How to go camping in winter (and actually enjoy it)

Travel & Touring| Camping & Caravanning

By: Kirsty Petrides

You might think camping and winter don’t go hand in hand, however there are many benefits to taking a camping trip in the cooler months.

Some of the best campgrounds are often less crowded, easier to book and a bit cheaper come winter time. Plus, you get to huddle around a cosy campfire.

Having said that, winter camping comes with its own set of challenges, but as long as you arm yourself with knowledge on what to pack, where to camp and how to set up, you’ll have a great time.

Here’s how to go camping in winter, and actually enjoy it.

What to pack

A good tent. Make sure it's a waterproof tent, and that it's in good condition. There's nothing worse than getting to camp and unpacking your tent, only to find that it's got a big gaping hole in it - so before setting off, inspect your tent for holes and check all the zips, fly-screens and peg-loops are intact, and that all your tent pegs and poles are accounted for.

• Hot tip: In really windy conditions, shorter tent pegs will have a harder time keeping your tent safely secured to the ground. So if your tent comes with pegs on the smaller side, buy some longer tent pegs.

A decent sleeping bag. If winter camping is your jam it pays to invest in a good sleeping bag. Down bags are often the warmest, but check the temperature rating on the bag to make sure it will be cosy enough for you.

• Hot tip: Line your bed with a sleeping bag liner to add extra warmth, and also keep your sleeping bag clean.

A sleeping mat. You need a decent layer of insulation between you and the cold ground beneath you, so if you want a good night’s sleep, invest in a sleeping mat. If you prone to feeling the cold, sleep on two mats - the extra layer will help trap in even more of the heat. 

• Hot tip: If you’re camping with your partner, use coupling straps to pull two single mats together, then unzip your sleeping bags and use them like quilts so you can share body heat for extra toastiness.

Extra tarp. Get two pieces, one to set up an annex outside your tent so if it does start raining, you can still sit outside and enjoy the environment rather than being trapped inside your tent; and another to create a mat outside your tent to dry your feet, leave your shoes and generally prevent muddiness from entering your tent.

A dry bag. To keep your valuables and electronics safe and sound from wet weather. If you don’t have one, an extra large plastic zip-lock bag would do the trick for smaller items.

Light and entertainment. It gets dark early in winter, so if you haven’t packed a camping light and things to keep you occupied, you’re in for a very boring night in the dark. Books, a deck of cards and board games will keep you occupied. If you’re keen to take advantage of the lack of light pollution out in nature, pack an astronomy book so you can spend the whole night stargazing.

RELATED:First time camping? Here are the essentials you'll need »

What to wear

The key to staying warm and dry on a winter camping trip is layers. It’s a science, and is made up of three parts – a base layer, insulating layer and outer-layer.

For your base layer, you want something close-fitting to trap body heat. Opt for a material like merino wool, which is a natural temperature regulator, so you’re less likely to sweat in it than polyester. Merino can be expensive though so if you’re on a budget choose polypropylene instead and that will still do the job.

Next, you need an insulating layer that you can take off and on as you warm up and cool down. A down jacket, lightweight fleece or woollen jumper would be a good option.

• Hot tip: If you tend to get cold hands or feet, invest in a down vest as part of your insulating layer, too – a warm core is the first step towards warm extremities.

Finally, your outermost layer – or your ‘shell’ if you’re a real camping expert - should protect you from wind and rain, so get something made from a weatherproof fabric like Goretex. Goretex can be pricey though so a regular rain-jacket would suffice. Get something with a hood so you can keep your head warm, as a lot of heat is lost through your head. For extra measure, wear a beanie under the hood.

As a general rule, stay away from cotton as it absorbs a lot of moisture and takes a long time to dry, which will make you very chilly.

Choosing your spot

Choose campgrounds wisely. Avoid the bottom of hills, valleys or gorges, as these spots are not only where cold-air troughs form, but are also the first place the sun leaves in the afternoon and last place it reaches in the morning. Also avoid the tops of hills which can be exposed to wind.

Position your tent. Think about your tent’s position in relation to where the sun will be rising the next morning. If your tent can be basked in toasty warm beams first thing in the morning, it will make getting out of bed a lot easier.

Read the wind. Set your tent up with the back of it pointing towards the wind. Never set it up with the front of your tent facing the direction of the wind, otherwise every time you open your tent door, your little home will become a balloon very quickly.

Pick flat, firm surfaces. Uneven ground is an invitation for puddles and makes it harder to lay a tarp out the front of your tent, so choose flatter surfaces. Sandy soil won't give your tent pegs much grip if the weather starts getting windy, so pick a spot with firmer soil.

When you get there

Prep for your campfire. To make sure you don’t get cold, get started on your campfire as soon as possible - and most importantly, check that you can actually light a campfire at that location. Go for a walk to round up your tinder (things that will catch fire quickly like dry leaves and other dry debris), kindling (small twigs, sticks) and fuel (big logs). Sourcing enough firewood before you get it started will save you frantically running off to find more if it starts dying out.

• Hot tip: Pack cotton wool balls – they can be used as tinder if you can’t find any around your campground.

Go to bed warm. Once you’re officially cold, it’s much harder for your body to warm itself back up again, so do some star jumps before hopping into your sleeping bag. You might look like a maniac, but you’ll be a warm maniac.

Prepare for when nature calls. If you’re someone who regularly gets up in the middle of the night to use the loo, make your life easier by leaving your head torch, shoes and rain jacket or umbrella someone within easy reach. It will save you fumbling around in the dark, and disturbing your tent buddy.

Last updated: June 2020