Guides

For most people, camping is a great outdoor recreation in spring and summer. Everything is green and lush or it’s just starting to come to life after long winter months. Either way, it’s an uplifting experience that invites us to spend quality time with our friends and family. But what if I told you that you don’t have to limit this experience to the warmest months of the year?

Camping can be magnificent even when it is cold outside. However, some preparation is required to have a pleasant evening when it’s freezing outside. Therefore, in this article, I will tell you the best tips and tricks on how to stay warm in a tent.

#1 – Bring a tent heater

This one is quite obvious. Camping heaters are meant to keep you warm in enclosed areas such as a tent. You can bring along a tent heater on your camping trip and put it inside your tent when it’s starting to get cold. Some heaters can run overnight, while others have to be turned off for safety reasons.

You can get an electric or a gas tent heater. Both types will do the job but there are some considerable differences. If you wish to gen an electric heater, you must have access to a power supply. Be it an equipped camping ground or wilderness camping with your own batteries, you must make sure that you have electricity. Otherwise, cold will creep in within minutes. Aim To Discover has described the best tent heater models and a guide on choosing one.

#2 – Use a warm sleeping bag

A warm sleeping bag is one of the best investments you can make for comfortable camping. Apart from using it on cold nights, you can use it all season long and allow ventilation if it gets too hot. Look for comfort limit temperatures indicated on the sleeping bag. Depending on where you plan to camp, adjust the minimum temperature to look for. If it’s going to be 0 degrees outside, look for a comfort temperature of at least that. You can also look for a sleeping bag that is lined with fleece. It helps to trap some of your own heat within the sleeping bag so you can stay warm for longer. This guide explains what to look for in great detail.

#3 – Strategic campsite location

By choosing the best campsite placement on the premises, you can usually ensure a great deal of protection from wind and cold. Look for natural wind blockers such as large stones or wide trees that can provide protection against wind. Also, try to avoid the lowest points since that’s where the cold air settles. A campsite that is about 50 feet above the ground level will do the trick.

#4 – Use heated gear to stay warm

Apart from the tent heaters, you can also bring heated gear. A warm vest that is electrically heated will provide a sufficient amount of heat to your core. It is very comfortable to sleep in and you don’t have to worry about any safety issues like with tent heaters. Simply connect the power bank to the jacket or other piece of heated clothing. Most garments can radiate heat for up to 6 or 8 hours. This, of course, depends on the chosen heat setting.

To extend the run time, you can also bring a spare power bank to swap the drained one. This is one of my favorite ways to keep warm in winter. Here is a guide that will help you to choose your own heated gear.

#5 – Ventilate your tent

Although this tip might seem counterintuitive, it’s actually one of the best ways to ensure a warm night. Your body and breath can result in condensation on the tent walls. Your tent becomes damp as does your equipment including your sleeping bag.

Dampness results in chilliness.

As we all know, damp air can feel colder than it is. That’s the main reason why you need to ventilate your tent for a warmer night. Having dry air in the tent will keep your nose warm and your equipment dry. As a result, you will have a more comfortable and warm night. It’s a great way to stay warm in a tent.

#6 – Use insulation from the ground

If you are an experienced camper, you will already know the difference that an air mat can make. Make sure to always bring it with you as it creates a layer of warm air between you and the cold ground. A thicker mat with a reflective coating will be best for cold camping nights. Another way to stay warm in your tent is to create a layer of leaves and branches underneath your tent. This will provide an extra air layer to keep you warm and toasty. It will also prevent the build-up of excess moisture on your tent’s floor.

#7 – Wear warm headgear and socks

Another obvious tip that is worth repeating. Don’t forget to pack the warmest and thickest socks and hat for your night’s rest. Wearing headgear and protecting your feet from cold can make all the difference. You can lose a considerable amount of heat through your head and feet. Furthermore, wearing a hat can prevent you from pulling your head in the sleeping bag. Breathing in the sleeping bag creates extra moisture that can cause you to feel cold. As for the feet, it is often the first thing that gets cold. So wearing a nice pair of wooly socks will help you to retain your own heat much better.

#8 – Wear the right sleepwear

Although it might seem tempting to crawl into your sleeping bag without changing your clothes, it can do more harm than good. Tight clothing can restrict your blood flow, messing with your body’s ability to keep warm. Furthermore, a breathable and soft pajama or cotton thermal gear will make you more comfortable and prevent moisture from creeping in. Besides, having a clean set of sleeping clothes can help you to feel more comfortable and help you to get asleep faster.

#9 – Use mylar blanket

This is another trick that can go a long way in keeping you warm in winter camping. Mylar or space blankets as they get called are suitable for regular use and for emergencies. Their price is a great advantage as it is a cheap way to provide insulation for your tent. You can use the blankets on the floor of your tent and attach them to the sides of it. Or you can wrap yourself in the blanket to retain your own heat. They reflect up to 90% of your body’s heat so it is a great way to keep warm. Moreover, they are waterproof and windproof.

#10 – Warm up before bed

Some aerobic activity before bedtime will get your blood flowing to keep you warm. Getting warm before bed will ensure that you don’t get cold right away. Do some jumping jacks, burpees, or squat exercises. To warm up inside your sleeping bag, you can do some crunches. This way you won’t even have to get out of the sleeping bag.

#11 – Ensure enough calories

Staying warm means burning through calories. Therefore, make sure to eat proper meals throughout the day. Higher calory input will result in more efficient heat production. You can also eat a small meal before going to bed. It will keep your stomach warm during the night, ensuring that your core doesn’t get cold.

# 12 – Hydrate during the day

Another thing to ensure efficient body temperature regulation is hydration. A dehydrated body can’t work as efficiently. Furthermore, stop drinking before bedtime. This way you won’t have to get out of bed to urinate. If you absolutely must do it, consider using a container inside a tent so you don’t have to get cold by getting outside your tent.

Conclusion

There are many ways to keep you warm on a cold camping night. These are some of the best ones that I have tried myself. Doing that extra step can make all the difference in keeping you warm. Make sure to pack warm clothes and the necessary supplies to always stay warm. I hope that my advice has helped you to prepare for your own cold camping. Let me know in the comment section below if you have tried any other ways of keeping warm.

Heated gear is a relatively new trend that has gained its popularity across multiple industries. Although it comes in various shapes and purposes, we will mainly discuss heated garments such as heated gloves, socks, vests, jackets, and many more. So how do they work? What’s behind the technology and how safe is it? We will cover these and many more questions that you might have regarding heated gear.

Heated garments will keep you warm during cold-weather activities. That might be skiing, motorcycle riding, trekking, winter biking, snowmobiling, fishing, and others. Apart from that heated gear is great for outdoor workers that struggle with stiff hands or cold in general. Without a doubt, heated gear generates heat to keep you warm regardless of circumstances.

How to choose heated gear (heated gloves, socks, vests, etc.)

There are several things you should consider when choosing your heated gear. Your budget, heat source, battery life, material, fit, and other features that might be specific to the type of heated gear you are looking for. First and foremost you should consider the heat source of the heated garment. This is crucial as it impacts the price, materials, usability, and materials used. To understand various heating options, let’s explore how heated gear works.

How does heated gear work?

Heated gear can generate heat through various technologies. The most common type of heated gear is powered by an electric current supplied by a power bank.

Electrically heated gear

Electrically heated gear is the most popular type on the market. And there is a good reason for that. It is rechargeable, reliable, and very warm. Furthermore, most electric heated garments such as heated gloves allow you to choose from several heating modes.

The working principle of such gear is very simple. There are thin wires built into the garment that generate heat. When a low electric charge passes through the wires, they heat up. A battery connected to the garment supplies the necessary electrical energy. Therefore, you get a steady supply of pleasant heat to your body.

The battery that comes with such gear should be connected to the gear when you use it. Usually, there is a special pocket designed to fit the battery. Although at first, this might seem inconvenient, the battery is not as bulky as you might think.

Some heated gear that is meant for use on a motorcycle is powered directly by the motorcycle’s battery. In this case, you can connect the garment to the battery with the provided wire. This allows an endless power supply for as long as you like.

Chemically heated gear

Chemically heated gear has special pockets for single-use warmers. These warmers provide heat through the chemicals in them. A traditional disposable warmer contains iron, water, cellulose, activated carbon, vermiculite, and salt. When this mix of chemicals is exposed to oxygen, a reaction occurs. The most popular chemically heated warmers are HotHands warmers.

Some such warmers start heating up when they are twisted or pulled. It serves as a triggering action to start the chemical reaction in the warmers. This reaction creates a pleasant amount of heat for several hours. Even so, it doesn’t provide the same amount of heat that electrically heated garments do. In addition to that, they are not environmentally friendly. Due to their nature, you must replace each warmer after every use.

Heated gear with stored heat packs

This type of heated gear is somewhat similar to chemically heated garments. They use special gel pouches that store heat. Before going outside, you must preheat the pouch in a microwave. The gel-filled pouch will store heat for about 30 minutes to 2 hours. This depends on the size of the gel pocket as well as on outside conditions such as insulation and wind.

Which type of heat source is better?

Each of us has their preferences. Therefore, there is no single answer to this question. However, in our experience, chemically heated clothes such as gloves don’t distribute heat as evenly as electrically heated gear. Furthermore, they ensure a relatively small area of heat. In addition to that, you can’t control the level of heat.

Given all of the reasons listed above, our favorite heated gear is electrically heated gear. It provides more options and more of the heating surface.

Electrically heated gear – all you need to know

The first thing that most people ask is about the safety of electrically heated gear. Like all electrical items, heated garments must pass safety tests. The heating coils inside the garments are well insulated and protected by a waterproof membrane to keep you safe. Therefore, all electrical connections and wires in the garments are safe. Your skin will never come in direct contact with the wires.

What about the battery?

Another hot topic is the battery. All electrically heated gear gets its power from external batteries. Most commonly, there is a separate rechargeable battery supplied with the garment. The garment is connected to the battery, thus ensuring heat supply. You can insert it in a special pocket in the garment and leave it be.

You can recharge it when the battery is empty. Depending on the size of the battery and heat setting, it can last for about one and a half to six hours. You will find that most heated clothing comes with 3 Volt, 5 Volt of 7 Volt batteries. They are the easiest to use and provide a decent heating time. You can always opt for the second set of batteries. In this way, you can prolong the heating time by replacing the drained battery.

Also consider that when using heated gear for intense activities such as skiing on working, you probably won’t need the highest heat setting. You might even have to turn them off after your body is warmed up.

In case you are looking for a longer heating time, you can buy more powerful batteries such as 3000 mAh rechargeable batteries for heated garments. However, ensure that the connection fits your garment. 

Now, let’s talk about the cost of electrically heated gear. 

How much will it cost?

When it comes to heated gear, you will get what you pay for. If you are looking for well made, long-lasting, and comfortable heated gear, you will have to pay a higher price. The higher the price, the higher the quality and performance. The good news is that you can still buy heated gear whatever your budget. It should be noted that budget heated gear usually has a shorter life and could let you down when you need it most.

That being said, most heated gear can be categorized into three price categories. Let’s see the most common differences in three price ranges.

Price range $180 and above

This is the best quality heated gear on the market. Most of the offered gear at this price level has very high performance and great features. Moreover, it has heating systems that are designed to last. It is well-fitted, comfortable, and has the highest battery performance.

Most garments within this price range have temperature controllers that enable you to choose different heat settings. This is the most suitable choice for those who are looking for high-end heated gear that will last.

Price range $100 – $180

At this price range, you can still get pretty decent heated gear. It is also the most common price range for electrically heated garments. Therefore, you will find the most options to choose from. Most of the gear in this price range will have several heat settings to choose from.

Price range $50 – $100

You will be able to find some good heated gear within this price range. However, it depends on the type of heated gear you are looking for. Most of the garments in this price range have decent functionality and performance. However, be aware that cheaper garments can disappoint you in their performance. If you are on a budget and are looking for the best performance, you might want to consider getting something of better quality.

Materials and fit

The material choice for each garment will be different. It also depends on the cost and purpose of the gear. If you will use that gear in snow or wind, you should look for a waterproof or wind-resistant shell.

Most heated gear is made either from synthetic materials or leather. Wool, fleece, and leather are common materials for various heated clothing. Keep in mind that leather clothing is more sturdy and tear-resistant. If you are choosing that geat for use on a motorcycle, you should opt for the best quality gear that is made from leather and has extra protection.

In general, most heated clothing manufacturers provide size charts. This makes it easier to choose heated gear that fits you best. You can measure your size with a fabric measuring tape. However, not all garments come in different sizes. Therefore, check if the gear you are looking at comes in one size fits all or has multiple sizes.

Other features

Depending on the type of heated gear you are looking for, there might be different features. The most common feature that is very useful is an integrated heat controller. It allows you to choose the desired heat level. Usually, you can choose from three heat settings. Alternatively, some garments have heat control that allows you to set individual temperatures in the provided range.

How to care for heated gear?

Caring for heated gear can prolong its life. Most heated gear comes with care instructions with detailed information. However, there are some general tips that you can follow to keep your gear in the best shape.

When it comes to heated gear made from leather, make sure to condition and waterproof it right away. This will ensure the best protection and performance. Condition the garment every two to three months during moderate use.

If you need to wash the garment, use a soft cloth with a mild detergent to wipe off any dirt or sweat. In case you need a more thorough wash, you can hand wash the garment with a mild detergent. Always remember to remove any heating packets or batteries.

Conclusion

We hope that our guide helped you to pick heated gear for your needs. All of the above-mentioned tips and suggestions are the conclusion of the personal use of heated gear. We have found that heated gear can be a great solution for a more pleasant experience of winter activities. Despite the surrounding questions and doubt, heated gear provides a great experience.