Winter camping

[Doggydarling]

I joined a group of women who get together occasionally for hiking/swimming/camping and have been away with them once last Aug, it was really fun but unfortunately I wasn't able to get away again that season. Some of them are planning a wild camping trip the end of January and I plan to go but I've never camped outside of summer time so I'm begging for tips on how to cope, this will also be my first wild camping trip so I'm apprehensive about that too. I have a decent tent, it's a vango 3 person, not very big but sufficient, I've a couple of gas stoves (I used to camp a lot when my ds was young) so cooking is covered, it's handy tips and tales of experience I'm after. We'll be camped in forestry near the coast, an area well known to the organiser.

Sounds fun! Will you be hiking to your camp spot - do you need to carry all your gear or will you have a car?

I would think about your sleep system, a warm nights' sleep would be my priority. The most important thing is insulation from the cold from a he ground, especially in winter. I have the Thermarest X-lite X-therm sleeping mat which has a high R-rating (keeps you warmer), I do really like it but I wish I'd bought the widest mat available as mine is the narrow Women's one and a bit small. My bestie has the NEMO Tensor ultralight insulated sleeping pad, she chose the widest rectangular shape. It's super comfy and I'm a little envious. I bought a mini pump on Amazon which I love for speedy inflation.

Then think about sleeping bags.

Sea to Summit does a Traverse bag designed around a woman's shape (rather than a Mummy shaped bag which suits men better) so I never feel claustrophobic or get tangled up and it's super warm. It has zips everywhere I chose that and it gets me through all seasons. I can unzip the feet for air, use it as a quilt in summer or zip up tight in the cold.

My tip is to look at the temperature ratings. They give a comfort rating, eg. You'll be comfortable down to -4 and a lower rating, eg -10 which basically means you'll survive at -10 even if you're a bit cold.

My experience is that these ratings must in general be designed for men who feel the cold less and you need to go for a warmer one than you think.

My bag was expensive, but worth it to me because I get cold when I first get in but may then unzip the feet in the night to cool down a little...

I bought the best I can afford and expect it to last. There are cheaper options at Go Outdoors etc. but the Snugpak I bought initially was cheap quality and was no way going to keep me as warm as they said.

Just to add to this, the Therm-a-rest X-Therm Neo Air sleep mat is excellent, but I wish I'd got the rectangular shape either in large or extra wide, they're 64cm wide rather than mine which is a mummy shape and only 50cm wide. It claims to be the warmest mat on the market, and it's very light and compact to carry.

I think it’s mostly down to what you wear.
After that, I think it’s how well you insulate your tent floor, and it also helps if you drink small cups of hot liquids frequently, rather than big cups infrequently, if you know what I mean!

You’ll also want a really decent head torch.

Hot water bottle, put a thick polystyrene sheet under your sleeping bag to insulate you from the ground
Hot water bottle

It’s much harder to warm up than stay warm. Layer up and change into warm clothes before you get cold. Thick socks, gloves, hat and a fleece blanket are a must.
Hot drinks before bed and stay dry at all costs.
I love camping but hate being too cold.

We'll be camping a short distance from the car, I have a trolley which we will use to move gear, from the group chat there are some with slight mobility issues so I offered to bring the trolley.

IME it's always much colder at night in the UK that you think it'll be but it'll still be fun if you're prepared! Good advice above. I'd layer up in your bag and definitely prioritise keeping off the ground. A silk liner might be worth a look? Also I'd have a very definite self-imposed "no drinks after 6pm" rule!!

Agree with all the above. Also take a traveljohn disposable loo or some kind of potty/bucket to avoid loo trips in the night.
sounds like fun! Must be great finding likeminded women, I’m tempted to see if I can do the same.

Foil Medi blankets are tiny when folded and go not allow heat exchange. Take a few and cover the floor of your tent. It will make a surprising difference to the temperature. Consider a silk liner inside a sleeping bag inside a bivvi inside your tent.
Prioritise keeping warm.
How long is the trip? If only a single night I'd go for self heating meals rather than cooking.

how did it go doggydarling?

It was great and we were out again this weekend, I upgraded my sleeping bag and have a second one that I can unzip and use as a duvet if needed, last Fri night was cold but I was toasty warm, the tents were crispy with frost but it meant Saturday was lovely weather wise. There's been around 5 or 6 on each trip (I've done 3 so far) and we're planning more. It's been an absolutely uplifting experience and made me realise I'd really missed having female company. Highly recommend it. Now I'm starting to walk more with the intention of joining some of the others on hikes/long distance walks.

I joined a Facebook group called Wild Wonderers Women Only (I'm not in the UK but there is a UK group), that's how I got involved and its great to have a group of women to get together with and who enjoy the same things.

thanks for reply - sounds great - you did well to get out that time of year with kit I had the idea that you just rustled together - ie had idea you weren't a seasoned winter camper.

I hadn't camped in 20 years and never in winter but I had my old campingaz cooker, pots, gas lamp, and an ancient sleeping bag from back then, I got a 3 season bag on sale and dh bought me a vango heated bag for my second trip, I bought a second hand 3 man vango tent but have to say the group are so helpful regarding sharing gear and even offer to supply everything by sharing the extra bits people have to allow a beginner to try it out, I was delighted to be able to loan a self inflating mattress this weekend because I've ended up with two, there is so much available second hand. Definitely bitten by the bug now, and love the 'wilder' experience, we'd a composting toilet and sawdust as our only facility but were camped in a nature reserve on a river bank, pure heaven.

Hello, I’m a Guide leader and have been to 2 Winter Camps in Kielder Forest, Northumberland in January with our older Guides and Rangers.
It can get very cold overnight. We recommended 2 sleeping bags (one inside the other) and blankets. If you use a pillow, put it inside a fleece jumper as then the warm air gets trapped round your face more easily than with a cotton pillowcase.
Have clothes for sleeping in (pjs, thermals, jumper, hat) in a plastic bag so they are absolutely dry when you put them on at night, and however cold you feel, change out of your day clothes into the new cloths (as your day clothes will be have moisture in from sweat etc - this tip was given to me by a friend who has spent time in the Arctic).
If you’ve got a stove handy a hot water bottle would be a good addition.

Such good tips @rachrose8, thank you! Fleece pillowcases are cheap at Dunelm and similar places - might be a good investment. We camp a lot in summer and some of the nights are more than chilly enough for me then - I take my hat off to the OP and any other winter campers.