Autumn is coming, and you won’t have time to look back as the first snowflakes fall. The vacationer is cleansed, and every grain of sand of the last vacation is thoroughly washed away. Beautiful memories remain, perhaps a tan line and anticipation of the next season.
But wait a minute. Even in winter, you can go hiking. On the one hand, reddish-orange leaves, morning frosts, and snow-covered forests bring their charm and allow nature to shine anew. On the other hand, overcrowded summer campsites now offer more than enough space. Opting for winter camping is like choosing fresh air and beautiful country scenery.
And for a good reason, because this is a good way not only to spend your vacation economically but also to get a dose of health, clean air, and the spirit of adventure.
However, winter camping can also be challenging and can easily become uncomfortable if you don’t have the right equipment. We have provided some great tips and information on staying warm, comfortable, and dry on winter camping expeditions.
Here are some of the most important tips.
Cotton breathes. This is why you suffer less from condensation in a cotton tent. But if wet and/or frozen, the fabric can become very heavy, and such a tent cannot be easily transported by hand, and due to the increased weight, the cotton tent is only suitable for transport in the winter by car or on some trailers. For most companies, like Hot Tent, composite fabric meets the highest requirements for a tent fabric and works very well in winter conditions, and that is a way how to avoid condensation in a tent.
The threads in the fabric are a mixture of cotton and polyester. This blend combines the best natural fiber with modern plastic material. The result is a strong, breathable fabric that feels good and has high tensile strength and dimensional stability. Also perfect for cold winters.
A small (electric) heater can serve to protect you from frostbite. It might make sense to put anything that might freeze (toiletries, glasses, some food, fresh fruit) in a plastic container and place it somewhere near or in front of the stove. Pay attention to this too when choosing the best large car camping tents for cold weather.
If heating of any type is used, but especially portable gas heaters, it is very important to ventilate the tent well. If you need to keep liquids from freezing, such as drinking water, it’s best to take small amounts (small bottles) and keep them warm near your body at night in your sleeping bag.
The heater circulates the air in the tent. Combined with constant ventilation, the tent stays dry better inside. Don’t count on a seamless frost tent, though, as the stove’s tent heating potential can be limited, especially for larger tents.
Being active and doing activities that keep you moving throughout the day can help keep your body warm.
You should eat caloric and warm foods regularly, at least every three hours, and drink plenty of hot drinks.
If you are camping during periods of extreme cold (colder than -10°C), be sure to wake up regularly and check that your fingers and ears are not freezing.
A portable heater that uses gas, oil, or electricity distributes a nice amount of heat. But unless otherwise directed by the manufacturer, you should always place the stove under a canopy and never in a closed tent. This is due to the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. Some heaters come with oxygen sensors and automatically shut off, but carbon monoxide poisoning is always a risk.
You absolutely need warm clothes, a hat (against the wind) and gloves. Your underwear is also very important. Wear long underwear under your ski pants to protect you from the cold. You can purchase thermal underwear at most outdoor stores.
Cotton clothing is less warm because cotton keeps the skin moist, so it is better to wear a base layer than a cotton t-shirt against the skin.
Do you love winter camping so much that you can take a group of up to 25 in a trailer and a tented rooftop to a winter campsite somewhere in Germany, for example, every winter? Such weekends usually last from Thursday to Sunday and often include a variety of fun activities such as sledding, ice skating, fishing, or skiing.
First of all, the most obvious fact: of course, you can combine camping with winter sports, Christmas markets, and a snow-covered landscape. Spend a day on the slopes and in an alpine hut, for instance, then visit a Christmas market or an après-ski party, and then head to your cozy campsite for a romantic evening.
Doesn’t it sound great? Especially in Austria and Switzerland, as well as in Germany, Canada, and other countries where snow falls, you can enjoy winter romance to the fullest. All this is topped off with a trip to the spa center, which is available in most winter camps. This is the perfect balance between activity and rest for the mind and body.
And naturally, every evening ends with a roaring bonfire, where tourists have many adventures and stories to share with each other. And when they finally get too cold, they go to bed in a warm tent using many of the tips above.
As you can see, there are many opportunities to spend a camping holiday, even in winter. You can decide for yourself whether you want to go skiing, go hiking, or drink warm tea in a magical winter landscape.
