One of the big rookie mistakes I made years ago cold weather camping was zipping up and closing off all the vent screens in my tent to keep the cold wind out. Woke up around 4am with myself and gear soaking wet from the condensation I created.
i am from Scandinavia and I been doing extreme mountaineering for about 30 years all over the world and worked doing diving expeditions I always enjoy seeing people who I have things in common with but who do things totally different or for different reasons than I do and who might have a different point of view than I do
Mistakes are the best thing ever, Ive learnt more from my own mistakes than I have from reading any book or watching any video, it sticks with you.🇺🇸✌🏻🍻
I made a Reflectix floor liner for my tent that lets me sit on the floor at -15F without feeling much of a chill. It’s pretty light, I made it out of 24” wide material so I can fold it in half and it fits under the front compression straps on my GG Nimbus Trace Access 70.
Some great tips there Eric! A good pad, not just a sleeping bag, is crucial to staying warm. And having a closed cell foam pad in addition to your inflatable one is a good idea!
vapour barriers (basically plastic, sometimes sealskins etc) between base layer/skin and the garment/sleeping bag on the feet and hands stop the gear getting wet and will keep you warm. in extreme conditions in the artic they use vapier barriers between base layer and sleeping bag often. No water, no frost on the vital gear (mainly sleeping bag and boots), even though you may sweat inside of it. keeps you warm kinda like a wetsuit.
Doesn’t the fact it makes you sweat kind of defeat the purpose? That moisture is going to escape out of the top and it’s going to raise the humidity in your tent
Well done 👍. Wool is definitely king for winter camping. Physical fitness also plays a huge role in maintaining core temperature and energy levels. Cold-weather will fatigue you faster than any other environmental factor.
Great input. The mattress is super important! Some things I've used to help....Wear a hat while sleeping. Avoid cotton at all costs. Don't sleep in the clothes you hiked in if they are sweaty. Wear socks at night. I carry a ditty sack that contains my sleeping clothes...pj bottoms, a long sleeve shirt, a hat, and big comfy socks. I only use these items for sleep. This also helps keep my sleeping bag cleaner and smelling a bit nicer. It's minimal weight to carry and I've found it helps. I spent 200 days a year for 5 years working outside as a guide, in winter (-25 F) and summer (+105 F). My experiences led me to my sleep system. I've slept outside in -60...stayed warm all night. It's getting up in the morning that sucks!
@@drewschumann1 It works until you sweat then problems can follow. Merino wool feels like cotton next to the skin, it doesn't absorb odors like cotton, wicks and dries quickly....
I just put together my first winter sleeping system over the last 2 months. German Army elephant skin tarp, Thermarest Ridge rest large foam mat, large thermarest 6.9 R mattress, Snugpak Antarctic mat, Snugpak Antarctica sleeping bag with a special forces bivvy and a fleece liner. I'm also trying to add in one of the Kardashian sisters but so far they haven't returned any of my emails so I'm stuck with my cat. I'm 74, winter cyclists here in Canada, -20 Celsius no problem.
Awesome vid, by far the best winter guide ,,!!! A lot of key points that will make a difference: watching the video a few more times! You can’t replace your experience, thank you for your time and sharing.
One thing to always keep in mind with winter camping, is that it is the most dangerous time to camp, and gets more dangerous the further you are from civilization/rescue, and the colder the weather/higher the snow. You can get trapped by snow, you can run out of food/energy/fuel, you can freeze, and it can definitely kill you if you are not prepared. Always do baby steps, camp close you your car or back yard, test your gear in different possible temperatures and conditions, make sure your tent can take the potential snow loading, bring a personal locator beacon or satellite communicator. Above all never get complacent, and bring extra food and fuel.
I take it you’ve never camped in the Spring time during torrential rains or in the desert during the summer or in the fall when it’s hunting season. Winter in many ways is the best season to camp. No crowds, can camp anywhere you can tamp down a spot, no worries about water, no worries about mud/dust/rain/bugs.
When your sleeping pad isn’t insulated enough put a Mylar emergency blanket under your pad. They weigh nothing and they’re cheap I keep 2 or3 in my kit at all times.
But that would do nothing. Mylar is only useful for reflecting IR and specifically should not be in contact with anything. They need an air gap to do anything at all.
@@Papou_Pete I suspect it was little more than placebo effect. The R-Value of mylar blankets is effectively zero, and in the situation you have described actually will actively transmit heat rather than insulate it. It MUST have an air gap or it will do literally less than nothing - it will make it worse.
Carinthia defence 4 isn't really a winter sleeping bag. Although it has a decent comfort rate of -15 c its still a three season bag. Defence 6 is the winter model and it does have a draft collar. Defence 4 is designed to be paired with Carinthia tropen summer bag in cold weather. I've slept in defence 4 during wintertime, and the bag was surprisingly cold. A draft collar would've made a big difference.
My friend posted a pic on Facebook all cozy with coffee, fireplace, blanket, and pets "I love winter" ... I commented a pic of me in balaclava, goggles, scarf, hooded down jacket and a snow filled mountain vista behind me In some ways, I do love winter hiking. It's gorgeous with the blistering white snow and epic mountains and ice crystals. But you struggle to keep the core from overheating while your nose runs and a piece of your hair froze also you need to do a poo and ... Um...
Why are plp under the assumption that extra clothing layers makes them colder? Inside their sleeping bag Apparently this is prominent in the hiking community on the fb groups. And it's complete nonsense pls address this. This is controversial and might get alot of attention
I wear a skirt over my pants, wool or puffy. Even a short skirt keeps your core much warmer, creates a “micro climate” 😅. Men could call it a kilt and it would work for them also.
I live in far Northern California and am looking forward to some cold weather backpacking this winter. Any tips for ultralight folks that use a quilt? Great to see you keeping on after your ordeal!
I use a 20 degree quilt but for winter I switch to a -20 bag that assures warmth. Maybe if you get get a high r value pad and a thick liner you can go with a quilt. A bag is heavy.
I’ve heard not to fully close/seal your tent thus not allowing moisture from your breath to remain inside. Guess that may depend on weather conditions outside.
I used to hike with a group and almost everyone would be bundled up with fleeces or jackets, hats, scarves, etc, at 10-15F! I’d just be in a silkweight synthetic shirt and gloves, I could feel the cold but I wasn’t uncomfortable. Most importantly, I was dry! Warmth, as in sitting on the couch watching TV warmth, is for breaks, camp, and sleeping. (Hopefully.) When moving it’s safest to be “comfortably cold.”
I used my dad's old M49 down sleeping bag once when it was about 20° and I was miserable most of the night. I didn't understand the direct contact heat loss. My dad explained that in the Army, they'd fold a wool blanket between the bag and cot, and another blanket between the bag liner and shell. They'd sleep in a unheated tent and it would be near 0. He said you stayed comfortable sleeping in just your long johns and socks.
I have a blow up air mattress, but it seems to get as cold as the temperature outside. Kind of like sleeping on a block of ice. Should I place a blanket over the top of the mattress to keep the cold off from my sleeping bag
If that's the case you need to increase the R value or insulation value of what's under you. A blanket would help but that wouldn't be efficient. A different air mattress with R4 or higher would be best. Also you can add a closed cell foam mat underneath and that will help.
Our cold here in Texas is definitely different than the cold you deal with there but I'm going to practice in my back yard this winter and spend a few sleeps in my setup.
@@eric_hanson Tied record of -23F in panhandle, also big bend and trans pecos can get slightly sub zero, so is it alaska or canada, no, but that's still really cold for a southern state, God bless y'all.
Use a 100% silk undershirt: sleeveless in summer; long sleeve, winter. Pricey. For Gals, there is a silk camisole. Wash with care; hang dry. with good care, garment lasts years. The Alpaca hoodie worth price; itches; undershirts necessary. Silk, although pricey, manages body moisture better than synthetics.
I have nothing planned this winter lol BUT the trips I have had in snow I actually loved it way more than I thought! I hope to get a couple in… Yes the jumping jacks help a ton and that Nalgene hot water too… most people don’t think about eating proper fats and good reminder, that’s why I love your stuff… always having added tips I don’t think of 🤙🏽 enjoy your winter camping and looking forward to that content.
Any experience with using a sleeping bag liner in a 15f or 30f bag to make it useable/comfortable in lower Temps? I was thinking of picking one up and trying it out just in my yard this winter to see how well it will work.
First time seeing Eric Hansen with only a t shirt on lol Also, top comment was funny. Really though, they need to fix the draconian laws around national parks. I mean, I get why -- we don't want rock spray painters.. but it is pretty obvious when someone is just trying to have fun in the outdoors vs when they are there to disrespect the location. Getting this pack off the ground and onto your back must be so hard 😭😂
Soon as you said "guide" and "Utah" it hit me like a ton of bricks that you sound exactly like Alfred Packer lmao. Thanks for the vid, my mountaineer buddy is always telling me "cotton kills".
Thank you for this really informative video. As a beginner in the subject, it gave me a few incentives. My inadequate sleeping pad resulted in a cold night at -8 degrees Celsius last weekend.
One of the big rookie mistakes I made years ago cold weather camping was zipping up and closing off all the vent screens in my tent to keep the cold wind out. Woke up around 4am with myself and gear soaking wet from the condensation I created.
Great content that's super helpful. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience with all of us. Being cold while camping is the worst! Your advice will certainly help. Thank you Eric!
I regularly camp in winter in Northern Minnesota, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Northwest Territories. I was surprised to hear you mention twice that your ankles tend to get cold. This puzzled me. How could your ankles possibly get cold but not your toes? Do you wear those cutsey socks that barely cover the heel? Then I saw you putting on your gators. Wow! Talk about mistakes. My advice: Never, ever go winter camping without good strong boots and always wear at least two pair of thick wool socks. That means your winter backpacking, mountaineering, or military boots will be about 1.5 sizes larger than what you would wear with a single pair of thin wool socks in summer. Wearing sneakers or flip-flops or whatever those things were should never be done in winter. You need the support, protection, and thermal buffering that only a real boot can provide. I wore the same pair of La Sportiva heavy mountaineering boots--at work, at home, and on the trail--until they finally wore out after 21 years. Never had cold feet. Definitely never, ever had cold ankles, even at -42 deg. F. PM 2024
Honey, gummies, chocolates or anything with lots of sugars will give you those short bursts of energy. Fats, proteins and caffeine keep your thermal energy up and warmer. Drinking warm or hot food (3600-4600 calories) & liquids (4-6 Liters or nalgenes) also help keep you warmer naturally.
99% .... but maybe suggest... don't be afraid to SHED layers as you exert! Also, vent sleeping bag if you start to over heat on a less clod night????? Sweating is bad... day or night!! And beginners should have an out if things don't go as planned. A close house or car!! But great info otherwise!!
An thin inexpensive wind jacket Nothing fancy Wear it as your outerwear when you are wearing a tee shirt, mid layer, or anything more Leave it on when you put on your major insulation over it You will be amazed how much heat will be retained by this simple wind jacket Synthetic bag if you are going out for multi day trips Your bag gets damp, down quickly looses its famed ratings where synthetic is unaffected
Great video Eric! What do you recommend wearing once you crawl into the sleeping bag for bed? I have over layered before and woken up in a pool of my own sweat in the cold- not fun. I have some other tricks I have used that would be useful to share. If you have water to spare, try heating up some water put it into a bottle. Wrap the bottle in some spare clothes and stick it into your sleeping bag 30 minutes to an hour before you go to sleep. This will help warm up the bag and also warm up your spare clothes. If you are changing clothes before bed, this will help you from slipping into something cold. Hot hands are also useful. Throw one in your sleeping bag before bed to warm it up. Just be sure to take it out when you get in there so you don't burn yourself. I have heard of others warming up rocks by a campfire and using them for this purpose but that does not seem too safe to me. For men, it's also a nice convenience to keep a bottle in the tent for when nature calls. Nothing worse than having to completely clamber out of your warm sleeping bag in the middle of the cold night to take a leak. And finally, warm drinks before are a nice comfort. Maybe a nice hot toddy with bourbon. Don't overdo it :)
Loose fitting layers are best for sleeping in. I go with long johns and my wool fleece. In really cold conditions I'll bring insulated pants and wear those. I don't sleep in my down jacket but I keep that inside the sleeping bag at my feet which reduces the amount of air my feet need to warm up and also keeps my feet from getting cold. Hot water bottle is a must on cooold nights! And yes, a pee bottle is great (just don't confuse it with your regular water bottle!)
@@eric_hanson Thanks for the reply, the jacket in the footbox is a great idea! We just started this RU-vid channel this summer to share our camping and backpacking adventures. You have been a big inspiration for me and I wish you so much success in your independent channel :) - Kyle
How do you keep your nose cold when it's poking out? I ran into that on my last trip. I was so warm inside my bag i actually took my fluffy wool socks off, but my nose sure was cold!
I spent 35 winters hating it. I would wear tennis shoes and hoodies and wonder why lol. Once my mind was able to understand I hated winter so much because I had no gear things changed. Sounds dumb I know, but most that hate the cold simply don’t dress or prepare for it. Now, I like it. No bugs, no swamps. No sweating bullets all night long. It’s peaceful and comforting.
Im doing lots of winter hiking in the white mountains in NH and im having a hard time trying to stay dry while hiking some serious elevation gain 3500ft+ in a day. sometimes more sometime less. I was just wearing a base layer long sleeve techwick shirt and a shell with all zips open and I was still wet. Honestly I think its too warm still to stay really dry while working that much. I guess im still figuring things out. When ive gone out into the low double digits (F) ive been alright.
Fishnet base layers helps reduce any sweat left on your skin and won't absorb moisture. In deep cold (single digits F and below) I go the opposite and wear a vapor barrier top and socks. Both reduce the need to be adding and shedding layers. Temps below 0 F at night, I wear vapor barrier pants, socks, top and mittens. In the morning you get that short shock when taking them off and shaking the ice off before putting them back on.
Thermarest X therm is an r7 and my choice for year round. I have a marmot -20 with a thin sea to summit liner. If still chilly I have a 20 degree quilt
I don't have a winter bag, and found that a hat that comes down far enough to cover the tip of my nose is a big help. That way I'm not trapping moisture in my bag, but my nose does not feel like it's going to get frostbite!
One thing people forget is to get a good tent. A three season tent may not cut it for you or depending on where you are going like up a mountain can be very dangerous. There are some four season tents that are not too pricy that will work when out winter camping.
Yes, you stack the R-values; Lets say that the big mat has an R-value of 6 and the thin one have a R-value of 2, now you have a combined R-value sleepingsystem of 8. Many people use their summermats in really cold winters to get that extra insulation from the ground.
Love the show Eric! Could you please advise on winter camping with a quilt? Would you just not do it? Trying not to have to buy another sleeping bag. Thanks!
4 season is a must if you are camping where there is snow and/or high wind, they are also a bit warmer. Snow can easily cause most 3 season tents to collapse if it is wet enough.
Not MSRs, even with tails they’re too small to keep you near the top of the snow if you weigh much over 150-175lb. On more compacted snow they’re fine, I bought a pair of Atlas Range MTN 35 (about the same size as Lightning Ascents with tails) and they should be fine for bushwhacking in a month. Right now the snow is still too soft and sugary from some days getting above freezing. If you and your pack weigh 200+ pounds I’d recommend 10x36 snowshoes such as Louis Garneau Blizzard III or Tubbs Mountaineers in steeper terrain, or in rolling terrain GV Snow Aerolite, Tubbs Wilderness, or Tubbs Panoramic. For very heavy loads GV Wide Trails work great, although their crampons are the least aggressive of all listed. If the snow is truly bottomless nothing but the largest traditionals will work.
Very good video! Would have liked to hear something about whatever shelter you might be using as well. Don't want the wind to blow through, but you don't want it to hold the moisture from your breath either.
Hello 👋 Eric, thank you for sharing this most informative video. You always do a great job in sharing the vital information. Keep up your great work and stay safe out there. 😊
Thanks for sharing this knowledge/experience. I'm actually planning to do my first winter camping, coming Jan/Feb for the first time using my current gear. Could I ask a question about the sleeping system? My tent is a true and true 4-season one, mattress is 3.3R and quality down bag with -4 C. comfort level. I plan to add a closed cell foam mattress, just like in your video. About 1,7 R, for 5 R total. (And a sleeping bag liner for added 5 C.). The snow under the tent is freezing of course but not as cold as the outside temperature. Why would you use an R-value over 5? Maybe a genuinely retarded novice question. But I sometimes see people pack upto 9 R mattress combinations. I don't get it.
With a combined R5 you should be good depending on actual conditions of course. -4 C isn't a super cold bag but adding the liner will definitely help. It's a great way to get your system workable for winter conditions. But that being said, I just got the new Nemo R8.5 mattress and I'm reeaaally excited to use it as that'll definitely make a difference over an R5 mattress.
On the clothing, I guess if you are going hiking for a week maybe all of the layers. However, I go snow skiing for an entire day in weather that ranges from barely freezing at the bottom of the mountain to sub zero at the top with nothing more than a base layer thermal (almost any material from cotton to wool to silk to any number of the synthetics), then a long sleeve tshirt, then a ski jacket (with a removable lining). Get hot? Unzip the jacket. Get cold? Zip the jacket. I mean I guess its only one layer less than yours but you look like George Constanza in his Goretex puffy coat where he couldn't put his arms down with all othose layers. Mine is one thin thermal, one thin tshirt and one heavy jacket. I would add that a good ski jacket is not only warmer than most every other jacket, its also waterproof and often has lots of hidden zippers that allow for air flow to help regulate heat and moisture. Heck jacket has cinches around the waist, the wrists, and it has a hidden waterproof hood in case it starts snowing but also works as a wind block. I do appreciate the gaiter suggestion...buying myself a pair of those.
Ski jackets are great for what you're describing. But I wouldn't recommend them for backpacking. They're way too bulky and heavy. Even though my giant puffy can look silly, they're incredibly light, compact, and warm.
Question about sleeping in cold weather. How do you keep your face from freezing when its outside of the sleeping bag? Even with the sleeping bag cinched and a warm balaclava on, your nose and eyes are still exposed. Any suggestions? I kayak camp so my campsite is usually along the river somewhere and being that close to the water it gets a little colder. Last spring it got down to 19 degrees F one two nights. My nose and eyes were so cold it kept waking me up despite the rest of me being warm. Should I wear a half face neoprene ski mask?What do you suggest?
Maybe you could address the condensation inside the tent problem in cold weather. I want to try winter camping but heard it's better not to use down sleeping bag because it will just get moist from all the condensation inside the tent ceiling.
If it’s actually dripping water then I’d cover up with a lightweight tarp or use a bivy sack over the bag. But if it’s below freezing all the moisture will freeze and you can just brush it off. You will want to squeeze your bag flat right after getting out of it, this will push the warm, moist air (from your sweat) out of the bag and keep the down from freezing. You can also use a vapor barrier liner, they do take some getting used to, though. All your moisture stays in them and they can feel a little clammy.
That can happen, yes. But I've found that to not be as big of an issue with newer sleeping bags and DWR technology (durable water repellent) where down is treated to it doesn't clump up. If it's below freezing then you might get a layer of frost but you can brush it off and you're fine. Double layer tents are much better suited for winter camping as the condensation will be on the fly rather than the inner mesh and will really help the problem you're looking at.
