Introduction: How to Stay Warm During a Campout
Have you ever been on a campout during winter and just couldn't stay warm? Well I can't go back in time and help you out there,but this 'ible will help keep you warm during future campouts.
please vote for this instructable in the stay warm contest also.and dont forget to rate!
Step 1: Don't Be a "macho Man"
You see what it says above?That helps a lot.I go on campouts regularly with my troop and there always one of them who says "I'll be okay,I don't get cold,so I don't need to bring warm clothes,sleeping bag etc." Which brings me to my next point.
Step 2: During the Day
Here is what i like to bring for a weekend campout.
CLOTHES
1.hoodie/sweatshirt
2.sweatpants.'''NO''' Jeans.Jeans have,I won't say large, but large for clothes,spaces between the threads that let cold air through them,making you colder.sweatpants do not have spaces as large as jeans.
3.a beanie!some also call them a skull cap.it is basically a hat made out of warm material that completely covers your head.And it '''WILL'''
keep you warm.
4.spare clothes.it may seen simple,but make sure that all your clothes are made of the same material as advised above
please note:a beanie is also great for covering your eyes while sleeping.
LAYERING
1.be sure to layer your clothes and switch them out before you go to sleep because during the day you sweat and that turns into cold clothes.So change clothes before you go to bed.I use tomorrow's clothes to sleep in.
2.you can change your layers based on your activity level.say you have a football game,well you could just strip some layers down to 1 or 2 layers and have a football game with your friends.But say you are just sitting around doing nothing but watching the day go by.Then I would recommmend 3 or 4 layers.
I usually layer like this.
1st layer:t-shirt or maybe under armor
2nd layer:hoodie or sweatshirt
3rd layer:i ususally dont go to a third layer,but i would recommend a heavy coat
4th layer:same as third layer
MISC
1.a packet of HOT HANDS(explained in step four)
Step 3: Sleeping Bag
It is good to watch the weather before a campout.why you ask?well the temperature makes the matter of what type of sleeping bag to bring.Sleeping bags vary from subzero to above 70 degrees.That number is what temp the bag will keep warm at.This means that if you bring a 60 degree bag on a campout where the '''warmest''' temp will be 32 degrees,you'll be up all night shivering.I have one 50 degree bag for summer and a 20 degree bag for winter.Also,a thermal pad is a must-have for winter campouts just put it under you bag and sleep.thermal pads can be found at any camping store such as bass proshops,cabela's,etc.
Step 4: My Personal Tips for Staying Warm.
read the title.
1.if you wake up in the night and find yourself having to urinate,GO!you will not get back to sleep until you do.I know from experience.
2.what i did on my last camp-out was boil some water,put it in my water bottle,and slept with it in my sleeping bag.kept me warm as long as I cared to notice it.
3.have you ever heard of hot hands?they're this little packet,you can buy for a dollar where im at,that when you open the package and shake the packet,it gets really,well,hot!youb can use those to stay warm night or day.
please note:if you have any comments,questions,or concerns,dont hesitate to comment below or pm me.
Participated in the
Stay Warm Contest
17 Comments
12 years ago on Introduction
ve2vfd, with reference to peeing at night: I discovered these
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Traveljohn-66918B-TravelJohn-Disposable-Urinal/dp/B0019M7VE6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295021172&sr=8-1
last year, they are a life saver.
13 years ago on Step 4
Put hot hands inside your sleeping bag where your feet are. It will keep you warmer at night.
14 years ago on Step 2
For the layering system: Good idea. However, I can imagine it difficult to wear TWO heavy coats. What I usually do in the winter is wear a tank top, then a long sleeve shirt, then a short sleeve shirt over that (or vise versa), a sweater or hoodie, then a jacket/coat. Meaning I usually wear THREE shirts. Also, thermal shirts and underwears (long johns, for instance) are super great! Use them! Even if you do look like an old timer from Kentucky. =P
14 years ago on Introduction
I'd bet this would get better views with more pictures with punctuation and spaces in the right spots.
14 years ago on Introduction
im a boy scout to WOOO
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
in boy scouts we'd smoke rolled-up paper towels after the leaders went to sleep.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
WOOO?
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
i dont know??????
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
i think you meant I'm a boy scout too
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I'm a scout too!!!!!!!!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
me too...what rank?
14 years ago on Step 2
"COTTON KIILS"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't wear cotton. When it gets wet, it loses all insulating value unlike wool and synthetic materials such as polyester..... Fleece is good.
14 years ago on Introduction
you were right about the fact that you should layer but wrong about the clothes you should use. Never use cotton when camping ever. Cotton is evil. you always want your first layer to be a wick away fabric like under armor and never just a cotton t shirt. also a hoodie is cotton so don't where it. instead where a fleece and or a wool sweater. There is a reason for this. If cotton gets wet it gets cold and it drys slowly is wick away fabrics like under armor fleece or wool get wet they still keep you worm. Never go camping with cotton especially in the winter.
14 years ago on Introduction
For sleeping you should add that an insulating ground pad is absoluely essencial as you lose a LOT of heat thru contact with the ground.
When sleeping, always wear a wool hat, even in a hooded sleeping bag, major heat loss from the head. Also NEVER sleep in the clothes you had on during the day (including that wool hat!), only wear fresh dry clothes (tomorrows clothes).
Also, no matter how tempting it may be, do NOT stick your head inside your sleeping bag, condensation from your breath will make everything damp inside the bag. Always breathe out of an air hole, never completely close your bags hoodie.
You may also want to add that one must dress in layers and ajust the number of layers according to the activities you are doing. You want to make sure you are never overdressed during a high activity period, sweating = damp clothes = cold unhappy camper.
As for peeing at night, many people use an old widemouth nalgene bottle as a "pee bottle" so you do not have to get out of your bag to pee at 2am. Just make sure to properly identify the bottle so you'll recognise it in the dark by touch :)
Pat (also a Scout leader... :) going to camp with the kids this weekend... it's gonna be COLD! in the -20's)
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
ill be sure to add these tips.and thanks for them
14 years ago on Introduction
This is pretty good !, Larger pictures would be better though !
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
thanks!