How To Stay Warm While Camping

• 15th Sep 2015

If you are new to camping or have had a bad experience in the past, you may be reluctant to camp after the summer is ended. But camping in the autumn, winter and spring can be great fun – you just have to make sure that you are prepared for whatever the UK climate can throw at you. If you are warm in your tent, you are far, far more likely to have an enjoyable experience. Being cold can be a miserable experience when it can be difficult to get indoors to warm up. But if you are prepared, you can be warm and snug in your tent. Here are some things to bear in mind when planning for a colder weather camping adventure:

The Right Tent:

If you are not an experienced camper you may be tempted to simply take a large, family, summer-camping tent. Bear in mind that the larger and more cavernous the space, the harder it will be to keep it warm. A smaller space will heat up far more quickly with body heat.

The Right Sleeping Bag:

All sleeping bags are not created equal. Make sure you do not just have a lightweight summer sleeping bag but have invested in at least a three season bag for autumn and spring, if not a four season winter bag. Consider a snug mummy bag and also consider choosing animal products or high quality synthetics. A silk lining can also help you to keep your body temperature at a comfortable level. If you are taking the car and weight is not a concern, extra blankets can't hurt, so bring some just in case.

Never Sleep Directly on the Ground:

When camping, you will lose most of your body heat into the ground if you sleep directly on it so be sure to always bring a good quality sleeping mat, air bed or camp bed to sleep on that will insulate you from the cold of the ground beneath.

Bring Layers and Thermals:

When it comes to choosing what clothing to bring on your camping trip, err on the side of caution and make sure you have plenty of layers so you can adapt to changing temperatures easily by putting things on or taking things off. If you anticipate very cold weather then thermals are a good idea. Do not forget to bring some good thick socks with you too.

Four Season Fuel:

When the temperatures take a dive, some fuels for stoves will not work and you will be miserable if you can't even have a hot drink, so make sure you pack not only a stove and kettle but also some four season fuel that will burn even when the temperatures are in single figures.

Hot Water Bottles for Extra Comfort:

Again, if space and weight are not an issue, you might want to bring a hot water bottle with you to provide that extra little bit of warmth and comfort.