How to stay warm while sleeping in the frigid outdoors

Frozen toes at the bottom of your sleeping bag, the fear of frostbite looming in the back of your mind, and the ever-present possibility that you didn’t bring enough layers.

A fear of nights spent outdoors in below-freezing temperatures is enough to deter even the most passionate campers from spending a night in the wild in wintertime. After all, no one likes to wait for the sun to rise as they shiver.

“People hear ‘winter’ and they think ‘impossible.’ But if you have the right systems and the right gear, it can be comfortable and fun,” says Katie Oram, a winter field instructor at the National Outdoors Leadership School, who routinely spends 10 to 18 days at a time in often snowy, wintery backcountry conditions.

Learning how to beat that unforgiving chill and stay warm and cozy will allow you to have the full winter wonderland experience, plus take advantage of the empty trails, quiet animal encounters, and the beautiful silent nights.

Get the right equipment

First things first: make sure your camping gear can handle the cold, whether you’re sleeping in the backcountry or at a developed campsite. While an ultralight tent and lightweight sleeping bag will do in spring, you are guaranteed to have an unpleasant night if you set out during the colder months without items specifically designed for winter.

And if you’re not sleeping, you’ll be exhausted, which mοeans you’re not going to have fun.

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