This stuff counts, too!
OK, Mr. Prepper. You have your storage carefully laid in down in the basement and well crafted bugout bags for each family member. Food, water, clothing, fire starter, toiletries, and to make sure you sleep well, one of those fancy shiny space blankets. Well, done, my intrepid prepper. But one item that you may have missed could put your family at risk of discomfort, or in some cases, threaten their survival.
That item is a pad. Insulation to sit or lay on. It’s as important as whatever method you use to keep your upper body warm. And without insulation, you or your loved ones body heat will go to keep the earth warm. Trust me, you will run out of body heat before the earth runs out of cold. So how to keep your tush from freezing? Let us count the ways:
Find nature’s insulation. A pile of dry pine needles or leaves several inches thick will do the job if you find yourself in a forest and it’s been a long time since a storm. Dry is the tricky part, since ground cover holds moisture tenaciously. Maybe better to bring your own such as an:
Air mattress. No, not the cheap one you use in the pool, it doesn’t insulate and will spring a leak within minutes anyway. But good quality mattresses will either have a small amount of down in the baffles or the latest idea is reflective strips inside the mattress to keep the heat in. Sounds fishy, but I have one and they work. Downside: They aren’t cheap. Another option is:
Self inflating mattress. Often known by the first company that produced them, the “Therm-a
-rest” mattress is now made by a dozen companies at various price points. You puff it up to your favorite thickness. And even if they pop a leak, you get some insulation from the foam encased inside.
Finally, straight up open or close cell foam mattresses. Open cell is often seen in the eggcrate style mattresses you put on your bed at home. They insulate well, but take up a lot of room when rolled up for storage. Closed cell is the minimalist approach. They insulate great, take up only a small amount of room, and are dirt cheap. And they will keep you alive, but at the expense of an aching back, as they provide little or no padding. But especially if space and cost are an issue, they may be your best solution.
Whatever you do, just be sure that your backside is at least as well insulated as your topside.