Modern camping supplies allow tourist to adapt to different weather surprises. We will talk about the basic rules for choosing tents, sleeping bags, camping mats, as well as other not-so-obvious equipment that will surely help you not to freeze and not catch a cold while camping.

Tip #1: Prioritize Double-Layer Tents

The classic idea of camping in nature is linked with outdated canvas tents. They were single-layer, they absorb moisture well, increasing in weight and volume, and, in general, had little to do with a comfortable stay.

Today, single-layer tents are also not uncommon, although they are made of more modern materials. Firstly, such models are offered in the low-cost segment: they are "regulars" of popular supermarket chains. Secondly, due to their lightness and compactness, single-layer tents are of interest to light-walkers who seek to minimize the weight of their equipment. Typically, such Ultralight models are made of membrane materials, such as Gore-Tex or Toddex, and are not inferior in price, if not superior to two-layer counterparts.

Classics of camping tents of the past.

But any single-layer tents have one serious problem – condensation. On a cold night, it is almost impossible to avoid it, and because of it you can freeze.

Why is that? Let's take a look at it briefly. If you sleep in the off-season in a single-layer tent, then:

  • all doors and windows are usually closed to protect from wind and cold;
  • warm air exhaled by tourists rises;
  • upon contact with the cold walls of a single-layer tent, dew drops appear (that is, condensation occurs);
  • then 2 scenarios are possible. Or the fabric absorbs moisture, and in the morning the weight of the tent increases greatly (typical for a canvas tent). Or dew from the inner walls falls on the sleeping bag, equipment and it all gets wet (typical for single-layer nylon and polyester tents).

Wet ground and/or clothing contributes to the formation of even more condensation inside a single-layer tent.

In conditions of increased humidity, cold is tolerated worse. And getting the sleeping bag and other equipment wet is generally one of the main taboos for a tourist.

A high-quality two-layer tent reduces the chances of freezing because condensate is more efficiently removed. So, between the inner and outer tent there is an air partition, intended for reducing the temperature difference between the sleeping area and the external environment. Therefore, there will definitely be less condensation.

Tents with inner tent

Plus, the material of the inner tent is a breathable fabric. As a result, warm air from the sleeping area will come out, and condensate will appear on the outer wall. To avoid any problems because of this, you need a two-layer tent that meets the following criteria:

  • properly tailored;
  • provides a well-thought-out ventilation system ( with windows);
  • correctly stretched so that the outer tent and the inner tent do not touch;
  • the inner tent has silicone or polyurethane impregnation (protection from moisture absorption).

In this case, the dew drops accumulated on the outer wall will simply slide to the ground, which means they will not interfere with sleep and will not wet things. As a result, the likelihood of freezing is significantly reduced.

How condensation is formed and removed in a two-layer tent.

Tip #2: Choose a sleeping bag according to the weather

The first basis for a warm and comfortable sleep on a camping trip is a sleeping bag. It must be selected for specific weather conditions. See what temperatures are expected at night in the area where you will be camping. It is better to make an adjustment for 5-7 ℃, taking into account weather surprises: they are not uncommon in the off-season and in the summer in mountainous areas.

Let's say the minimum nighttime temperature is forecast to be +2 °C, so it is best to take a sleeping bag that is designed for -5 °C or even lower temperatures.

Now let's talk about the choice itself. For most modern sleeping bags, three temperature ratings are offered: comfort, comfort limit and extreme (according to EN13537).

An example of designating temperature ranges for a sleeping bag.

You definitely don't need to focus on the extreme temperature. This is the value at which you will avoid hypothermia and the risk of death. But there will be no normal sleep and good rest with it either.

Cold-resistant men with experience in hiking in difficult weather conditions should look at the comfort limit. Everyone else should be guided by comfort temperature, namely women (they are physiologically more likely to freeze during sleep), novice hikers and people prone to freezing. For all of them take a sleeping bag "with a reserve of temperature" is not even desirable, but mandatory.

If the model is not certified to EN13537, the values for comfort, comfort limit and extreme temperature may not be available. Ideally, it is better to refuse such products. The exception is proven manufacturers who conduct their own tests, and you trust them.

Mummy sleeping bags

A few more tips for choosing sleeping bags:

  • mummy sleeping bags retain heat better, but they are not as comfortable (cozy) to sleep in than in blanket bags;
  • you don't have to rely solely on seasonality. Two winter sleeping bags can be very different in comfort temperature;
  • many brands produce special sleeping bags for children and women. They are developed taking into account the anatomical features of these categories of tourists;
  • if you already have a sleeping bag, but it is not designed for cold weather, then you can enhance the thermal insulation properties of the existing model through special liners. Please note that this should not be a light silk lining, but a solution made of fleece or fairly dense synthetics;
  • for a family or a couple, it is worth buying sleeping bags with the ability to zip. Such a pair will provide a gain in terms of thermal insulation: it is always warmer to sleep together than alone. And if you don’t go camping without your soulmate at all, then you can consider buying a 2 person sleeping bag.
A mummy sleeping bag allows you to reduce heat loss better than a blanket sleeping bag.

Tip #3: Be sure to have a good mat under your sleeping bag

By itself, a sleeping bag does not guarantee undisturbed sleep in the cold. We need a so-called sleeping system, consisting of a bag and a mat under it.

Sleeping on cold ground (or even more – on concrete) is an extremely bad idea. Yes, the largest layer of insulation is provided at the bottom of the advanced sleeping bags. But it inevitably get crumpled during sleep, causing heat loss. And it is from below (from the ground) that the main cold comes, which in the morning will definitely make itself felt if you do not have a high-quality tourist mat.

The sleeping system during a camping trip is formed by a tandem of a sleeping bag and a mat.

Modern models have their own “comfort temperature” indicator. We are talking about the R-Value coefficient of thermal conductivity. The higher this value, the better this mat is prepared for cold temperatures.

For summer, a coefficient of 2 is definitely enough. When frosts are possible, it is recommended to take a mat with an indicator of at least 3. For winter, you should focus on a value of 4 - 5 or even higher.

This indicator, usually, is specific to inflatable or self-inflating mats, but not low-cost mats. Such thin "foams", like ordinary non-insulated air mattresses, do not have sufficient thermal insulation, therefore they do not guarantee a warm sleep when sleeping on snowy or frozen ground.

By the way, the R-Value indicators of several mats can be summed up, so if there is a thin model with a coefficient of 1 and an inflatable model with a coefficient of 2.5, then when they are used together, a value of 3.5 acceptable for moderate negative temperatures will be obtained.

Correspondence between the R-Value and the season.

The so-called rescue blankets or thermal blankets provide additional protection from contact with cold ground. They can also be at least some alternative to the mat that is missing from your equipment.

Self-inflating travel mats

Tip #4: Warm and well waterproof clothing is required.

There is a lot of debate about how to sleep on a camping trip – with or without clothes. The use of thermal underwear is definitely recommended. It will definitely be more comfortable with it, besides, it is with this in mind that the temperatures for sleeping bags according to the EN13537 standard are indicated.

Additional clothing may also be needed, although it does not mean that you need to put it all on yourself. It is believed that in this way the sleeping bag can perform its heat-insulating functions worse. But, for example, if your feet are cold, then insulated socks will be usefull, and if your ears and head are cold, a hat will come to the rescue during sleep.

By the way, even in extreme cold, you should not try to put on all the available clothes, it is better to use it a little differently. For example, a fleece jacket can be placed between a sleeping bag and a mat in the lower back region, and a down jacket can be thrown over a sleeping bag. And a supply of things will come in handy if something is very dirty or wet.

Important! It is difficult to freeze while walking along the route with a full hiking backpack. But if you get your clothes wet (get caught in heavy rain) or even more so shoes, then the chances increase significantly. And you definitely should not go to bed in wet clothes, besause the likelihood of freezing increases even more.

There is more rainfall in the off-season, so clothes (and shoes) should not only be warm, but also protected from water. Hikers are advised to follow a three-layer concept:

  • the first layer is thermal underwear;
  • the second is a heater (fleece jacket or other warm clothes);
  • the third layer is products protecting from wind and precipitation. These include special pants (for example, tactical pants), a membrane jacket and/or other outerwear with water protection or an additional poncho raincoat.
A poncho raincoat protects not only clothes, but also a backpack, and with a long length, you can do without special pants.

Waterproof boots – tactical or specialized hiking boots – are the best choice. It is important that they fit perfectly in size. This will increase overall comfort and reduce the chance of feet freezing.

Tip number 5: Take care not only of thermal insulation, but also of heat sources

A tent protected from wind and condensation, a warm sleeping bag and a mat, good clothes – this is the equipment that is designed to reduce heat loss during the night. But even effective thermal insulation will not protect from a decrease in temperature in the sleeping area, which means that the risks of freezing remain.

In this regard, it is necessary to think not only about equipment for isolation, but also about those things that will act as sources of heat away from civilization. Their current range is quite large and includes the following:

  • travel heaters. In fact, this is a kind of gas burners, which does not provide the strong heating necessary for cooking, but dissipates heat, for which they are equipped with special reflectors. Among such heaters, there are often models without an open flame, which increase the safety of operation and can be used near flammable objects;
  • catalytic heaters. This is a subspecies of tourist heaters, which are intended for heating hands or feet, can be used to dry shoes, etc. They run on petrol, are comparable in size to a lighter, and do not provide an open flame. Such heaters from the Zippo and Kovea brands are quite popular, including the model VKH-PW06L ;
  • camp stove-heaters. These are universal appliances that in a horizontal position will allow you to cook food, and in a vertical position–- to heat a small area;
  • salt heaters. These are compact products for warming the limbs. They can be placed in a sleeping bag, shoes, gloves. Inside such a heating pad is a supersaturated saline solution and a trigger stick. If you bend this stick, then a chemical reaction will start, causing the transition of the liquid to a solid state. This process is quite safe, but is accompanied by the release of heat (heating up to approximately 50 °C). To reuse, wrap the heating pad in a cloth and place it in boiling water for a few minutes: this will cause the salt crystals to dissolve.
Camping heaters

You can also make a heating pad with your own hands, using a plastic flask or bottle. Heat water on a fire or a gas burner, without bringing the liquid to a boil or letting the boiling water cool slightly, then pour it into a container. Put the bottle in a sleeping bag: in the area of \u200b\u200bthe legs or torso. Within 3-4 hours, such a heating pad will give off heat. After it is better to get it out: cooled water can speed up your cooling.

A catalytic heating pad is a small travel hand warmer.

But it is not worth using a standard gas burner to heat the sleeping area, or even more so a fire. You can get burned (poisoned by combustion products) in the absence of ventilation. Given that in extreme cold, ventilation will quickly “pull out” all the heat. Plus, any negligence will lead to ignition of the tent (burns out completely faster than in a minute), a sleeping bag, and other equipment.

Tip #6: To reduce the risk of freezing, protect yourself from getting wet

As already mentioned, excess humidity and water are the main enemies of a tourist. So, most of even the most advansed heaters lose their properties when wet, which means that the chances of freezing increase significantly.

Accordingly, in order not to catch a cold on a camping trip, it is worth protecting yourself from getting wet as much as possible. About a two-layer tent, clothes and shoes protected from water have already been said. Here are some other suggestions:

  • complement good shoes with waterproof hiking gaiters;
  • if you need to wade a river, it is better to take off your shoes and socks, and then first wipe your feet dry;
  • use jackets with hoods so that when it rains, water does not get behind the collar;
  • choose backpacks with raincoats or buy them separately: this way the contents will not get wet;
  • the most important equipment, for example, a sleeping bag it is better to hide in a special hermetic bag or a plastic bag;
  • take advantage of the drying options. In nature, the most suitable option is the sun, and in other conditions a fire will help;
  • think over the little things. These include a high-quality thermos or other container for water. An unexpected leak can cause a backpack to flood. Also, be extremely careful while drinking tea in the sleeping area.
Hiking gaiters are useful during and after rainfall.

Bonus Tip #7: What to do if it suddenly becomes cold?

The first rule – try to avoid force majeure, in which you find yourself on a frosty night with a summer sleeping bag and a thin mat. To do this, plan a trip and study the weather conditions on the upcoming route. Look at the night temperatures, double-check the information on different sites, take into account not only the season, but also the height, because in the mountains snow and cold can come as early as September, or even summer.

If the weather still takes you by surprise during the camping trip, then follow these recommendations:

  • don't go to bed if you're chilly. Warm up near the fire, do some physical exercises to get a little warm, have a hot drink and immediately lie down in a sleeping bag;
  • eat a nice meal before bed, preferably hot food. Such a meal will provide the body with energy, and hence heat. A good option is chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, warm porridge or soup;
  • do not leave the tent at night unnecessarily. Each opening of the door, especially if the entrance is located against the wind, significantly reduces the temperature in the sleeping area. When you still had to go out, remember that you first need to warm up before you go to bed;
  • find a replacement for a warm mat. Everything that is at hand will do: you can put a seat under your lower back, existing clothes, even an empty backpack. It is also worth considering sleeping in a hammock, if available. So you can not contact the cold ground;
  • insulate not only the legs, but also the head. Fasten the collar and tighten the hood of the sleeping bag (if any), use a hat, etc.;
  • use improvised means, including the mentioned heating bottle.
An effective way to reduce heat loss from below.

The most effective way to protect yourself from the cold on a camping trip is to thoroughly approach the choice of camping equipment. If there is a sleeping bag and a mat appropriate for the weather, a practical 2-layer tent, warm and waterproof clothing, then some improvised means of warming are unlikely to be needed.