Once you've chosen your emergency winter wardrobe, I recommend you spend the  majority of the cash you've set aside for this project on a good sleeping bag.  If you snuggle down inside a sleeping bag rated at 0 degrees Fahrenheit in all of the clothes mentioned above (minus the boots), you'll be warm as toast no matter what happens.

When choosing sleeping bags for power outages, you don't need to buy the expensive, light-weight versions meant for backpacking.  And as long as you keep your bag dry, the insulating material doesn't matter.  Instead, make your choice based on two characteristics --- temperature rating and style.

Sleeping bag temperature ratings should be taken with a grain of salt since a 0 degree bag probably won't make you very happy in a tent on a windy mountaintop at 0 Fahrenheit.  That said, lower ratings do mean warmer bags, so go as low as your wallet will allow.

There are two main types of sleeping bag styles --- mummy bags and rectangular bags.  Mummy bags are the warmest for one person sleeping alone since they follow the contour of your body when zipped up (and usually even include a hood to keep your head warm.)  But don't buy a mummy bag if you can't sleep in a confined situation ---- a zipped up rectangular bag will be warmer than an unzipped mummy bag.  In addition, make sure you choose a bag that's big enough if you're especially tall or wide.

If you regularly sleep with someone, you might want to choose a right and left handed pair of sleeping bags.  These bags can be used separately or can be zipped together to make a family-sized warm spot.

Don't just toss your sleeping bags into the closet while waiting for a power outage.  Rectangular bags can often be unzipped so they lie all the way flat and work as an extra comforter on your bed, allowing you to turn down the heat at night.  I enjoy slipping my mummy bag inside the sheets to give me something to snuggle into when I first get into my cold bed at night --- a sleeping bag heats up much faster than a traditional bed.


I hope you enjoy this excerpt from Weekend Homesteader: December.  The 99 cent ebook walks you through the basics of planting your first fruit trees, staying warm without electricity, understanding the uses of essential tools, and turning trash into treasures.  If you're interested in other aspects of basic emergency preparedness, Weekend Homesteader: November gives tips on storing drinking water and the upcoming Weekend Homesteader: January will cover backup lighting options.