It is a well-known fact that camping is one of the best ways to enjoy your time away from the loud, and overwhelming city life. Camping in the late fall and winter has its own draw and differs a lot from your usual camping trip. There are a lot of factors to consider when temperatures begin to fall, keeping yourself and your tent warm becomes one of your top priories; which in turn also impacts your gear choices for the trip. There’s an unmatched charm to camping in the fall and winter, no bugs to bother you, the moonlight is brighter than ever, and the cold night breeze is so quiet you can hear everything for miles. Winter Camping can be a wholesome way of connecting with nature, but a lack of preparation can turn any great getaway sour fast.
In this comprehensive guide to winter camping for beginners and those more experienced, we will be addressing how you can survive outdoors in the cold like a pro! You will learn a few tips and tricks to keep yourself warm and give you a few suggestions on the best winter camping gear you can pick out.
6 Tips oh How Keep Your Tent Warm While Winter Camping
The number one question we are asked about winter camping is how to keep your tent warm. While we can recommend awesome 4 season tents there is also more to it than that. Below are 6 tips to help keep your tent warm while winter camping and you guessed it… Pick the right tent to start with happens to be our number 1 suggestion!
Tip 1: Pick the Right Tent for Winter Camping
Most tents have a clearly mentioned season rating, generally, you always want to go for a 4-season tent which is rated to withstand high levels of winds, snow and made with keeping warmth inside in mind. Just as you wouldn’t want to drive a sports car in a snowstorm you need to make sure you have the right equipment for the job. Picking the right tent for winter camping is the first step to survival. Your tent needs to breathe while at the same time keeping that much-needed warmth in. In most camping situations you can get by with lower quality equipment, this is not the case for winter camping. Below we have listed some winter camping tents with a proven track record.
Top Backpacking Tents for Winter Camping:
Top Tents for Winter Camping:
Tip 2: Pick the Right Spot to Setup Your Tent
Picking the perfect spot to set up your tent is a must when camping in the winter. Avoiding a windy spot is key to staying warm! You want to pick a spot with some natural cover like pine trees or rock edges so that if the wind does pick up your tent stays warm and protected from the elements. While setting up your tent you should also be mindful of sharp rocks, or tree trunks to avoid an uncomfortable night’s sleep.
Avoid setting up your tent near dead trees, trees with snow on them, or cliffs with falling rocks. While these may offer protection from the wind they may present unforeseen issues while sleeping. Another good approach is to build a small snow wall around your tent to dampen out the wind’s impact while also providing additional insolation. However, keep your campsite ventilated enough to allow fresh air to make its way inside your tent.
Tip 3: The Heater is your Best Friend & Worst Enemy
Having a top-of-the-line heater while camping in the winter is crucial. Heaters technology has increased over the past decade to the point where they are safer and more efficient. When using a heater while camping it is important to make sure you have plenty of ventilation. The last thing you want to do is trap all of the carbon monoxides in your tent and get sick or even die. It is recommended that while winter camping you run your heater before you fall asleep and right as you wake up in the morning. This ensures as you get in and out of the sleeping bag your body won’t experience a drastic change in temperature. Below are a few of our favorite heaters for tent camping.
Tip 4: Always Bring a Tarp
Tarps are a crucial part of camping in colder climates; they are not only great for sitting on snow without getting wet but also a great way to keep your tent floor waterproof. even if you are using a top-of-the-line winter tent it is still a good idea to line the bottom of your tent with a waterproof tent. All tarps aren’t created equal, so you have to make sure it fits your use case. If you plan on using the tarp as a tent floor, you should always be certain that it is large enough to cover the whole space. If you are traveling to a higher elevation, another priority is to make sure it is waterproof and light enough to carry. Here are a few tarp recommendations for winter camping:
Tip 5: Fill up the Space Inside your Tent to keep it Warm
To maximize warmth inside your tent you should always store your gear inside your tent, this fills up space acting as insulation. On most winter camping trips we recommend you bring additional blankets to store and take up space in your tent. The more items you can get up to a warm temperature in your tent the longer the heat will last. Over time your body heat and breathing will create air pockets that will stay warm during the night.
Tip 6: Tweak Your Setup to Your Liking Before Bed
You never want to wake up in the night and have to adjust your tent situation to get warm. This usually leads to you getting cold and once you are cold it can be hard to warm back up. It can be quite tricky camping in extreme temperatures, and if you are a beginner, it is always a good idea to experiment with your gear placement in warmer day temperatures. This helps you better understand how your gear can affect your overall sleeping behavior. We recommend sometime during the day you take a comfort and warmth test run in your tent to ensure you will be good to make it through the long cold night.
Looking for more Winter Camping Gear?
Having the perfect tent set up for winter camping always makes the adventure more enjoyable. If you are stuck using the old outdated camping gear and need an upgrade we have you covered. At Online Outdoor Outlet we are here to help you escape to the outdoors with the best gear. Having the best winter camping tents in the woods is just an added bonus. Just because you are camping in the winter doesn’t mean you have to be cold. In the end, it’s always better to be prepared than not. Hopefully, this guide helped you discover and choose the best way to maximize warmth and comfort while on a winter adventure. Please share this post with your friends and family before you leave us. As they say, the more, the merrier! Happy camping!
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