It’s still quite cold in many parts of the United States. If you’re planning on heading outdoors for this year’s first adventure, you better be prepared with your winter camping gear to keep you safe and warm.
Winter Clothes
In camping, it’s not just the gear in your backpack that’s important. What you’re wearing is equally significant. This is particularly true for winter camping. You need to wear weather-appropriate clothes and accessories as your life will depend on them.
The first thing you need to know about winter camping clothes is layers. You should wear at least three layers of clothing. The base layer is in charge of absorbing perspiration and other forms of moisture. It should be made of moisture-wicking material such as nylon or merino wool.
David Archy Men’s Thermal Underwear is made of 66% rayon, 26% acrylic fabric, and 8% spandex. Its double-sided fleece acrylic thermal bottom wicks away moisture while retaining heat. The knees are double-layered for better durability while the crotch area comes with a fly opening and extra room for a more comfortable fit.
Even in the cold, your body will perspire. You want your inner layer to wick away your sweat. If you wear cotton, for example, the sweat will linger on the cloth. Simply put, once your cotton shirt gets wet, it stays wet. That is not good if you’re trying to stay warm and survive the cold nights.
The middle layer is more about insulation. It should be able to keep your body heat from escaping. You need that heat to stay warm and avoid hypothermia so it’s vital you wear the right kind of clothing.
The third or outer layer is mainly to protect you from the elements such as wind, rain, and snow. The shell layer needs to be lightweight and breathable. Wantdo Men’s Mountain Waterproof Ski Jacket is made of polyester fiber with a waterproof coating. The quick-dry winter jacket comes with thermal insulation to help keep you from freezing to death.
Winter Accessories
You have to protect the rest of your body, particularly your feet, hands, and head. If left exposed, these body parts may suffer from frostbite. This kind of injury happens when the skin and tissues underneath are frozen. It often affects the toes, fingers, nose, ears, and cheeks.
Protect your head by wearing a hat made especially for winter. Yukon hats, beanies, and ski hats are a few examples. Your eyes also need protection. Makes sure you bring a pair of winter goggles on your next cold camping adventure.
Cover your hands with winter hiking gloves. Cevapro -30 F Winter Gloves are made of 3M insulated cotton, PU leather, and thick fleece. It’s waterproof and can wick away moisture. The pair of thermal-insulated winter gloves also keep your digits warm.
For your feet, you need a pair of wool socks and winter boots. Smartwool Trekking Crew Socks are considered one of the best hiking socks for long winter hikes. Its not-too-bulky cushioned design and flat knit toe seam provide maximum comfort. The Achilles strap adds more protection and warmth while the elasticized arch brace gives sit a more secure fit. The Smartwool socks are made of 80% Merino wool, 19% nylon, and 1% elastane, which make sure your feet are always warm.
The Nortiv 8 Men’s Winter Boots are made of waterproof material with 3M Thinsulate cotton, warm cushion faux fur insole, and rubber sole. The pair of winter boots are insulated to make sure your feet stay warm. The rubber outsole, meanwhile, will keep you from slipping.
Tent
Choose a 4-season tent for your winter camping gear. As the name implies, it is designed to withstand the different seasons, including winter, of course.
The GeerTop Backpacking Tent in the video above is an example of a 4 season tent. The easy-to-setup tent is made of rugged 210T anti-tear checkered polyester and coated to make it resistant to UV rays. It is also completely rainproof thanks to its PU 3000mm water-resistant finish.
The GeerTop tent is lightweight at only 6.4 pounds despite having two layers. The inner layer is enough for warmer days while the outer layer provides privacy and added protection from the cold and elements.
Sleeping Bag
A tent is not enough to fight off extreme cold. A sleeping bag will provide warmth and comfort as you spend the night outdoors. Use a single-person sleeping bag if you’re camping on your own or a two-person bag if you’re with a buddy. A better option is for each of you to have your own sleeping bag.
The Coleman 0°F Mummy Sleeping Bag, which can fit a person as tall as 6 feet 2 inches, is designed to withstand temperatures as low as 0° Fahrenheit. It features a semi-sculpted hood design with a drawstring closure to keep the heat from escaping. Also giving a hand in sealing the heat are the insulated footbox, thermolock draft tube, and quilting construction. When it gets warm, the bottom can be unzipped to provide ventilation.
Sleeping Pad
If you have ever tried sleeping on the floor, you know how difficult and uncomfortable it is. Oftentimes, you’ll end up with a lack of sleep and an aching back. It’s similar to sleeping in a tent without a sleeping pad or any kind of cushion. The tent’s floor is not enough to provide you warmth and comfort from the cold and rough terrain. That is why veteran campers know it’s important to bring a sleeping pad.
The WELLAX UltraThick FlexFoam Sleeping Pad provides that comfort you need. It is made of UltraFlex Memory Foam so it wraps to the shape and contour of your body giving you ultimate comfort. The self-inflating mattress is 3 inches thick, which is enough to keep the cold away.
Camping Blanket
A camping blanket is similar to a sleeping bag. They’re both made of water-resistant material and are packed with insulation to help keep you warm. One main difference is that camping blankets don’t have zippers. Sleeping bags can be closed so that your body heat is trapped inside. A camping blanket is more of a, well, blanket. Use it instead of your sleeping bag when the cold is bearable. But when it’s extremely cold, you can use both winter camping gear essentials.
Wool and fleece blankets also offer warmth. You can bring one to camp and use it during the day or when it’s not that cold. Redfora has its own Fire Resistant Wool Blanket and Fleece Blanket. The wool blanket is 60% wool, which should help trap your body heat. It’s also fire-resistant, which is another reason why you should always have wool blankets at home and in your car.
Hand and Body Warmers
You need every possible way to keep warm if you’re hell-bent on spending a few days and nights outdoors during winter. Hand and body warmers should give you an assist.
The QuickHeat Rechargeable Hand Warmer doubles as a portable powerbank. That gives it another reason why you should include it in your winter camping gear. The QuickHeat hand warmer provides 104 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit of heat. Its 5000 mAh lithium-ion battery, when fully charged, should last for 2 to 4 hours. Use it as a heat alternative, though, as it may be more important to save its juice for charging your phone.
Heat Pax Air-Activated Body Warmers are winter camping essentials, too. Each one can consistently give off 130 degrees of heat though it’s completely capable of as high as 155 degrees. Most hand warmers can only heat you up for 6 to 8 hours but the Heat Pax body warmer can go as long as 20 hours. This feature is particularly important in extreme cold weather.
The disposable body warmers are perfectly safe since they only need oxygen to provide heat. Also, they’re pretty compact so you can pack as many in your winter camping gear as you deem necessary.
Fire Starters
Fire provides light and warmth. It lets you cook meals and boil water. Fire also keeps wild animals at bay. Fire can be seen for miles in the dark while, during the day, the smoke helps potential rescuers pinpoint your location in case you’re in trouble. These are just a few of the advantages of having a fire. Simply put, knowing how to make fire is a valuable survival skill. It’s even more important when you’re camping during the cold season.
Before heading out for your winter camping adventure, make sure you have an ample number of fire starters. Don’t settle for just one. Bring as many as possible since fire will keep you alive while you’re out there in the cold.
Redfora Flint Fire Starter will help you start a fire in any kind of weather whether it’s windy or rainy. It also works in high altitudes so it’s a good survival tool to have on your mountain climbing adventures. It comes in orange to make it easier to spot even from a distance.
The Tough Tesla Lighter 2.0 is built for the rough outdoors. The top-facing dual arc plasma lighter plasma can be used in wet and windy conditions. It comes in a sturdy ABS plastic case to protect it from drops. A wire safety latch keeps you from dropping and losing this valuable survival tool.
The Tough Tesla Lighter can be charged using a micro-USB cable. A full charge takes about two hours and is equivalent to about 300 uses. Speaking of uses, the winter camping gear must-have is equipped with a built-in waterproof flashlight with three light modes, a 120-decibel whistle, and 15 inches paratinder neck lanyard.
Aside from a magnesium rod fire starter and lighter, you should also pack waterproof matches. They’re pretty small and lightweight so there shouldn’t be any problem bringing them along. You’ll also be glad to pack some tinder in your winter camping gear.
If by some dumb luck you don’t have any kind of fire starter, you should still know how to start a fire. Check out the video above for different ways to start a fire without matches or lighters.
Camping Stove
Your body will warm up faster if you eat or drink something hot. Imagine how wonderful it would be to have soup or hot coffee after braving the cold night. The BioLite CSX2001CampStove 2 Bundle includes the CampStove, a portable wood stove that can generate 3 watts of electricity using the heat produced by the fire. The energy is stored in its 2600 mAh battery and can be used to charge your phone or other small gadgets.
The Portable Grill is for grilling, obviously. It can fit four burger patties but folds into a compact 3 inches. The KettlePot can boil 1 liter of water in just 4 1/2 minutes. You can store the CampStove in the KettlePot after you’re done cooking and cleaning up. The bundle also comes with the FlexLight, a flexible light accessory.
This winter camping gear checklist is focused on the items necessary for you to survive the cold. It’s nowhere complete, though. If you have other suggestions on what other pieces of camping gear should be in your pack, please don’t hesitate to share them with everyone else. Check out Gentleman Pirate Club and find out more about camping and other outdoor activities you can do all year round.
Just a disclaimer – We have partnered with these companies because we use their products and/or proudly trust and endorse them – so we do receive a commission if you make a purchase or sign up for services. Often, we are able to negotiate special discounts and/or bonuses, which we will pass on to you via our links. We often get short notice on sale items available for 24-48 hours as we will pass these savings on to you.
