Winter Camping Hacks

The dead autumn leaves are now all covered in snow, and if you’ve been wondering about setting out camping, we don’t blame you. You can visit the same well-liked locations tourists visit in the summer without the crowds. Familiar locations lose their familiarity. The peaceful freshness that snow imparts to all it touches is a sight to behold. Here are a few winter camping hacks that are bound to come in handy:

1. Pack Appropriate Clothing

It may sound like a no-brainer, but it is one of the most crucial pieces of winter camping hack to remember while organizing a trip. Make sure you have warm clothes packed that are appropriate for the weather you may experience. You won’t enjoy your camping vacation if you are freezing the whole time. We find it helpful to pack clothes that work even if the weather is a little cooler than expected.

2. Pack a Bunch of Hand Warmers.

Using hand warmers is the best method to stay warm when you’re outside the tent. Your hands are often the first body parts to get chilly and are sometimes challenging to rewarm. The best way to keep your hands warm is to have a few hand warmers in your pockets.

3. Know your Conditions, Know your Tents:

It is monumental to select a tent for winter camping. There are a bunch of tents you can choose from, primarily the 3-season and 4-season ones. They are among the most popular, with 3-seasons being the most common. Honestly, we find this terminology to be somewhat perplexing. In actuality, 3-season tents endure the regular elements of wilderness camping, including some cold, wind, rain, and maybe light snow. They designed them to be portable and light.

On the other hand, they designed 4-season tents to shield you from harsh weather conditions that are often present exclusively during the winter. They protect themselves from strong winds and significant snow loads with ridged exoskeletons and stronger walls. As a result, they tend to be heavy on the scales and the pocket. While 3-season tents are the most sought-after ones, you can always choose a 4-season tent if you need one.

4. Heat your Tent using a Heater.

When camping in cold weather, having a heater inside your tent is a terrific way to stay warm. It will be pretty simple if you are camping at a campsite with electrical outlets. Simply carry an extension wire and a space heater. The heater may then be left on all night to maintain your tent at more comfortable temperatures.

If you don’t have access to power outlets, there’s nothing to worry about. Get a propane tank top heater. They come in various shapes and sizes; pick the one that suits your requirements. Before bed and when you get up in the morning, warm up your tent with these heaters. A word of caution with these kinds of heaters: These heaters run the danger of creating CO2, which can be fatal to humans in concentrated amounts. We do not advise using these heaters while you are sleeping and ensure the tent is well ventilated.

Purchasing a portable generator and using it to power an electric heater is another alternative for heating your tent. It is the safest method to power a heater in your tent without access to an electrical outlet, but it is also the most expensive.

5. Bring Waterproof Shoes and Socks.

You’ll stay much warmer if you keep your feet dry. Bring waterproof boots or shoes, or at the very least waterproof socks. We can tell you from our experience that if your feet are chilly and damp all day, you won’t be having much fun.

6. Pack a Dedicated Set of Sleeping Clothes.

Your clothes probably won’t be as dry as when you set out and reach the campground, whether from sweat, rain, or snow. Wet clothes also rapidly steal your body heat. The best solution to this problem is to bring a dedicated sleeping outfit. It includes warm socks, a cozy beanie to wear while you sleep, and a base layer that breathes well. Tuck these garments inside your sleeping bag so that you always have a warm, dry pair of clothes waiting for you at the end of the day.

7. Pack a Hot Water Bottle in your Sleeping Bag.

Putting a hot water bottle at the foot of your sleeping bag is a terrific way to give it a little more warmth. Pouring warm water into the water bottle is as simple as heating it over the fire or on the stove. Using this water bottle technique, you’ll feel a lot warmer in your sleeping bag.

8. Do Not Resort to Drinking to Stay Warm!

Alcohol might give you a cozy feeling on the inside. However, in practice, it’s doing the complete opposite! Alcohol use in excess lowers body temperature and raises the possibility of hypothermia. 

Additionally, it’s just plain hazardous. We know there is a long-standing custom of drinking a beer at the summit, passing a flask around the campfire, or adding alcohol to the hot chocolate. However, drinking hinders your ability to make rational decisions, and nobody wants to be the man who decided that the snow would be cozier to pass out on than his sleeping bag.

9. Use Compact Tents.

We usually camp in giant tents, which provide a lot of additional room, but a smaller tent might be better for keeping us warm. Because there is less ambient air inside a smaller tent, it warms up more quickly and is simpler to stay warm. Additionally, moving everyone a little closer to one another goes a long way to keeping everyone warm.

Final Thoughts

Those were a few of our winter camping hacks for keeping warm while the outside temperature lowers. Naturally, we employ most of these tricks all year long, regardless of the season. We hope you find them handy when camping in tricky weather conditions. 

You can also check: How to Stay Warm Camping in a Tent