Cold weather camping is wonderful. There can be far fewer crowds, you’ll have the pleasure of experiencing pine forests and the timid wildlife that inhabits them, and there are many exhilarating sports that require snow. There can be a real trick about camping however, because you must learn how to deal with cold, sometimes freezing temperatures. To avoid those miserable nights battling the cold when out camping, ReserveAmerica has provided some helpful tips on how to stay warm.
Layer Your Clothing
Dress in layers both day and night when you are doing cold-weather camping. You’ll want base layers, middle layers, and then the shells and your puffy coat. As you take part in activities, you may have to shed layers sometimes, then add them back on as the sun sinks in the sky. You need to avoid any sweating. You don’t want to get your clothes sweaty because when sweat dries, it cools and you will soon be wrapped up in pure cold. If you have any sweaty clothes at the end of the day, remove them and replace with dry layers as soon as you can.
Don’t be shy in wearing thermal long-johns, a thermal top, fleece pajamas, and a hoodie to bed. On top of it all throw on a puffy parka. Wool socks would be the ultimate finishing touch. The materials you should choose to wear are polyester, merino wool, and polypropylene. These synthetic materials redistribute moisture. Cotton clothes should be avoided as they get easily saturated and don’t whisk away moisture.
Eat Plenty and Stay Hydrated
To stay warm, your body must burn calories. This means that you should be snacking consistently when outdoors in cold temperatures. At night, you should have some high fat and high protein foods as these burn slowly and keep you warm longer. Sugars and carbohydrates are good too. Eat as close to bedtime as you can. Another key to staying warm is to stay hydrated. You’ll notice that fatigue is reduced when you drink plenty of water. If drinking a lot of water during the day means getting up in the middle of the night, go ahead and do so. The trip outside is worth it for the overall warmth you’ll have during the rest of the night.
Arrange Your Tent for Maximum Warmth
Although it might sound strange, having a good airflow in your tent in the winter is important. When you breathe, hot vapor from your breath is released in the tent and when those water drops hit the tent fabric, they condense. This condensation freezes and you will wake up cold and even wet, and miserable. Opening vents on your tent will keep this from happening, even if you only open them a little.
A good rule of thumb is that your tent should be just large enough to hold how many people will be sleeping inside it, but no larger than that. A big tent with only a few people will remain much cooler than a smaller tent. Polycotton or canvas tents are good at minimizing heat loss. You can further insulate your tent by placing your sacks and gear all around the inside of the tent’s perimeter.
Recommended: 7 Essential Rules for Winter Hiking
Use Sleeping Pads
Sleeping pads are vital for camping in cold weather. In fact, it’s better to use two than just one. They will insulate you from the cold ground. It doesn’t matter how high a quality your sleeping bag is, it still needs an insulated pad or pads under it. Best of all, use a closed-cell foam pad. These pads are very durable and lightweight. You can put the closed-cell foam pad on the bottom and a winter-grade air sleeping pad on top.
Layer Your Sleeping Bag with a Quilt
A sleeping bag alone, even on top of a couple of sleeping pads, may not be enough. Take your winter sleeping bag and layer it with a featherweight quilt. This can make all the difference. With the materials with which they are making bags and quilts these days, you will find you are much warmer on those cold winter nights.
Don’t Breathe Inside Your Sleeping Bag
Please remember not to burrow down into your sleeping bag and breathe. The moisture from your breath gets trapped in the bag, gets it damp inside, and then it loses its insulation ability. It is especially bad to do this in a down bag. It will ruin the sleeping bag. If you cinch the top so only your mouth and nose shows, you will have a hole to breathe through.
Use a Balaclava Mask at Night
One of the best pieces of winter headgear may be the balaclava mask. It protects the head and the face while only exposing the eyes, nose, and mouth. You can even move it to only expose the eyes. Since you lose a lot of heat through your head, covering it does much to increase your body heat. Jacket hoods and beanies may slip off during the night, but with a balaclava under your hoodie or beanie, you will be ready for maximum warmth.
Other Conveniences to Bring Along
There are other conveniences that can make your winter camping trip a comfortable one. These include rechargeable battery-heated gloves, boots, and hand warmers. There’s no sense ignoring all of our modern technology when it can assist in confronting the cold nights of a camping trip.
Remember, the more comfortable you are, the better you will enjoy your trip, and the more energy you will have in tackling the winter sports you love. Do all you can to stay warm when camping.
Check with your Local Government Organization
Many policies have been established to counter and control the coronavirus outbreak. State and local officials have been taking decisive action to stop the spread. The policies vary by state, sometimes to a great degree. When you book a reservation, make sure to review the park and state’s latest rules and regulations prior to your visit.
For COVID-19 updates, please visit our Impacted Park List and Reservation Guide for the latest information.