Cold Weather Camping Tips

I love winter camping, and thankfully it’s getting to be that time of year again here in the U.S.! There’s nothing like waking up to that crisp, cold, morning air and making a nice hot breakfast out in the wild. But nothing ruins a winter camping trip like staying up all night because you’re freezing cold! We’ve put together some tips and tricks to help you get a good night’s sleep in your tent, even when it’s cold out.

Packing for Warmth

Insulation is key when you’re out in the cold. One of the best ways to insulate your sleeping bag is to put a closed-cell foam pad under your matress or sleeping pad.

It’s important to insulate yourself too! This can be achieved by packing warm base layers. Warm gloves, socks, and hats can all help to achieve this. You should also try to avoid cotton. When possible, use synthetic fabrics or wool. Cotton absorbs much more moisture, and this can actually drop your body temperature.

For a sleeping bag, also be sure to choose one made out of synthetic materials. Down sleeping bags don’t retain heat once they get wet. If you are going to use a down sleeping bag, just make sure it’s water-repellant.

Securing Your Campsite

Once you’ve found your campsite (ideally somewhere dry, flat, and protected from bad weather) it’s time to set up your tent! Experts recommend clearing and flattening your sleeping area with tools or boots, and dig a shallow indention to lay in. This will help insulate you and keep you from rolling around too much in the middle of the night.

One good way to insulate your tent is to line the tent’s interior with any gear you packed.

A classic camper’s hack to stay warm at night is to boil some water, and put it in your bottle at night. Then you close the hot bottle into your sleeping to help you stay warm while you fall asleep.

Tent Maintenance

Moisture can be a real killer for any of your camping gear! On cold winter nights, the moisture in your breath can actually cause condensation in your tent. It’s important to keep a vent open, even in colder conditions.

Going camping this winter? Have any cold weather camping hacks of your own? Let us know in the comments below!