Winter Tent

[Mary Beth]

I would love to enjoy some cool weather camping, but I do not enjoy freezing at night. Is there a special, thick winter tent I can buy? If not, how do you camp during winter?

[Grandpa]

Unless your tent is big enough to have a heat source, such as a canvas tent with a sheepherder stove, the temperature inside will not be much higher than outside. So, you have to wear warm clothes and have a warm sleeping bag with good ground insulation under it. With the proper equipment, many of us enjoy winter camping into the sub-zero temps.

Gas or propane lanterns or catalytic heaters may warm a smaller tent up some but are dangerous to be left on all night and the temperature will quickly drop back down to outside temps. They present both a fire hazard and even more dangerous, replacing oxygen with Carbon monoxide.

[ponderosa]

Grandpa is right; the tent isn't there to keep you warm. That is the job of your clothing and bag/pad. A winter tent does need to be able to handle a snow load and high winds, if you live in that sort of climate.

[IndianaHiker]

For winter camping I use the same shelter that I do in the summer. Typically just a tarp as the others have stated the staying warm is a function of the sleeping bag and clothing. For instance I use a 30 degree bag and have stayed comfortable in it down into the teens using a base layer, thick wool socks, and a hat. Some other tricks that some use are to put the large hand warmers (chemical ones that you break and shake) in to the sleeping bag to take the chill off. Another one that some do is to boil water and pour the hot water in to a nalgen bottle and put that into the sleeping bag to help as well. The worst part of winter outing is getting out of the sleeping bag first thing on a cold morning. Here is a rick that I have found useful for that. Always take a person less experienced than yourself along. Make sure that you stopping drinking floods early in the evening. When the new person get up in the morning for the call of nature yell for them to start the fire. Then simply remain in the sleeping bag until the fire is going nicely.

[Lorax]

Winter camping is more about your preparedness both during the day and at the end of the day.
It also has a lot to do with the gear, but mostly knowing how your body and metabolism works in cold weather. Once you know this and with a few simple tricks, you can have a great time as we do in the northwoods.

For example. 18 minutes.

18 minutes is what have to put in walking around camp or up a trail on the snowshoes at an easy unloaded pace to have my whole body, including fingertips and feet warm enough to bed down for the night. Go to bed warm and you'll stay warm. Go to bed with cold feet and they will stay cold.
Once you do this enough, you will have a system down for handling the cold weather and experiencing an enjoyable time. It takes practice and "know how", only attained by either getting out with experienced people or gradually trying it for yourself in increased dosages.

[Grandpa]

And added thought. If you have enough snow for a snow cave, it is usually warmer in there than in a tent in sub zero weather. The snow acts as insulation keeping the wind and cold out while retaining more heat. We are still talking below freezing but 20 above is a lot warmer than 20 below.

[Lorax]

Originally Posted by Grandpa

And added thought. If you have enough snow for a snow cave, it is usually warmer in there than in a tent in sub zero weather. The snow acts as insulation keeping the wind and cold out while retaining more heat. We are still talking below freezing but 20 above is a lot warmer than 20 below.

Another good point. The art of building a traditional Quinzee is another great option during winter. They work a lot better than a tent.
There's so much info, you could write a book on just how to winter camp.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you to everyone, for all the great advice, because I also wondered about winter camping. In my head, I imagined a winter tent that was thicker or somehow insulated. I need to look up the Sheepherder stove, grandpa mentioned. I have never heard of one before.

[Little Kitty]

Sometimes, my dad goes camping in the winter. He says, look for a tent that is rated four seasons. Four season tents have stronger poles, to hold snow loads. Also, pick a roomy tent, so you have enough space for your gear. He also rsuggests, putting a tarp down before you set up your tent. Just be careful, if you camp during the winter. It takes more planning, so you do not freeze to death!

[Grandpa]

Originally Posted by Wild Rose

Thank you to everyone, for all the great advice, because I also wondered about winter camping. In my head, I imagined a winter tent that was thicker or somehow insulated. I need to look up the Sheepherder stove, grandpa mentioned. I have never heard of one before.

Sheepherder stove is an informal way of saying a small, horse packable woodburning stove for tent or camp use. There are dozens of styles by dozens of manufacturers. Just do a search on it and you'll see what I mean.