Colder Weather Camping Tricks
There are only a few weeks in the fall when you can get that perfect camping weather. When it is not extremely hot or when it is not too cold yet is the best time of year. But when those days are long gone you have the days of cold winter camping. I actually love camping when it is cold outside and especially if there is a chance for snow. Here are some of my tips that I have for staying warm while you are sleeping when you are doing some cold camping.
Boiling water and putting it in a Nalgene or water bottle and putting in in your sleeping bag a few minutes before you get in it. Doing this will warm up your sleeping bag a little so it isn’t freezing for those first few minutes.
Before I got to bed I pull out my clothes that I am going to wear the next day and I put them inside of my sleeping bag. Sometimes I use them as a pillow or down at the foot of the bag. Doing this makes the clothes not be as cold. To me it is equivalent to putting your clothes i n the dryer and then putting them on last minute. It won’t be as warm as that but more comfortable for sure.
Sleeping with a beanie or a toboggan on my head to keep me warm. Even if I am inside of my mummy bag I always wear one to keep my head warm. You lose a lot of heat out the top of your head, so wearing a beanie or toboggan can help keep that warmth.
When going to bed some people might put on an extra layer of socks to the same pair of socks that they have been wearing all day. That is the total wrong move to do. If you are wearing the sock that you have had on all day that are going to be wet. You might not have sweat really but your feet can make your socks moist and keep them cold instead of warm. Always change into a clean and dry pair of socks before going to bed.
If you wake up in the middle of the not and you are still cold, go pee. Your body is using some of its energy on keeping the liquid warm. So this is a good reason to go pee before you go get in your sleeping bag for the night.
If I am doing some car camping or if I have extra room in my pack I will bring extra blankets with me. I am will use those blankets/quilts a few different ways. I will wrap them around my sleeping bag on the outside to add another layer. I also have a fleece liner for my sleeping bag, which adds another layer to keep me warm.
I know that everyone has tons of different tricks that they use to keep themselves to stay warm on those cold nights. I am not a big fan of the hot hand little pads, but that is just a personal preference. I would love to hear some of your tricks to stay warm on the those cold camping nights, so leave a comment down below with your recommendations.
