The essential to having a fun camping journey in cold weather is remaining at least fairly warm. That’s simpler said than done, though, specifically if you’re tent outdoor camping in the winter season.
When the temperature levels plunge and you’re sleeping in a shelter made from nylon, canvas, or polyester, you should have some techniques up your sleeve that’ll help keep you from ending up being a human icicle– specifically when you’re trying to get an excellent night’s sleep.
In really cold temperatures, you’ll lose body heat faster than you can produce it. Utilizing a range of methods to keep your body temperature up and maintain heat you can produce inside your camping tent, however, you can remain warm, even on cold nights.
In this post, we’ll show you how to remain warm in a camping tent so you can stay as comfortable as possible while cold-weather camping.
The Fundamentals: Staying Warm
drink warm drinks Stay active Stay dry Wearing several clothing layers is critical to keeping warm inside your camping tent … or any time, truly. At the minimum, when winter outdoor camping or whenever it’s cold, you ought to be wearing three layers: a base layer, an insulating layer, and an external layer.
Base layers ought to be constructed out of moisture-wicking material. Insulating layers supply insulation that keeps your body heat in (fleece is an excellent choice). Outer layers are water resistant to keep you dry and windproof to shield you from wind.
Where you at first established camp matters, too. Establish in a protected location that won’t be exposed to excessive wind, snow, or rain. Think about where the morning sun will shine, and put your camping tent there so you can make the most of the sun’s heat throughout the day.
For ideas on setting up a camping tent on top of snow, have a look at our winter outdoor camping guide. Remember to never set up your shelter near dead or passing away trees or high snowy slopes (30-degree slopes and steeper qualify as avalanche risks), which could be potentially harmful.
If there are no natural windbreaks nearby, such as a cluster of bushes, a fallen tree, or a mound of rocks, consider constructing a windbreak to shield your tent from extreme wind, which accelerates heat loss.
You can do this by accumulating snow and forming it into a wall, or by using a sturdy tarpaulin (with hard grommets) and a durable rope.
Use the rope to tie the tarpaulin up between 2 trees that are upwind of your tent. The tarp will act as a powerful windbreak, possibly better than most natural windbreaks.
Strategy ahead so you have easy-to-prepare meals and drinks for your adventure.
Consuming a hot meal and drinking a warm beverage can make all the distinction not just in managing your body temperature however also in keeping you mentally feeling great as the mercury dips. Pack insulated containers and thermoses that will keep your food and drinks warm.
In general, to remain warm on a cold camping trip, plan on remaining active throughout the day. If your heart is pumping, your body is making heat, and your clothing layers will assist keep that heat in. Any extra heat you have entering into your tent will help you stay warm when you’re inside it.
One caution to remaining active, however, is that you likewise require to remain dry. If you’re sweating, you must get rid of sweaty clothing and switch to fresh base layers before bed.
Equipment That’ll Help You Stay Warm
Image by Daniel Bowman You’ll require the correct gear to remain warm in a tent
on winter season outdoor camping journeys (or when camping in
cold temperature levels). Here is some assistance. Select the Best Outdoor Camping Tent Preferably, if you prepare to hang around winter season camping, you’ll invest in a four-season tent or a hot camping tent. Four-season camping tents are created to hold heat in, while likewise enabling some ventilation. Hot tents accommodate wood-burning stoves, which are among several methods to warm your tent.
If you have a three-season tent, you can still camp in winter. However, consider insulating your three-season camping tent against the cold while winter season camping (more on that later).
When choosing a tent for your next outdoor camping adventure in the cold, bear in mind that larger is not always much better. A smaller space will stay warmer than a larger space.
Build a Smart Sleep System
A durable, well-insulated sleeping bag with a temperature score designed for freezing temperatures is a must for remaining warm in your camping tent on a cold night. The very best sleeping bags for winter often have a fitted design, with a shape that’s cut to look like a human body.
This profile reduces energy loss considering that you will not be losing body heat to heat up a needlessly large rectangular sleeping bag.
Put layers between your sleeping bag and the cold ground, ideally more than one. For instance, bring along an insulated sleeping pad (or 2 sleeping pads) and a sleeping bag liner. Layer up even more with a camping blanket or quilt for maximum heat.
The combined insulating power of a great sleeping pad, a warm sleeping bag, and a sleeping bag liner will assist you attain a great night’s rest on your next outdoor camping journey.
Camping tent Heaters
If you’re keen on winter outdoor camping, one of the best pieces of gear to keep you warm in a tent is a tent heater. There are electric and gas options that’ll actually suffice by changing cold air into warm air in no time.
Note that a fuel-based tent warmer like a lp heating unit requires ventilation. While electrical heating units don’t present the very same carbon-monoxide threat that fuel-based stoves and heating units do, camping tent heaters of any type are not recommended for usage while you’re asleep.
You can also check out various ways to warm your tent that do not involve using a camping tent heater.
Other Products to Include or Preserve Warmth
You might also consider adding these items to your outdoor camping gear to remain warm in a tent:
- Hand warmers and foot warmers
- USB-powered electrical blankets and/or additional outdoor camping blankets
- Heated gloves or fleece gloves
- Additional layers to replace sweaty layers before sleep
- Wool socks
How to Insulate a Camping Tent For Winter Season Outdoor Camping
Image by Adam Eggleston To take full advantage of warmth inside your camping tent, you ought to insulate it( unless you currently have actually a tent ranked for four seasons). Start by laying a tarp down before you set it up, which will help insulate the camping tent floor versus the cold
ground. Keep the tarp from extending past the edges of the tent if it is raining or snowing (so rain and melted snow do not collect on the edges and swimming pool underneath your camping tent).
To enhance insulation in the walls of your tent, use a couple of tarps or space blankets. Connect one to the inside of the canopy using duct tape to function as an inner layer that traps heat.
You can use extra tarpaulins or area blankets to seal off any drafty areas but don’t forget that ventilation is also important for staying warm and dry.
Bonus Tips for Staying Warm
How Cold Is Too Cold for Camping Tent Camping?
Image by Joshua Earle There is no rule for how cold is too cold for camping tent outdoor camping. Some people who are extremely conscious cold might have a much better time adhering to carry seasons and warm weather condition when camping. Others will do simply great utilizing the methods and ideas gone over here for remaining warm in a tent.
Before camping in cold weather, find out the indications of cold-related illnesses like hypothermia and frostbite. If at any point you feel yourself ending up being precariously cold and not able to heat up, seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
Winter season camping is very fun, however you require to look after yourself. Here’s how to stay warm in a camping tent for your next winter season outdoor camping trip.