Can You Use a Blanket Instead of a Sleeping Bag when Camping?

Want to go camping but don’t feel like buying a sleeping bag for the trip? Here’s what you need to know about using a blanket instead of a sleeping bag.

Quick Answer:

In very warm temperatures, using a blanket instead of a sleeping bag will be fine for camping. If the temperatures are a bit colder though, you can fold two blankets into a sleeping bag to trap heat better. However, even the two-blanket method doesn’t work nearly as well as using a good sleeping bag for camping.

First, Figure Out How Cold It Will Be At Night

A lot of newbie campers don’t realize how cold it can get at night when camping, especially when you are in the mountains. The higher the elevation, the colder the nighttime temperatures will be.

Consider that Grant Village Campground in Yellowstone. Summertime temperatures are usually in the 70s or 80s during the day but fall to 30s/40s at night. Yes, it has SNOWED there during summer!

So don’t underestimate your need for a warm sleeping bag at night when camping.

Also Read: How cold does it get at night when camping?

Why Sleeping Bags Are Warmer than Blankets

The reason that sleeping bags are so much warmer than blankets is because they trap heat from all directions. The good sleeping bags even have drawstrings around the head so no heat escapes from your neck area.

By contrast, blankets just trap heat on top of you. This isn’t really an issue when you are sleeping on a comfy mattress. The mattress traps heat below you. And, because you sink into the mattress a bit, less heat escapes around your sides.

But you probably won’t be sleeping on a thick foam mattress while camping. With just a blanket to cover you, heat will definitely escape from below you and from the sides. Oh, and forget about air mattresses. They are “heat sinks” – meaning that they provide absolutely zero insulation and you will feel cold.

Also Read: How to Sleep Warmer when Camping

Turn Two Blankets into a Sleeping Bag

If you absolutely have to use blankets instead of a sleeping bag, then I recommend using this trick shown below. You fold two blankets over each other to make yourself a sleeping bag.

You’ll still lose some heat from the neck area. And crawling into the blanket-sleeping-bag is a bit tricky. But it’s a lot warmer than putting a blanket on top of you.

Put two blankets on top of each other.
Fold the top blanket in thirds.
Tuck the “tail” of the folded top blanket under. It should be as long as your body.
Fold the bottom blanket over the top blanket. Tuck any excess underneath the folded first blanket.
Tuck the “tail” of the top blanket underneath.
Crawl inside the sleeping bag.
Never put your face inside. Moisture from your breath will get the bag wet inside and make you feel cold.

What Type of Blanket to Use?

If you have a choice, bring a synthetic or wool blanket. Avoid cotton blankets because they absorb water and moisture, which in turn can make you feel cold due to evaporative heat loss. A blanket like this king-size weighted blanket will stay in place better. If using a weighted blanket with the two-blanket system shown above, then make sure the weighted blanket is on the inside. Otherwise the weight will compress the insulation of the inner blanket, making the setup less warm.

Don’t Forget About Having Something UNDERNEATH You

Even if it is warm enough to sleep with just a blanket at night, don’t forget about your sleeping surface.

If you sleep directly on the tent floor, the ground will literally suck the heat out of your body (it’s called conductive heat loss). You’ll need some sort of sleeping pad to insulate your body from the ground.

I do not recommend folding blankets to use instead of a sleeping pad. They end up getting squished (and thus lose their insulating properties). If you don’t have a camping sleeping pad, exercise or yoga mats work well enough.

And, if using just a blanket on top of you, don’t forget to bring a sheet for underneath you! It is VERY uncomfortable to sleep directly on a sleeping pad or cot.