The most important thing for winter camping is to be prepared for the cold. Here we introduce the minimum necessary equipment and personal belongings. Please take a look at them and make use of them in your advance preparations.
A tent that can withstand the cold
Choose a winter-specific tent made of sturdy materials to protect you from the wind.
The choice of a winter tent depends on your ideal camping style, such as whether you want a large living space or just a space-saving space for sleeping.
If you spend most of your time cooped up inside the tent, we recommend a “2-room type tent” that integrates the living room and bedroom. When fully closed, it will keep out cold air as well as rain and snow, so you can rest assured that you will be safe.
On the other hand, “one-pole tents” with their triangular roofs are compact and have a single complete living space, so there is less air leakage and other losses when moving from one room to another.
Also, popular in recent years are tents equipped with chimney ports for wood stoves. Because they are built with the assumption that a wood stove will be placed inside the tent, they are made of fabrics that are resistant to fire and heat, and have excellent ventilation.
*Using combustion equipment can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, so if you want to use a wood stove inside a tent, be sure to choose a tent specifically designed for wood stove use.
A sleeping bag that allows you to sleep comfortably
The most common winter sleeping bag is the “mummy” type, which completely envelopes the head. The mummy type is also used in mountaineering because it is more tightly sealed than the rectangular “envelope type” sleeping bags.
The most important points to keep in mind when choosing a sleeping bag are “comfortable use temperature” and “critical use temperature.
The comfortable operating temperature is “the temperature at which you can sleep comfortably up to this temperature,” and the critical operating temperature is “the temperature at which you can sleep comfortably with some effort, although you may feel cold if you use it at this temperature. When selecting a sleeping bag, please pay special attention to the critical operating temperature.
List of Goods for Protecting Against the Cold
The key to success in overwinter camping is to take measures against cold! To stick warm up and wide until morning in winter, you need more than just a tent and a sleeping bag. So, we have compiled the pursuit list of minimum cold-protection goods you should prepare for overwinter camping, as swell as items that are useful if you have them. Make sure enough you are fully equipped and enjoy winter camping in comfort!
Cot & insulation mat
Cots can be used in varied ways, such as benches or luggage storage.
However, be careful not to use a finger stall and sleeping bag alone, as the common cold air from the ground may chill you. As a countermeasure, it is recommended to set back a piece of “insulation mat” between the cot and sleeping bag. This way, the cold air will be shut out, and you will sleep comfortably until morning.
Wood stove
Wood stoves are so convenient for outdoor use that they are nowadays a staple of winter tenting and are often seen in winter campgrounds.
If the stove has a flatcar top, it can be used as a stove, so you can use the heat to fake food or set up an outside kettle on the stove to boil water.
Also, unlike a campfire, a wood-burning stove does not get dirty with soot or smell up of smoke.
*Basically, it is not recommended to use it inside a tent, so use it outdoors for warmth.
Warmer
A pocket warmer, which is easy to use and carry, is also a convenient item to have. Oil-type “Hakukin Warmer” that heats up with benzene (liquid fuel) and “rechargeable Warmer” that also functions as a mobile battery and LED light are popular items that can be used over and over again.
In particular, Hakukin Warmer is a favorite of many mountaineers because of its ability to stay hot for 24 hours straight and the amount of heat it generates, which is 13 times greater than that of disposable pocket warmers.
Electric heaters and blankets
Electric heating devices such as electric heaters and electric blankets can make a big difference in the comfort level of winter campers. Besides, electric blankets, in particular, are excellent for preventing bottom chills by laying them on top of an insulating mat.
They can be used as is at campsites with AC power facilities, but can also be used at campsites without AC power sites if you bring a mobile battery or portable power supply. Some types are also rechargeable.
Winter Camping Clothing
Since many campgrounds are located at high elevations, it is common for the lowest temperatures to strive below freezing. Since the temperature is much lour than in the city, when going camping in winter, it is a good rule of thumb to wear real heavy clothing, much as several layers of inner wear with high heat insulation and an outward layer.
Gloves, thick socks, and a knit hat are also essential. It is advisable to choose outdoor brand products that are specialized in wind resistance and warmth retention.
On the strange hand, you may feel warmer during the day when the temperature rises if you move around a lot, so a jacket or other type of warm clothing that can be taken polish off is also useful.
We have introduced just about of the attractions and key points about winter camping, which is full of fun and different from summer. It is difficult to prepare everything you require for winter camping at once, but you may be astounded to find that the items you use on a daily footing are comfortable and do not cost much.
The crisp winter air, beautiful scenery, clear skies, and warm up meals eaten in the cold are wonderful times that can’t be compared to anything else.