Winter Backpacking: Tips For Cold Weather Travel – At Bearfoot Theory, we strive to be not fair-weather adventurers, but outdoor enthusiasts in all seasons and conditions.
Cold weather camping is a great way to get out and enjoy cool, crisp fall, early spring flowers, and even winter wonderland landscapes. It’s also a great time of year to enjoy some solitude outdoors, as crowds tend to be much smaller.
Winter Backpacking: Tips For Cold Weather Travel
To successfully stay outdoors and have fun camping in the fall, spring or winter, all you need is a good attitude and a few good tips on how to stay cozy and warm.
How—and Why—to Plan A Wintry Camping Trip
To stay warm, it’s important to wear appropriate layers for cold weather, such as a quick-drying, temperature-regulating base layer, followed by an insulated mid-layer and outer layer.
Don’t know how to layer properly? Check out our post on cold weather layering basics for detailed information and suggestions on what to wear when hiking and camping in the winter.
Tip: Choose outer layers that have strategically placed ventilation, such as zippers, so you don’t get clammy and sweaty.
It’s important to keep your feet and torso as warm and pleasant as possible because these areas regulate temperature the most.
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Suitable materials should wick moisture and dry quickly, but if you return to camp sweaty after your hike and your underwear is still damp, be sure to change into something dry.
We lose most of our heat through our heads. Wearing a hat and/or hood during the day is a great way to stay warm.
Cover your head with a sleeping bag at night to protect it from the cold. I also like to sleep with a hat on.
Polar Buff is also useful for keeping your face warm while you sleep. If it’s cold and windy during your hike, a protector can also protect your face from abrasions and wind burns.
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Bring a separate set of sleeping clothes so you don’t have to wear the damp clothes you spent the day hiking in.
Wearing dry clothes at night not only helps you stay warm when the temperature drops, but it can also help ensure a good night’s sleep.
Warm long johns, a comfortable long-sleeved top and a pair of warm wool socks should be enough. Prepare extra layers to put on when you leave the tent in the morning.
Pack waterproof clothing such as leg warmers, ponchos, boots and raincoats to prevent hypothermia. Even if the forecast doesn’t call for snow or precipitation, be prepared and bring a light rain jacket and rain pants just in case.
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If the weather is forecast to be wet, check out our tips for hiking in the rain.
Place your next day’s clothes in your sleeping bag to keep them warm before putting them on in the morning. Thanks to this, you don’t have to start the day by putting on frozen layers of clothing!
The sleeping bag liner extends the life of the sleeping bag by protecting it from wear and tear. The liners also help keep you warm on particularly cold nights.
Sleeping bag liners are great for any camping or backpacking trip, but are especially useful when camping in the winter.
Cold Weather Camping Tips For Staying Warm
Leave an extra pair of warm, woolen socks in the tent. Never take them out and put them on only when you go to sleep.
To keep your feet warm on extremely cold days, slip on a pair of down boots like our favorite boots from the Enlightened Equipment collection.
Make sure your sleeping bag is the right size. If it is too large, it will not retain body heat well.
If you can’t replace your sleeping bag, try stuffing extra clothing or other items that can help insulate the bag and prevent heat from escaping.
Winter Camping And Backpacking Basics
Another option is to try a double sleeping bag. Sharing a sleeping bag with a partner doubles your body heat and can keep you much warmer than a single sleeping bag.
Think of it this way: a 20-degree sleeping bag won’t keep you as warm as you’d like when it’s 20 degrees outside.
So, a good rule of thumb when camping in cold weather is to be prepared for even lower temperatures when it comes to your gear’s performance.
Hanging a tarp over your tent will retain extra heat and provide protection from the elements. This extra layer will stop falling snow and ice and protect the rainfly from condensation that can freeze overnight.
Winter Hiking Clothes & Cold Weather Layering Basics
You should also always use a footprint under the tent, which will help insulate the tent from the cold ground.
Buy a sleeping pad with additional insulation. Some sleeping pads contain down inside the material, while others have a synthetic layer that provides warmth.
Another option is to look for a sleeping pad with an R-value of at least 4, which means it is suitable for cold-weather camping.
You can’t go wrong with the Therm-a-Rest Trail Pro Sleeping Pad. It has an R-value of 4.4 and provides good insulation from cold ground.
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If you sleep cold and want something even warmer, try the NEMO Roamer sleeping pad. It’s super warm and luxurious, with a very high R-value of 6. This is what I use on my road trips, although I haven’t had a chance to test it in the winter yet.
Eat snacks high in fat and protein throughout the day to keep your body temperature higher. High-calorie foods take longer to digest and produce more heat.
If possible, fill a water bottle such as Nalgene with hot water and wrap it in a shirt to put in your sleeping bag at night. This will release heat and keep your body warm.
Drink plenty of hot fluids in the morning, such as coffee and tea, to warm you up. I also like to drink tea during the day to warm up.
Winter Adventures: Tips For Adventuring In Cold Weather From The Cmt O
It’s easy to assume that you don’t need as much water when camping in the winter because you don’t sweat as much on colder days, but the opposite is true. It is easy to become dehydrated, which can impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature.
Going to the bathroom in the cold can be a pain, but if you have to go, just go! Leaving your warm, cozy tent to brave the cold in the middle of the night is no fun. However, resisting the temptation takes energy to maintain it and will prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep, so it’s best to just get it over with. You’ll feel great when you get back to your comfortable bed and you can sleep soundly for the rest of the night.
Alternatively, pack a urine bottle (Nalgene works well) so you can urinate in the tent. Just remember to label it and use it for urine only!
Important: remember to pack toilet paper or, better yet, take a wiping ball with you.
How To Layer Clothes For Warm And Dry Winter Hikes
Warm up the old-fashioned way by doing jumping jacks before jumping into the tent or doing some sit-ups to help warm you up once you’re inside.
In the morning, before heading outside, give yourself a few minutes to move and stretch in your sleeping bag and tent.
During the day, warm up by hiking (find our winter hiking tips here) or go snowshoeing.
It’s also a good idea to use an insulated drinking hose for your hydration pack to keep it from freezing.
Winter Packing List: How To Pack Light For Cold Weather Trips
Your batteries will drain faster in colder conditions. Store your cell phone and other electronic devices in your sleeping bag or wrap them in an insulated synthetic or down jacket to save battery power.
Keep your phone on airplane mode when not needed and turn it off at night to save power as well.
Not all camping stoves are created equal when it comes to cold weather performance. Canister stoves (e.g. Jet Boil) use pressurized fuel canisters to generate heat and do not function well at lower temperatures.
At temperatures of -20°F and below, the pressure inside the canister drops, making it difficult for fuel to flow properly. This results in less heat or even no effect.
Be Winter Ready For Your Adventure (u.s. National Park Service)
Note: Cooking in a tent is extremely dangerous due to the flammable material and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Always cook outside your tent in a well-ventilated area.
When camping in cold weather, a fire isn’t just for the evenings, it’s nice to light one in the morning too.
Light a fire when you spend time at camp to keep warm. Just remember to follow our tips for a safe campfire.
If you’re going somewhere really cold, it’s a good idea to bring an emergency kit with a Mylar emergency blanket just in case. This way you’ll have it as a last resort if you can’t stay warm in your sleeping bag. You can pack it in your first aid kit.
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Most tents, especially lightweight backpacking tents, are designed for use only during the spring, summer and fall seasons. Temperatures