Complete Beginner’s Guide to Camping in Cold Weather
Cold Weather Camping: Not for the Faint of Heart
Our hats go off to you hardcore folks who enjoy winter camping. It’s certainly not an endeavor for the faint of heart!
To make sure you’re ready, we created this guide to walk you through the whole kit and kaboodle. From what to pack and wear, to a few helpful do’s and don'ts, we cover all the essentials to make your winter camping trip a blast.
Overall, successfully camping in 30 degree weather comes down to your preparation. Pack the proper clothing and gear. Be sure to test everything somewhere close to home in similarly cold conditions. Finally, be sure you fuel up with nutritious, frequent meals while keeping an eye out for signs of potential hypothermia.
What to Bring
This is a short list of gear you’ll need that’s specific to cold weather camping.
Notice that it does not include gear you already should have with you. For instance, plenty of water, a backpack, a first aid kit, or food.
Tent
First, you’ll need a tent to protect you from the harsh elements. If you can get/afford one, a 4 season tent is ideal.
However, this becomes a must-have item if you’re camping somewhere that receives lots of snow fall or heavy winds. This is because standard 3 season tents will likely collapse under the weight of excessive snow.
But if you’re confident you won’t be dealing with extreme conditions, then a 3 season tent will be adequate.
Alternatively, have a look at the 8 best insulated tents for some inspiration.
Whatever you end up choosing, look for a tent that has double walls. Single wall tents will result in a lot of muggy condensation build-up.
As far as size goes, you’ll want to pack a shorter tent. Sorry, tall campers! See, tall tents allow heat to escape and take longer to warm up due to the extra space. So it’s really better to use a tent without excessive space.
Proper Cold Weather Sleeping Bag
For your sleeping bag, you’ll need something rated to 5-15 degrees.
Although that sounds like a simple directive, selecting a sleeping bag can get confusing.
This is because the rating printed on the bag states the minimum temperature at which the sleeping bag will keep you alive.
There’s a big difference between surviving the night and sleeping warmly and comfortably through it!
Sleeping Bag Liner (Optional)
Sleeping bag liners are thin bags that you place inside your main sleeping bag.
They add an extra layer of insulation and help trap warmth around your body.
Some campers find them too restricting while other campers swear by them. It all depends on your personal preference and how cold your bag is rated.
We polled campers on their thoughts about whether sleeping bag liners work, if you’re interested in diving deeper.
Sleeping Pad
A liner may be optional, but a sleeping pad most certainly isn’t! No matter how warm your sleeping bag is, a sleeping pad is non-negotiable.
The ground is so, soooo cold, so you need something to insulate you from it.
As far as specific pads, we recommend an insulated pad if you can get one. Or at the very least, try to find a closed-cell foam pad.
If you want to learn more about sleeping bags and sleeping pads, we examine why they both are necessary.
Snowshoes or Spikes (Optional)
You don’t need to bring these if you’re car camping and don’t plan to stray far from camp.
But if you’re hiking in the snow for any distance, you’d better pack a pair of snowshoes or spikes. If not, then I hope you enjoy the feeling of uncontrollably downhill skiing!
Heater
A small portable camp heater warms up the inside of your tent - but always use it with supervision.
Additionally, heaters are great for outside the tent, specifically if there’s a fire ban and you’re not permitted to build an actual campfire.
Find your new heater as we examine the 10 best tent heaters to stay warm on freezing nights.
Thermos
If you brew up a hot cup of something, what good is it if your drink gets cold minutes after the pour?
That’s no fun. So bring along a thermos. This way, you can enjoy your hot drink for hours.
Yeah, you’ll thank us later.
Camp Stove
Camp stoves are good for preparing that aforementioned drink.
Sure, you could use a campfire, but camp stoves are highly portable and often super quick to boil water.
Charcoal Hand Warmers
These little things are lifesavers. I use charcoal hand warmers for skiing, hiking in the cold, or shoveling snow from my old driveway.
They get their name from their primary ingredient: activated charcoal. All you do is open them, exposing the packet to air.
Then you give them a shake and stick in your gloves. In a few minutes, sigh a sigh of warm bliss! You’ll be amazed at how hot they can get.
What to Wear
Here’s a few articles of clothing that are pretty much required when camping in 30 degree weather.
Thermal Base Layer
The job of the base layer is to keep heat close to your body.
The specific clothes are up to you: it can be a onesie-style set of long underwear. Or it can be a long sleeved shirt and leggings.
Wool or fleece are both great choices. Both these fabrics will keep you warm without making you sweat to death. And as an added perk, they’re soft as silk!
Mid Layer
The mid layer keeps you warm but remains breathable. It builds upon the layer below by trapping heat without sacrificing breathability.
To give you an idea, a pair of fleece leggings are super comfy over your thermal layer.
For your top, I’d personally recommend Under Armour’s Cold Gear Mock. It feels weirdly (deceptively!) thin to the touch, but it’s kept me warm skiing down plenty of mountains.
Warm Socks
Warm, cozy socks might be one of the first things you think of when you envision staying warm in winter.
However, keep in mind there’s a balance between fluffy comfort and socks that are so fat that they pinch once you don your boots!
Medium Jacket or Hoodie
The jacket is rather straightforward. It can be a fancy, sporty pullover or just a casual hoodie.
Whatever it is….it just can’t be cotton.
Hardshell Jacket/Hardshell Snowpants
Your final layer should be a jacket and pants with a hard shell. The reason for the shell (which feels “crunchy” to the touch instead of soft) is to break the wind.
The shell also offers protection against water. So with these two valuable characteristics, this makes a hardshell jacket the ideal layer for taking on the brunt of the elements.
Things to Do
To make the most of your cold weather trip, let’s review a few good practices in the field.
Stay Close on Your First Trip
Even if you have extensive summer camping experience, test your new winter gear close to home. In your backyard, if possible!
See, regardless of your prior experience, winter camping is a whole different ball game. It’s different in terms of the conditions you’ll face and the type of gear you’ll use.
As such, you need to test it at home first to ensure your gear performs properly.
Eat...Constantly!
While you’re out there in the cold, you need to eat a lot. By this, we mean a good 3 meals (preferably hot meals) and plenty of snacks!
Obviously, food is your body’s fuel. So you’ll have an easier time staying warm if it’s being fueled up properly.
We suggest warm, stick-to-your-ribs type meals: oatmeal, hearty soups, and pastas.
Drape an Emergency Blanket Over Your Sleeping Bag
It gets cold at night, painfully so when you’re camping in 30 degree temperatures. Packing an emergency blanket for those wee hours of the morning can help fight the chill.
That said, don’t put the blanket directly on you, directly against your skin or top layer of clothes. If you do, you’ll sweat like crazy. Take it from me, who made that mistake once and never again!
Instead, drape the blanket over your sleeping bag to provide added insulation.
Boil Water and Pack It Into Your Sleeping Bag for Added Warmth
If you’re still worried about staying warm at night, try this: boil water and place it in a very tightly sealed bottle. Then pack the bottle into your sleeping bag and crawl inside.
Ta-da! Instant, personal heater.
And if you’re still paranoid about staying warm, we wrote a guide with 41 tips for cold weather camping.
Choose your Campsite Wisely
You may be surprised to hear that choosing a campsite can make or break a winter camping trip. This is because some spots will offer you better protection from the elements than others.
For instance, avoid open areas. Don’t try to camp in a wide open field. The high winds will be killer!
Look instead for places with objects to block the wind. Keep a lookout for large bluffs of rocks or downed trees, all of which will make handy, natural lean-to’s.
Things NOT to Do
Having gone over a few tips, let’s address a few things you shouldn’t do while winter camping.
No Cotton Allowed!
Sure, cotton clothes may be comfy, but it doesn’t allow moisture to evaporate from the body. Instead, it traps it close to your skin, where it will chill you.
At best, this will feel uncomfortable and clammy. At worst, it could potentially be dangerous by inviting hypothermia.
Don't Eat Snow
As appealing as it looks, it’s not wise to eat snow. Yes, you can melt it for water. But when you eat it straight, it cools your body’s core a lot faster than you may realize.
This too can potentially invite hypothermia.
Sleeping with a Heater On
We get it - you’re camping in the bitter cold, and sleeping with the heater sounds soooo tempting. I hate to break it to you, but just don’t do this. So many things can go wrong.
For instance, if it’s a gas heater and something goes awry, you could suffocate. This is especially true if the tent isn’t properly ventilated.
But aside from that, every heater is susceptible to causing a fire, gas or not. Thus, it’s best to leave them off.
To learn more about heater safety, check out our article, where we examine whether propane heaters are safe in tents.
Minimal to No Alcohol
You can add this to alcohol’s long list of weird side effects: it constricts your blood vessels. And get this - sometimes you may feel warm during this process!
This results in getting cold much faster while thinking you’re at a comfortable temperature. Can you say ‘dangerous’??
Interestingly enough, the warming buzz doesn’t always happen. Instead, you might feel very cold, aching all over.
Long story short: alcohol sounds fun, but it can bring about some unintended consequences in cold weather.
Signs of Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a serious condition caused by prolonged exposure to cold. Basically, your body is losing heat faster than it can maintain it. It can range from concerning to an outright cause of death. So don’t mess around with this stuff.
In short, here’s a few things to keep a lookout for, either in yourself or your campmates:
Uncontrollable shivering
Confusion
Feeling exhausted
Clumsy/fumbling hands, loss of coordination
Memory loss
Slurred speech
If you notice any of these symptoms, leave immediately and seek medical treatment. This shouldn’t be an issue for car campers, or those camping in an easily accessible campground.
But when you’re deep in the backcountry, you’re beyond outside help. So you’ll have to warm up the affected person on your own.
Boil a pot of water and when it’s cooled slightly, sip it slowly. This will warm up your core from the inside.
You can also warm your core by piling on blankets or extra clothing. As an added bonus, hold a bottle of warm water close to your chest.
Finally, make sure you remove any wet clothes. This includes anything damp from sweat. Otherwise, the moisture will act as a chilling agent, further lowering your temperature.
Conclusion
As you can see, cold weather camping is much more involved than embarking on a summer trip.
But hopefully, you’ve also learned that you can have a successful adventure in extreme conditions as long as you adequately prepare.
Stay warm!
Author’s note: This article was originally published here on Tent Camping Trips (tentcampingtrips.com). That’s why many of the backlinks throughout this article redirect to that website. This piece was ghostwritten, but upon request, I can provide email trails and receipts that prove I am the original author. I collaborated with Tent Camping Trips before the company changed owners. During my tenure, I wrote around 20+ pieces on their blog.