There’s something amazing when you’re camping on a mountain and you get to look at the views of the alpine lake below or the clear skies above. This feeling, combined with the cool mountain air, makes you feel like you’re on top of the world.
But you won’t get to experience all these if throughout your camping trip you’re cold, shivering, or even worse, get frostbite. That’s why you need these 15 cold-weather camping hacks listed in this article.
15 Best Camping Hacks And Tricks You Must Know
1. Get A Sleeping Bag for Cold Temperatures
This winter camping hack will make sure you’re kept wrapped up in a warm, cozy bag when it’s time to sleep. So you’d better look for a sleeping bag that is best used for cold temperatures, even colder than you expect. Cos it’s better to be too warm than to be too cold. For its warmth, you can get a down-filled sleeping bag, but a synthetic insulation bag might just be a better choice.
2. Use Insulated Sleeping Pads
This cold-weather camping sleeping tip is quite popular amongst seasoned campers cos they know how quickly cold enters your body from the ground. And then you wake up stiff, cold, and cranky. That is why you need insulated sleeping pads and liners. So instead of lying down just on a sleeping bag, you get to lie under an insulated foam pad. This is extra cozy and comfortable. You can also put your fleece liner inside the sleeping bag if you need extra body heat.
3. Keep Your Tent Warm
You do know that if your tent is warm while camping in the cold weather, at least most of your problems will be solved. So, first things, your campsite should be a sheltered spot. It should be behind natural windbreaks like bushes or rocks. You can also wear warm hats and dry socks to seal in your body heat. These cold-weather camping hacks used together will surprisingly keep your tent warm.
4. Protect Your Tent from Cold and Wind
Once you pick your campsite, you’ll need to check the direction the wind is coming from before you set up your tent, and then you set it up so the smallest side can be the one facing the wind.
And then you can extra stake the tent down and still use guy lines so the wind doesn’t take the tent away. Even better, you can also set up your tent on higher ground. This winter camping hack will make sure your tent can withstand the wind and the cold.
5. Use Windbreaks or Natural Shelter
When camping in cold weather, it’s easy to find natural windbreaks where you can pitch your tent. Things like thick bushes, clusters of trees, and rocky areas. They can easily save you from that freezing wind at night. But if you can’t find a natural windbreaker, you can create your own using a tarp or pile of wood on the windward side of the tent. These windbreaks will block the wind, so you can relax and enjoy the cold air.
6. Manage Moisture and Condensation
It doesn’t get worse than waking up cold, damp, and clammy and finding out that most of your gear and the tent wall are in the same condition. So to manage this, you’ll need to open a vent or the door flap a bit, just so some moisture can go out without bringing in more air.
This will be even easier if you’re using a breathable fabric tent for this camping trip. Other winter camping hacks that can help are to hang wet gear outside and not cook inside.
7. Build Fire Safely
Building a fire when you’re camping in cold weather can make you feel warm, cozy, and snuggly. But you also want to make sure you do it safely. To be safe, you’ll have to build the fire inside rocks or a fire ring that will stop the fire from spreading around your campsite. But if you have no idea how to start, you can always refer to our guide on steps to build a campfire safely.
8. Keeping Warm With a Campfire
These cold-weather camping cooking hacks will make sure you make good use of your campfire. As you will find out, when you cook hot meals and drink warm drinks, your body fights the cold better. So use your campfire to make stews, soups, and hot cocoa. You can also use thermal mugs and bowls to keep your drinks and meals hotter for a long time.
9. Bring Energy Foods
Do you know that your body burns calories faster when you’re camping in cold weather? That’s why you need to bring along foods that have enough energy and nutrients. You can get camping snacks like nuts, trail mix, and dark chocolate. You can also make warm meals like stew, oily fish, rice, or pasta. The spicier the meals, the better they can raise your body heat and fight the cold.
10. Cook and Store Meals Better
Cooking when camping in the cold weather is a whole lot of work. Even after you go through the stress of cooking, you’d have to use insulated containers to keep the food warm enough to eat later. Cooking and storing meals better means you get more time to eat and enjoy your camping trip. Some winter camping hacks to use are:
- Use lids to trap heat and save fuel
- Cook multiple meals at once
- Store leftovers in airtight containers
11. Layer Properly Preventing Frostbite and Hypothermia
This camping hack will make sure you don’t get frostbite or even hypothermia. So you have to layer as much as possible and protect your fingers, nose, toes, and ears. The clothing essentials you’ll need to pack are moisture-wicking base layers, insulated gloves, and thermal socks. If after all these, you still feel uncontrollably cold or numb in a part of your body, find medical help immediately.
12. Always Check Weather Conditions and Hazards
This camping hack and trick is for all types of camping trips, but especially for when you’re camping in extremely cold temperatures. Before you leave the house, you should check the weather systems and trends for your camping region.
Always check for recent changes in terrain, trail closures, and other weather hazards. When you get to the camping area, it’s also good to let a ranger know where you plan to camp and when you plan to leave.
13. Warm Up With a Hot Water Bottle
One sure way to make sure you get hot when camping in cold weather is by placing a hot, non-insulated stainless steel water bottle inside your sleeping bag. You can place it next to your core, your inner thigh, or your neck. If you don’t want to use stainless steel, you just have to look for a BPA-free material bottle, but 100% stainless steel is much more preferred.
14. Bring the Right Sleeping Clothes
It’s a different thing when you’re awake than when you’re sleeping, and in this case, you’ll need a much different type of clothes. You’ll need warm and loose clothes like warm socks, fingered gloves, and a cozy cap. Then cover yourself in loose-fitting layers.
If during the night you find out you’re sweating, you can open a small hole to allow the heat to go out and the cool air to come in. Whatever you do, leave your cotton clothes at home.
15. Keep Your Gear Dry
Have you ever had to use wet gear when it’s freezing outside? That can just be a whole mood downer. So you’ll have to get waterproof sacks and dry bags where you can keep your clothes and electronics. This winter camping hack will make sure they’re kept dry. Also, it’s best to pack quick-drying gear that won’t get colder instead of drying up faster.
Conclusion
If you’re ready to face the cold, the snow, and the mountain air, then you’ll need to be totally prepared. Prepared not just by bringing the right winter gear but also by using the best winter camping hacks.
These hacks will make sure you’re warm, your food is kept hot, and your gear is dry all through your camping trip. So now, you can camp in cold weather even as a beginner with more confidence. What are you waiting for? Use these cold-weather camping tips and get a better winter camping experience.
