How We Designed A Backpacking Sleep System With Kids: Part 2

As promised here is our sleep system part 2. Again our goal is to figure out a way to lighten our packs as much as possible, but to also use gear that does not cost an arm and a leg. The solution involved thinking creatively and modifying equipment we already had.

If you missed part 1 here it is.

Trial 2

Changes from part 1

• We didn’t take a sleeping bag
• Our two-year-old had her own bag and pad
• We modified our shelter (next weeks topic)

Instead of taking sleeping bags we made sleeping quilts. We used down throw blankets that we got for $20.00. Don’t let this scare you. It was a easy and simple project (my husband made his quilt and our girls bags.) The purpose of a sleeping quilt is to cut down on weight and to get the maximum use of the material. A sleeping bag goes around your whole body so half of the down is getting smashed and not working as effectively.

[jumbotron bgcolor=”#383838″]

Join The ETK Movement!

We’ll share our latest tips to help you get your kids outdoors!

[buttongroup style=”justified”][button style=”btn-default btn-lg” type=”link” target=”true” link=”http://eepurl.com/cLfWSL#” title=”Follow Us” ] [/buttongroup]
[/jumbotron]

To make the quilt, we cut a strip of the blanket off part way up from the bottom. The strip was used to make a footbox. We then sewed the quilt together from the bottom to about a third of the way up. This gave us basically a sleeping bag to the knee and a down blanket for our upper body.  For our two-year-old Adam cut another down throw and turned it into a mini sleeping bag. We also got her a 1/2 inch foam pad from Walmart for $7.00. We cut it in half so it would be her size and so we wouldn’t be carrying any excess.

What went well

• The system was lighter -the quilts are right at 1lb and the sleeping bag was less than 8 oz (saved about 1.5 lbs)
• The system packed smaller so we had more room in the pack
• We made it through the night

What didn’t go well  

• Our two-year-old didn’t like her sleeping bag. She did fine at first but during the night as she wanted to move and roll around the bag was too confining. She crawled out of her bag and then eventually did not want to get back in.
• It was still a little chilly. Both girls slept warm but my husband and I got a little cold. This system will work great for the warmer summer trips but its not quite a 3 season setup.

Moving forward

We have a great new idea for a 3 season sleep system we will share soon.

Next week I will talk more about our shelter and how we modified it.

 

-Adam & Paige

 

P.S. We love toying with new gear and being able to have the time to make our own. It’s rewarding to design and make things ourselves. We wouldn’t have the time to build the gear let alone test gear as often as we do if we didn’t have the time flexibility of our Digital Marketing Business. It would be selfish to not share what we have. Come learn more by watching a free Live Broadcast.

 

If this is useful let us know, comment below, or snap a photo of your adventures and hashtag it #Embrace_The_kids — We love to see the fun things you are doing and the adventures you are going on. Find us: @Embrace_The_Kids

---