Winter camping adds a strong sense of survival and a challenge for people who want to test their physical and mental skills.
What better way to test those skills than camping in harsh winter climates, like extreme cold, heavy rain or strong winds.
However, one of the most important aspects of winter camping is insulation, particularly your tent. As extremely cold temperatures can turn any adventure into a nightmare, so it’s important to know how to stay warm.
Here are some helpful tips on how to insulate a tent for winter camping!
1. Select a Proper Location
You should avoid open areas, like a field or the side of a mountain, because they allow drafts to hit your tent much easier and reduce heat. Try to set up your tent in the woods, a cave, or between some shrubs, so these can act as a windbreaker.
2. Warm Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags are essential to keep your body warm and comfy during cold winter nights. You should look for sleeping bags that have a 10-degree rating lower than the temperature that you will face when camping.
One of the best options is the Eskimo style because it envelops your body completely, including your head, for maximum warmth.
Down sleeping bags are also great for keeping nice and warm. If you already have a down sleeping bag and it wasn’t as warm as it used to be, it may just need to be washed. This will bring it’s amazing insulating properties back to life.
3. Use a Four-Season Tent
Four-season tents are the best options for camping in harsh winter conditions. They use heftier poles, and are made of weather-resistant fabrics that can repel strong winds and constant snowing or hailing.
However, they can be expensive, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. If you decide to engage in winter camping, it can be a great investment.
4. Use Reflective Foil
You can place a tarp or reflective foil underneath before setting up your tent. This will enhance its heat-retaining capabilities and bounce back heat towards your tent.
5. Create a Windbreaker
Remember that gusts of winds penetrate inside your tent and reduce any heat emanating inside of it. Therefore, you should create multiple windbreakers around your tent in the direction of the wind.
You can tie a tarp tightly with a rope between two trees so it can absorb the impact for the wind and interfere with its flow.
Additionally, you can utilize fallen leaves to cover the bottom part of your tent around it so it can reduce any space available and avoid the presence of drafts.
6. Wear Thermal Clothes
Thermals are an all-time favorite for many who go winter camping. Not only do they keep you very warm, but they’re super cheap, so you can bring multiple pairs just in case they get wet.
You can also get thermal socks, which are another great investment. There’s nothing worse than having freezing cold feet while the rest of you is toasty.
7. Remove Snow
Before you place your tent in the ground, you must remove the snow. If you leave snow underneath your tent, it can melt and later refreeze, which can create bumps and ridges underneath it. It will also reduce your tent’s insulating properties as the heat will be transferred to the cold surface.
How to Heat a Tent without Electricity
It’s likely that there is no electricity available when you camp in the woods. However, there are many methods that you can use to insulate your tent.
You can use a propane heater to maintain a heat source inside your tent. Most propane heaters are not deemed safe inside a tent because it can tip over or cause a fire. So you should always be careful.
They can also produce carbon monoxide, so you must have a vent gap so the gas can flow outside the tent.
There are some heaters that have a sensor, which turns itself off if the levels of carbon monoxide are increasing.
You can also keep hot water bottles inside your tent, and the heat radiated by them will provide a temporary heat source. This will prevent your tent from freezing if the temperatures drop considerably.
Some other people prefer to heat rocks and wrap them around in clothes to produce heat without damaging the tent.
How to Heat a Tent with a Candle
Candles are another efficient source for keeping your tent warm in cold temperatures.
There are candle lanterns available, which harbor three to four candles inside a container to provide heat while reducing the chances of fire.
They can last between four to six hours. Thus, they can provide adequate heat during the night. However, you should always carry various candles if you decide to use it as an alternative heat source.
You can also make your own candle lantern by placing four tea light candles in a fireproof plate.
Place a pot on top of them and seal any holes. Afterward, place a bigger pot on top of it, so the candles heat up the small pot. The air trapped between the two pots will become warm as well. Thus, it will radiate heat and keep the tent warm!
Tips for Winter Camping
If it’s your first time going winter camping, it’s not recommended to go alone.
The mountain trails can disappear under the snow, or the landscapes can change drastically in a matter of minutes, and you can easily get lost or sidetracked. It’s best to carry a navigation map or a GPS device.
You can also hire an experienced tour person who can bring all the gear and equipment necessary for a pleasant camping experience.
You will also know what items and equipment are vital to go winter camping to create your own list and learn what skills or activities are done, such as setting up a tent, creating a fire, or cooking your meals.
Some campers engage in winter camping with a friend or acquaintance who is familiar with the camping site, and has common knowledge of camping basics during winter.
Either way, it’s a great approach to learn how to fend for yourself when you are ready to camp alone.
Clothing Essentials
Another important aspect when going camping in the winter, are your clothes.
These must keep you warm while also providing comfort and a wide range of motion so you can perform all your tasks while protecting yourself from the cold.
Generally, when we go camping in the winter, we use the following layer guide to keep warm:
- Underwear Layer (Base): This layer refers to the clothing that is closest to your skin. Certain fabrics, like polyester and merino wool, are excellent options that transfer sweat from your skin to the outer layers. You should also wear long thermal underwear to preserve heat.
- Middle Layer (Heat Retaining): Your middle clothes must have proper ventilation properties so it can retain heat during cold temperatures and reduce overheating if the temperatures rise. Think of it as an insulating coating to provide more warmth from the cold. Fleece, nylon, and polyester clothes will be able to provide proper insulation. Both the sweaters, jackets, and pants must be made of these insulating fabrics to avoid heat from escaping.
- Outmost Layer (Weather Essential): The final layer should protect you from harsh weather conditions, such as heavy rain, gusts of wind, and persistent snow or hailing. They must have waterproof capabilities and be weather-resistant. Raincoats, soft-shelled jackets, and certain fleece jackets are best for this layer.
Also, don’t forget.
- Gloves/Mittens
- Winter Hats
- Thick Socks
Remember that these clothes are next to your skin. Therefore, they must be able to retain heat while providing wicking capabilities at the same time.
If you decide to wear gloves or socks that are made of cotton, they will suck up sweat and later turn your hands and feet cold. Because of this, go for accessories made of merino wool, nylon, and polyester.
Finally, footwear can be as ordinary as common hiking boots. However, mountaineering boots will provide you a more secure walk on the snow and fewer probabilities of slipping or stumbling.
You can even use gaiters under your boots to avoid them from sinking in the snow and avoiding ice from falling inside the boots.
Conclusion
Winter camping is a fun and new approach to traditional camping and other outdoor activities. If you understand the basics of insulating your tent properly and having the proper gear and equipment, the woods will become your winter wonderland.
Follow the previous methods to stay warm during the cold nights so you can enjoy the beauty during the day!
