I’m headed to the Boundry Waters on Oct 6th. This time of year it can get a bit cool at night, so I’ve invested in a a good sleeping bag. However, it raises a question. Should I take a sleeping mat for some added comfort?? They are bulky and can be tough to pack around. I was also considering a blow up mattress, but have been told the air pocket between you and the ground actually causes greater heat loss.
Any cool/cold weather campers care to weigh in???
Thanks!! 
Take the sleeping mat. If the ground is cold youll freeze your well you know. Even if your on a cot always put a mat under you. There no sense in ruining you trip. My 2 cents
Kooty,
Definitely get yourself a sleeping pad!! I would never head into the BWCA/Quetico without one. Good ones are really not that bulky and are fairly light weight. Along with comfort it will provide insulation between you and the ground. All my bags are down filled but even the best bags will lose effectiveness from the fill being compressed when you lie down in them. The most popular pads are made by Therm-a-Rest. For a real Cadillac of a sleeping system check out the Big Agnes bags and pads.
Along with a pad don’t forget to take a plastic ground cloth sized appropriately to cover the entire floor of your tent. This will help keep the inside dry from the condensation or you get some prolonged rain. Some people put theirs under the tent but I’m in the group that puts it inside the tent. (The debate rages on.)
Here’s a link for Thermarests at Cabela’s and here’s one that has both the Big Agnes and Thermarest pads: Campmor. Not sure why that Cabela’s link won’t work.
Hopefully Chuckles will see this post as he is the expert on cold weather camping!
Chris
most definetly invest in one of those air mats. they dont take up much space at all, open the air valve, roll it up and lay on it and it will compress, i always just strapped mine to the outside of my pack.
Did you get a mummy bag that can cover your head, that is the main heat saver at night.
Im not much into camping anymore but sleeping on the ground sucks.Not sure what would be easier to pack but bring something to lay on.You will feel a lot better in the morning.
Kooty, you lucky dog, don’t ruin your moose-hunt by taking an inflatable air-mattress! I’ve spent a lot of nights in the BWCA when I worked for the Forest Service on various types of mattresses and I can tell you when it comes to thermarests it isn’t if it will let you down, but WHEN it will let you down. Ever try to play basketball in the winter out in the drive-way? Ball doesn’t bounce too good does it? Same with anything inflatable in the BWCA in October. Here’s what I suggest…get a 1/2″ closed-cell foam mattress. They will never fail you unless you melt it! 
I have a system for the BWCA in which I use 2 army duffles, nothing more. You roll up the foam mattress and place it into the duffle allowing it to un-roll itself and act as a protective liner for the inside of the duffle. Next, you place your sleeping bag inside of a garbage bag down into the bottom of the duffle. Your clothes and towel go on top of that in another garbage bag. Finally, on the very top you place your rain-suit. Close the flap and you are good to go! All the other loose ends, cook gear, and fishing stuff goes in the other duffle. Army duffles are perfect for laying crossways in the bottom of the canoe under the center thwarts. Place your tent in the crevice between the two duffles and your have a well balanced and low center of gravity load. 
Your guns and fishing poles fit nicely along the sides of the canoe between the canoe and the duffles. I have two rules in my canoe…if it don’t fit in the duffle it don’t go, and each man carries his own duffle. That helps cut down on un-needed crap to carry. 
Good Luck up there! I got some pictures of a nice bull on the lake I told you about, where I saw two good bulls a month ago! I’ll send them to you for inspiration! 
Oh, did I answer your mattress question??? 
Just a little funny story about sleeping mattresses in the BWCA. My ranger partner I used to paddle with always refered to my mat as being made of recycled egg cartons. He used a thermarest. Well, one cold night he has to get up and go relieve himself, as he’s crawling out of the tent he crushes the valve on his mattress with his knee….he didn’t sleep too good the rest of that trip. 
The very next trip guess what he had to sleep on, and every trip there-after? That’s right…”recycled egg cartons”! 
Gosh, telling that story makes me miss that job. 
If you wanna call it that! 
Be prepared for snow sir. I’ve had snow 2 of the 3 times I’ve camped in October up there. But as long as you got enough warm stuff it doesn’t matter. Good Luck!
dd
Quote:
I’m headed to the Boundry Waters on Oct 6th. This time of year it can get a bit cool at night, so I’ve invested in a a good sleeping bag. However, it raises a question. Should I take a sleeping mat for some added comfort?? They are bulky and can be tough to pack around. I was also considering a blow up mattress, but have been told the air pocket between you and the ground actually causes greater heat loss.
Any cool/cold weather campers care to weigh in???
Thanks!!
Just bring along a Sheep. You can ride it around during the day, it can carry your gear., and at night it will keep you warm with it’s wool 
Man you made that easy 
Thanks everyone. I’m headed to the military surplus store this week. I need a couple duffle bags and the old army sleeping mat will be just perfect for this trip.
I made my first dry run at packing last night. I need a bigger pack…. It’s going to be a challenge to get a week’s worth of living gear in one pack. We also have one community pack/duffle that will help free up some personal space but man is that big backpack getting small fast. 
I made my first dry run at packing last night. I need a bigger pack….
Having a little trouble getting that sheep in there
Sounds like you’ve made up your mind but it pretty much boils down to what your comfort level is. I used to use the thin foam pads too and will never go back. I have three quality American Made guide series Thermarests that are nearing fifteen years usage. I see no reason to not expect another ten years out of them. Keep your stuff DRY, don’t abuse your equipment, and use a little common sense and they will last. I gaurantee that if it were me, sleeping on a nice soft bed at home for 51 weeks out of the year and then trying to sleep on a 1/2″ foam pad on the hard ground for the other week would have me reaching for the Advil! To sleep well on your trip is to enjoy your trip. At least for me anyway. I know there are some tough hombres out there who could probably sleep leaning up against a tree but I sure aint one of them.
I haven’t done any fall trips for a few years but do go in spring quite a bit not long after ice out. One year we had a huge 3 foot thick ice shelf behind camp. Worked great for keeping dressed lake trout. I’ve only had temps down into the mid 20’s but have had to deal with snow and skim ice plenty! If your talking winter camping that’s a whole different deal. Closed cell foam is the way to go then. Most winter campers I know will take a closed cell AND an open cell pad. Early October before the frost really starts to thicken should not be too bad yet.
What ever you go with just make sure you lay it out on the garage or kitchen floor and try it out and remember you will be sleeping on it for a week. Have a great trip and count me among the envious!
Chris
not to hijack but my buddy goes up there ice fishing on dog sleds and hammers big pike in March. Loves the trip and goes each year. October should be not too bad all things considered.
Can’t get the darn thing to stand still when I’m behind it trying to strap on the pack.
It’s gonna be a great trip, thanks for all the advice.
kooty.
i just got back from up there, 15th year in a row. there is alot of water up there right now. they got over 8 inches of rain the night before we arrived, about 4 inches the night before that. we also got rain each of the 6 nights we were there. we were in the gillis lake area this year, towards the end of the gunflint trail. the therm-a-rest sleeping pad is the way to go, they self inflate, and with a few extra breaths it will be as comfortable as your own bed. just remember, it is all rock up there. most tent spots have a rock or two that you have to sleep around or on. good luck on your trip and just so you know, the real work starts after the beast is down………tom fellegy
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