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Q:
Any tips for staying warm while camping in cold weather (like no lower than 30 degrees) in a tent?
Question by Chewylouie. Uploaded on November 23, 2012
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Answers (21)
An air mattress and a down-filled sleeping bag would be a good start.
Good socks and a beanie.
Heat up some water to a boil. Pour it in a water bottle, put the cap on tight. Put it in your sleeping bag before bed. It will warm it up nicely. When you are ready to go to sleep push it down by your feet. You can also make oatmeal in the bottle so your breakfast is ready when you wake up and it will still be warm and cooked if you use instant oatmeal.
Definitely put some type of mattress or at least an extra blanket between your sleeping bag and the floor of your tent. The cold ground can rob heat from your body.
I'm guessing you're stuck with the tent you've got now. Tent makers make 3, 3 1/2, and 4 season tents. In cold weather, a tent sized for the number of people is the way to go. At 30 degrees, two people in a 2 person 4 season tent will be warm at 40-45,degrees inside. Throw a Lab sized dog in there and it's t shirt weather.
The trade off is that you'll be sleeping with the bugs on hot, humid summer nights. 4 season tents are stuffy in the summer.
The guys who posted above gave you all the tricks. It will be fine. It's not sleeping in the cold that's hard. It's getting up in the morning.
The best few tips I can give you, is have plenty of insulation under your sleeping bag. If I know it's going to be really cold, I will put a load of moss and leaves under my tent. Then also, wear something on your head, and extra socks on your feet. Also be sure to have some more insulation under your sleeping bag (a blanket, jacket, etc). And also fluff up your sleeping bag. Hope that helps!
I do this all the time.My tents never get colder than 50. Use a reasonably small tent (2man ) just big enough for you, every thing else stays outside. Insulate the tent by covering with old sleeping bags. Get a strong tarp and string it above the sleeping bags. So it creates an air gap and if it rains/snows keeps the rain off the tents. They rob heat by conduction. Keep a sealable container in the tent, getting up at night, and you know you will means losing a lot of heat, opening the door and stepping into the cold. If you are camping where there is electric, (yes I know this is cheating), think about an electric blanket.
One of the best things you can do is eat a good meal about two hours or more before you go to bed. It really makes a difference.
a space blanket over your bag will help a surprisingly good bit w/o much effort. However, be ready for the potential of a lot of condensation build up, just like in a small bivy.
I have found that a small candle generates quite a bit of heat in the confined space of a small tent. Just be sure to turn out the lights before you go to bed.
Wool!
Hi...
A lot of good tips in the above. And regarding the candle (a good suggestion), I would recommend a candle lantern, sold in many/most outdoor/camping stores.
You can sit it or hang it almost anywhere, and they don't cost very much.
When hung, you can even read by it.
Most tents have a extended fly area before your tent zipper door. I would crack open your tent windows, and put a tiny propane heater out in your tent fly area. I wouldn't use a heater under a pup tent fly, or the heater could melt the lower Pup tent fly roof.
Dont wear any of the clothes to bed you have been wearing all day. Change into fresh clean clothes. Seems common sense but even a pair of slightly sweaty socks or a tshirt will make your night miserable. An inflatable mattress or even a simple foam pad will work. Never sleep directly of the ground. Having a reliable waterproof ground cloth under your tent will help prevent any moisture from getting in and will still create a barrier between you and the ground.
I have two wool blankets. One under the sleeping bag and one over. My sleeping bag is very warm but by morning that extra blanket on top really helps.
heavy jacket, lots of blankets, or thick sleeping bag
great sleeping bag, battery operated blankets work well too
In the movie, Jeremiah Johnson heated rocks and slept on them. Make sure you put down plenty of dirt overtop so you don't burn your sleeping bag.
Johnson burned his back and Bear Claw laughed and said you didn't put down enough soil.
Gary- I remember that part of the movie. I need to see that one again. Thanks for the help y'all!!
As above, insulation under your sleeping bag is important, as is a head covering. Nothing worse than being cold in bed. One of the old trappers whose story I have read many times, used to clear the snow away from a spot about 7' x 3', burn a good fire on the whole surface while he made his supper and tended to his camp. Came bed time, he would scrape away the fire and sleep on that spot. He slept outside one night, heard the poplar trees bursting, and found out later it was close to 72 below F. He finally got a small tent that he packed inside a little tin stove he carried. He wondered why he hadn't done that long before!
Book is titled "Face the North Wind" by A. L. Karras. Another excellent book by same author is "North to Cree Lake"
Taking the wife along to snuggle comes to mind, especially since it's Valentine's Day!
Post an Answer
Heat up some water to a boil. Pour it in a water bottle, put the cap on tight. Put it in your sleeping bag before bed. It will warm it up nicely. When you are ready to go to sleep push it down by your feet. You can also make oatmeal in the bottle so your breakfast is ready when you wake up and it will still be warm and cooked if you use instant oatmeal.
I'm guessing you're stuck with the tent you've got now. Tent makers make 3, 3 1/2, and 4 season tents. In cold weather, a tent sized for the number of people is the way to go. At 30 degrees, two people in a 2 person 4 season tent will be warm at 40-45,degrees inside. Throw a Lab sized dog in there and it's t shirt weather.
The trade off is that you'll be sleeping with the bugs on hot, humid summer nights. 4 season tents are stuffy in the summer.
The guys who posted above gave you all the tricks. It will be fine. It's not sleeping in the cold that's hard. It's getting up in the morning.
An air mattress and a down-filled sleeping bag would be a good start.
Good socks and a beanie.
One of the best things you can do is eat a good meal about two hours or more before you go to bed. It really makes a difference.
a space blanket over your bag will help a surprisingly good bit w/o much effort. However, be ready for the potential of a lot of condensation build up, just like in a small bivy.
Hi...
A lot of good tips in the above. And regarding the candle (a good suggestion), I would recommend a candle lantern, sold in many/most outdoor/camping stores.
You can sit it or hang it almost anywhere, and they don't cost very much.
When hung, you can even read by it.
Dont wear any of the clothes to bed you have been wearing all day. Change into fresh clean clothes. Seems common sense but even a pair of slightly sweaty socks or a tshirt will make your night miserable. An inflatable mattress or even a simple foam pad will work. Never sleep directly of the ground. Having a reliable waterproof ground cloth under your tent will help prevent any moisture from getting in and will still create a barrier between you and the ground.
I have two wool blankets. One under the sleeping bag and one over. My sleeping bag is very warm but by morning that extra blanket on top really helps.
great sleeping bag, battery operated blankets work well too
In the movie, Jeremiah Johnson heated rocks and slept on them. Make sure you put down plenty of dirt overtop so you don't burn your sleeping bag.
Johnson burned his back and Bear Claw laughed and said you didn't put down enough soil.
Definitely put some type of mattress or at least an extra blanket between your sleeping bag and the floor of your tent. The cold ground can rob heat from your body.
The best few tips I can give you, is have plenty of insulation under your sleeping bag. If I know it's going to be really cold, I will put a load of moss and leaves under my tent. Then also, wear something on your head, and extra socks on your feet. Also be sure to have some more insulation under your sleeping bag (a blanket, jacket, etc). And also fluff up your sleeping bag. Hope that helps!
I do this all the time.My tents never get colder than 50. Use a reasonably small tent (2man ) just big enough for you, every thing else stays outside. Insulate the tent by covering with old sleeping bags. Get a strong tarp and string it above the sleeping bags. So it creates an air gap and if it rains/snows keeps the rain off the tents. They rob heat by conduction. Keep a sealable container in the tent, getting up at night, and you know you will means losing a lot of heat, opening the door and stepping into the cold. If you are camping where there is electric, (yes I know this is cheating), think about an electric blanket.
I have found that a small candle generates quite a bit of heat in the confined space of a small tent. Just be sure to turn out the lights before you go to bed.
Wool!
Most tents have a extended fly area before your tent zipper door. I would crack open your tent windows, and put a tiny propane heater out in your tent fly area. I wouldn't use a heater under a pup tent fly, or the heater could melt the lower Pup tent fly roof.
heavy jacket, lots of blankets, or thick sleeping bag
Gary- I remember that part of the movie. I need to see that one again. Thanks for the help y'all!!
As above, insulation under your sleeping bag is important, as is a head covering. Nothing worse than being cold in bed. One of the old trappers whose story I have read many times, used to clear the snow away from a spot about 7' x 3', burn a good fire on the whole surface while he made his supper and tended to his camp. Came bed time, he would scrape away the fire and sleep on that spot. He slept outside one night, heard the poplar trees bursting, and found out later it was close to 72 below F. He finally got a small tent that he packed inside a little tin stove he carried. He wondered why he hadn't done that long before!
Book is titled "Face the North Wind" by A. L. Karras. Another excellent book by same author is "North to Cree Lake"
Taking the wife along to snuggle comes to mind, especially since it's Valentine's Day!
Post an Answer