absolutely right. It's better to take a bit more and be warm and comfy.... I'm always trying do get both because especially for multi-day hikes in winter with Otto's stuff + food it's just so much stuff. But yes, very hard to avoid if you don't want to freeze.... :/ I sometimes use powdered oat or coconut milk, but it's just not as creamy as dairy milk which is why I don't really feel like I need it. Just doesn't make much of a difference for me...
Another lovely video, thank you. Have you thought of getting a lightweight insulated blanket to put over your sleeping bag if it's going to be really cold? That way you would avoid having to buy a new, higher spec sleeping bag that you may not use that often. If things are too warm, you can just leave the blanket at home. I use a Snugpak jumgle blanket when things are a bit chilly, but I've never tried this out in -10 like you
Thank you so much for following along and sharing your experience! I've not thought of that, but great idea - I think I would use my quilt for that next time. It's lightweight and opens up to basically a blanket. Will definitely try it :)
That's a great idea@@ellihikes. Good luck on your next trip
Das ist so cool! Toll, dass du das gemacht hast. Welches Zelt hast du da? Ich plane momentan auch eine Winterübernachtung in Brandenburg. Zum Glück ist es grad nicht ganz so kalt… Tolle Videos! :)
Vielen lieben Dank 😊🤗 das ist das Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1, ein freistehendes Zelt :) Der Winter scheint irgendwie schon fast vorbei zu sein 😥, aber vielleicht kommt ja nochmal was :) Viel Spaß 😊
Hi Ellie, is that the BA hv ul 1 tent your using, I too am doin the WHW in April best of look ,think I met you last year on the beinglass campsite I was inquiring about your tent.
Yes, that's the BA Copper Spur HV ul1 :) oh, that's so cool - hope you're having an amazing time on the WHW 😊
I switched from a bag to a quilt, changed my sleeping to another level while camping. Did you have any frost inside your tent? That tent is amazing in humid and hot weather with such great ventilation. I have the same one and love it, but haven't used it in super cold temps yet.
I've switched to a quilt 2 years ago and used it for my 1650mi last year (loved it!), but the sleeping bag is a bit warmer (lower temp rating) which is why I chose it this time. Yes, the tent is great for ventilation, it didn't have any frost inside :)
@@ellihikes nice! I'm planning a trip in two weeks and trying to squeeze everything into my 50 l pack. Super challenging with the winter gear. The quilt really helps being able to compress smaller than a bag.
Hi Elli, where did you get otto’s sleeping blanket from please?
Hi had it custom made by www.gramxpert.eu/ . They are great, you can just write them and they will make something custom :)
It's always nice to see what other people cook, thanks Elli
Was the rucksack high enough to avoid boar ? (we killed all the boar in the UK in the 1200s)
The mat looks good but too expensive for me.
Otto was loving it 😊
Are they Zamberlan boots ?
Thank you so much :) Yes, it was high enough (I think the perspective looked a bit weird on camera, but high enough off the ground)! I don't think they are, I bought them in a thrift shop for 10€ 😂 Love them for dog walks because they are a bit too large/wide and I can wear 3 pairs of socks in them which makes them perfect for winter :)
@@ellihikes hehe! gotta love a bargain!
@@RegEdmunds I knew some had escaped from farms, but they add up to about 1% of the original population.
Is wild camping legal in Germany? Would some kind of throw work over the bag? Or a sleeping liner? I also have a little electronic handwarmer which is amazing.
no, it's not legal (in almost all federal states, but rules vary a bit in regards to what is considered camping.... bivy bags are more of a grey area in certain parts because they aren't explicitely forbidden). But in general, the same rules as in England: Not legal unless you've got the permissio of the land owner.
Yes, I definitley should have thought of taking my sleeping bag liner, that would have helped :)
Hi Elli,
Just discovered yuor channel - nice videoes you make. Where wondering, the Big Agnes, was that just for this trip, or did you ditch Xmid? :)
Thank you so much, it’s great that you found your way to the channel :) I used my old BA just for this trip as I thought about sleeping in an open shelter and wanted something freestanding. For my longer hikes, I‘m always using my x-mid - I’m so happy with it and it’s more spacious for Otto :)
Great stuff. Where exactly are you?
Thank you :) In the south of Germany, not too far away from Stuttgart :)
Richtig cooles Video! Hat mir sehr gefallen. Hoffentlich findest du für dich noch ne wärmere Alternative zu deinem aktuellen Schlafsack.
Ich weiß nicht, ob das als alternative was für dich sein kann, aber gerade jetzt mit der NeoAir Xterm vllt nen Quilt mit Apex Isolation?
Liebsten Dank :) Ich bin tatsächlich seit 2 Jahren mit einem Apex 233 Quilt unterwegs, den ich total liebe. Aber der ist für mich nur so bis -3°C warm genug. Normalerweise reicht mir das, bei meinen Wanderungen muss es möglichst leicht sein und ich bin im WInter selten unterwegs. Deshalb dachte ich jetzt, ich nehm meinen alten Schlafsack von früher, der deutlich dicker ist.... Mit nem Liner dazu wäre es wahrscheinlich optimal gewesen...