Winter Camping Essentials

Many of us love to camp, but often in the summer when the weather is warm and we can enjoy a BBQ and a fire. Winter camping is a different beast altogether. 

It can be incredibly rewarding, allowing you to experience the wilderness in one of its most extreme forms. However, if you’ve never camped during the winter before, it’s vital that you do not try it if underprepared. Conditions can be dangerous, and if you do not have the right gear, clothing and supplies, you could easily hurt yourself, or even worse.

That’s why we put together this guide: to share our winter camping expertise so you can enjoy your time outdoors while staying safe. 

Below, you can find our advice on the best camping clothes and gear for the winter months, guidance on making a camp in the snow and ice, and tips on the best food and drink to bring with you. 

Let’s dive in and take a look at the basics of winter camping.

Winter Camping: The Basics

As the name suggests, winter camping is the practice of pitching your tent outdoors during the winter months. It’s often associated with snowy or freezing conditions, and as we explore below, requires specialist equipment to stay warm and to keep off the wind and rain. 

Winter camping is a much more challenging version of something that we so often associate with warm summer evenings. It’s for the hardened and seasoned camper, someone who loves the tests that nature throws at them. 

To succeed and to stay safe, it’s vital to plan everything properly before your trip. This extends from the gear you choose to bring, your supplies like food and water, and what kind of clothes and tent you need. Insulation is vital, so bringing the likes of a sleeping bag that’s designed for sub-zero temperatures can make a massive difference to your experience. 

Having a good grasp of survival skills is also important. You may need to start a fire in cold or wet conditions with limited natural materials at your disposal. Knowing how to find shelter can also prove decisive on a trip. While tents do a good job, extra skills may be required if you plan to trek through the Arctic, such as how to create an igloo. 

This will all help you stay safe and importantly, enjoy your time outdoors. The last thing you want is to develop hypothermia or frostbite or to get caught up in an avalanche if you’re hiking mountains. 

Photo by Mikhail Nilov

What Should I Wear For Winter Camping?

One of the most important steps to take before you go winter camping is to pack the right type of clothing. 

Wearing multiple layers is key to staying warm. This begins with a base layer, which is the layer closest to your skin. Longer underwear that’s thicker is ideal for winter camping. You can look for materials such as wool and polyester to help you keep warm and dry. These materials wick perspiration, meaning they take away the sweat that builds as you’re trekking through the icy tundras. 

On top of your base layer is a middle layer. The purpose of this is to retain body heat and keep you as insulated as possible. Sweaters, fleeces, and insulated jackets can all prove great for this layer.

The outer layer is often the final layer you need. It’s also known as your shell, and is designed to guard against the likes of wind, sleet, snow and rain. Waterproofing is a vital feature for any type of outer layer clothing. This goes for your upper body, your legs and feet. If you can find products that keep out the rain and are also breathable, you’ve hit the jackpot. 

As well as the three layers of clothing, you could also bring:

• A winter hat to keep the top of your head warm. You could also wear a balaclava if it’s going to be very cold
• Gloves. Depending on what activities you’re doing, you could opt for warmer mittens or thinner but insulated gloves
• A scarf or snood to keep your neck warm. This can do wonders to help keep drafts and chills from getting under your clothing
• Thermal socks to help keep your toes and feet warm and cosy

Essential Gear For Winter Camping

So now we’ve taken a look at keeping you warm in the depths of winter, let’s take a look at essential winter camping gear. These items will help keep you going when things get tough, and could make the difference between life and death in the most extreme of situations. 

• Tent - when choosing a tent for winter camping, it’s vital that you opt for one that’s well insulated and can handle stormy weather. As a general rule, if you’re camping below the tree line with no storms forecast, a 3-season tent will do the job. For anything more extreme, a 4-season tent is advised. Their sturdier poles and thicker material can withstand the worst of the winter weather.
• Backpack - the type of backpack you choose depends on your type of winter camping trip. However, winter camping generally involves more gear and bulkier clothing, so a bigger backpack is advised. For example, if you’re going on a weeks-long expedition, you may need an 80-liter backpack. It can help to check for attachments and fittings too so you can attach the likes of skis. 
• Sleeping bag - the last thing you want after a long day of hiking is to freeze all night in a skimpy sleeping bag. Winter camping requires something much more robust and insulated. For this type of camping, you want to ensure it can keep you warm in sub-zero temperatures. They should be made of goose down or synthetic insulation. If you’re worried your bag isn’t warm enough, you can also add a bag liner which can add a good amount of warmth.
• Sleeping mat - using a sleep mat can help keep out the cold that seeps in through the ground, not to mention a nice bit of cushioning, especially if you’re sleeping on snow or ice. Some pads can be self-inflating, others may be made of foam. Again, given the wintry conditions, it’s important to ensure any pad is cold-resistant.
• Stove - bringing along a liquid-fuel or canister stove can help save frustrating hours trying to light a fire. These portable devices can boil water in quick time. Just remember to bring extra fuel or backups!
• Snowshoes, snowboard, or skis - depending on the type of trip you have planned, you may need more specialist footwear. If you’re going down steep slopes, skis may be useful, for example. 
• Sled - if you’re embarking on something of a winter expedition, you may need a lot of supplies, and if so, there may be too much to carry on your back. A sled can provide a handy solution to this problem.
• Shovel - you never know when you’ll need to dig a hole or trench, especially if you’re trekking through avalanche territory. A shovel is therefore essential.
• Avalanche transceiver - these devices are designed to emit a signal that other transceivers can detect, allowing you to be found in case you get stuck in the snow. 

Photo by cottonbro studio

How Do You Make A Camp In The Snow?

Setting up a winter camp comes with its challenges. If you’re in an exposed area, you could get battered by the wind and rain, so finding a sheltered spot with wind protection can be vital. 

It’s also important to camp close to a water source, if possible, though as we explain below, you could melt snow for drinking water. 

Many people think that when setting up a winter camp, pitching on vegetation is better. However, compacted snow can prove more effective and easier to pitch on.

It’s also important to set up your camp in a space clear of hazards. That includes avalanches, damaged trees, or areas with the likes of bears. 

The Best Food And Drink For Winter Camping

When you’re battling your way through the snow and ice, you use a lot of energy. It’s therefore essential to keep topped up with calories so you can power on through. Foods with protein, fats and carbohydrates are all good choices. Calorie-dense foods that don’t take long to cook are also good options, such as pasta. Given you don’t have much carry space, you could also look to bring dried foods, like jerky, and nuts and berries. 

It’s also important to remember that standard water bottles can freeze in cold temperatures. The last thing you want when you’re thirsty is to struggle to twist open a bottle cap. An insulated water bottle can avoid that trouble.

But if you’re out in the snow, you can also melt some down to drink too. To do so, add a little water to your pot, then add the snow. As it melts, add more and then fill up your water bottles. 

How To Avoid Cold Injuries When Winter Camping

We’ve said it throughout this guide, but it’s important that we repeat it again: winter camping can be dangerous, especially if you’re underprepared. 

The risk of injury is real and you could develop problems within a matter of hours if you haven’t safeguarded against them. One of the most common problems is hypothermia. This is where your body’s temperature drops below its normal level. It can lead to confusion, uncontrollable shivering, and drowsiness. In effect, your body shuts down. 

If your skin is too exposed to the cold, you may develop frostbite too. This is where the body’s tissue freezes and suffers damage. It tends to affect the lips, nose, hands, feet and ears.

These are two things you certainly want to avoid, and the best way to do this is to stay warm. Allowing your body temperature to drop can cause problems. You can achieve an even body temperature by wearing the right clothes.

And if you start to feel your fingers or toes getting a little too cold, don’t try to be brave. You can use extra layers or hand warmers to keep that chill at bay. 

Safety is everything when it comes to winter camping. If you keep that in mind, you’ll have a great time and see the wonders of the natural world in all their wintry glory.

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