7 Mistakes Beginners Make Camping in Cold/Winter Weather
Gear in this video:
Sleeping bag:
Sleeping mattress:
Gaiters:
Ultralight winter jacket:
Alpaca fleece:
Synthetic midlayer:
Other Most Used Backpacking Gear
Backpack (coming in 2024):
Sleeping Bag:
Sleeping Mattress: (new version comes out in 2024)
Tent:
Cookpot:
Stove:
FlipFuel Canister device:
Folding Knife:
Water Filter:
First Aid Kit:
Hiking Shoes:
Headlamp:
Trowel:
Hyperlite Camera Case:
Hiking Belt:
Hiking Pants:
Hiking Underwear:
Hiking Gloves:
Sun Hoody:
Down Jacket:
Rain Jacket:
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Winter camping and winter backpacking can be intimidating. And lots of people make simple mistakes when they are learning. Having spent three seasons guiding in the winter, I’ve learned a few things that can help. Looking to get out into some cold weather adventures? Hone your skills and get out there.
Odd no mention of vapor barriers
On multi day trips your sleeping bag insulation becomes incrementally less effective as your body produces water vapor and I’m not talking about just breathing. As the vapor migrates through the sleeping bag insulation it cools to a point of condensation. At this point your insulation and outer bag shell will show signs of moisture. The easy answer is a vapor barrier inside your bag. It takes some practice getting use to it, but if you’re out on more than weekend trips and hitting sub zero every night you’ll be thankful. Don’t count on laying your bag out in the sun every afternoon, even in ROMO area multi day storms are the norm.
Now let’s talk about getting old and positional pain from sleeping in tight mummy style sleeping bags. This can be avoided by not cinching your sleeping bag hood and storm collar. Leaving your zipper slightly open will allow you to move around when that shoulder and back pain creeps in. For warmth just use your down pants and jacket wrapped around your neck and shoulders. Having the wiggle room will help as you’re still getting out there as you age.
One problem I see with people’s set ups is that they don’t carry an emergency blanket or a waterproof bivy for there sleep systems even though both are extremely light emergency system that could literally save your life in a bad situation. If you accidentally fall into water in a cold weather situation you need something that can heat you even if you don’t have access or the ability to set up your camp. With the water proof bivy you can throw your sleeping bag into it and a lot of them have the reflective heat linings now so it can be really good to use in combination with your sleep systems and you can even use it by itself to increase your body temperature in a emergency. Bivys can also be a good way to sleep without a tent if you have to when combined with your regular sleep systems.
I watch a ton of videos about cold weather hiking and not one has brought these two items up yet.
I was once camping in sub 0 temperatures with a 15 degree sleeping bag, I bought an emergency blanket and slept wrapped in that, woke up nearly frozen to death and had one of the worst nights of my life, do not do this 😭
Best thing you can do is pitch your tent right next to your house and do trial runs instead of going way out the middle of nowhere and screwing up. Camp for a week in front of your house before you go out in the wilderness.
Again thank you.😁pre hike double research making sure i haven’t forgotten anything.