Two Nights Camping in the Snow in Freezing Conditions 

I have no idea why your channel didn’t get recommended earlier.. definitely my new favourite “bushcrafter”. You do it the best my friend. Shelters are awesome… movie quality shots as well.. Pretty excited to go back and watch your older vids.

I think this might be the first vlog I’ve seen where the challenges of staying warm at night in the winter has been truly discussed. Thank you for being so honest and real about this challenge. You are inspiring Xander.

Xander - I’ve been out down to -20F a number of times in wintertime and have found a few tricks that may help you with your sleep system. I am a cold sleeper in general and these have worked for me. Your results may vary as everyone is different, but I love that you are out there trying this - admitting when it doesn’t work right and owning it. Kudos to you for getting out there! So here it goes: 1.) keep a completely different set of sleep clothes. Don’t wear them at all prior to getting into your sleeping bag. You will saturate them with enough moisture to act as a heat sink in your sleeping bag and cool down your extremities. I go with Merino wool like you do as well as a separate knit cap that I have not worn either and separate wool socks I haven’t worn except to sleep. Let it all dry out during the day if you can. 2.) if you can wash off a bit before you go to bed that will help in two ways. I’m not talking about a full on soaking bath, but just a quick sponge bath (pits, abdomen, back between the shoulder blades and lower back and feet). You don’t need soap either, just a wet wash cloth and a way to quickly dry off. When you sweat doing your camp chores it leaves a residue on your skin that attracts cold. Additionally if you do this right before you go to bed, you will freeze your @$$ off for 1 minute until you get dried off (I wash and dry sections at a time so I can get dressed in sleep clothes) the cold water and air will constrict your capillaries especially in your extremities as your body goes into protection mode, then jumping in your sleeping bag you will warm up quicker and stay warm longer as your body acclimates to the warmth of the bag. 3.) You are going about your ground insulation mostly right (in my experience), but I’ve actually gotten away with a much thinner thermarest pad 1.5” R4.5 and sometimes a closed cell pad on top of that. I think your air volume is too large in the pad you are using and even with the higher (6) R-value it’s just too big of a volume of air and it acts like a heat sink. So air on the bottom and closed cell on the top is right, but believe it or not a thinner air pad. 4.) Lastly you need to create a dead air space around your entire sleep system. So get a cheap bivvy sack - doesn’t have to be water proof or anything special, just wind proof. Put the sleeping bag and all your ground insulation inside the bivvy. This will create a dead air space around the whole system and allow your body to slowly heat the areas in your ground insulation immediately around it with minimal impact from the natural air movement around the bag and your air based ground insulation. Best of luck with it and keep up the great work. Really enjoyed watching your content!👍

I love how he keeps making little mistakes but he’s not hiding them. Good dude

7:23 legendary 😂🤙🏼 great content brotha!

Your videos are the gold standard for this RU-vid genre. Great scenery, great pacing, informative, and just the right amount of talking! I can't stand youtubers that blab endlessly at the camera but it's also nice to hear your thoughts about the trip, what worked and what you would change. Also, your tarp shelters seem really effective and practical. Do you prefer the them over a tent or are you still trying out different things to see what works best?

"... But it sure as heck ain't happenin' today." This is why I scramble for a cup of tea and sit in awe to watch your videos. You create such hilarious moments with amazing production value, whilst physically pushing yourself to the point of being an ice cube multiple days in a row. Never stop being you gosh darn it, you're an international treasure.

The Skill and Intestinal Fortitude to even make a shelter in freezing temperatures leaves me awed. People cringe if they have to walk to the corner store on a cold morning. Salute to you Sir!

When it's really cold and I camp with an inflatable pad and a Z-rest, I usually put the Z-rest on the ground and the inflatable pad INSIDE my bag. I think if there's any air movement inside the shelter, it strips away any warmth that's being reflected back at you from the insulated pad. Putting it inside the bag lets the warmth stay inside with you. For extreme cold, I've also brought an SOL Escape Bivvy, which is basically a sleeping bag liner made of reflective material, and got inside that, then inside my bag. The clothes you wear to bed do get damp because the liner doesn't really breathe, but you stay VERY warm. Just some ideas. Kudos on sharing your gear challenges with us. So many outdoor videos make these outings seem like everything goes perfect, but those of us who actually get out and do it know you rarely have a perfect outing, especially in the winter. It's refreshing to see some true reality in your videos.

This channel is free therapy, love living vicariously through you and plan to get out there myself soon! Thank you for all that you do!

Issue you are having with the cold from your mattress is due to the air cooling in it. By putting the pad between you and the mattress you created a temperature insulator, the pad reflected the heat back at your body. I would recommend a Wool blanket, your pad, and maybe even a reflective Mylar tarp with the reflective material facing towards your body. Cold ground can be a fast ending to all good cold weather camping. I use a cot since I am getting older, but I still add quite a few barriers and cushioning to reduce back pain and keep a body warmth barrier.

Great job Gustavo: remarkable camera work even with that cold. He definitely needs a raise.

That was really hard core. Thumbs up, it's the difficult things one overcomes that stay with us for longer and the worse it was, the bigger the reward once you're through. Compliments to you Sir, stay strong!

I'm glad I found your channel! I love your style of filming and editing, nice and simple! I really enjoy watching your trips, it's relaxing, and informative. You are doing exactly what I like, and what I always dreamed about as a kid! Enjoy the beautiful nature, and keep up the adventures, be safe!

Xander buddy i think i’ve watched every one of your videos now. You’re amazing, through all the hardships and struggles always keep on going we love you. Thanks for capturing what life’s really about and inspiring tons.

Just want you to know that you inspired me to go camping alone someday, and i just did it yesterday! Really peaceful for being far from human for a while and just with myself in the woods. Thanks xander 🔥👌

Once you have your sleep system dialled in, add a light weight ice auger, 2 tip ups and some tackle to your sled so you can fish the lake you set up camp on. We need a Xander winter survival catch and cook. Great video!!

When you're stressed out in life then you see the notification that Xander uploaded a video, a reminder to us that life's not so bad.

You've won me! Phhrrt.... and surprised eyes. Whatever way you can up your techniques to warm your core, get it. Because you are a true adventurer to bring vids of bushcraft, win or fail. Take every care in freezing campouts, we want you here for every season, all treks everywhere you love best. Thanks for another 2 "crack 'em up" humour edits. All the very best. Trudes. Cheers. Qld Australia 🐞🇦🇺

There is literally nothing better than your winter camping. The steam from your food is incredible. Back of your tent pov view was cool too

I became a fan of yours when you went on a long trip with Jon of Lost Lakes, and you guys didn't end up hating each other. Being a loner camper myself, it's hard to imagine a stranger becoming a friend under those circumstances, so I knew you were a cool dude. I appreciate your mistakes too, I've made every one. 😄The wind thing is the hardest to deal with. I am near the Continental Divide and that's what I deal with, so I felt your pain there. Sometimes, no fire is possible.

I found your channel around 2 weeks ago and have watched every episode (while at work but don't tell my boss). What you're doing is something I've wanted to do for a few years now - get outside to explore, camp and live in the outdoors a bit. And you have encouraged me to do that! I have taken my kayak out to more than ever these past few weeks just to explore what is around my countryside house and have found a few gems, all thanks to your encouraging videos! Your filming style is so immersive and the comedy sides are epic - the "not today" part got me laughing good. Looking forward to the next video. If you're ever in Ireland hmu dude!

Thank you! Enjoyed outside my whole life. I live in the south now. Still cold sometimes, but no snow. Thanks again for reminding me! Dry layers, keep moving. Sleep in the daytime sun!

I have been watching your videos for a few weeks now and I can't stop watching! You are very inspiring and you are making me want to try solo camping big time! Thank you for sharing your camping adventures with us.

Great to see you piling the snow around the back of the tarp. It makes a difference but for some reason I see a lot of channels where they don’t bother. We also use the sled and whatever else is handy to make side walls to the tarp and that seems to help also. Excellent post as usual!

I went camping on an island at my local lake after being inspired by your videos! The lowest it hit was 27 degrees and I've never been out overnight in that kind of weather. Can't get enough of your videos bud keep it up 👍

Oh man oh xander... Just happened to find your "coming clean about solo camping" video and your sense of humor is just what i was hoping to find. I love your videos, I can't stop watching them or just listening to them while working. Please keep it up!

Hell yeah! Great video Xander! I've watched all your videos and watched them over again! After work, I got a routine of un-winding by watching one of your videos and packing some leaf of my own. Looking forward for the next one!!!

Kudos for sticking it out another night! Also, thanks for making this video 20 mins long. Some guys do 1 night with an hour+ video, this was awesome!

Watching you set up that tarp reminds me of building forts with sheets and blankets as a kid. I guess that’s where it all starts right 😁

I could give you all kinds of advice on how to make your system sleep warmer, but honestly I know nothing about it, so instead I will ask you to keep us informed on what you did to tweak it and make it more comfortable. I just love the honesty and realness of your videos, this is how you teach people the right way, by trial and error. Thank you for taking the time and energy (and cold) to give us entertainment.

Dude your legit the real thing! Thank you for your videos. I send them to all of my family and friends!

It’s a true breath of fresh air to hear an outdoorsman tell his viewers the issues he’s having with his sleep system and shelter. A lot of these Bushcraft RU-vid content creators are too arrogant to fess up to the fact that what they’re doing isn’t perfect. No one has a perfect night especially on their first night camping in the wilderness. This is even more true when you’re camping in the middle of winter. There’s always room for improvement when you’re sheltering in the great outdoors.

I just had covid pretty bad and am struggling with some myocarditis at the moment and your videos are the best bro. They really help to manage my panic attacks and calm me down. Cheers from Montana!

I’m never likely to sleep in the snow living in Australia but I appreciate the effort you put in. I like the discussion on mishaps, technical issues as so many RU-vid channels present a perfect camp in each video. An after dinner 5 minute chat on a piece of gear in the video would be interesting to me. Thank you.

Thanks again for sharing your adventures! Everyone can learn from your mistakes and I so appreciate that you explain your process of learning.

Dude, your content makes me feel like I am in another world. Keep up the ASTONISHING work brother.

I am freezing just watching this. The second night looked brutal with the wind. Your a real trooper Xander.

Just discovered this channel and I’m so glad I did. Funny, truthful and honest. Great video all the best Luke.

Love winter camping vids! Especially when you get to make the joke that the best thing about it is no mosquitos. I've only gone as cold as -18C, but the thing that helped a ton was foot warmers. Tight sports socks, stick on foot warmers, dry thick woolen socks over top. That made the second and further trips significantly nicer for sleeping.

Hey Xander, when I winter camp I basically don't wear anything but my underwear in the sleeping bag, my understanding is that then your body heat can better circulate throughout the bag, and if the bag is a good one it should insulate the heat from escaping. I'm a Canadian as well living in Romania, also struggled with substance abuse, so it is great to watch the vids and relate to things. Thanks for the content!

I so enjoy your videos and am constantly amazed at your seeming confidence and fearlessness in exploring and camping in these natural settings. Also, you have a great sense of humor, which is why so many people like you! You might enjoy reading "A Year in the Woods: Twelve Small Journeys into Nature" by Torbjørn Ekelund.

Very calming to watch - great to see a bush crafter at work

Once again, pure joy and excellence! Thank you!

Thanks for the video. I just got back from my first winter tarp camping trip. It was COLD! Everything froze, my camera batteries, my drone, my lights, and even my new thermometre! I kept all my batteries in my inside pocket to keep them warm! The only thing that didn't freeze was ME! Oh well I still had a good time. I could have used that sleeping bag you have 😀

Love the videos and what your doing on the channel Xander! Would be awesome to see a dedicated shelter tutorial/in-depth set up video for a couple different tarp options so I can improve my own tarp game! Much love from Newfoundland.

Great as always! I can't get enough of watching campfires and tarp-setups. I couple of my own experiences for staying warm at night; the silver side on the thermarest towards you (its supposed to reflect your heat), add more and thicker wool/down clothes (some people say that you shouldn't have more than a baselayer inside the sleeping bag but as long as you don't compress the insulation it helps a lot) and some insulation around the nalgene helps extend the time it gives off heat. Hope this helps!

Incredible man! Keep it up. Looking forward to seeing what you'll be getting up to this Spring and Summer. The family and I really enjoyed your 12 day Boreal Forrest with Jon. Cheers!

Wow, I hate being cold at ANY time! So I guess I admire your tenacity in that you keep trying to get it right, and you will! You got quite a few good suggestions in the comments. Also, on a much more serious note: Your reaction to and subsequent ignoring of that fart was exactly as it should have been, short of editing it out. Hey, we're all human and humans toot. But I was relieved that it didn't turn into an "juvenile" comedy routine as I've seen on some other channels. Ok, That's enough of the serious talk. When I saw the opening drone shot of you walking in with your sled, I had vision of you having a small dog sled team to ride in and drag your gear. LOL! Thanks for sharing your frigid adventure and excellent film. Stay safe and warm Xander!

Dude u are wild for these freezing cold overnights !! Idk if i could manage this lol Keep it up man !!

I just found your channel and it’s great!!! I lost my mom in February and I enjoy watching your videos. You make me laugh! And I also learn a lot about camping/hiking/cooking. You are a Canadian treasure!!😊

What a man needs? A man needs his time alone in the woods! That's the perfect time spending out there. Great video Xander. Always watching with a smile. Keep it up , my friend.

Hi Xander. In Duel Survival they lined the inside of the tarp with an emergency reflective solar blanket (dollar store) and apparently it trapped a lot of heat. You should try it to stay warm during the night. Thanks for the video.

Wowza! That is a colder night than I have ever stayed out in. I stay out in -10C pretty regularly, and I've been quite warm with a less impressive sleep system than yours. It seems like you're trying all the right things, and working it out, but that's a tough cold to stay out in. One thing I do that seems to help, I take two steel hot water bottles to bed, not just one. I put one in the crotch area of my snow pants, and I stuff the other one down the leg of the pants. The upper one I hug / keep next to me, and the one in the pant leg goes between my legs. (I don't wear the snow pants to bed). the bottle between the legs is usually still quite warm, if not hot in the morning. Sometimes it's the little stuff. I'm sure you've learned that even better than myself.

Hey Xander, Another great video, many lessons learned. Few tips from my 10 years of winter overnight trips. Down booties, weigh around 2 oz for a pair vs 5.6 oz for my heavy wool socks (I usually bring both), can help keep your toes warm overnight. A reflective emergency blanket can radiate the heat from the fire towards your sleep system and block wind during camp, can reflect your body heat during the night if used as a ground cloth. Stay safe and stay warm.

I've wanted to do this since I was a little kid. I'm old now and never did it, but I can live through your videos sometimes. Thanks, you're the real deal. ☺

Hello Xander, I always love to see yout new Videos and I hope you wont stop making them 😁 greeting from Germany and stay yourself

I wonder how much of your cold back is from the Sea to Summit pad. I've seen several gear review channels mention that the Ether Light XT felt much colder than other pads with similar R-value ratings. One hypothesis was that the insulation inside the pad shifts around too much and creates cold spots. I own a Thermarest XTherm, and cannot speak highly enough of it's cold weather performance.

Hi Xander, love the channel! Thanks for posting all of these videos and displaying your experiences for us to sit at home and dream about our own trips! I was trying to figure out your sleep system along with you as I watched. My Uncle who was an avid camper in the Sierras spoke of using a cowboy bedroll and wool blankets under themselves to stay insulated. At -20 to -30 C, your air mat will only conduct cold under you and the R-value is lost (insert complicated R-value math/science equation here...) basically laying directly on the snow would keep you warmer then the air mat which is actually the issue in those temps! You'd need a "thermal break"! Good luck! You're a braver man than I !!! Some more of my Uncle's advice, watch Jeremiah Johnson (1972) for mountain man tips in cold weather sleeping!! ("Didn't put enough dirt down, Saw it right off." --Bear Claw Chris Lapp)

I love your videos, not long ago I lost my dad and watching your videos it makes me relax and enjoy nature. Thank you

That post-fart little zoom in on the reaction 👌 Really interesting how you felt warmer with the CCF pad on top...there's some debate about that online but no clear answer if one way is scientifically better. At the risk of being one of a thousand people to suggest something, I added a sheet of Reflectix (at any hardware store) after many recommended it and I like it. Pretty cheap, weighs nothing.

Xander: Beautiful opening scene!! BTW, what winter gloves do you recommend. I am going for a two-nighter in a couple of weeks (thanks for the inspiration) and I noticed in one video you seemed to have some nice flexible gloves. I didn't see it in your list.

I love snow, just simply heavenly beautiful. I was once in NY many years ago, I love the winter there. I wish we have snow in our country. Love following your videos Xander, very relaxing. Keep it up!

Today I was doing the groceries and came face to face with a huge pallet full of Dino Eggs instant oatmeal’s. Made me smile, bought two boxes. Arrive home, see you put out a new video! I have been following your channel for about a year now and I do enjoy all of what you put out there. Thank you for sharing your adventures!!!

Always love your videos. Such beautiful videography, and I love how real you are. I’d be so interested in just a compilation of you walking back to pick up your cameras after all those trekking shots.

The thing I enjoy about your videos, is, that you are not afraid to show the issues that many people experience. A lot of us have experienced these challenges

Nothing better than to come home a relax watching this, Great work out there Xander!

I love your style Xander very hard core. You have advanced so much since you first started. I love that they are short and not one to two hours long. Keep up the good work. When I go winter camping I’ll put a couple of foot warmers in the foot box of my bag and a couple further up

As always, impressed with you knot tying and you willingness to tough it out though your “sleep system” wasn’t working for you. I’m also glad to watch this from Florida😎 Great video.

I love it. Xander warts & all, good & bad. Cool to watch you learn & thanks for sharing. I did cold weather training in the US Marine Corps. The gear & eating before getting in the bag was key to staying warm. It took me 5k calories a day to stay warm. Drinking plenty of fluids water, tea, cider were great break from water. Love the videos & thanks for sharing.

Opening with the overheads of you trekking through is awesome. Love the vids ~! Keep it up, it's great content

Absolutely love this!

Yo Xander Whats up man ? I am so addicted to ur channel you become my sweet addiction in RU-vid😂. Perhaps because you make people happy, free and love the nature…It’s incredible. I write this comment in the 20th of December 2023, so I would like to wish you a merry Christmas and I am waiting with impatience ur next videos. Big hugs😊🎉❤

LOVE THIS! Added to my favs! Nothin' like fatwood!! Great job! TY!

Another awesome vid Xander. My favorite way to get a fire close to a open shelter like that(if I got a shovel)...I build fire out way like you did...then once a bed of coals is formed. I split two or three logs into planks..put them closer to bedding then shovel coals onto it. Then I toss 1 log on coals as needed. I don't have to deal with as cold as climate as you so a bed of coals with one log on it goes a long way without flaring up huge flames as you shown in your clip. Thanks for another adventure bud!

Totally worth watching❤️ We want more 2 3 days camping videos Xander. More power to you.

Another great video! Discovering your channels helps me out in so many ways. I enjoy the artistically way in which you show nature and appreciate it. Thanks for making these videos!

Addicted to your channel, my family all watch your videos! Am always itching for the next video!!!

I always dig your videos! Thanks!

Thank you for allowing us to share in your adventures. Keep em coming 👍🥃🇨🇦

best video you've done so far .. the fact that you changed camp was so much fun :) Take care! Thank you for all your work.

My first bush camp channel and one of the best!

Love your videos. Have been binge watching them. I love my cozy bed. Stay safe out there and God bless you.

No Messing Around here! Straight to the setup- and fire making! Great Model!

The more layers you wear inside a sleeping bag, the less effective the sleeping bag is. The sleeping bag is designed to trap your body heat around you, but the more layers you wear, less of your body heat escapes to warm the inside of the bag. Minimal layers is a good thing. Also, you can put your clothes under the sleeping bag to help keep them warm for the morning. Couple of things I learned sleeping in the cold in the Marines. Enjoyed the vid, man!

Thanks for another great video Xander!

Ok, I’ve subscribed. You have an amazing channel. I love how you teach as you camp and talk about your successes and mishaps. Love it!

These videos are amazing man, thank you!

Good Job, Xander ! 👏👏👏 LOVE YOUR WORK AND VIDEOS !!! 💕💕💕 YOU WORK SO HARD AND EXPLAIN EVERYTHING SO GREAT ! THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING SO BRAVE AND INSPIRING !!! 🙏🙏🙏

Great video showing that it's not all perfect when winter camping. I am watching this at near +30 while you are at -30 brrrr. Thanks.

Man. Another banger. That wind/smoke problem is something I’ve never seen before. Kind of mind boggling. Great video, man!

great video as always man, keep it up, much love

i’ve really been using your videos as an escape. they’re so beautifully shot! i spend my work days just wishing i was out in the woods somewhere

Another awesome vid!! Not a fan of winter camping, but, you make it look enjoyable!! However, I think I will continue to enjoy it from my house and watch your fantastic adventures! I hope you get your gear dialed in for the cold weather. Nothing sucks worse than waking up cold in the middle of the night. Thank you and keep them coming!

can't get enough of this channel. Very impressed with what you do.

You’re honestly so wholesome man, I truly wish you the best !

I've been in a few sub 32F and even below zero nights camping and I found that sometimes a basic and less expensive solution helps. I make a cocoon around me (I still use my 1980 North Face Bigfoot sleeping bag) by using two waterproof outdoor blankets; one side that has the polyurethane-coated nylon backing and the other side that has the fleece surface. The fleece side is the interior and I make a barrier above and below me. It really works. If I may say Xander, I think the trouble you've had is that you have insulation below you - but not around you. That trapped air really creates another layer of protection.

Just simple awesome friendly and ENJOYABLE 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Love everything about your channel and this video proves how hardcore and adaptable you are. Love watching your vids. Also really enjoy it when you convey what knots you're using to set up camp. Would love to know some timestamps of how long it takes to set up a shelter, to collect wood, to cook your meal, etc. Keep doing what you're doing, mate.

I love the way you make a fire my friend. It’s a thing of beauty.