When the weather gets colder, most people ditch their favorite pastime and wait it out until the spring arrives.

I get it, cold weather camping is not for the faint of heart. However, with the proper gear and safety measures in place, you can still enjoy the quiet sounds of nature.

Which is why I am here today.

In this article, I am going to give you some tips to keep you warm this winter so you can go out and enjoy some cold weather camping.

For me, this type of camping has its perks. There are fewer mosquitoes and crowds while you get to participate the beauty and peacefulness of a campground-that more than likely you will have to yourself.

But like anything else, with little to no preparation, it can be very challenging to stay warm and enjoy doing what you love to do.

 

Without further ado, Let’s go camping!

 

 

For more information on winter camping, please check out Nemo. I think they have a lot to offer when it comes to finding the right gear for cold weather camping. You can check them out here.

 

 

 Tips for Cold Weather Camping

 

 Choose the Right Base Layer.

 

 

Let’s go ahead and start with the basics.

When it comes to learning how to layer for the winter, the base layer is definitely the most important. The primary function of a base layer is to insulate your body heat and to evaporate (wick) sweat away from your body to prevent dampness.

My go-to base layers consist of wool or polyester. These layers are both quick-drying and have odor-resistant properties. The base layers need to cover your torso, arms, and legs.

They say cotton kills. Well, it does during the cold weather months. Cotton clings to the skin when wet and doesn’t provide any insulation. Not only that, but it also takes forever to dry.

For mid layers, I personally like something that is made of fleece. Fleece is warm, dries quickly and can be very lightweight.

Puffy jackets, either down or synthetic, are also great mid layers. The reason being is that they are incredibly warm and pack down very small.

As far as outer layers are concerned, you need to be looking for something that is going to provide you with breathability and waterproof.

It can be a bit pricey, but for me, Gore-Tex is the way to go for my outer layers. Staying dry and comfortable are my main objectives and Gore-Tex accomplishes this mission every single time.

 

Choose the Right Size Tent and Sleeping Bag

 

 

When it comes to cold weather camping, choosing the correct size is going to be important in so many ways. Let me explain. Tents are-for obvious reasons- a massive part of the insulation process.

Small tents are going to be warmer because there is less space inside to warm with your body heat. However, this theory only holds up if your tent can actually trap the body heat inside.

Any tent which can trap heat will also trap moisture in the air. This can cause problems for you at night. The vapor leads to condensation and with more condensation causes heat loss and potential hypothermia.

Because of condensation issues, double-layer tents are almost always the better choice for cold weather camping. The mesh layer inside a double-wall tent allows moisture to escape. If you can find a tent that has rainfly that goes all the way to the ground, then this will effectively trap the air between the two layers.

The air will act as an insulation layer and your tent will be much warmer.

 

How much warmer is a 4-season tent?

 

 

Choosing a 4-season tent with the right materials are always going to be your best bet. Unlike 3-season tents, these types of tents are going to be made with thicker materials which prevent heat transfer.

Vents, windows, and doors can be completely closed to keep wind from blowing heat away.

As a good rule of thumb, expect it to be 5-10 degrees warmer inside the 4-season tent vs the outside temperature.

Now, it’s time to discuss another important piece of gear for cold weather camping and that is the sleeping bag.

To ensure comfort on cold nights, it’s a good rule of thumb to use a bag that’s rated at least 10 degrees lower than the coldest temperature you expect to encounter.

 

Sleeping Bag Considerations

When choosing a sleeping bag for cold weather camping, consider these things:

• Choose a sleeping bag that are supplied with generous amounts goose down or synthetic insulation. Down is a popular choice due to its superior warmth-to-weight-ratio.
• Cold weather bags are distinguished by their draft tubes behind the zippers, draft collars above the shoulders and hoods to help keep the heat in the bag.
• If you’re ever in doubt about the temperature in your sleeping bag, then add a sleeping bag liner. This will add extra warmth while keeping your bag cleaner.

 

Sleeping Pads Matter- Pay Attention to the R-Value.

Sleeping pads play a couple of important roles when it comes to getting a good night’s rest in the backcountry.

Cushioning and insulation are those two roles. While many think the cushioning aspect is the most important, it’s the ability to keep you warm throughout the night is often more important.

I’m going to give you some characteristics to consider when choosing a great sleeping pad. Let’s take a look at them:

• How do you plan to use them? You will need to determine which activity your pad will be most useful. Will it be car camping? Or better yet, backpacking? Determining which activity will help you find some answers.
• R-Value- A pad’s ability to resist heat loss to the ground is going to be measured by this standard. Higher R-values are going to be warmer.
• Understand the types of sleeping pads on the market. There are 3 basic types of sleeping pads, air, self-inflating, and closed-cell foam.
• Features- Not all sleeping pads are created equal, look for weight, size, inflation ease, and of course cushioning!

 

For cold weather camping, I recommend finding a sleeping pad that will have a 5.5 R-value or higher. These might weigh a little bit more than a summer sleeping pad, but I will trade weight for comfort when camping during the winter months.

 

Eat & Drink More than you’re used to.

Your body burns calories to stay warm, so snacking constantly keeps your internal furnace cranking. I recommend eating high-fat and high-protein foods. These foods burn slower than high-carb meals and keep you warmer longer.

Hydration plays an important role as well. Allowing yourself to become dehydrated only strains your ability to stay warm.

A major problem with winter dehydration is that people are often unaware that they are becoming dehydrated.

When breathing cold, dry air the body also loses more fluid, again increasing the risk of winter dehydration.

Drink water regularly throughout the day aiming anywhere between 7-9 glasses per day. You will want to avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol as these tend to be the two usual suspects that contribute to dehydration.

 

 

 

Thoughts & Takeaways

And that wraps things up for today. Winter camping definitely has its perks, but I can’t stress enough how important it is to prepare for these kinds of trips. Winter isn’t known as camping season, but just because the temperatures drop, doesn’t mean you should have to abandon your favorite hobby. Personally, I like the fact that you get fewer crowds and a lot less mosquitoes with cold weather camping. Depending on where you live, this might not be a great option. But for those who live in the southern part of the country, you get more than your share of some perfect nights under the stars. I hope you found this article to be helpful, please share your experiences with cold weather camping in the comment section below.

 

 

-CT