Camping is a great way to experience the outdoors. Whether solo or with friends or family, it’s always a good time. It’s also a great way to save money on travel and hotels, but some things can make camping uncomfortable.
One of these things is keeping warm while camping. You need to be more careful about how you set up your tent and bedding; then, you could be spending more time shivering than enjoying your outdoor adventure. In this article, we will go over some tips on how to keep warm while camping.
Ways to Keep Warm While Camping
Choose the right camping spot
When choosing your camping spot, it’s essential to consider the location of your tent. If you select a site with no windbreak, your tent will be exposed. You need a place where there is some natural or artificial barrier between you and the elements.
Also, ensure that rainwater can drain away from your site and not pool up near or under your tent or equipment.
Layer up
You can’t go wrong with a base, mid-layer, and outer layer. Base layers should be breathable and wicking to keep sweat at bay. Mid-layers should be insulating and warm; wool is an excellent option because it’s warm when wet and dries quickly. Outer layers should be windproof and waterproof.
If you get cold quickly or are just too lazy to put on an extra layer when you’re already bundled up in your coat, then consider investing in a down jacket or vest with built-in hand/chin covers that will keep your face from getting frostbite without having to take off your gloves again.
Wear thermals
If you want to stay warm while you camp, the best way to do that is by wearing thermals. Thermals are a good idea because they trap body heat and keep it close to your skin. They’re lightweight, affordable, and warm. You should wear thermals wherever you go camping in wintertime or fall/spring months when temperatures drop below freezing at night.
Wear a hat
To keep your head warm, always wear a hat. A hat is essential, as it keeps your ears and faces warm while still allowing you to hear the sounds of nature and see what’s going on around you. Wear a baseball cap with a flap that goes down over your eyes.
Eat sufficient calories and take hot drinks
In addition to staying warm, you should fuel your body with sufficient calories and fluids. Eating a hot meal or drinking a warm beverage before bed will help ensure that you don’t wake up in the middle of the night cold.
The most important thing is to eat a high-calorie meal before bedtime so that plenty of calories are available for your body’s energy needs throughout the night. Try eating something with some protein for at least two hours before going off into dreamland.
Wear wool clothes
Wool is a natural insulator, which means it keeps you warm when you’re cold and cool when you’re hot. Wool is breathable, keeping your body temperature comfortable while letting moisture escape. It’s also water-resistant and odor-resistant.
Wool is lightweight and packable, so your new winter wardrobe won’t take up much space. It’s also durable enough for frequent use for many years. Don’t worry about ruining your wool clothing with stains because they are easy to clean.
Use a hot water bottle
If you already have a hot water bottle, fill it with boiling water from your stove and place it in the bottom of your sleeping bag when you go to bed at night. This will keep your body heat inside the bag instead of being lost through convection or conduction. If you don’t have one, wrap a warm towel around your feet or legs and make sure they’re covered while you sleep.
Get out of sweaty clothes
If you are sweating from the heat, remove your clothes and put on something more breathable. Sweat can make you lose body heat faster as the heat tries to dry it. When this happens, you become cold more quickly than usual.
Bring a thermos of hot tea or coffee to bed with you
A thermos will keep your drink hot for several hours, so you can enjoy a hot beverage even after the sun goes down. If you’re camping with a group, bringing individual thermoses for each person may be helpful.
Use a sleeping bag liner
Sleeping bag liners are a great way to keep yourself warm when camping. They’re lightweight and easy to use, making them ideal for outdoor adventures where you cannot carry around too much extra weight. Plus, they’re washable. That means you can use them multiple times before needing a new one.
Sleeping bag liners are most commonly used in cold weather conditions. They can come in handy throughout the year, depending on how often you camp and where you live.
Put a hot water bottle in your core region
Get a hot water bottle and place it inside your sleeping bag liner. You want to ensure that the bottle is not too hot to touch, but you can test this by placing it in your hand for 10 seconds and then placing it back in the bag. If there’s any sensation of warmth on your skin after holding the bottle, then it’s safe to put it against your body.
Put the hot water bottle right up against where it matters: between your legs or near your stomach area. This is an excellent way to keep warm all night long when camping outdoors.
Wear a balaclava to bed
A balaclava is a scarf covering the head, neck, and face but leaving the eyes uncovered. It’s a hot winter hat that can be made from wool or acrylic and comes in one piece or two pieces. You might also find them referred to as “skully caps.”
Wear specialized hand warmers, heated gloves, and boots
The best way to keep yourself warm and cozy while camping is by using hand warmers. Hand warmers are small packets that contain chemical pellets that generate heat when exposed to water. They’re perfect for warming up your hands or feet before bed or sitting around the campfire during the evening. You can also buy heated gloves, boots, and heated blankets.
Can I Freeze Overnight From Cold Temperatures?
Knowing that you can’t freeze overnight from cold temperatures is important. There’s a lot of misinformation out there, but it’s true. You can, however, get frostbite or hypothermia if you’re not careful or intelligent about how you protect yourself from the elements while camping. Luckily for you all, some easy things you can do that will help you stay warm while camping in any season.
Conclusion
You should be able to stay warm while camping by wearing the right clothes and staying active. If you are still feeling cold, try putting on your hand warmers or heated gloves and boots at night while sleeping in your tent or cabin. Hot tea or coffee with a little honey will also help keep you warm during those cold nights.
I’m Cindy, a free-spirited outdoor enthusiast. Since childhood, Our family frequently goes on weekend camps and my father, who was a skilled hunter, used to teach my siblings and me valuable things about wildlife survival. I made this blog to share my knowledge, experiences, and tips.
