A bag traps warm air around you. Blankets let it escape at every gap.
Verdict
A rated bag encloses you, so warm air cannot escape at the shoulders and sides, which is where blankets lose it. Blankets are more flexible, work for several people and are what most households already own. Buy a bag for each household member if winter outages are a real risk; use blankets layered with a bag rather than instead of one.
| 0 Degree Winter Sleeping Bag | Fire Retardant Wool Blanket | |
|---|---|---|
| Encloses the body | Yes | No |
| Insulates from the ground | Partly, needs a mat | No |
| Works for two people | No | Yes |
| Temperature rating | Stated | None |
| Everyday use | Camping | Daily |
| Cost per person | Moderate | Low |
You are planning for a house with no heat. A bag rated well below your expected indoor temperature, used on a bed with blankets over it, is far more effective than any number of loose blankets. Insulate from below too, since a mattress conducts less heat than a floor but still takes it.
Check 0 Degree Winter Sleeping Bag on Amazon
You want something the whole household uses anyway. Wool over a sleeping bag is the strongest combination, and blankets can close off a room, cover windows and be shared in a way a bag cannot.
Check Fire Retardant Wool Blanket on Amazon
Usually a survival or limit rating rather than a comfort rating, so a zero degree bag is not comfortable at zero for most people. Choose a bag rated well below the temperature you expect.
Close off one room, ideally a small one with few windows, block draughts and gaps, cover windows at night, and put everyone in it. Heating one room is achievable; heating a house is not.
Yes, and it works well. A tent pitched inside a room traps body heat in a much smaller volume, which is a genuine technique rather than a novelty.
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these units side by side. Confirm current prices and specifications before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Ebook + 11 printable worksheets — everything you need to get organized.
For informational purposes only. Follow guidance from FEMA and local authorities.