For any camping crazy folk, nothing will stop them from pitching a tent and bedding down under the stars. Not even cold, winter weather.
If you are planning on camping during the colder months, there are a few things you should take to make the whole experience more enjoyable.
To keep warm
When camping in the winter months, staying warm is one of the most important things you need to ensure you do. One way to keep warm is with the clothing you wear. There are three things you need to make sure you wear to keep you cozy and prevent your body temperature from dropping – base layer, coat, and accessories.
Your base layer should be able to wick away moisture. This means it will keep you dry if you are sweating and ultimately keep you warm. When choosing a coat or jacket to take camping, you should opt for a thick, good quality hooded fleece jacket that will keep you toasty warm. As for accessories, thick gloves, socks and a hat and scarf should be worn to stop your body heat escaping.
Other than clothing, another way to keep warm is with your tent. You need to make sure you have a tent appropriate for cold and wet weather to keep you protect from all kinds of weather. When kitting out your tent, you should choose a good quality, water resistant sleeping bag and cover to keep you warm and dry in bed. The sleeping bag cover also acts as an extra layer to trap the warmth in.
To keep dry
Just like staying warm, keeping dry when camping is important too. After all, you get cold quicker when you are wet. The most obvious answer to keeping dry is with waterproofs – a must if it is raining or snowing. The key here is to make sure your coat and other waterproof gear are actually waterproof and not water resistant. The difference? Water resistant clothing is designed to withstand light showers, waterproofs can tackle heavier rain.
You may also benefit from packing extra pairs of warm, thick socks. When camping and being outdoors in wet weather, you are guaranteed to get wet feet which will make you colder quicker. But, if you have spares, you can quickly change them over and keep your feet dry.
To keep safe
Yours and others safety is always paramount when it comes to winter camping. Not only can camping have an element of danger to it, adding colder, wetter weather and shorter days can elevate the amount of danger you in.
To keep your tent safe and secure, you should opt for long tent pegs and snow pegs. These will help keep your tent stable on windy days and nights. As days get shorter as it gets closer to winter, you will also benefit from a light source. We recommend a head torch over a handheld as it allows you to freely use both hands – ideal if you have to pitch your tent in the dark.
For your own health and well-being, we highly recommend that you pack any medication you need as well as a fully stocked first aid kit in case any injuries occur.
Extra tips and tricks
- Don’t go to bed cold – it will be harder to warm up in your sleeping bag if you do
- Disposable heat pads are your new best friends
- Wear your hat in bed to retain body heat
- Choose a well-ventilated tent – this will help reduce condensation
- Stay hydrated
- Eat hot meals with lots of calories – porridge, eggs and wholegrain pasta are great choices
- Eat high energy snacks throughout the day – dried fruit and nuts are good options