Cold weather camping: camping equipment, essentials and tips

Tips | Packing list | Winter tents 

If you’re a lover of peace and quiet, breath-taking views and friendly faces, camping during the festive period at one of our winter UK campsites is a great option for a New Year or Christmas break.

We’ve taken the time to compile the coolest (no pun intended) camping gear, advice and suggestions in time for this year’s cold weather camping period.


The cold weather camping essentials you’ll need to remember to pack

When winter camping you’ll need to go prepared and pack with the worst case scenario in mind – don’t rely on what the weatherman says. Pack “emergency” extra clothes and blankets and be prepared to extend your trip if the weather is too bad to drive.

For warmth

• Fleece jacket.
• A good, thick, hooded jacket.
• Warm, wicking base layers.
• Fleece gloves.
• Lots of spare outfits and under layers so you always have something dry to put on.
• Wool hat and a spare in case one gets wet.
• A nice warm scarf.
• Water resistant, quality sleeping bag – 4 season should be sufficient.
• Sleeping bag cover to act as an extra layer and protect your bag from any damp.
• Closed-cell sleeping pads for insulation.
• Plenty of spare blankets of varying warmth.
• Thick socks for sleeping in.

Stay dry

• Lightweight, waterproof jacket.
• Waterproof trousers.
• Plenty of spare socks.
• Plastic bags (great to waterproof in a pinch).

Keep safe

• Long tent pegs and a few snow pegs just in case.
• Head torch and spare batteries.
• High energy food.
• Any medicine you may need and a fully stocked first aid kit.

Simple tips for staying warmer whilst camping in the cold

Here are a few tips and tricks to make sure your stay toasty inside your tent, we promise you’ll be glad you read this.

• Don’t wait until you’re already cold to add a layer, as soon as the temperature drops in the evening add something to keep you warm.
• Don’t go to bed cold, sleeping bags are hard to warm up if your body temperature is already low. Do some star jumps or walk around your tent to warm up before getting in.
• Disposable heat pads are great for emergency use- take a few along for those nights when you just can’t get warm.
• A big tent containing just a few people will be much colder than a smaller tent. Make sure you have enough room but no excess air to warm up.
• Layer up your sleeping pads to provide extra insulation from the ground and add a blanket underneath your sleeping bag if you’re still cold.
• Wear a hat in bed. If you just can’t seem to warm up despite trying everything else, wearing a hat will help retain body heat.
• Don’t put your head into your sleeping bag or breathe into your bag to try and warm it up. All you’ll do is create condensation which can result in a damp sleeping bag and low body temperature. The same goes for if you start to sweat, take some layers off to cool down.
• Make sure your tent is well ventilated throughout the night. This reduces the risk of condensation.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water throughout the day because it’s easy to become dehydrated during the winter months due to the lack of humidity in the air. You need to replace the water you’re losing through respiration, elimination and evaporation.
• Food. Breakfast should be a simple but nourishing meal, packed full of calories to keep you going until lunchtime. Porridge, dried fruit, nuts and eggs are all great breakfast options. Snack throughout the day on foods like nuts, cheese, dark chocolate and dried fruit. For dinner time something fast and hot is a great idea as you’ll be sat still and getting cold quickly. Something rich in complex carbohydrates like wholegrain pasta is a good start. Eating something rich in fat calories around an hour before you go to sleep will help you stay warm throughout the night- especially if you had an early dinner.

Top tents for winter camping

It’s easy to imagine cold, sleepless nights in your tent however it’s 100% possible to stay warm and comfortable on your pitch no matter what the weather brings. Being prepared (and planning for the worst case scenario) is the key to keeping warm. The first thing to consider when thinking about your winter camping trip is your shelter; here we’re focusing on tent campers.

Not just any standard tent will do, below are things to look out for when purchasing a tent intended for all year round use.

• 4 season tents are designed with snow in mind. If you are lucky enough to be camping when the UK experiences heavy snowfall, a 4 season tent will simply shed the snow rather than collapse under the weight of it which can lead to broken poles and very unhappy campers.
• It goes without saying that your tent will need to be waterproof.
• Look for a tent which is just big enough, not too big. You’ll want to be able to sit up, breathe easily and move around but not have excess air space to keep warm.
• As well as picking a tent with heavy fabric to keep out the cold, you’ll also need to consider the flooring. You need flooring which is insulating, waterproof and versatile enough to endure the occasional winter boot.
• As you sleep your body produces moisture which can easily condense inside your tent if it isn’t vented properly. This not only leads to damp sleeping conditions, but will result in your body temperature cooling down. Ensure your tent has thorough ventilation.

The tents below are just a few of the structures on the market that have been built with technology in mind, ensuring the best chances of keeping you snug on chilly winter evenings. For more information on picking the best tent for your needs, see our guide to choosing your tent which details the materials and optional features you'll need to consider.

• Lightwave S20 Sigma
• Sierra Designs Convert 3
• Terra Nova Quasar Tent
  
• Crua Tri

Top campsites for winter camping