A Bundle of Tips for Staying Warm at Camp

Cold therapy is a burgeoning topic. People like Wim Hoff preach the virtues of bone-chilling ice baths and running up mountains in one’s skivvies. All the power to them, but I figure most of us are slightly less fond of the cold.

For this reason, I’ve put together the following article with tips on keeping warm when camping in the fall. It’s far from definitive, but I believe it offers some reasonable suggestions. If you have others to add please email me with them. I’d love to hear your tips!

Stay in motion

I was shivering this afternoon. In part, I was cold because I was fasting. Additionally, I was sitting at my desk. So, I hopped on my bike trainer for an hour. It took a few minutes to warm up, and I’ve felt comfortable since.

The same approach applies to camping. Of course, you’ll feel cold if you sit still in freezing temperatures. No amount of clothing will fix that. However, if you walk around the campground, go for a hike, or chop some firewood, you’ll shake off your chills in no time.

Know your enemy; it is sweat

“Did you bring a dry shirt?” My dad asked me this a thousand times while growing up. He was convinced that if I didn’t get out of a sweaty shirt post-race, I was more prone to catching a cold. At the time, I was unsure, but I’ve come around on this topic—and now ask my kids the same question.

As sweat evaporates, it has a cooling effect. In turn, this can transform your shirt into an icy blanket. I doubt this actually brings on a cold, but it sure does leave you feeling crummy and susceptible.

The moment I finish a sweaty activity, I strip the wet shirt away. If I can, I swap every damp garment for a dry one. I find that my socks and mitts are hugely important. I just won’t warm up if those remain wet.

Pick the right clothing, gear, and campsite

I spoke about clothing for fall camping in a previous post. The key takeaway was to establish a layering system to create a barrier from the elements while insulating your body. You then dial in your temperature by adding and removing layers as necessary.

Getting a suitable sleeping bag and sleeping pad(s) can also help you stay warm at night. Find notes on what to look for in this post.

Setting up camp in a way that blocks wind is helpful in your tent and around your campsite. Equally important is to shelter yourself from rainfall and water runoff. You can read more detailed instructions for doing so in our camp setup article.

Stand around the campfire

So, campfires can warm you up. Bet you didn’t already know that, right? 😉 What can catch you off-guard is a province/state-wide fire ban that’s in place, despite your particular location being cold.

For this reason, check to make sure that you’re allowed to have a campfire before you set out. I even carry a propane fire pit in the back of our trailer for this purpose. It turns out you can often use a propane fire pit even when a fire ban is in place.

A lot of folks swear by fire reflectors. A fire reflector is made up of hinged aluminum sheets that can run around your fire pit. This device creates a wall of sorts that acts as a wind barrier. It also reflects heat and light, giving your campfire a little more oomph.

Bring in a helper

Some folks use tent heaters to warm their tents. They then shut them off before going to sleep. I can see the appeal of these propane heaters, but I’m reluctant to use them, given the fire risk and the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning.

That said, I do like those disposable hand and foot warmers. (The older I get, the more I seem to like them.) It’s easy to toss a few of these in your pack for when you need a little heat boost. You can also find rechargeable hand warmers on the market. I haven’t personally used these, though. You can also find heated gloves and boots, but I haven’t tried these either.

I do, however, keep Mylar blankets (some call these space blankets) on hand. Every member of our family has one in their pack in case of an emergency. These can trap up to 90% of your radiated heat, so, in a tight situation, they’re an inexpensive (~$2/each) form of insurance. Some use these thermal blankets as an extra layer around their sleeping bags or between their sleeping mats.

Warm yourself from the inside

My slowing metabolism leads me to limit my food intake. When camping in cold conditions, I change tack. Your body burns more calories when trying to stay warm. If you’re hiking or taking part in another activity, you’ll burn even more.

Rich and calorie-dense foods can help replenish lost calories and put your tummy in a happy place. Are you interested in tips on cooking while camping in the fall? Well, lucky you! I collected some suggestions for you in this post on cooking in the off-season.

Make yourself a toasty drink and pour it into an insulated mug that’ll keep your hot bevy warm. Hot tea, coffee, and even mulled wine can do work wonders. Just don’t overdo it on the booze. Alcohol dehydrates you, making you feel cold—because your dehydrated body will limit blood flow to your skin.

Be Finnish

There are approximately 6 – 7 million Finns worldwide. If you’re one of them, you know the magic of sauna. Should you be less fortunate, check out this article about my portable sauna. If I could give every camper on the planet a gift, it’d be one of these.

Are you wondering why I haven’t spoken more about how to stay warm while sleeping at camp? Don’t sweat it! How to Sleep Like a Baby, When Camping in the Cold is the next installment in our Fall Camping Guide.

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That’s a cool (pun intended) shot above. It comes courtesy of Courtnie Tosana. She’s on Instagram as @courtniebt13.

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