Winter camping, where you can enjoy a hot drink around a campfire under the stars, is a luxurious time to deepen your dialogue with nature. However, there are many people who want to try winter camping but are not sure what kind of clothes to wear. In this issue, we will introduce you to winter camping clothing, how to choose it, and the most important tips for layering. We have also picked up recommended items ranging from the cosmopolitan UNIQLO to highly functional outdoor brands. Even in the coldest of winter camps, if you take the right measures, you can enjoy the fun without feeling too cold!
Things to keep in mind when dressing for winter camping
For those who are new to winter camping, the first thing you want to know is what kind of clothes you should wear to keep the cold at bay. If you fail to choose the right clothes, you may end up freezing in the cold, which is a sad memory. To avoid such a situation, here are five points to keep in mind when dressing for winter camping.
Dress in layers
The most important thing to keep in mind when dressing for cold winter camping is “layering. Layering means putting on layers of clothing. And layering allows warm air to accumulate and body heat to escape. Layering consists of the following three layers
- A base layer of underwear
- Middle layer of intermediate clothing
- An out layer of upper clothing
Note that the concept of “three layers” is not the same as wearing three layers of clothing. If it is very cold, two middle layers can be added. I will explain the role of each layer and appropriate clothing in the sections that follow.
Base layer is water absorbent and breathable
The base layer is the bottom layer, or undergarment. It is best to choose a base layer made of a material that has the following three properties: warmth retention, water absorption, and moisture permeability. Unlike mountaineering, camping is not like mountaineering, where you are sitting on a chair and relaxing, so it is unlikely that you will sweat profusely and get very hot! Therefore, warmth retention is necessary. Therefore, warmth is necessary.
However, even in winter camping, you may sweat when setting up your tent or tarp during the day. Sweating lowers your body temperature, and if you leave your sweat-absorbing clothes on, you will get even colder. Therefore, it is safe to pick out a layer that also retains heat and has excellent moisture permeability that can absorb sweat and expel it.
The recommended material is merino wool. Merino wool is a high-grade wool that comes from sheep of the “merino” breed. Merino wool is a great choice for a base layer because it has first-class warmth retention, water absorption, and moisture permeability.
The middle layer is for heat retention.
A middle layer is a garment drawn over a base layer, and its role is to create a layer of air to increase warmth. Therefore, overwhelming warmth and retentiveness are required. Fleece or down, which have high ignition retention properties, are often worn as middle layers.
It is recommended to adjust the number of layers drawn according to the temperature of the day, such as fleece alone or two layers of fleece and light down. Therefore, it is convenient to prepare thick and slimmed-down midriff layers, respectively, so that you can combine them according to the temperature.
On the other hand, if you try to cope with a very thick fleece or just one down layer, it is not recommended because it is not possible to adjust for hot or cold temperatures depending on the time of day. Be sure to prepare several middle layers so that you can combine them while focusing on warmth retention.
Select water-repellent and windproof out layers.
The out layer is the outermost layer, and it keeps the warmth created by the base layer and middle layer from escaping.
Sudden rain or snow may fall while camping, and you need to protect yourself from the cold north wind. Therefore, our layers need to be water-repellent and windproof.
In addition, the overwhelming majority of winter campers will be making campfires. Therefore, outerwear made of flame-retardant materials is recommended to prevent holes in clothing or spreading of fire sparks. However, cotton, which is often used as a flame-retardant material, does not have much water repellence or wind resistance. Therefore, if you have room in your luggage, it is a good idea to bring a separate out layer for the campfire.
Keeping your head and feet warm is also a must.
Layering is important when dressing for winter camping, but surprisingly, keeping your head and feet warm is also a key to staying warm.
The head has almost no fat, so when it is cold, heat escapes rapidly, causing coldness. The fact that people in cold regions such as Russia wear fuzzy hats is proof of this. It is recommended to have a knit hat or a hat that can cover your ears even in winter camping.
Also, cold air climbing up from the ground in winter (bottom chill) is a great enemy of winter camping. It is also an ironclad rule to prepare thick socks and winter shoes, as the cold air from your feet will make you colder and colder.
Feet tend to sweat and steam easily, so we recommend merino wool socks that have the three properties of heat retention: water absorption, and moisture permeability. In addition, since you will be in and out of the tent during camping and will be taking your shoes on and off frequently, we recommend slip-on, firmer shoes. Since thick socks are worn, choose a shoe size slightly larger than usual.
Winter Camping Tips: What to wear for children
Wear clothes that are easy to move around in!
Camping is a big event for children. They will be excited and move around a lot more than adults think they will. Layers of clothing are an important part of winter camp attire, but too many layers can make it difficult to move around.
Therefore, it is advisable to use thin long-sleeved shirts and down vests over REATTACH, and try to dress for warmth and ease of movement. It is also important to keep children in lightweight long-sleeved clothing during the day when they are moving around, and at night when it is cold, it is important to follow the layering rules and use middle layers, our layers, and other layered clothing to avoid catching a cold.
Warm your neck, wrists, and ankles!
To effectively warm up your body to prevent cold, it is important to warm up the three “necks.
The three necks are the neck, wrists, and ankles.
The scrape around the neck and wrists is thin, with thick blood vessels running through it, and the blood is easily affected by the outside temperature. If the make-out area gets cold, a cold rip circulates throughout the personified, and the stallion’s body becomes cold. Conversely, thawing the neck area improves blood circulation and allows warm blood to circulate with efficiency throughout the body.
If your child seems cold, try thawing the neck, wrists, and ankles first with neck warmers or gloves. Since children’s body temperature changes more rapidly than adults, we recommend using neck warmers and other items that are easy to put on and take off to regulate body temperature!
Children sweat easily, even in winter!
Children sweat more than you might think. Even on a cold winter day, they can get sweaty from playing around. They can catch a cold if their clothes are soaked with sweat.
Therefore, it is important to bring a larger change of clothes, prepare appropriate clothes according to the temperature, and prepare several kinds of clothing. If you are taking your child to winter camp, bring several changes of clothes depending on the temperature and how sweaty he or she is, in order to keep your child comfortable.
In this article, we have introduced some things to keep in mind when dressing for winter camping. Winter camping is all good things: no bugs, warm campfires, and beautiful starry skies! If you follow the most important rule of winter camping clothing, the law of layering, and dress in layers well according to the temperature, you can have a comfortable time at winter camp. This winter, please try to master layering and give winter camping a try!