My Minus 50 celsius extrem hedge I got on global warming sale

Two years ago I walked into a large sportsstore during the summer with nothing particular in mind. On one of the shelf’s I could see a sleeping bag named Tempelfjorden after the Tempelfjorden in Svalbard (the islands close to the arctic where my father once got attacked by a polar bear). A sticker claimed the bag would be comfortable down to -40 Celsius and that it would tolerate up to minus 50 celsius. The weight was “only” 4,7 kg. Quite amazing if it could do what it promised.

I am not sure why, I guess it sounded interesting and it was on sale and I actually bought one. Or was it my unconscious mind preparing me for global cooling while everyone talked about human made global warming? Anyway it was warm and I put it away in my cabin in Norway.

The sleeping bag was laying there unopened until this winter. Visiting Norway this winter during a cold spell. What an excellent opportunity to test out my extreme hedge.

It was just minus 25 celsius outside, but still good for testing the comfort of my extreme cold hedge. I grabbed the bag and walked out in exactly what I was wearing inside in front of my fireplace. A thin cotton trouser and cotton t-shirt. Wow it was freezing cold outside. At about 10 meters from my doorstep I quickly opened and unrolled the bag. It was harder to get into it than expected. First later on I figured out I not had opened the zippers. After getting inside I was quickly impressed by how warm and comfortable it was. And I was watching the most beautiful roof in the world, the clear ‘arctic' night sky filled with all its shining stars.

It was comfortable, but to fall asleep I found my nose got a bit too cold. I also had something slightly uncomfortable lying beneath my back. It was pitch dark but I had a mini torch in my pocket. Below my back I found what was a thin, but very warm and comfortable face mask and also a green cover to put over the sleeping bag to make it water proof. The waterproof cover I was throwing out, but I put on the facemask. Next I figured out how to close the end of the sleeping bag to an extend I only had an opening for my eyes. I felt wonderful comfortable and warm. Just a sleeping bag and thin layer of cotton clothe, noting more. To sleep ‘comfortably’ at minus 40 Celsius I however think you would need to combine it with full winter-dress.

The price on extreme sleeping bags is probably way up now, as always you should buy your hedge when everyone excluded a (temperature) crash.