How To Stay Warm When Camping In The Cold

Camping in winter will not be the same and will be more enjoyable once you incorporate all the ideas mentioned above on your trip next time. The easiest way cold can be transmitted to you is when you sit on the ground; avoid doing that at all costs and keep a small chair or stool handy whenever you feel the need to sit. We all know this when we are inside but sometimes we forget it when we are outside. If you are sleeping in snow try to dig out some snow pits, this traps the cold air in the pockets and allows you to have warmer air. The good thing about winter camping is that it allows you to bring cooked frozen meals and enjoy them instead of preparing a bad, dehydrating camping meal. When it comes to cold weather, boil-in-a-bag stew-like meals work great and can be found easily in most superstores.

It’s also a good idea to dry your sleeping bag out in the morning, either by the fire or in the sun. It’s also important to pick a sleeping bag that’s appropriate for your height and size that will have a comfortable yet snug fit. Option two is to place the stones in the middle of your tent and let them radiate warmth throughout the tent. Combine this with a mylar blanket on the ceiling of your tent to reflect the heat, and you’ve got a pretty effective DIY tent heater.

Genius Tips For Cold

A pad’s warmth is measured by its R-value and the good news is, the R-values of two pads add together to offer combined insulating power. No matter how much you love each other, sleep in your own bag. By zipping two bags together you create extra empty space, which is harder to warm up. This kind of mattress is filled with foam, so there is no space for cold air. They are often not as comfortable as air mattresses and take a lot more space in your backpack.

If you’ve got no better option, make sure to fill your mattress with an air pump or go with a thin, self inflating mat to optimize insulation and minimize heat loss. The mylar blanket was originally designed by NASA to reflect the heat of the sun in space. Your best option is a four-season, water proof tent. Such a tent will give you the best starting point with insulation. The leaves have fallen, and the idea of a warm sunny day is but a memory. There are many types of hiking stoves on the market.

Layer Up A Sleeping Bag + Quilt

Our body prioritizes heat for our core, so the hands and feet and often the first to get chilly. Hydration is also a key factor in how well your body functions in the cold. Allowing yourself to become dehydrated only strains your ability to stay warm. If all that water causes the need to go in the middle of the night, do so.

Using a portable heater for an extended period of time can also increase the likelihood of a fire or sparking event. If you’re looking for a new tent to keep you warm, be sure to check out our list of The Best Cold Weather Tents for Winter Camping. If you’re wondering how to keep a tent warm in the winter there’s a handful of key considerations. The ultimate, luxury solution is a wood burning stove.

Never Put Your Head Inside The Sleeping Bag

Thick layers often leave more room between them for air to circulate. Thin layers work best as they’re tight against your skin and seal heat in. If you can, have only your lips exposed while sleeping in a sleeping bag. Breathing into your bag or inside your hoodie will create condensation, and this could freeze in winter. Finally, there are a few things you can do to keep yourself even warmer inside your optimized tent and gear. There are a few tips that’ll help you protect your phone and drinking water, too.

Some people use a pee bottle while inside their bag . We prefer to get out of our bags to use the pee bottle. Any wide mouth container with a good lid that you won’t confuse with your water bottle will do. Cover your head and neck, and block drafts, but don’t burrow your head into your sleeping bag. I have a friend who sleeps with three hats and a neck gator. Keep that noggin warm, but don’t breathe into your sleeping bag or you will wake up warm and wet.

#6 Utilize Tarps And Tent Footprints

These insulators reflect 95% of radiant heat and will insulate hot drinks and soup. Keep your core body temperature up and stay hydrated by sipping on something warm. Roll the moist air out of your bag each morning when you get up , then leave it open until it cools to air temperature. At night, fluff up your sleeping bag with vigor to gain maximum loft before you climb in. If even a car breaks down when it gets buried under a few feet of snow, your gear is no different.

Drinking a warm beverage or eating a snack before bed can also help warm you up, as the process of digestion literally warms you up from the inside. Fill in your email address below to receive fabulous monthly updates about camping, competitions and general outdoors related loveliness. Sleeping on a double-height air bed is great in terms of comfort for those with mobility issues as they are so easy to get on and off, but boy are they cold! I persevered with one for well over a year and was always cold no matter how many sheepskin rugs I laid on top of it.

If you run warm, you may want to use a vapor barrier to prevent your perspiration from reaching the down in your bag. If you are waking up to recurring condensation, ventilate your tent with a small opening. Hot or cold, whatever you do, dress for the occasion and leave your cotton clothing at home. One last tip – if you need to pee in the middle of the night, do it! You are wasting body heat by trying to keep that amount of fluid warm, and wetting yourself is only a quick fix. With the extra skills needed to tread this perilous trail, it needs even more than just a pair of boots and a commemorative photo to go backpacking with your friends.

If your campsite is cold but not freezing, you might get by with a 3-season tent depending on its level of mesh and ventilation. It should offer you basic protection from rain and wind. When you’re trying to stay warm in a tent, clutter is your friend. Keep an eye on materials and make sure your sleeping bag is made of something insulating and water repellent.

You will lose a significant amount of body heat through conduction by laying on the cold floor, and this will make getting warm very difficult. You cannot crawl out of your sleeping bag and adjust the thermostat to suit your desired temperature. But that is part of the fun, so here are A LOT of tips to help keep you warm and comfy during your next camping trip. Cold feet are a common reason people don’t sleep well in the cold.

Final Thoughts: How To Stay Warm When Camping In Cold Weather

So it’s definitely going to be -30C and these tips will help me to make my stay comfortable in chilly nights. And also, a good winter-proof sleeping bag allows you to occlude the bag around your neck, to avoid cool air coming in. When you share a sleeping bag, there will always be space between your heads, allowing a continuous stream of cool air coming into the sleeping bags. If you are ready for bed and feeling chilly, you should have a warm drink, take a quick jog or run, or even do a few jumping jacks before zipping up in your sleeping bag. The added heat you generate while completing any of these activities will do wonders to keep you warm through the night. You should have a dedicated winter sleeping bag that’s rated for freezing temperatures.

If you wake up in the middle of the night and need to pee, don’t hold it in. The more you suppress the urge to pee the more calories your body has to burn in order to warm your urine. Most van lifers keep a marked pee bottle for when nature calls at unexpected times. The problem with stuffing your face inside the sleeping bag is that your breath will release moisture that causes dampness, thus canceling out the insulation provided by the bag.

Avoid tight-fitting clothing that may restrict blood flow to your extremities. The essential amount might not seem classy or sexy, but your partner will surely not mind for as long as your foot is not taking on a darker hue. No crowds in this area to judge you too – so let that cart of food and bottles of chocolate be eaten. Looking at the rating of each author will take time for sure, but it might be worth it to search for a while for the sake of your safety. Whoa..you need to educate yourself about KETO, burning fat & limiting carbs, for reasons other than weight loss…Better health is the #1 reason..too involved to address here.

A few of these ten tips focus on purchasing and utilizing various pieces of outdoor recreation equipment. A sturdy, 4-season tent should be up for the job and will be built to withstand the snow. There is nothing like the scent of pine amidst the quiet of an alpine lake or a clear sky speckled with stars against snow-capped mountains. But even the most spectacular sights won’t make up for a miserable night camping in cold weather or freezing temperatures. Whether you’re cross-country skiing or backpacking by snowshoe, don’t be ill-prepared.

Wrapping yourself up in a thick sleeping bag and a tent full of friends is great, just don’t zip your face all the way in the bag. You exhale a lot of moisture when you breathe, so leave a breathing space to stay ventilated. Chances are you’ll find that moisture frozen on the inside of your tent in the morning, which is far better than having it trapped inside your bag.