Out in the boondocks

Sleep better than a hibernating bear: 10 tips for cold-weather camping

Credit: Anna Shvets

Winter camping is a unique experience, just as satisfying as camping during other times of the year. True, the weather can be more severe and unpredictable, and there are fewer daylight hours, but with proper preparation, winter camping offers unparalleled rewards. In this article, we’ve compiled 10 tips to help you get the most out of your cold-weather camping trip!

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A trip never truly begins on the first day of your vacation—it starts long before. First, choose the place you want to visit and make sure you have everything you need to live away from home for a few days. Once you’ve selected your destination, it’s time to plan your route. With the help of physical and topographical maps, you can study the terrain, check road and trail conditions, and estimate how long it will take to reach your destination.

It’s also essential to check local weather forecasts so you can avoid dangerous areas. Research the emergency services available in the region, and learn how to recognize and avoid avalanches if your route passes through areas with deep snow.

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Before heading out on a camping trip in cold areas, make sure you have the right equipment. Find a tent that is suitable for winter. For example, if you expect snow or strong winds, opt for a 4-season tent that can withstand harsh weather and help keep the interior dry and warm.

A proper sleeping bag is essential for ensuring a good night’s rest on your trip. It’s your best defense against the cold when temperatures drop at night. Bring a closed-cell foam sleeping pad as well—without a well-insulated pad underneath, even the warmest sleeping bag will quickly lose heat.

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Your winter camping gear is key—but so is your clothing! Your tent and sleeping bag will keep you warm at night, but during the day you’ll need clothing that is sturdy, waterproof, and warm. Choose garments that are insulating, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and breathable.

Pack enough clothing so you can change when you sweat—this helps prevent chills and reduces the risk of getting sick. Pay special attention to socks and footwear; warm, dry feet make it much easier to maintain proper body temperature.

Pro tip: At night, stash your boot liners inside your sleeping bag. Few things are worse than slipping warm feet into frozen boots in the morning. Also store electronics, batteries, fuel canisters, and anything else you don’t want to freeze.

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It never hurts to pack more than you need. Pack extra batteries, a couple of gallons of additional fuel, more food than you plan to eat, extra gloves and socks, and enough toiletries to last the trip.

Remember, winter camping means fewer daylight hours, which makes you more dependent on flashlights and other light sources. If you’re camping in a snowy area, you’ll likely need to melt snow for drinking water—so plan for the extra fuel this requires.

Credit: David Schultz

Once you arrive at your destination, your first task is to choose the right place to set up camp. Study your surroundings to find the safest and most suitable spot for your tent. Avoid areas that could pose a risk, such as avalanche terrain, landslide zones, or places with unstable or overhanging trees.

Look for the flattest site possible—one that gets plenty of sun and stays relatively dry throughout the day. A good trick is to orient your tent’s entrance toward the east so it catches the morning sun and warms up more quickly. As soon as you climb inside your tent for the first time, use your knees to smooth out the area beneath your sleeping pad. Don’t wait until night—once snow melts and refreezes, it becomes much harder to adjust.

Credit: Necip Duman

The best way to handle camping in cold conditions is to be proactive and plan ahead. For example, did you know that warm air rises and cold air falls? Digging a trench in the snow in front of your tent’s entrance allows the cold air to settle in the hole instead of around your body.

This technique—borrowed from igloo construction—has other advantages: the trench can serve as a bench for putting on or taking off your boots, and it makes getting in and out of the tent easier while helping prevent snow from being tracked inside.

Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko

Staying hydrated is essential when camping in bitter cold weather, as the air dries you out more quickly and your body still needs plenty of fluids to function. Drink regularly, but avoid water that is too cold. Carry a sturdy thermos filled with hot broth, tea, or coffee, and insulate your water bottles to prevent freezing—wrap them in extra clothing or use dedicated bottle insulators.

Bring a camping stove to prepare or heat food. Eat consistently, even if you don’t feel hungry. If you wake up cold during the night, have a quick snack to "fuel your engine," focusing on calorie-dense foods like chocolate, cheese, and nuts. Always pack extra food in case you get trapped by a snowstorm—survival energy bars and canned goods can be lifesavers in extreme conditions

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On freezing nights, water vapor often condenses on the tent’s inner walls, your sleeping bag, and your gear—even with the door cracked open. When the ice melts, it can soak your equipment. Control frost buildup by keeping your gear covered or inside garbage bags, and by sweeping ice crystals into piles before they melt.

Another key tip for a restful night is to keep your sleeping bag as dry as possible. Your body produces heat and exhales warm air at night, both of which cause condensation that can reduce your sleeping bag’s effectiveness. To avoid this, air out and dry your bag thoroughly during the day to remove any excess moisture.

Credit: Thom Holmes

We can’t stress this enough: always stay hydrated. Winter activities burn a lot of energy, so be sure to drink water regularly. While on the move, sip water every 20 minutes; at rest, drink every 40 minutes.

Equally important is protecting your skin. Snowy landscapes reflect a lot of solar radiation, increasing your exposure. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 three times a day—and never forget your ears! Finally, wear sunglasses or goggles to prevent eye injuries from glare and UV rays.

Credit: Paige Deasley

Even if you’ve prepared well, chosen the best campsite, and packed the right equipment, freezing weather and snow can be unpredictable. That’s why it’s important to have a backup plan in case things don’t go as expected.

For example, always carry a map showing shelters, refuges, or rural houses in case it becomes impossible to continue camping outdoors. Bring food that doesn’t require cooking in case the weather is too bad to light a fire or use your camping stove. Also, plan some indoor leisure activities—if outdoor sports or adventures become impossible, you’ll want fun ways to pass the time inside your tent.

What’s the word for…?

An assortment of "thingies": Few people can name these everyday objects

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Have you ever found yourself pointing at something mid-conversation because you couldn’t name it? Or have you caught yourself calling it "thingy"? You wouldn’t be the first. Some very specific nouns exist that few people are familiar with, so they are seldom used. Read the full list and see how many of them you were already using correctly!

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Have you ever closed your eyes and noticed strange figments of light dancing before them? Possibly, we all have! They are "phosphenes". These visual sensations happen when pressure stimulates the retina, even in the absence of light.

Credit: Irene Kredenets

The aglet is that little plastic or metal tip at the end of your shoelace. Its only job is to stop the lace from fraying and to help it slide easily through the eyelets. Its name derives from Old French, when aguilette meant "needle" or "pin."

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How many parts of a fork can you name? There’s the handle, of course, and then the forking, spiked end. Those "prongs" have a correct name: tines.

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You know that smooth patch of skin between your eyebrows, where worry lines eventually meet? That’s your glabella. It’s the name of the underlying bone. It derives from the Latin glaber, which means "smooth" or "hairless."

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"Pinky" might work, but there is actually a correct term for it: The smallest finger, a.k.a the fifth digit, is called "minimus," its proper Latin name.

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Before you pop open a bottle of champagne, you’ll need to deal with the agraffe—that little wire cage around the cork. Its job is to keep the cork in place despite the bubbling pressure inside the bottle. Another name for it is "muselet."

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It sounds like some fictional character, but purlicue is the name for the space between your thumb and forefinger. When you're holding a pen, gripping a mug, or giving a thumbs-up, your purlicue is doing the support work.

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Look closely at your fingernails and you might spot a small, pale crescent shape near the base. That’s the lunule, which comes from the Latin for "little moon." It’s most visible on the thumbs and plays a role in nail growth.

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You know that earthy, comforting smell after a fresh rain. Science has proved there is a particular scent generated when rain hits dry soil. It comes from plant oils, bacteria, and a compound called geosmin.

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The peen is the rounded or wedge-shaped part on the opposite side of a hammer’s face. It's used for shaping metal or riveting, depending on the hammer type.

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Some people like the foam on top of a beer, some consider it just an aesthetic obstacle. That foamy top has a name, though: barm. In ye olden times, this froth was used as a fermenting agent in baking.

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You would probably refer to the whole end-tip of a pencil as the "eraser," but that would mean ignoring the ferrule. That’s the name for the metal ring holding the eraser in place. Pencils didn’t always include that commodity: the brilliant idea of pencil-and-eraser combined began being sold in the 1900s.

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That little cardboard sleeve around your hot coffee cup has a name: zarf. Originally, zarfs were ornate metal holders for coffee cups in the Middle East. Today’s version is a little less glamorous but no less essential for saving fingers on the go.

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The tiny tripod inside your pizza box is often called a "pizza saver," but another word for it is "tent." It’s there to stop the lid from squashing the toppings underneath, especially when you stack the pizza boxes together.