The joy of camping lies not just in the glory of being in nature and being one with the elements, but in staying comfortable while doing so. The last thing you want is to freeze your toes off at night because you didn’t prepare adequately before the trip. That’s probably why you’re reading this guide on how to stay warm camping.
How to Stay Warm While Camping
You want to keep warm while sleeping so that you’re well-rested when it’s time to do camping activities the next day. Thankfully for you, we did some research to come up with the following steps on how to stay warm camping.
1. Never Put Your Head Inside the Sleeping Bag
This might seem counterintuitive but it’s best to keep your face exposed while sleeping in a tent. The best way to guarantee that your face stays exposed is to start by tucking your shoulders followed by your head into the sleeping bag.
The problem with stuffing your face inside the sleeping bag is that your breath will release moisture that causes dampness, thus canceling out the insulation provided by the bag. That’s why your face should be kept in the open to prevent your breath from causing condensation.
2. Put Something Between You and the Floor
Want to learn how to stay warm camping without layering on clothes? A great way to do so would be to create a buffer between you and the floor by placing one inflatable and a foam sleeping pad. The inflatable pad should be placed on top of the foam one.
You can also put a few flat pieces of gear to serve as a buffer between your sleeping pads and the ground. This includes things like your backpack, climbing rope and similar items.
3. Get the Right Size Tent for Your Needs
Winter camping is very unique in that it requires a different size tent. While you might be tempted to opt for a large and roomy tent, a smaller model is best for cold weather conditions because it allows you to maximize the insulation process.
A two-person Toogh tent is enough for two people, especially if it’s a good quality model. The size of your sleeping bag should also coincide with your own weight. Don’t buy a large sleeping bag if you’re small.
4. Shake the Sleeping Bag
The main function of a water bottle is to keep you well-insulated by keeping air pockets from absorbing your body heat.
The best way to maximize the amount of insulation you get from your bag is to shake it thoroughly and fill it with air before you use it. Lightweight bags should be shaken from the bottom so that the air can accumulate at the top of the bag.
You should avoid placing too much stuff in your sleeping bag because that’ll make it thinner and less effective. Even your clothes should be kept out of your sleeping bag as they can affect its level of insulation.
5. Take Off a Few Layers of Clothing Before Sleeping
As tempting as it might be to sleep in all your clothes, this might not be the best idea when you want to stay warm while camping. That’s because you still need clothes to wear the next day and if you sleep in everything you have, then you won’t have any clothes to wear during the day.
However, if you sleep in a few layers of clothing during the night, then you can layer up during the day. Besides, there are plenty of ways to warm up your tent at night, but there isn’t much you can do to keep warm except layer up and keep moving during the day because you’ll be exposed.
6. Use Warmers
Hand and toe warmers might be popular among elementary school kids in the winter but they could save you from frostbite while camping too. You can also click here for a selection of quality camping ACs to keep warm.
The best part is that they’re pretty lightweight and won’t take up much space in your backpack either. But they’ll help you sleep soundly at night when the weather takes a turn for the worst outside.
7. Don’t Hold Your Urine
If you wake up in the middle of the night and need to pee, don’t hold it in. The more you suppress the urge to pee the more calories your body has to burn in order to warm your urine. Most van lifers keep a marked pee bottle for when nature calls at unexpected times.
There are also dedicated pee funnels for women or you could opt for a wide-mouthed makeshift pee jar instead. For best results, consider practicing in the shower a few times before your trip so you don’t sprinkle the whole tent when the time comes to relieve yourself in the wild.
8. Have a Hot Water Bottle Near You
Placing a hot water bottle inside your tent can be a real game-changer. Although small, these bottles can increase the temperature of your tent even when it’s below freezing outside. Plus, this method is really easy to apply.
All you have to do is get a plastic bottle, fill it up with really hot water and place it between your legs as you snooze under the covers to stay warm camping. The bottle might be a bit too hot at first, so it might be a good idea to wrap a layer of cloth around it before you put it in between your legs.
9. Take a Lot of Clothes with You
Your level of activity during the day can also affect your nighttime temperatures. For instance, you might work up a sweat from climbing or hiking during the day, thus making your clothes damp.
Although caused by your sweat, the wetness can turn cold and cause your body temperature to plummet. For best results, bring extra pants, socks, and shirts to change into after you’ve finished the day’s activities.
10. Get Rid of the Morning Frost from the Tent
It’s almost impossible to prevent a bit of water vapor to collect on the inner walls of your tent, even if you leave a bit of space open at the bottom.
But, you can keep the tent from frosting covering all of the stuff you keep inside it. You should also sweep away any ice crystals that have formed so they don’t become puddles later and dry your clothes if possible before you enter the tent.
It’s also helpful to dry your tent in the sun by hanging it during the day to get rid of any collected moisture.
Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it! Now you know what it takes to stay warm while camping, you’re ready to enjoy a stress-free camping trip. Whether you’re planning a weekend or month-long excursion, these tips will come in handy more than once.