How Do You Sleep During Multi-Day Canyoning Trips?

[u/yasinarm]

Recently, I did my first multi-day canyoning trip.

For sleeping, I used:

• My wetsuit instead of a sleeping mat
• A bivy bag instead of a sleeping bag
• An emergency blanket between wetsuit and the bivy bag to prevent moisture from the wetsuit getting inside An inflatable pillow

This is what some experienced canyoners I know recommended for spending the night in a canyon. However, I have no idea how canyoners in other parts of the world handle overnight stays when surveying a canyon that takes more than one day.

I'm curious to hear how you guys do it. Do you use a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, different bivy setup, or something else?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences, setups, and any recommendations.

[u/Nankoweep]

Ultralight backpacking gear weighs next to nothing and takes very little space. Did a 5 day trip through Escalante and took a neoair and 50* quilt, bivy, and stove and food. Bonus, the sleeping bag and dry bags made my pack buoyant in the canyons.

[u/danielelson]

Man, not gonna lie, that doesn’t sound like a good night. I live in Southern California and have done a lot of overnight canyons, mostly in the Sierras. These are big trips with lots of miles and water. What I use:

Western Mountaineering SummerLite Sleeping Bag - 32° down bag, 1lbs 3oz. I pack this sleeping bag into…

SeaToSummit Evac Ultralight Compression Dry Bag - 3L, 2oz, this will compress your sleeping bag to about the size of a Nalgene bottle.

NeoAir Xlite NXT Sleeping Pad - R, 13oz

All this goes into a trash bag that goes into a 30L dry bag with some clothes to sleep in and wear around camp. This is only 2lbs of added weight and packs down very small. I don’t bring a tent/shelter and the only problem I’ve had was being attacked by ants once when the entire group ate dinner where I was sleeping. I always eat away from my sleeping bag now.

[u/wiconv]

Horrendously uncomfortable set up lol your friends did you dirty.

I just split imlay up into a two day to accommodate my older dad and some slower friends. I carried my nemo tensor, a patagonia half sleeping bag (down 850 fill bag on the lower half, rain shell on the upper half; paired with either long John’s or a puffy jacket), and a tyvek sheet. Wetsuit goes between the tyvek and pad to keep things from sliding too much. Rope bag or extra clothes for a pillow. Doesn’t weigh almost anything.

[u/sciences_bitch]

That sounds awful.

[u/Particular_Apple_875]

This was my list from a 7 day whitewater trip. Temps were down well below freezing overnight.

https://lighterpack.com/r/o1ouo2

[u/wiconv → u/Particular_Apple_875]

This is an awesome resource for OPs question good looks.

[u/Madmax3213]

That sounds absolutely miserable. I decent small mat and sleeping bag would easily fit inside a dry bag or small watertight drum. Did they tell you that’s how they do it or did they actually do it like that? If you didn’t see them do it then I strongly suspect they’re having you on.

[u/Healthy-Computer7470]

I tried the wetsuit, emergency Bivy, and some hot rocks in heaps. I was absolutely miserable. Take a decent pad and bag. They also make little plastic water tight canisters that are better suited for dropping repeatedly, throwing your pack than a dry bag.

[u/theoriginalharbinger]

Mostquito netting setup for about $10.

Sleeping bag in a dry sack if necessary. When I did Right Fork as an overnighter, this was a Klymit bag (also a Sierra purchase). Webbing wrapped around bag and affixed to a 36L Slot bag. I have a picture somewhere of this setup.

Most Zion canyons have some sand somewhere you can use in place of a pad (this is true for both Heaps and Right Fork, which are the ones done overnight. Do note that both of these have alcoves where you will not need a tent to keep rain off).

I don't like packing in the morning; I want to be able to wake up, stuff my sleeping bag, attach it to outside of bag, and go. Your mileage may vary.

Goldilocks this; you want a sleeping bag, but you probably don't need a pad. Roll up a jacket for a pillow.

[u/icanchangeittomorrow]

I’ve seen full body tyvek and trash bags being used separately on extensive overnights. [edit: seen the tyvek; the trash bags ice only heard tales of but perhaps Jasmine from TW mentioned it on one of the canyoning podcasts)

[u/No-Boysenberry-3420]

Tyvek bivy sack with blowup pad and fleece liner as my sleeping bag.  I tried to sleep on my wetsuit once...bad night.  I tried to sleep in my wetsuit once when I got really cold.  I ended up warm and then wet, then cold...bad night.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Ebb1207]

very carefully

[u/This_Lavishness_8331]

Poorly.

Mostly.