Staying Warm In A Tent

1) Dress Appropriately For The Weather

If there is one thing that you should do it is dress appropriately for the weather. This sounds obvious, but many people have the wrong idea about what is appropriate.

For camping in cold weather, appropriate means layers. When you are setting up camp or hiking, your core temperature is going to get higher. Without the ability to strip off a layer or too, you will sweat and sweating is a really bad thing in cold weather.

In addition, you should dress for weather that is 10 to 15 degrees less than what you expect to experience. The weather forecast might call for lows in the 40’s, but it is certainly possible for temperatures to dip far below that. This is especially true if you plan on camping in high winds, near water or in a valley.

2) Stay Dry At All Cost

Getting wet during a cold weather camping trip can be uncomfortable at best and dangerous at worst. Stay dry by following some simple tips.

As was just mentioned, dress in layers and take them off as needed. This will allow you to hike and do your campsite prep without drenching your clothing in sweat. While you are at it, keep activity levels modest to keep your core temperature down.

If you happen to get wet, have extra clothing on hand so that you can change it as needed. Pay particular attention to extra socks and underwear.

3) Build A Good Fire

If there is no burn ban in effect, a nice fire can be a lifesaver in many ways.

For starters, it gives you the ability to get warm in a hurry. Sitting by a fire, taking in the heat from the flames and eating some warm food can help prep you for a long night of cold temperatures in a tent. It is easier to get warm by the fire and stay warm in an appropriate sleeping bag than it is to try to get warm with a sleeping bag alone.

A fire can also warm your spirit on a cold misty night, making you enjoy your experience. Mood can affect the way you react to the cold.

Finally, fire gives you the ability to warm rocks and bring them into your tent. A warm stone wrapped in a  towel can do wonders for getting you through the night.

4) Pack The Right Bag

There is no good all weather sleeping bag. In reality, you should have a different bag for different seasons if you plan to camp year round.

When choosing a camping sleeping bag, just like when choosing clothing, make sure that it is rated for lower temperatures than you expect to encounter. Weather can change quickly and you need to be prepared. If you get hot, you can always open the zippers to vent the bag. On a cold night in the woods, getting a bit too warm is a nice problem to have.

5) Keep Your Feet Warm All Day

You have probably noticed that if your feet are warm, you are warm. The opposite is also true and if your feet are cold, you will be miserable.

Take proactive steps in keeping your feet warm throughout the entire day. If you plan on hiking during the day, bring an extra pair of socks and rotate them out. That will keep moisture at bay and you might be surprised at just how much better your feet feel at night if they are warm all day.

Wool is the name of the game when it comes to keeping your feet warm in the winter. Be sure to pick up a few pairs of good wool socks before you head out into the cold.

6) Bring An Electric Heater

If you will be staying at a campsite with electricity, take full advantage of it.

An electric heater will do wonders in keeping you comfortable throughout the night. Choose a heater that allows you to make the most of your space. If you have a large tent, a 360 degree heater will keep the warmth evenly distributed. For smaller tents, a smaller heater with 180 degrees of heat would be more appropriate. Whichever route you go, make sure that the heater incorporates a fan to move that hot air around.

Without electricity, you may start thinking about a propane tent heater, but use caution. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is never something to mess with. Besides, propane heaters can actually make things worse since propane produces water when burned. The only thing worse than being cold is being cold and wet.

7) Make A Hot Meal

At the end of the day, it might be easier to eat a snack or a prepared meal, but a hot meal would do you a world of good. A hot meal, coupled with a warm drink will add heat to your body from the inside out.

In addition, digesting food produces heat that will keep you warm. Protein in particular will help heat your body up because it is hard to digest. Up to 25 percent of the energy from protein goes into digesting it and that means heat.

8) Take Advantage Of The Sun

One last tip to stay warm when tent camping is to use the power of the sun. Even in the winter, the sun is pouring down a ton of energy on the earth. Take advantage if this in several ways.

In the morning, warm yourself up by catching some rays. You can then continue to do this throughout the day by maintaining a position that exposes yourself to the heat of the sun.

At camp, try positioning your tent so that it is hit by the sun during the warmest part of the day. The difference might be small by the time night hits, but even a degree or two can make a big difference.