Sleeping Warm When Camping

Sleeping warm when camping on cold nights is the key to getting good rest. Here are some tips to do just that:

You should always eat a hot meal before bed. Your body will use this fuel to keep you warm throughout the night. If the weather is really bad and you don't feel like cooking a big meal, then cook the meal that is easiest and fastest to make. When cold-weather camping, you should always carry at least one freeze dried meal since they are a quick, easy, and delicious hot meal.

For an added boost of warmth, if you carry Nalgene Lexan water bottles you can fill one with boiling-hot water (it won't melt or warp), wrap it in a spare fleece layer or sock, and sleep with it. This cozy little tip makes sleeping warm when camping a breeze.

You can also warm your sleeping bag with the hot water bottle before you slide into it to avoid those "cold-nylon shivers".

If your sleeping bag doesn't have a draft collar (which is highly recommended for camping in the cold), then use extra clothing to seal off the opening around your neck. You'll be amazed at how much warmth you can trap by doing this.

Make sure your sleeping bag is the right size for you. You do not want a lot of "dead" space at the foot of your bag. Your body will lose heat trying to warm that empty space. Keep in mind that you might want a little extra room to sleep with boots, fuel, clothes, etc. to keep them from freezing.

As soon as you set up your tent you should fluff your sleeping bag up very well and put it inside. This will allow more time for the sleeping bag to regain its loft. Also, you should give your sleeping bag a good fluff just before getting in it. This also helps the bag retain it's loft (which is what keeps you warm)throughout the night .

Make sure you have a sleeping pad. A self-inflating pad or a closed-cell foam pad will work. Do not use a plain air mattress. They may be comfortable, but they do not insulate you from the cold ground at all. Self-inflating pads are more comfortable and warmer than closed-cell foam pads. The down-side is that they are useless if they get punctured. For extremely cold environments a lot of people use a closed cell foam pad in addition to their self inflating pad.

Eating a snack with a high calorie content and a hight fat content will give your body more fuel to help keep you warm for the whole night. Something like nuts or cheese is perfect.

So the next time it gets really cold, be sure to remember these tips for sleeping warm when camping.

Top of the Sleeping Warm When Camping Page
Return to the Camping Tips Page
Return to free-camping-recipes.com

footer for sleeping warm when camping page