Staying warm is the hardest and most important part of winter camping! You have to be sure that you know how to insulate your tent, dress warm and stay safe if you’re embarking on a winter camping adventure.
Lucky for you, we have tons of tips and tricks for you to ensure that you will be plenty warm, no matter what storm is brewing outside your tent!
Read on for some important steps to take when you are looking to insulate your tent in preparation for winter camping.
Use A Small Tent
When you are looking for a tent that will stay warm in the cold weather, you are better off using a smaller tent. Not only is this easy to carry around, and very light, it will also stay warmer.
A smaller tent has a smaller amount of air to keep warm. This means that it will take less energy to warm up.
Because of this, you might need a separate lean-to to ensure that you have somewhere to store your equipment that is out of the elements but not taking space up inside your tent.
In a small tent, if you are sharing it with another person, you will be in closer proximity to them, meaning their body heat will keep you nice and warm.
Clear The Snow
When you arrive at your camping destination, you might be tempted to just set up camp and be done with it. However, it is very important to clear the snow off the ground before you set up the tent.
If you leave the snow on the ground, your body heat is very likely to melt the snow underneath you. If this happens, not only will the ground be very wet, but it will also steal your heat!
Once the snow has melted, it might even refreeze in lumps, making it very uncomfortable to sleep on and potentially causing damage to your tent.
Make sure you clear the snow from the floor of your tent before you pitch!
Insulate The Floor
They say you lose the most body heat out of your head. For a tent, the saying switches to losing the most heat out of your floor. If you sleep on a very cold floor, your body heat will be stolen by the ground and you will struggle to stay warm.
If you add another layer between yourself and the floor, you are much more likely to be able to stay warm.
You can create this insulation by cutting out a waterproof tarp that is cut into the shape of the tent. This will ensure that the bottom of your tent stays dry and your tent stays warmer.
If you have it available, it is also a good idea to use foam squares or carpet squares to insulate the floor if you have this available.
Keep Your Bed Warm
When you are winter camping, you need to ensure that your bed is warm at night. You will need a sleeping mat or sleeping mat that is at least 4 in R-value. You will also need a sleeping bag that is very warm.
Choose one that is rated at least ten degrees colder than the lowest temperature that you will experience at night,
The temperature that you are basing this on should take into account wind chills so that you make sure you are warm enough. Make sure that you have lots of rechargeable heat packs that you can put inside your sleeping bag to warm it up before you get in.
These are great as they can be used in lots of different situations. For instance, when you are getting ready in the morning it is a good idea to place them inside your clothes to warm you up while you pack your equipment away.
Warm The Air
You can get small, portable heating devices called tent heaters. These can work using gas canisters or they can be battery powered. It is worth investing in a good portable heater.
It is important to note that when you are using these portable heaters, you should be aware of the safety requirements that the portable heaters have.
For instance, you should make sure that you keep all flammable items away from the heater and turn it off when you are asleep.
Cover The Tent
It is a good idea to cover the top and the sides of your tent with a tarp to ensure that you are sheltered from the wind. This will also help to keep the heat inside the tent, meaning that it will lose less heat.
If you opt for this method, you should make sure that you secure the tarp down so that it doesn’t bend or break your tent in the wind.
Reflect The Heat Inside The Tent
Another way to insulate your tent for winter camping is to reflect the heat back into the tent. This is don’t by placing reflective blankets on the inside of the tent which will trap the heat from your body and reflect it back to you.
You should be able to secure a reflective blanket onto the tent using hooks because tape may not hold it as securely.
When you are attaching these blankets, be careful not to clip it directly to the tent material as this could cause damage.
Shelter From The Wind
It is important to set up your tent somewhere that is sheltered from the wind. If you set up your tent behind a tree stump, then it will be sheltered from the wind, making your tent temperature warmer.
Final Thoughts
Winter camping is a fantastic experience, and you should not shy away from the experience simply because you are afraid of being cold.
There are many ways that you can insulate your tent for your winter camping experience and make the overall experience safe and enjoyable.
If you follow these steps on making your winter camping experience as warm as possible, you will have a great time!
Hello, my name is Tim Roth and I have lived in Texas all of my life. I have seen it all - tornadoes, flash floods, and other natural disasters that have come our way.
I have kept a survival kit for all my family members in my basement since I was in my 20s. Every time a new member comes along, I make them a new kit. No one in my family will be caught out in a disaster - I make sure of it.
I teach a survival class at the local hall as well. It’s free for anyone who wants to learn about keeping themselves and their family safe, should the worst happen. We cover how to help children and the elderly, make your own evacuation and survival kits, and much more.
