Sometimes camp outs can get pretty chilly. When I was growing up we’d frequently take camping trips when it wasn’t quite warm enough to be comfortable–mostly the early spring or late fall trips–and sleeping was never warm enough even with plenty of blankets piled on.
I’m not sure how it came to be–maybe my mom remembers–but on one of these campouts we started sleeping with rocks. Comfy, I know. But aside from them not being very snuggly, they did keep us warm. We would heat the rocks in the evening campfire and then wrap them in towels and tuck them in our sleeping bags with us. It didn’t take mom long to make special quilted bags to keep the rocks in–I’m sure it made for less laundry from dirty, sooty rocks slipping out of their towel wraps.
If you’re going to try this (which I suggest you do) be careful–rocks that have moisture in them can explode when they are heated, so don’t pull rocks directly from a river bed or water source. We found that rocks about 3-4 inches in diameter worked best. We’d put 3 or 4 of them in a bag. The bigger ones stayed too hot for too long and the smaller ones cooled off too quickly. Just stick them in and around your evening fire and make sure to use hot pads or something to protect yourself when you’re pulling them out.
Sure, you can use those instant hand warmers in your sleeping bag as well, but why when rocks are free? So on your next cold camp out, consider snuggling up with some nice warm cozy rocks. You might end up throwing off the covers!
Keep preparing! Angela
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Ahhh, I love hot rocks!! Jackie is who told me about how she used them when she was a child and they would wrap them in towels. I was on that in a heartbeat!! I found the rock bags worked better for us when you all were little. I still use hot rocks and never fail to think about sweet Jackie as I tuck myself into a warm sleeping bag. :)
This s a great way to stay warm useing something thats free. I’ve known about this since I was about 10, I learned it from my great aunt. She told us her mom and dad used the same thing in the winter when they went to church for heaters on their “cutter” (horse drawn sleigh) yeah she was old. Any way one word of caution if you use this for a sleeping bag heater, in the story my great aunt told us after church on a paticularly cold morening (the rocks were really hot) everyone cameout to find thier “cutters” were on fire from the hot rocks.
How have I never thought to do this!? What a fantastic idea! I’m so glad I read this today! Such a simple tip. Sharing on facebook and pinterest! Thanks Angela!
I did this and in the morning I had a hole that had melted through the towel, sleeping bag, and tent!
Any suggestions on how to make sure the rock is hot but not too hot?
Wrap the rock in layers of natural fabric like cotton that won’t melt. Most sleeping bags and tents are synthetics that will absolutely be damaged or melt if you put anything hot on them. You must have had a synthetic fabric towel as well! Standard cotton bath towels work great.
I took two pot holders (cheap ones from the $ store, and sewed them together on three sides, with the top having two small Velcro pieces attached, small enough that heat can still pass through the openings, but enough that it will stop rocks from coming out in case you kick around in your sleep :). THis allows the heat form the rocks to come out through the top, but stopping them from burning anything they touch. If you don’t like to sew, you could do the Velcro thing on all 4 sides. Cheap, easy, and safe way to use the rocks to keep warm.
You could also use an oven mit and velcro a small area in the top center!
Great idea!