How did people stay warm outside?

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1iaczye/how_did_people_stay_warm_outside/

created by IAmASwarmOfBees on 26/01/2025 at 12:11 UTC

142 upvotes, 5 top-level comments (showing 5)

I am myself an avid hikier and sleep outside even in the Swedish winter. But that got me wondering, before sleeping bags and stuff, how did people stay warm? Like even a ton of blankets and clothes has me freezing when lying still in the middle of the night, and I don'y usually freeze very easily.

But people must have slept outside, when traveling for example, or the military.

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Comment by Lyeta1_1 at 27/01/2025 at 14:35 UTC*

19 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Animal fibers and skin are remarkably warm, retain heat, keep water out, and regulate temp. When Scott and Amundsen are fighting for the South Pole in the 19teens, some of the success of Amundsen and failure of Scott is down to the different clothing choices. Amundsen from previous cold weather expeditions had experience with animal pelts and animal fibers, and his crew utilized them with layers. Scott relied on wools but mostly knitted fabrics and things like waxed duck cloth and canvas. Amundsen sent his crews with reindeer pelt sleeping bags and seal fur and skin coats that stayed warm, repelled water, and thermoregulated better than hand or machine knits or water resistant treated cottons.

https://digitaltmuseum.no/021106109832/roald-amundsens-sydpolekspedisjon-1910-1912

https://amundsen.mia.no/en/resource/1910-1912-fram-expedition-equipment/

https://www.nls.uk/learning-zone/geography-and-exploration/scotts-last-expedition/equipment/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/131025-antarctica-south-pole-scott-expedition-science-polar

How did people stay warm outside?

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