Pro tip: test out your winter gear and techniques while car camping before hiking into the back country over the winter. If it isn't working, you don't want to be miles from your vehicle. If it really fails, you can always drive out and come back for another try. Once you've slept a good night car camping, then you're ready for a short backpack test. After a few nights with successful results, go further, but keep an eye on the weather reports. A system that works well in calm conditions can fail miserably in a winter storm, especially at elevation.

@franny5295

2 жыл бұрын

I legit took my first camping trip in my livingroom with the heat off. I learned I needed an inflatable pad...

@BBQDad463

2 жыл бұрын

This is superb advice. It could save your life.

@sdemosi

2 жыл бұрын

I went from garden, to woods near our house, to car camping to wilderness. It's dangerous to try wilderness camping without knowing everything works. Another tip is don't get too close to the campfire with your lightweight down jacket. Sparks destroy down jackets 🤦‍♂️

@simongloutnez589

2 жыл бұрын

Yep pratice in safe zones is indeed a pro tip, my friend and I lived in an appartment, we would simply go to the nearest park in town : a litteral town park! And camp there to test our gear this way we were 10 minutes from home.

@TheCrusher2468

2 жыл бұрын

This is how I test all my gear, dip your toes in, learn about your gear then you can trust it

I spent a crazy amount of time “camping” in the army including extreme cold weather training. I can tell you with no reservations that nothing beats laying in my warm bed in the winter 😂

@snakemanmike

Жыл бұрын

This retired Army master sgt says AMEN, As I sit here watching this in my mountain cabin, it is 5 degrees Fahrenheit outside. I think how nice that I now can sleep in my warm bed tonight because I no longer have to go to the field in Ft. Wainwright.

@jamesjameson4566

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comment

@kaibhtoosexy

9 ай бұрын

i’d really love some advice or tips since is my first winter cycle in fort drum 🙏🏽 Thank you both as well for doing your time embracing the suck to lead the way for joes like me lol

@fredericklockard3854

9 ай бұрын

@@kaibhtoosexy climitze, wear loose layers, follow your training. Good luck!

Great tips, thank you. A few more. 1) Don't breathe in your sleeping bag. (Causes moisture and can significantly reduce the insulating properties of your sleeping bag) 2) Don't take Advil before bed. (Ibuprofen reduces body temperature) 3) Empty your bladder no matter how tired you are. (So you don't have to get up and lose the heat in your bag and get cold) 4) Eat a chocolate bar before falling asleep or if you wake up cold. (raises your body temperature plus chocolate is awesome) Love the boots, may get a pair.

@seanieizcool

2 жыл бұрын

Can you explain the reasons behind these? Thanks

@ChristianNewsandInterviews

Жыл бұрын

Don't breathe?

@SQWIB

Жыл бұрын

@@ChristianNewsandInterviews LOL, Yes you can breathe, just not into your sleeping bag.

@ranak9534

Жыл бұрын

He is saying don't cover your face fully inside the sleeping bag. You should leave the sleeping bag open from neck up. Then you breathe outside and avoid condensation inside the bag. And then should use separate head and neck covering such as beanie and/or face mask / balaclava / neck gaiter.

@julianwaugh8221

Жыл бұрын

If you need to pee , do it into a plastic bottle milk jug type of thing . The urine is warm and can be used as a hot water bottle for a few minutes ,my feet were frozen and no matter how much I rubbed them they were cold an numb the pee took the freeze off.

Extra tip for the Nalgene bottle with hot water: put your socks for the next day over the bottle. Keeps your socks toasty warm and dry for morning. Great video!

I usually put the water bottle inside a heavy wool sock as the water takes longer to cool off. Mine has to be put near the small of my back but if you're freezing it's better to stick it between your thighs instead of in your armpit. Your femoral (thigh) arteries are bigger & flow a lot more blood, so it'll warm you up faster. If my feet get cold in the middle of the night I move the water bottle down to the foot box.

@DiabloOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

very good :) Me, what I use is a small 500ml hot water bottle between my legs and a big 1L bottle in a wool sock at my feet.

@ElohiSilverEarthVentures

4 ай бұрын

Wool is honestly the key to any winter or rainy snow wet outdoor anything. I buy up any and all wool at thrift stores to sew into wtv I need.b

Good cold weather camping video Here's an added tip on the heat pads: drop them in a sealed ziplock bag to use them later. The heat pads operate through the catalytic process of iron oxide coming in contact with the oxygen in moist air, cut off the air supply and the catalytic action stops until the sealed bag is opened again. EDIT: This sealed bag tip works until the catalytic action with the iron oxide is used up.

@darodes

2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant…… just brilliant

@TrekkingPackingGear

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! It is so logical but never thought about it

@WhoobieD

2 жыл бұрын

You just won the internet for the day!! Thank you

@didiermeister98

2 жыл бұрын

Today’s important message is…!!!

@remodelorsatherm8274

2 жыл бұрын

Jal

Start with a good campsite. Some sites are naturally warmer than others as they are less windy and are not where a cold sink would be. Cooler air sinks and warmer air rises. Have a decent tent that keeps the weather out AND ventilates. Have a sleeping bag and pad that are suited for cold weather. Being warm when you get into your bed is a great idea. just dont overexert and start to sweat. Being dry is a huge part of being warm. Preheating the bag with a warm water bottle can be useful. Dont wear any tight fitting clothes. Socks are a major culprit here. Tight socks= cold feet. Have a good meal and be well hydrated before hitting the sack. Even if you dont think you have to.....go to the bathroom before going to bed. Getting up in the middle of the night to pee interrupt your sleep and can get you cold. A dedicated pee bottle comes in handy. You dont even have to leave your bag and since urine is warm you can put the bottle down by your feet to keep them warm the rest of the night. If you find you are getting too warm you need to adjust your bag and/or take something off. Once you start to sweat you will eventually get cold. Dont cover your mouth with your bag. If you do you will be putting a lot of water in your bag and a wet bag does not insulate as well as a dry bag. Another option is pairing up. Two bodies together will be warmer than sleeping singly.This takes some prior planning to have a compatible system, ie bags that zip together. Lastly, think about the next morning. You can be warm all night but putting your feet in frozen boots is a horrible experience and can also be dangerous. Just throwing them under your bag near your feet can suffice. Keep at least a thin pair of gloves nearby and handy. Otherwise you will learn the hard lessons of contact frostbite if/when your bare hands touch anything metal. One last thing about sleeping bags. it is the loft that insulates. If you drape something heavy on top of the bag you will lose your loft and end up being colder.

@robertmills413

2 жыл бұрын

Cheers, great tips👍

@JoaquinParker

Жыл бұрын

So good. Thanks for taking the time!

@cristibaluta

Жыл бұрын

This one with tight clothes is so good, it is not necessarily because they don't keep you warmer than wearing nothing, but they are so uncomfortable that will ruin your sleep anyway.

As someone who has been through multiple survival courses...be VERY careful if you're going to use the hot water in the nalgene bottle trick. If it comes open and you get soaked and don't have the means to dry yourself, depending on how cold it is and how far you are from your vehicle, you could cause a cold related injury or even die of hypothermia by being soaking wet in the cold.

I’m not a camper but I am a hunter and a few years back I came across a fluorescent orange/black reversible neoprene hunting vest and it was one of the best purchases I’ve ever made in my life. I get cold very quickly sitting in the treestand and since I bought that I stay warmer a lot longer while sitting in the stand. When archery hunting I wear it under my coat and over my under layers and it works fantastic for holding in my body heat. I think one of those would work great for camping.

I broke down in my big truck in 15F for 8 to 9 hours this past winter. I had one little warmer blanket that I put under me, and doubled up every heavy blanket I had. Still felt cold. Then I put my dog under the blankets with me and I was fairly toasty.😊

@wtk6069

Жыл бұрын

Dogs, with their average body temps of 102 degrees Fahrenheit, make great bed warmers. lol

@thewestonfront

Жыл бұрын

@@wtk6069 Wives work well too. I zip my bag to hers and she acts like a storage radiator!

@dominicbenecasa7893

Жыл бұрын

My Brittany is always a source of warmth for me!😂😂😂

@wisconsinfarmer4742

Жыл бұрын

a three dog night.

@RRaucina

Жыл бұрын

Always keep a bunch of packing blankets in your car, all sorts of uses.

A piece of advice I have is be careful around a fire in the winter. If you’re by the fire getting nice and toasty, and sleepy, your body is counting on that heat as it relaxes. Then, if you leave suddenly to get into your cold tent and sleeping bag, it’s a hard transition for your body to turn on the juice and start heating itself again, especially if your sleeping bag wasn’t out already or you take a minute to empty your bladder. I’ve gone from comfortable by the fire to shivering uncontrollably in a matter of minutes. Make sure you’re all bundled up again even just for the trip from the fire to the tent.

Don't unroll your sleeping bag until you're ready to use it because it absorbs moisture and compromises the R value. Also, fluff it up before you use it to get the most out of it's insulation. Thanks for the great video.

I have never considered putting hot water in my Nalgene bottle to keep my bag warm. That is honestly genius. I am going to have to remember this one when I am looking for a little more warmth.

Good winter camping video Dan. I'm currently hiking across America on the American Discovery Trail and I have learned alot about staying warm and winter camping. The 750 miles I hiked of Colorado was a massive learning experience. And wearing trail runners in feet of snow day after day was the biggest learning experience! You nailed that perfect

No idea, why the KZread algorithm took so long to help me find you, but glad it figured it out. From one outdoor Wisconsin boy to another, love your content. Stay safe out there and welcome to the new year. Thanks for the tips on winter camping. My goal is to do more this winter.

@DanBecker

2 жыл бұрын

🔥🙌😎

Another one that helps add a little bit of protection is place your waterproof backpack cover over the footbox of your sleeping bag. Good stuff Danno!

When I went camping with the Swedish Scouts as a kid during winter, we would just use pine branches. They stack flat, you put a tarp over the pine branches, then set up your tent on it. Excellent insulation :D

@rdln4313

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip !!

@wisconsinfarmer4742

Жыл бұрын

I have done that. it works.

In Britain we use special rubber containers called... hot water bottles. Leak proof, flexible, last for hours.

@marileehorn9554

2 жыл бұрын

We actually have these in USA also, just 'OLD FASHIONED' I purchased some for me and my grand kids for our first try of early Spring (April) camping trip.

@capturehishonor9292

Жыл бұрын

While the Royal Marines slept in below ground foxholes, freezing each night in the water, we found an old barn full of hay and slept warm through each night. We won the exercise because they were so cold, they could barely walk to the top of the mountain, and we caught them. We did hear some bleating in the night (sheep?). Though no Marine would own up to it.

@InsertHandleHere968

9 ай бұрын

Excess weight. Like sure I’d love to bring all sorts of things but the weight adds up. Using your bottle for multiple uses is wiser than bringing a separate hot water bottle

Great video. One cool thing I recommend is opening your jacket when you're in front of the fire. You will warm up a lot quicker. Just like your jacket locks in the body heat, it will also lock out the heat from the fire. P.S. I love that Rab jacket I have the Positron. I've worn it on a bunch of winter adventures.

What's nice about this video is the positive attitude you impart to people who may be new to this experience. My own winter camping experience began at 11 years old as a young boy scout using only a summer rated cotton sleeping bag and waking up to frost on the INSIDE of that sleeping bag due to the moisture from respiration. Later on, as a guide, traveler, and Lewis and Clark reenactor, I picked up some techniques (hacks) which I'd like to share: One of the most important, in my opinion - Take an empty, wide mouth plastic Gatorade type bottle into your sleeping bag with you at bed time. One of the worst things is to get up in the middle of the night to go take a leak and losing all of your heat. Wiz into the bottle, screw the lid on tightly and put it down near your feet where they'll feel the warmth (my lady friend uses a device which works too). Another trick is to heat stones on the fire pit. Put ones that are glowing red in a cast iron skillet and put the skillet on top of a flat piece of wood if your in a tent with a built in floor so it won't melt through. As the stones begin to cool, (I prefer smooth basalt stones) take one with your leather glove, wrap it in a hand towel and put it inside your sleeping bag. Mmm, toasty! Hot water in a bottle works well but I prefer the rubber hot water bags as they can then be used as a heated pillow. Keep some hot water in a metal container in with the hot stones as a back up.

I love winter camping. My best two items are a cheap Walmart synthetic comforter for a twin bed and an Army poncho liner. The comforter will compress really tight in a stuff sack and covers my bag with about three to four inches of loft. The poncho liner is great to wrap around your upper body and head when its really cold. Great video! good tips!

I learned the hard way as a Boy Scout during winter camping in Texas (no snow, but sub-freezing temps at night) of the importance of SOME kind of barrier under my sleeping bag. The first night I was miserable because the effectively infinite heat sink of the Earth was sucking the heat out of my body. The second night, I slept on cedar boughs, and was MUCH more comfortable.

I have found that stuffing my puffy jacket inside my sleeping bag with me makes a HUGE difference in comparison to just draping it over the top of the bag. I felt virtually no difference laying it over the top of my bag. I was nice and toasty once I pulled it inside my bag. For the record; I'm using a 0 degree 800 fill goose down sleeping bag, and a 650 fill down puffy jacket.

@gaz0615

2 жыл бұрын

That's a good tip. Thanks

@m.k.7199

2 жыл бұрын

You should always wear your base layer in your bag. If it gets really cold, then put on your insulation layer, and if needed, put on your puffy jacket (and pants if you have them). Also, wear a hat and thin gloves. Wool is best, but synthetic will also work. Good call on the down booties. I used to carry a pair of heavy wool socks for sleeping, now I have the booties.

@ferdonandebull

2 жыл бұрын

The reason it works better in the bag is it is taking up space in the bag you would normally have to heat up with body heat. Just about anything you put in the bag with you will improve the heating of the bag..

@donb6070

Жыл бұрын

@@ferdonandebull During winter mountain climbing trips we placed our down jackets inside our sleeping bags primarily so it would be warm when we put it on in the morning. Also kept our boot liners inside a stuff sack (prevent moisture inside the liners from infiltrating the sleeping bag) inside our bags so they remained warm, resulting in toasty warm feet after an early morning rising.

BoyScout below zero winter camping in Minnesota in the 60’s. Canvas tents set on a layer of straw, old style cloth winter sleeping bags. Remove boots, pants and hop in with clothes piled in so they weren’t too cold in the morning. Kept very warm and cozy. Worst part was getting up in the morning and dressing and lighting your fire.

Please do a review of the Nemo Tensor Alpine!!

@hopepeever4913

2 жыл бұрын

Yes!! I want to buy this pad also but no one’s done a proper winter camping review with it.

a good sleep system is so important! my boyfriend and i shared one 20° HG econ quilt this past xmas week, didnt have the budget for him to buy a quilt or bag. and with a couple fleece blankets (he'd brought as his sole insulation) to patch the drafty edges, as the straps wouldn't begin fit on our double wide 4.7R sleeping pad, we were surprisingly comfortable in the upper 20's. though we are short and lean and are already cuddly sleepers and i can see most people needing more space, we made it work. probably still buying him his own quilt or a couples quilt if i find one used.

I prefer cold weather camping, but mind you it is currently summer where i live and we had snow last week. I find it's easier to keep warm during the cooler months but very difficult to cool down in summer.

For sleeping in an unheated tent in freezing cold weather, I like to heat up stones in the campfire, then put them into a large metal ammo box. That will literally warm an average two man tent to 65 degrees for 4-8 hours, depending on the outside temp and the tent material. Canvas tents hold heat way better than polyester or nylon.

@willschmidt7311

10 ай бұрын

Where do you put the ammo box though? It doesn’t get too hot to ruin the floor of the tent?

@timhallas4275

10 ай бұрын

@@willschmidt7311 The metal box probably gets up to about 300 degrees. I have to wear thick gloves to carry it. My tent has no floor. The ground is my floor.

Good video! I love winter camping. Everyone should try it. However, I think your description was a little short on the tent though. Winter (aka 4 season tents) have solid material, not mesh, as the tent material. Typically, the fly extends to the ground, and has vents. Some even have snow skirts. Condensation is a problem in 4 season tents, so Dan's advice to keep the vents open holds true. However, unless you have a hot tent, a tent with a small titanium wood stove, you'll still have some condensation. Another way to increase the warmth rating of your sleep system and tent, and stay dry, is to use a breathable bivy sack. Don't use a "waterproof" bivy or you'll wake up wet. In the military, I slept in snow caves and under a poncho in the snow and was never cold. (Didn't want to get out of bed because it was so comfortable.) Now, I use a North Face Mountain 25 tent. 4 season tents make a big difference, but as you demonstrated a three season tent can be used in the winter/snow.

@simongloutnez589

2 жыл бұрын

Quinzhee aka snow caves, are the best.

I did my first winter camping practice in my own backyard. It was harder than I thought! Glad I wasn’t on some mountain trail for my first time out.

@TrekkingPackingGear

2 жыл бұрын

I think it is really important to test ypur gear step by step. I feel like you should never rely on the ratings given but rather test your gear to really find your personal limits.

@judeoliver5256

2 жыл бұрын

I'm doing the same!!

Good stuff DB! Thanks for the info.. I've camped in the Sequoias in California in the dead of winter.. It was so fun! we dug out a pit for a fire then added a shelf to sit on to keep warm. We started a fire on a backcountry lake to make a hole to go fishing. We had trout and rice for dinner. .Of course some booze to keep warmer. We had a 2 layer tent for 3 and put pine bows under our tent for insulation. Had winter rated air pads ( even tough we had to refill em before bed). It was fun ! been goin camping with these two bud buddies since Boy Scouts! I am 72 now and we are headed to Mono Hot Springs this next year! There is absolutely NOTHING better than being with lifelong friends camping for a reunion EVERY YEAR to catch up and regain and infuse the relationship! IT is wonderful Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Buddy! Can't wait for what you are bringing in the New Year!

Bushcraft is what I do late fall winter early spring I have two heavy tarps that are waterproof I line the inside with emergency blanket a small fire outside where I am sleeping toasty warm nice video thank you

Excellent video, I've been doing a hot water bottle for 40 years ,it never fails.

I ended up picking up a pair of keen boots before I left for my own trip. Cost 165 at bass pro. Things are awesome and are still going strong after 200 miles.

Bought my first Dan Becker-recommended product finally. The Flextailgear Tiny Pump. That thing is absolutely fantastic. About 3 oz., powerful, rechargeable, good battery life, and the light in it is a nice bonus. Good call, Dan.

@jeanettepugh6017

2 жыл бұрын

Santa just brought me one!

I just wore trail runners on the AT in VA, This weekend in the snow. They worked with seal skin socks with dirty girl gators. Smart water bottles does the same thing without the sports water bottle caps. As for the hand warmers, they work great with a pair of Darn tough socks with possum down socks as an over sock the wool and possum wool will keep your feet warm.

🔥 some wood in the area where you intend to install your tent, scrape it off and then have your tent put in a place. Pick some branches for insulation underneath your sleeping bag. Just my 2 cents

Better suggestion than the Nalgene: Use the metal thermos instead, with a nice drop of hot chocolate or tea in it, that you can slip inside a thermal sleeve; And you have a nice beverage when you wake up in the morning. But in terms of comfort, the regular hot water bottle will be a lot more comfortable for sleeping with. I’ve done an awful lot of winter camping, and the Nalgene bottle would be a very distant third place in my choice of things to take for keeping warm at night.

@RRaucina

Жыл бұрын

Better than Nalgene for heat is a 20 something bimbo in your bag. One can likely rent one for the cost of a few branded bottles.

Nice to see this video, just when I got home in the middle of the night from trying a night of wintercamping. 😂 Unfortunately my sleepingsystem was totally mailfunctioning during freezing temperatures. Sleepingpad with a surprisingly wrong (probably non existing ;-) r-value and a sleepingbag suddenly not being able to close the zipper. Rest of the tips were used but didn’t help enough. So packed everything up and drove home. Enjoy the campingtrips; they look fun!

Some important things were left out. Make sure that you air out your bag in the morning to get rid of the moisture built up in the night. If your feet are cold- put on a hat. Sleep with a hat on at night- you wont need the water bottle (in the winter, you lose 40% of your body heat through your head). Get a yellow nalgene to put in your bag at night. A midnight pee break is no fun outside, and the now somewhat filled bottle will warm your feet. Make sure that the bottle is yellow, because...... . Those hand warmers are nasty little things that produce a lot of trash. Three season tents are fine for winter camping. Use the snow to build a berm around the tent a foot or so high. This will reduce the air flow and held keep the tent warm. High calorie/ high carbohydrate foods are a must. Peanut butter, oats, pastas, honey- stay away from the sugar snacks as they make your body use water like crazy to break them down. Most importantly, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! You lose more water in the winter through respiration than anything else. Hydrated bodies stay warmer because the blood flows easily, keeping the flow to the extremities going rather than pulling it into the core.

@wallyevans4228

8 ай бұрын

Consider reviewing a Wiggys sleep bag, doesn’t absorb moisture and I’ve slept in a wet bag but in the morning my body heat dries it out

I hike in the snow with my trail runners. The trick is to wear a really good pair of waterproof, insulated socks. I use sealskinz cold weather socks, but that’s just what works for me

@toesockoutdoors3627

Жыл бұрын

@@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism waterproof “INSULATED “ socks

@toesockoutdoors3627

Жыл бұрын

Many companies make waterproof socks that are insulated for extreme cold weather

@toesockoutdoors3627

Жыл бұрын

@@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism just speaking from experience, how about you?

@toesockoutdoors3627

Жыл бұрын

@@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism It’s not recommended to wear cotton clothes for hiking in wet conditions. I’m gonna stick with insulated waterproof socks; my feet stay warm and dry in winter, they’re less expensive and weigh a lot less than boots, and they provide higher coverage, unless someone is hiking in fishing waders or 1970’s Gene Simmons boots. Also a tip: put hand warmers in your shoes overnight

Great overview on the proper way to set up camp and stay warm

Went winter camping for the first time (solo, with my dog) in the middle of BC last February. Snowshoed and had to haul all my gear in a ski-pulk up a 200 meter hill 4 times in the evening after I got there. Snow was past my knees when I didn't have my snowshoes on. Got down to -18C at night but managed to say warm in a Thermarest Polar Ranger bag, on a Sea to Summit pad and foam pad on a cot. Also had a synthetic quilt from Enlightened Equipment on top which works REALLY well for keeping the moisture off the bag. Made it for 2 nights and was pretty hard but was a great experience. Will do it again but will use a snowmobile to haul the gear up this time.

Good tips! One piece of gear that I would add that has made a huge difference for me, when it comes to winter camping, would be Fortress Clothing's base layers. They are lightweight, made with 1/4" foam, and they keep you warm even when wet. You should totally do a review on them, Dan! I think you'd love them as much as I do.

YEs, so true about the netting itself keeping a lot of heat inside the tent! Marmot tents do an awesome job with this.

What about using a candle to help increase heat in the tent and also improve venting? We used a candle in a coffee can hung from the center of the tent to about 20" off the ground, and it seemed to make it dryer inside on the night we had it compared to the next night when we didn't have it.

A bit of gear that I have, is instead of a bag or a quilt, I have a goose filled sleeping suit rated to -15 c. It is great as I can walk around in it. the only issue is that it really is only useful in minus conditions as it is far too hot for other temps. It has removable booties ,gloves and hood . Just mentioned as an alternative to a sleeping bag.

So I learned this from Dave Canterbury, take a solar car reflector( the kind you put on your dash) put that on top of your pad and it will reflect your body heat back to you, you can also cut them and put them in your boots keeping your feet warm

Nice to have a lot of good tips in one video to refer back to .. and the armpit trick works very well

In cold temps, i always use a warm hat to stay warm with my other clothes during our cool Alaskan winters

N. Texas, temp 18°F, 15°F down mummy bag, Tensor pad, Ghost Whisperer puff…woke up freezing from underneath. Figured out later that a HUGE portion of my rectangular pad was wasn’t covered by my bag, and was exposed to freezing air. I’ll know better next time. Thanks for the tips everyone.

@Zoltoks

2 жыл бұрын

I used to live in Texas. Thought that southerners were hard-core. Now I've been living with the Yankees for about 15 years and learned that northerners are some tough folk. They don't think it's cold until it's minus 5 but they do think 80 degrees is hot

Thanks Dan Awesome tips.I been watching all of your videos to gain as much knowledge as I can after getting the itch to transition from car glamping to backpacking.I am currently trying to accumulate all the gear I need for me and my daughter who is 9 to go winter backpacking.Still need a few items but winter gear for 2 people is so expensive.I thought Mountain Biking was ridiculously expensive but backpacking is just as bad.Definetly don't want to go the cheap route for winter gear or you will be really uncomfortable.

@DanBecker

2 жыл бұрын

That’s awesome! Glad to help, Derek. Thanks for watching!

Winter camping is the best! no bugs! no ice to carry. Tips: every layer be able to zip down. Winter camping gets hot! Keep your beer by fire (the edge of the snow melt line) Get a good sleeping bag, and zip that baby up. I use a zero rated bag with xl snug pack jungle blanket inside. also rain jackets work great in snow. Ironclad Tundra gloves are awesome. I take cloth gloves too for when you need dexterity around the kitchen rock. Throw your food and beer in a bag of course, but on a sled. Those silver survival blankets work great around your feet in the sleeping bag. Warm your feet (wearing socks) by the fire insert into boot. Repeat this a couple of times to warm up boots, or even dry wet boots this way. Nasal spray for wintery clogged noses makes sleeping much easier. take your time, don't rush as you get hot and can fall easily. Soups and ramen, are great for warming you up, but chop or collect some wood works too!

One of the worst nights I spent in the backcountry was on a section of the Tahoe Rim Trail near Spooner Summit. I had 30º bag and 3-season sleeping pad. I was wearing every piece of clothing I had, and still couldn't sleep due to the cold. SO I learned the hard way that a proper winter sleep system is clutch.

@m.k.7199

2 жыл бұрын

First, plan your trips into the back country and test your equipment before your life depends on it. Dan's video demonstrates that. You can easily extend your 3-season sleep system into extreme cold situations by preparation and survival knowledge. Shelter placement is important, get out of the wind. Insulation under the tent. Use a reflecting space blanket under your bag. You can sleep really warm under a tarp with a space blanket reflecting a fire. If your clothing is appropriate for the day, adding the sleeping bag layer should be sufficient additional insulation for the night. The temperature ratings for sleeping bags are usually extremes, unless it states otherwise. You can easily extend those ratings by including an insulating liner and bivy sack, and appropriate clothing.

I have used Aluminum camping mat (about $15 to $20 for 4 feet x 6.5 feet on amazon) under my non-insulated sleeping foam pad in 30 F ground tent camping and it worked wonderfully. Before using the aluminum mat, my sleeping pad always used to get wet on the underside, and it used to be colder. Now it is warmer and does not get wet.

@capturehishonor9292

Жыл бұрын

I once slept on the frozen ground next to a Canadian frozen lake without a mat, pad or sleeping bag. It was about 0 -10F. I did not get cold. When it got -20F the next night, I found a camp to stay in and started a woodstove fire.

I lay a space blanket underneath my air mattress for added warmth. It insulated the ground cold away from the air mattress

Awesome tips man. You made a 10min video feel less than 5 mins. Always a blast watching your videos. Keep the tips coming!

Hi Dan, you may already know to do this, during deer season I'd pack 2-3 pair socks with. When the days pair was damp or even wet I'd put the hot hands hand warmers in my damp socks and then at my feet in my sleeping bag! I would wake to dry and warm socks!

My steel toe boots I wear at work are made by Keen. They were the first set that I never had to break in. Before these, I normally wore regular shoes into work and flipped into steel toes once there. Now I just pop them on in the morning when I get dressed for work. Super recommended.

This guy has such a great personality. Love the tips

He had me at, dude the Acoustics in here are so much better!

@DanBecker

2 жыл бұрын

😂

It was almost 90° in Michigan today but this video has me excited for some winter camping 🏕 ❄️

Yes, Wisconsin weather. A few days ago we enjoyed temps in the 60s and this weekend it's supposed to get below 0. Yet in the summer the temps can get over 100 and be dangerously hot but we deal with that as well. Living here you need to be resilient and roll with the punches. As the old saying goes, if you don't like the weather, just wait and it'll change. Sometimes good, sometimes not.

If nothing else, your honesty is respectable! But I always love your videos! Please keep doing what you're doing! Great stuff!

Even I know most of the things you advise I love to wach Your videos. Also that improves my English. Thank You so much and happy hiking

Im not built for the cold weather but im gonna try and do my first cold weather camp just now.

@ericelsberry5585

2 жыл бұрын

Enjoy! It’s a lot of fun!

Great tips, thanks Dan! Although I do prefer a canvas tent and a stove in the winter :)

Thank you for sharing the tips. I'm studying buying a four seasons tent

Dan, what are your taught / experience adding a sleeping bag liner to increase the temperature rating of your sleeping bag?

Good vid to see right before my Lost Coast trip next week!

Great tips for keeping warm when winter backpacking. The hot water in a Nalgene bottle is old news like you said, but putting it in your armpit is awesome info. Thank you. The worst is when you have to take a leak in the middle of the night, I keep a Gatorade bottle in my tent so I don't have to get dressed or get out of my tent. You look familiar Dan, I think I saw you on a backpack or something... I kid...

Great tips from a yankee. I live in TX and pretty much avoid the cold camping, staying in the Southwest with my travels in winter time, though I did spend 3 winters in CO with the army on many snowy bivouacs. Hiked Pikes Peak in a Jan. once. Not that fun. Lol. I'm planning a trip to Ark next month and the hot water bottle and the heat packs are great ideas. I use an air mattress so you gave me an idea to make sure I fill it inside my vehicle with the heater blasting so as to fill it with warm air before I bed down for the night. Thanks for the info. Take care up there!

Use a metal bottle they don’t break you can heat it direct & sterilise water or heat for the bag….the stick on heat pads I use them on the outside of my Bace layer for camping or under my Drysuit when I’m underwater..very good item..

I have that exact same down jacket… the rab positron pro. Best jacket I’ve ever owned

The hand warmers are great, I place them in my possum down gloves with fingerless over them. Through them down by your feet. Your feet stay warm and your gloves are dry and toasty in the morning.

True about not going to bed cold. Walking for about 15 - 20 minutes before you get into bed is KEY. Gets the circulation ramped-up and tells the Body to start burning Calories to stay warm via using all of the big Muscle groups to generate heat.

Pool and spa blue "bubble wrap" sheets can be had in several strengths and r values. Placed under the tent, they are incredible and yet totally light to carry. The other tool to preserve warmth is a good urinal at the ready.

The Zippo refillable hand warners are also nice.

Great video Dan. God Bless

Thanks for this video, very practical and informative. I have a special pair of gloves and a special pair of socks for sleeping. I use a couple of handwarmers, which I toss in my sleeping bag at bedtime. I may use the one-time-use type, or I may use my old Jon-E-Warmers. Because I sleep cold, I have a minus-20-degree bag. I always wear a thick, Merino-wool hat my daughter knitted for me; it is super-warm. I make sure that none of my clothing fits me too tight. Tightness restricts blood-flow, and that means cold. Always have multiple ways (Bic, Zippo, ferro rod and mag rod, flint and steel, bow drill, Fresnel lens, and of course, at least one, thirty-minute, road flare, because you never know...) to make a fire and to purify water. I have a pot in which to boil water and a Nalgene bottle in which to place boiling water for a hot-water-bottle at bedtime. I put the bottle in a thick, felt bag my wife made just for the purpose. Why the road flare? If you fall into a stream or pond, you will have maybe two minutes before you begin to shake uncontrollably and you lose almost all manual dexterity. The road flare can be used even if your hands and fingers are beginning to cramp up. You can spend five minutes holding your hands over it and still have time to gather firewood, with virtually no chance that the flare will go out before its thirty minutes are up.

Keens are awesome boots! I've had 2 pair for year's and still going strong. 🥾

Awesome video Dan!!! Thanks for sharing!!🥾🥾⛺️

Fleecy liner for the sleeping bag and small gas heater made winter camping easy, plus hot rubber bottle..

Thermal heated jackets on amazon so good great video as i use one for my severe back pain

I never have any problems camping in the friggit -30c to -40c temperatures. I use the Russian Bear UP2 hot tent in Northern Canada. I use Woods cot with Themarest R6.9 pad and Browning "Klondike" -30c sleeping bag. Sleep like a newborn..haha. Thanks for the share 👊 💥 Merry Xmas 🎄🎅🤶🎉🍻🇨🇦

I have 2 pair of neoprene socks. Thin and medium thickness. It prevents moisture from going into the footwear which would make the insulation useless. Even a plastic bag layer does the same.

Totally agree, if anybody was thinking about wearing trail runners in snow don't do it. I did it with thick wool socks and bread bags. my feet were cold and wet the hole time. 👟

I have a tent where I can have a wood stove or other type of heater to warm up my tent and the wood stove can fold up for easy transportation when hiking

My dad gave me a Johnny heater years ago.. I liked to wear it at the small of my back for warmth.. However I have used it in my sleeping bag twice. Not advocating it given that it is burning lighter fluid but it was very cold and I was miserable.. There is a bag you use to regulate the burning. If there is cold weather I have one of these heaters.. I have road motorcycles with the heater on a lanyard on my chest ….

I think espacially while hiking or in the snow it is extremely important to control moisture management. If you sweat or the snow gets you wet it is basically over for you.

@bxstar5276

2 жыл бұрын

I have been experimenting with hiking wearing wool layers under the puffy for those reasons. Short hikes so far

Great video, great tips. Wondering if you've ever used any of the ultra light tent stoves/tent systems out there?

I have no trouble staying warm in my sleeping system. What I want to know is how to stay warm when I have to get OUT of that sleeping system to potty or to cook breakfast.

@Julia-b9x

2 жыл бұрын

“Go Girl” pee system allows us females to pee into a bottle (a well labeled wide mouth Nalgene just for pee) without getting out of sleeping bag. To cook, just lean out of your tent, but stay wrapped up - just enough to be safe with cooking supplies.

@alphaomega9255

Жыл бұрын

Merino wool base layers, socks and beanie all merino wool heavy grade or medium depending on climate

When i was doing "adventure training" in Bertchesgarten (sp?), i built and slept in a snow igloo for a week. It was warm with only a fat candle as a heater. Of course the temps were not too cold, about 32 degrees.

I just bought a pair of down socks. I still wear a clean pair of wool socks but added down would be even better. I usually wear jacket and pants with a thin layer of down fill while sleeping when it’s bitter cold. Just cold I wear down vest and down mini skirt to bed. I also have down leg gaiters to cover my legs from knee down. I also have a down balaclava to keep my head warm in the tent.

Couple observations Dan: Maybe just part of some added humor in some of it... A.) I'm typically a Keen fan, however, 'Keen's ratings' at minus forty Fahrenheit with recycled bottles for insulation is extremely optimistic. While these may be all fine and 'dandy' during shoulder season outings, to less demanding winter conditions like day trekking, snowshoeing day trips, casual day hike outings (ie. nothing too extended, to remote, overflow scenarios, and frigid cold demanding)... these are not gonna cut it with good margins in severe cold like bellow 0 F for extended durations. B.) Your gaiters are on the wrong feet and worn untraditionally/improperly... is there some personal reason for this, or are you seeing if folks are on their toes? C.) Calling the tent shown here with an all to mostly mesh inner... is not defined or functioning as a 'double-wall tent' and not optimized for winter. Of course, make due with gear ya have, nevertheless, clarifying it is not a winter tent. D.) You will get better thermal protection on your sleep-system when you place your thin closed cell foam mat 'atop' the air mat. E.) The Hand Warmers exhibited will not get nearly hot enough to melt gear like nylon, polyester, etc. --- no need to worry. Proven best tips by far was 1.) Boiling to very hot water in the Nalgene bottle strategy, 2.) Getting into sleep systems as close to comfy/warm before crawling in, and 3.) Ventilation (even in winter) is important.

I love winter camping, and some tricks I’ve learned. Eat something before bed so your digestive system is active creating core heat, also I don’t have a problem sipping a hot drink before bed, a warm thermos between the legs at the groin helps heat the large artery in the legs, I don’t sleep with my clothes on - socks and underwear, a good quality wool blanket over an good rated bag, and of course insulate between yourself and the ground.

Great advice. I like to eat something high calorie just before retiring for the night to. Heat from within.

The link to the tent in your description is to The copper spur ul3. The tent in the video is definitely not the copper spur. I was trying to figure it out. Is it the mountain hardware stratos? Thanks!! You have persuaded me to buy so many gadgets for the trail, now I have to figure out how to carry all of this 🤣

fall and winter camping is the best time for me. I live it

Add some body fuel like nuts also just before bed. In hard shell alpine circumstances, you can slide the end of your bag\mattress combo into your zipped closed shell as an extra layer which also serves to keep your lower body over the mattress.