How to keep warm when camping in the winter is a frequently asked question during the winter season. Whether you are backpacking or car camping in the winter with these tips, you will be able to camp year-round and enjoy the beauties of winter camping.
How to Keep Your Tent Warm
Having a warm tent is great for a good night’s sleep and a place to warm up if needed. When winter camping you may spend a lot of time in your tent so keeping it warm is a must. These tips will help you enjoy a warm comfortable tent when camping.
1. Tent floor
Having insulation between you and the ground can insulate your tent better. Rugs, blankets, sleeping pads are all great ways to keep you and your stuff off the cold hard ground.
2. Proper Sized Tent
Having a large tent with a lot of extra space will make the air cooler because there is more space needed to heat up. Having a properly sized tent for the number of people and stuff you have will make it easier to warm up your tent.
3. Fill your Tent
Keeping your tent filled with people and stuff will reduce excess space and make it easier to heat your tent with body heat.
4. Proper Venting
Having proper airflow through your tent seems like it will make your tent cold but in reality, it will help keep your tent warmer in the winter. Without proper airflow, condensation will form. This can lead to frost inside your tent as well as making your tent and clothes damp.
Most tents and rain flies have multiple small vents which you can open and close. I recommend keeping them closed if you are not in the tent but they should be opened if you plan to spend a long period of time in your tent.
These small vents don’t let in a lot of air making it perfect to vent out your tent but still keep the inside air warm.
Stay Warm When Sleeping
1. Temperature Graded Sleeping Bag
Having the proper sleeping bag is one of the best ways to stay warm when outdoor sleeping. Most quality winter sleeping bags have a temperature rating which is the best way to find the best fit for you.
A close-fitting mummy bag will easily keep you warm. With the proper quality, winter sleeping bags have great insolation to keep in the heat; Along with a snug fit that will keep the warm air in your sleeping bag and reduce excess space.
2. Extra Blankets
If you have spare room it can’t hurt to bring extra blankets and bedding along on your trip. It is very easy to take off blankets if you are too warm but if you get cold and don’t have extra blankets it may be hard to warm up.
3. Warm Rock or Water bottle
Before going to bed heating up a rock or water bottle provides you with a heat source you can take to bed with you. Sleeping with a warm rock is a perfect way to heat whatever body parts are coldest for you. This could be your feet or hands since they get cold easier or keep it next to your core which can warm your entire body.
I prefer using a rock over a water bottle since it is better at retaining heat, keeping it warm longer throughout the night compared to a water bottle. The larger the rock the more heat it will retain and the longer it will keep you warm. You will want to find a happy medium for the size of your rock as sleeping with a large rock isn’t always the most comfortable.
4. Snuggle Up
Snuggling and sleeping close with family or significant others will prove body warm to both parties. Dogs and some other animals can also provide great comfort and warmth when sleeping.
5. NO-Air Mattresses
Air mattresses can be a luxury when camping but may not be the best idea if camping in the cold. The air inside the mattress will become the same temperature as the surrounding air meaning when it is cold outside you will be sleeping on a cold mattress. There are ways around this if an air mattress is all you have. Check out our blog on How to Stay Warm on an Air Mattress.
Cold Weather Camping Clothing List
Having proper clothing is one of the best ways to stay warm when camping in the winter. If you have warm clothes and the proper gear you won’t be restricted to staying in your tent or around a campfire for warmth. You will be able to explore the beautiful outdoors in the winter and experience winter camping in the best way possible.
Checking the weather before you pack for your trip will help you know exactly what to plan for and bring. Below are a few clothing items that work great to keep you warm outdoors in the cold and other conditions.
- Thermal long underwear (top and bottom)
- Cotton long sleeve (warm and breathable but poor when damp or wet)
- Sweat pants
- Fleece sweater (Very warm and comfortable)
- Puffy Jacket (Well isolated and wind resistant)
- Windbreaker (Great shell/outer layer)
- Snow pants ( Very warm and great even without snow)
- Wool sock ( Quickly change if damp or wet)
- Gloves ( Light or heavy)
- Boots
Eat and Drink
Eating and drinking throughout the day will help you stay warm. Warm foods and drinks, like camp coffee and soups, will give you a great warm feeling inside, but even better it gives you energy which is what warms your body. This means there is no reason to not fill up on delicious camp food and stay hydrated.
Before going to bed make sure to use the bathroom. This may sound weird but holding in urine can use a lot of energy which will reduce the energy you have to produce body heat. Along with that, getting out of your tent in the middle of the night can lose all the heat in your tent and sleeping bag, making it cold when you get back in.
Location
When camping in the winter picking the proper location to set up a camp can make a big temperature difference.
Hot air rises and cold air sinks. This is important to know when setting up your tent. If your landscape isn’t flat it is recommended to stay out of the valleys and find a site higher up and out of where cold air will settle.
If possible, keeping your camp protected from the wind will make a big difference. There are many different types of natural landscapes that can protect you from the wind. For example keeping your camp in trees, behind boulders, but not in valleys.
