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OnX Backcountry App (for snow reports and navigation)
SkyView App (Apple) bit.ly/3AL0a6K
SkyView App (Google) bit.ly/3tVAOiL
Thermarest Neoair Xterm (Warm, High R-Value Sleep Pad)
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 3400
Big Agnes Lost Ranger 3N1
Flextailgear Tiny Pump X
Adventure Med Kit .5
Toaks 750 Pot
Pocket Rocket Deluxe
Pinnacle Foods Backpacking Meals
Nemo Hornet Elite OSMO Tent
Hilltop Packs Food Bag
Other Awesome Gear:
Big Agnes Copper Spur Platinum
Big Agnes Fly Creek Carbon
Mountain Hardwear Ozonic Rain Jacket
Black Diamond Spot Headlamp
Helinox Chair Zero
Thermarest Compressible Pillow
Sea to Summit Alto TR2
Jetboil Micromo
MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest Backpack
Western Mountaineering Alpinlite
Kelty Cosmic Down 20 (less expensive alternative)
Nemo Tensor Insulated Pad
Thermarest Uberlite Pad
Hyperlite Mountain Gear
Big Agnes Copper Spur
Cold weather camping tips. How to stay warm camping. Sleeping in a tent in the winter. Winter camping. How to dry gear winter camping.
Watch more new videos about Camping | Synthesized by Mindovermetal English
Camping chairs Dan. Seriously 🤔
Double-wall tents will also get condensation on the outer tent wall, but you can’t access it to wipe it off. If your inner tent is mostly solid instead of mesh, it will keep you warmer though. (Solid inners are more common on European tents like Terra Nova and Hilleberg than US tents).
Backcountry has the "Xeros" by Mountain Equipment on sale for $299.00 (50% off) on paper it seems to be on pointt with the alpinelite. Also Kaviso has the Sierra Designs High Route 1 for $159.00 (45% off.) They also have the Nemo Hornet 2 for $259. GREAT DEALS!
UCO Candle Lanterns are your best friend in cold or cool wet conditions. They add warmth, provide light, and reduce humidity and condensation. I burn one hanging in my tent all night. Regular UCO candles burn 9 hours, beeswax burns for 12. Also their warmth will help dry your socks and gloves.
Recently got my truck stuck in the mountains on my way out of a hunting trip and spent a few unexpected extra nights. Having the tent set up in the first available sunlight was a huge difference, also, packing down the snow and keeping things dry was vital. Lastly, I will never take a chair for granted ever again!
Hope your video helps as many people as possible, great tips here.
This is a very good video! Your sound/voice is high quality. Keep up the good work.
I've learned a lot here. thanks for sharing it with us Dan!
At winter only good stove is white gas stoves. Others will fail or you have to try keep fuel warm.
At -40 you need 0.5 l per day per person white gas. Normal winter temperatures maybe 0.25-0.35 per day per person. Less fuel yeah if you can get running water.
Careful with putting boiling water in the nalgene… make sure there is no air in it when you put on the lid. I had the lid explode off from the pressure (heat from the water makes the air want to expand) as I was about to put it in my sleeping bag. Literally missed getting boiling water all over me by seconds
Just for clarification a double wall doesn’t actually “reduce” the condensation it just gives you a barrier in between yourself and condensation so you aren’t touching it or having it drip onto you and it will hit the mesh instead.
Thanks, for sharing your knowledge to us! 1.) I bought a Samaya tent (Assault2 8K second hand) and the special fabric from the single wall avoids most of the condensation. For freezing water in the tube, I just blow the water back and have also an insulation bag. About the sleeping mat, It depends on your individual sensitivity about the cold; the Klymate Insulated V Lux (which is rated for R 6) was way to cold for me (in reality it is about R 2 – altough many people had positive experiences with it!) so you have to test some other brands and ended up with the Exped Dura 8 and a Exped flex mat to have enough insulation from the ground. For the sleeping bag, I have some long underpants and a down pant to add, if it is really getting to cold and of course an inlet. The stool might be an extra comfortable option but it is an additional weight, so maybe the folded sleeping cell mat could be the "2 in 1" solution. What about multifuel cooking systems in winter; would it be more efficient (also to avoid wasting a lot of gas canisters) ?
Don't just fill your pot with snow and try to melt it. You can get a layer of boiling bubbling vapor between the pot and snow, this can heat the metal and warp it. Put a little at a time so it can melt then put more in until you've reached your desired amount of water.
Don't put your stove can straight on the snow. It can get too cold and freeze up the gas causing the burner to fail. Have it up on something else to keep it away from the freezing cold snow.
Some additional military tips:
1. Hand warmer packs in each boot will help them dry overnight
2. Winter is usually low humidity, more so at altitude. Make an extra effort to hydrate when you stop for the day until you are ready to sleep and urinate before bedtime.
3. Consider wearing a rain poncho over your sleeping bag if it will comfortably fit. This will help keep your sleeping bag dry from condensation (either from breathing on it or from drips inside). A bivy bag works too, but all solutions need to vent also
4. A battery fan in the tent gear loft pointing out thru the vent can significantly reduce condensation. But batteries/battery packs are much less efficient in cold.
5. Don't put your tent in a low lying area. Cold sinks and "slides" downhill. Also always colder near frozen lake, river, etc
I must admit I get some good chuckles watching some of your videos. Have you considered comedy stand up? Not a put down at all… I mean this in a respectful and cheerful way. Here are a few of my thoughts:
A.) Throughout full-on 'Winter' (ie. snow/ice/wind/cold to severe temps demanding exposure conditions) as well as for wintery mix shoulder seasons conditions… best to go w/ actual 4-season gear. Lots of folks 'make due' with 1,2-3 season and 3+ season gear selections. However, this is not the strategy for truly venturing being fully prepared. It tends to be adaption-based, maybe cost effective, lighter-weight, have what you have, etc. and concession-based selections will eventually reveal shortcomings to whatever extent. GO 4-SEASON in 4th-season.
B.) When addressing single-wall vs. actual functional double wall designs… I see so many youtubers (that should know better) exhibit tents with high-% to nearly total mesh inners; calling them double walled. That is not a fully accurate demonstration or functional description of double-walled. '4-season double wall designs' features inner tent fabrication. While there can be mesh windows/doors/vents… mesh areas will have zipper open/close fabrication coverage. Well-designed 4-season tents will almost always have designs that prevent cold and wind driven snows from entering the inner tent. This may include extended fly-coverage, snow-skirting, higher bathtub floors, different high/low venting, and combos of these features. I further adapt my 4-season tents with longer hi-viz zip-pull extensions (working the mitts), longer staking loops, adaptive guy-lines, etc.
C.) Good insulation from the ground is game-changing. While the latest/greatest most expensive mattresses may be the ticket for somebody… that somebody had better learn, prepare, and know how to repair it correctly in the field. The reality is most do not, and will go unprepared. Most that think they know; again beyond rough, bad looking, poorly performing field expedience will not have the know-how for a comprehensive, lasting, good looking repair. Skill-set, materials, and comfort zone apply for the cold ground game.
D.) Increased Hydration and Calories (higher consumption, what kind, etc.), are of much greater consideration when camping the 4th season. This should be paramount to cold camping discussion. Preparation an important side note to this.
E.) Pacing what you do: Making the mileage is one thing… the getting there (and back) another . Freezing cold, overheating/sweating, exposure, overextending, paying extra attention to extremities, balance/footing, dexterity (mitts/gloves on vs. off) is very different from 1,2,&3-season.
F.) Using the restroom… 'nough said… like urine bottle
G.) Frozen footwear mitigation… rather than ice-block boots and laces.
H.) Short days!!! Longer Nights!!! Stuff that goes along with it like good headlamps/lighting/batteries.
I.) Transportation… packs, sleds, skis, snowshoes, snow-bikes, power applications, having animals, etc.
Education… try to learn stuff before, during, and after. Likely #1 on list.
Hope this lends some relevant content for folks to reflect on.
I snowboard w/ a camelbak. When it's super fridgid, one of the tricks is to blow air so there's no water in an exposed part of the hose. You can sometimes still get the bite valve to freeze, but you can warm the end up pretty easily.
If you're using a bottle, store it upside down as the top freezes first.
The hot nalgene to dry out wet socks is freakin' genius Dan!
oh and the sun rises in the east bro lol
cheers for this man. im planning to go up some mountains this winter and i stay in scotland so this is very helpful
bro i still watch them but omg you hiker youtubers make the same videos over and over again………….
fuel and batteries. winter short days, WAY MORE flashlight usage. cold tears through my lithium(expensive) batteries. might go back to gas lantern for winter.
You don't have any issue using the canister stoves in winter? I always figured a liquid stove like the Whisperlite is the way to go when it is down near freezing…
I am a Japanese solo camper. Thank you for the wonderful video.
nobody talks about a hot water bottle. the traditional rubber ones. Also a kidney belt.
For sleeping bags/quilts, a good rule of thumb is to take the coldest temperature (nightly low) you expect to ever encounter, and subtract 20 degrees. That, combined with a decent thermal base layer/sleeping socks, and maybe a wool beanie, and you'll be cozy through the night as long as your pad is properly insulated.
So if you think you might be out in zero degree weather, have a -20 degree bag or better (bring a liner, and have your down jacket handy to put on inside the sleeping bag if it gets chilly).
Sorry, but some of what you are saying about tents conflicts with itself, and some is just wrong. Getting a smaller tent but ventilating it really well totally undoes the benefit of having a smaller tent – ventilating the air you warm with your body means you aren't warming the tent at all.
Also, double wall vs single wall tent is not that big a difference. It only removes the mesh between you and the (outer) tent wall which will have just as much condensation as a single wall tent. If you are touching the tent wall in a single wall, you'll do the same in a double wall, with only mesh to prevent the condensation from getting to your gear, and it won't. So the better bet is to size up your tent in the winter to a double to make sure you have plenty of room to move without touching the tent walls. Or even better…
If you really want to upgrade your tent's warmth in the winter, look into 4-season tents that will actually trap a lot more of your body heat inside the tent. These are the real deal for cold weather camping.
Some excellent advice here! Thanks!
Just curious, did you just tell people to put wet gear in their sleeping bags to be warmed up by the hot Nalgene bottle. Because wont the sleeping bag get wet anyway? I believe that's the one place you need to stay dry during winter?
My down jacket gets zipped and I put it around the foot box of my sleeping bag.
Old people circulation 😉
Good stuff, Dan. I’m originally from WI, moved to the Eastern Sierra awhile ago. Many reasons to know the tips and tricks to keep warm in the cold 😉
Wet gear in the down sleeping bag?? Wtf man??
Some extra things I learned in the Army:
1. Empty your bladder. Your body expends heat and energy warming your urine. Emptying your bladder lets your body use that heat to keep your organs warm instead.
2. Eat. Even cold food will warm you up. Digestion is an exothermic chemical reaction; the chemical process of converting food into nutrients will warm you up, and eating hot food is even better. You also burn more calories in the cold, since your body is spending more energy keeping itself warm
3. Tuck Hot Hands (those hand warmer packets you can get at walmart) under your armpits and between your thighs. This will warm up the blood in your major arteries which will warm up your entire body
4. Some people will hate this, but don't drink alcohol. Alcohol makes your body lose its heat faster. This is why you feel warmer when you drink; your body heat comes to the surface. It then evaporates away. You will become hypothermic quicker if you are drunk
Instead of a stool or chair, I always bring my least expensive camping investment. I get one of those foam kneeling pads for gardening from the dollar store. I can sit on it, kneel on it (crawling out of the tent, when packing up, or tying your bootlaces), and even stand on it (when in sock or bare feet, like when changing socks). They are very light, and I keep it under the top flap of my backpack along with tarp(s).
Thank you for always being upfront about the things that are sent to you as you review them. I'm not a hiker but I do camp off my motorcycle (motocamp) and I learn so much from you. I have ben doing it for 50 years and I love that I'm still learning. Keep up the great work!!
Before I knew about sleeping pads (decades ago) I used Owens/Corning Pink Panther fiberglass insulation between the snow and my tent for winter camping.
would you ever consider the The Crotch Pot by gossamer gear as a winter food prep solution. Seems to be a step too far (in my pants). Perhaps a review by you would liven things ups for this product! LOL
best not to put wet items over your nalgene bottle inside of your sleeping bag. that will drive the moisture out of the wet items and into the insulation of your sleeping bag.
Great video, Danny! Is that a cotton sweatshirt you were wearing underneath your red jacket? 😂😂
Great information and food for thought. Thanks
@1:39 I don't think the amount of condensation differs between double and single wall tent.
It's only you're less likely to touch the moisture in a double wall tent.
stick your wet gear in your sleeping bag…..really? lol
When are you booking your flight up to Canada for some -40 winter camping with me!?
i get a ton of extra hothands from working for the post office. i use those in some socks then place those around my bladder and hose to keep it from freezing. occasionally have issues with the nozzle but thats only when i neglect to hydrate. even around 0, as long as i keep drinking theres not much issue unless the wind is bonkers. also why i keep spare nozzles
No matter what gear your buying, test by rubbing it between your hands. More insulation, warmer your will feel in the friction with the material between your hands.
when god created everything and asked engineers about how to implement condensation they said it would be beneficial to make it so that the moisture goes on the cold side of things but then god was like yeah bruh that be too easy for them glampers in 2k20's.
If you have snow drag a pack sled behind you. And carry a fishing hut with a collapsible wood stove. Works wonders for me. Warm and cozy in minus 40. Weight means little in a sled that exploits to e low friction snow 🙂
I want to know how you fit all that extra cold weather gear in a 45 liter backpack? So far I have not been able to.
Great advice Dan. I 100% agree to all of it. Here in winter , it is -30˚C (-25F) , and I switch to white gas stove already in late fall. Normal Gas canister stoves just loose too much power below zero. Great video Dan! Keep them coming! 👏👏👍🏻
Seems if socks are dry, the wet has to go somewhere….duh…in the sleeping bag itself, reducing the effectiveness of it, unless you are sure you can dry it out in the sun that day.
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