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Message
re: Camping in single digit temps
Posted on 12/25/21 at 6:38 pm to MrWhipple
Posted on 12/25/21 at 6:38 pm to MrWhipple
- as a general rule, buy the best of everything you can afford. You want a good bag rated to at least 0 with a good hood, draft tube, etc. I’m a down fan.
- insulation from the ground is super important. A non-insulated summer inflatable pad is not good enough. Use a closed cell foam pad (z-rest) under an insulated inflatable. Carry the z-rest with you during the day.
- put on clean (or at least dry) base layer to sleep in
- put the clothes you intend to put on in the morning in the bottom of your bag if there’s room.
- use a pee bottle. Largemouth nalgene marked so you don’t confuse it with your others. I don’t get out of my bag to pee.
- warm liquids are awesome. Make some coffee or just some warm water on a stove just outside the tent before you even leave your bag. Keep a thermos full of hot soup or water with you at all times.
- be sure you have a shovel. Look at avalanche shovels for backcountry skiing if you don’t already have one.
- understand your water source. In temps that cold it is often melting snow. This takes lots of fuel and time, plan accordingly. And be sure to have some liquid water in the pot when you start melting.
- dress to be “comfortably cool” as opposed to warm. You don’t want to sweat a bunch and get your clothes wet. If you’re a naturally sweaty type (like me) carry an extra base layer and change when you stop for lunch or after a hard hike. Dry the wet one on your pack.
- insulation from the ground is super important. A non-insulated summer inflatable pad is not good enough. Use a closed cell foam pad (z-rest) under an insulated inflatable. Carry the z-rest with you during the day.
- put on clean (or at least dry) base layer to sleep in
- put the clothes you intend to put on in the morning in the bottom of your bag if there’s room.
- use a pee bottle. Largemouth nalgene marked so you don’t confuse it with your others. I don’t get out of my bag to pee.
- warm liquids are awesome. Make some coffee or just some warm water on a stove just outside the tent before you even leave your bag. Keep a thermos full of hot soup or water with you at all times.
- be sure you have a shovel. Look at avalanche shovels for backcountry skiing if you don’t already have one.
- understand your water source. In temps that cold it is often melting snow. This takes lots of fuel and time, plan accordingly. And be sure to have some liquid water in the pot when you start melting.
- dress to be “comfortably cool” as opposed to warm. You don’t want to sweat a bunch and get your clothes wet. If you’re a naturally sweaty type (like me) carry an extra base layer and change when you stop for lunch or after a hard hike. Dry the wet one on your pack.
0
Posted on 12/25/21 at 6:50 pm to MrWhipple
I camped Montana in 17 degrees this year in a floorless tipi.
I sold the floorless tipi when I got home.
I sold the floorless tipi when I got home.
Posted on 12/25/21 at 7:28 pm to MrWhipple
Some good replies:
1. drop the coin on a very good mummy sleeping bad. My first winter campout we hit about 2 below the first night. Luckily my dad forced me to take his old Navy wool sleeping bad liner. That inside my montgomery ward bag saved me. That same night a kid put the space blanket over him instead of under him and melted a hole down thru a foot of snow. Woke up in a lake. The newer bags are pretty awesome but $$$
2. getting up the next morning was brutal at that temp. Just starting a fire was like in slow motion.
3. good mittens! or layer system. The OR mutant mitts are my favorite with wool us army liners tertiary.
4. good boots! I use the usgi bunny boots.
5 a good hat or head system. I use a poly balaclava and a british army mtp goretex covering.
6. the smarts to know what to do if you fall in something and get wet. Your feet will be fine with bunny boots but its your legs freezing solid that gets you. Have firestarters with you and the means to ignite it several ways.
In deep snow an igloo is way warmer than any tent but gotta stay away from the wet flor. Need some serious mats or skins for that. Some tents are a bitch to set up in thsoe temps. I love snow shelters or even hemlock or spruce bows in a lean too with a fire going.
Quite honestly training and experience helps alot. Theres a reason guys go to the SERE schools for this
1. drop the coin on a very good mummy sleeping bad. My first winter campout we hit about 2 below the first night. Luckily my dad forced me to take his old Navy wool sleeping bad liner. That inside my montgomery ward bag saved me. That same night a kid put the space blanket over him instead of under him and melted a hole down thru a foot of snow. Woke up in a lake. The newer bags are pretty awesome but $$$
2. getting up the next morning was brutal at that temp. Just starting a fire was like in slow motion.
3. good mittens! or layer system. The OR mutant mitts are my favorite with wool us army liners tertiary.
4. good boots! I use the usgi bunny boots.
5 a good hat or head system. I use a poly balaclava and a british army mtp goretex covering.
6. the smarts to know what to do if you fall in something and get wet. Your feet will be fine with bunny boots but its your legs freezing solid that gets you. Have firestarters with you and the means to ignite it several ways.
In deep snow an igloo is way warmer than any tent but gotta stay away from the wet flor. Need some serious mats or skins for that. Some tents are a bitch to set up in thsoe temps. I love snow shelters or even hemlock or spruce bows in a lean too with a fire going.
Quite honestly training and experience helps alot. Theres a reason guys go to the SERE schools for this
This post was edited on 12/25/21 at 7:29 pm
Posted on 12/25/21 at 7:54 pm to MrWhipple
Aluminum blankets.
Posted on 12/25/21 at 8:30 pm to MrWhipple
We’ve camped in the low 20’s a few times this year, and I’m amazed at how effective a few hand warmers inside your sleeping bag is. One on lower back, one near feet, one inside shirt, one near face.
Like others have said, sleeping is easy - the morning is hard. Ended up bringing the sleeping pad and an unzipped sleeping bag to our hiding spot for my sons last squirrel hunt on an 18dg morning
Like others have said, sleeping is easy - the morning is hard. Ended up bringing the sleeping pad and an unzipped sleeping bag to our hiding spot for my sons last squirrel hunt on an 18dg morning
Posted on 12/25/21 at 8:40 pm to MrWhipple
Obviously get a good sleeping bag. But the real pro tip is to get a sleeping bag liner. It’s thin and relatively cheap, but makes a huge difference.
Posted on 12/25/21 at 9:19 pm to MrWhipple
Multiple layers
Blanket if you got room in the ruck
Good sleeping bag
Piss bottle right outside of tent within arms reach
Blanket if you got room in the ruck
Good sleeping bag
Piss bottle right outside of tent within arms reach
Posted on 12/25/21 at 10:11 pm to gumbo2176
quote:
ry to pee as much as you can before climbing into your sleeping bag. Those 3 a.m. "gotta pee bad" runs would suck in that kind of weather, even if you just pee outside the tent.
The other part of this is if you feel the urge to pee don't hold it and go pee. Your body spends energy and heat keeping piss warm inside your body and it will make your extremities colder.
Posted on 12/25/21 at 10:12 pm to MrWhipple
sleep neckid with a bunch of your bodies to share body heat.
Posted on 12/26/21 at 7:29 am to 257WBY
quote:
Kodiak Canvas tent
Buddy Heater
Zero bag
This will have you cozy as hell.
We were right around single digits on an elk hunt in early November. I was in a three season tent and a women’s 20 degree bag, so it wasn’t ideal.
The first night I was an idiot and didn’t wear appropriate clothing. It sucked. After that, I popped hand warmers in my socks and gloves, added some layers, and I was good to go.
My best tip is to put your camel back (or whatever you are using to hold water) inside your sleeping bag at night to try to keep it from freezing.
This post was edited on 12/26/21 at 8:35 am
Posted on 12/26/21 at 9:29 am to Sus-Scrofa
quote:. . . hang your bag up inside out the next morning to dry.
Obviously get a good sleeping bag. But the real pro tip is to . . .
It'll make a big difference in the long haul.
Posted on 12/26/21 at 2:22 pm to MrWhipple
Bring water jug in tent and put near stove.
Posted on 12/26/21 at 3:18 pm to greenbean
quote:
sleep neckid with a bunch of your bodies to share body heat.
The wife and I went to a motorcycle rally in N. Georgia in the fall one year and camped in our 2 man tent. We each had our own sleeping bag and a self-inflating pad to go on the ground under the bag. I was OK, but the wife was miserably cold.
We wound up zipping both bags together to form one big one and cuddled up to stay warm the first 2 nights before the weather warmed back up.
Posted on 12/26/21 at 5:08 pm to gumbo2176
I've done it many times and have 2 things that stand out in my mind.
1) A snow cave is much warmer than any tent.
With that being said,
2) I've always found myself warmer at night than I anticipated. More times than nor, I've shed layers as the night has gone one.
However, as I type this I can also say it's easier to cool down than warm up, so regulating body temperature is always in flux.
1) A snow cave is much warmer than any tent.
With that being said,
2) I've always found myself warmer at night than I anticipated. More times than nor, I've shed layers as the night has gone one.
However, as I type this I can also say it's easier to cool down than warm up, so regulating body temperature is always in flux.
This post was edited on 12/26/21 at 5:09 pm
Posted on 12/26/21 at 5:11 pm to hob
quote:
The other part of this is if you feel the urge to pee don't hold it and go pee. Your body spends energy and heat keeping piss warm inside your body and it will make your extremities colder.
And if you are really cold, pee in a bottle and put it in the foot of your bag to keep your feet warm for a while
Posted on 12/26/21 at 5:21 pm to MrWhipple
quote:
Anyone have tips for camping in near zero degree weather?
If you're car camping it's pretty easy to be comfortable. You have room for a lot of gear.
Snowshoeing/hiking into the backcountry is a different ballgame. Unless you're willing to pack a sled you have to be smart and know your pack will be heavy. Snow camping is fun if that's how you view it. If you're prepared with the proper pad, bag, liner, and clothing and a good attitude and enough whiskey it is a helluva time
Good down booties are the shite btw.
Water freezes unless it's in your bag with you.
Don't underestimate how much stove fuel you'll need. You'll be melting snow for water. Depending
upon how far from your rig you are you should carry extra fuel and food.
Bring a shovel so you can create a level area for your tent. You might have to dig it out too.
Cook/melt snow in the vestibule area but a cute trick is to dig a hole and put the stove in it so it blocks the wind. The hole doubles as a way to tie your laces of your boots while inside your tent. Just step in with 1 foot and tie the other.
Posted on 12/26/21 at 6:30 pm to Lonnie Utah
quote:
However, as I type this I can also say it's easier to cool down than warm up, so regulating body temperature is always in flux.
And with me living in S.E. Louisiana, it's been my experience I can warm up much easier than cool down.
Guess our stupid hot and humid summer months have skewed my view in that direction.
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