Camping can be a lot of fun, especially in the wintertime. Tents make for cozy and readily available shelter from the harsh conditions found outside.
Since tents aren’t usually designed to withstand below-freezing temperatures (winter camping) it might be necessary to insulate your tent before heading out into the snow and cold.
A quick tent inspection
The first thing to do is an inspection of your tent. If there are holes, tears or loose seams it might be best to fix them now since they will only increase as you attempt to insulate the tent. A quick seam ripper can fix any holes without too much work. Also, make sure that your tent is able to stand up on its own without collapsing.
To insulate the floor, first lay down a tarp as an outer layer of protection from moisture and cold air. Then on top of that, put a single layer of insulation foam on the ground.
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Tent wall insulation
If possible, try to locate a space heater inside the tent to provide additional insulation. If not, you will have to work with what is available.
Once your resting area is set up, it’s time to insulate the walls of the tent. The best thing to use for this is blankets since they are thick and can be made especially warm on their own.
Make sure that you hang them up properly so that they are able to cover the entire wall. This may require tent poles or other spare equipment to hold the blankets in place.
Seal the ventilation point
Finally, make your way over to your ventilation point (in the top of the tent) and seal it off with a tarp or thick plastic sheeting. This will prevent cold air from flowing into the tent, which means that you will have to provide your own ventilation by propping up a small part of the tarp or plastic sheeting.
Don’t forget to leave some room in case you need to get out for any reason!
Read more: Best Tents for Heavy Rain
Can you heat a tent with a space heater?
Space heaters are great for heating a tent, but there are some risks you need to consider. A safe way to heat up your tent is by plugging in the space heater outside of the entrance. Then, open the flap just enough for heat to get in but not so much that sparks can fly out through it.
Once you’ve done this, turn on the heater and bring it into the tent with you. Be careful not to let it touch any of the blankets since the cords may fray and spark.
Another option is to bring in a regular heating device like an electric blanket to provide some extra warmth.
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Insulate yourself as well
When winter camping, insulating yourself is just as important as insulating your tent. Make sure to dress in thick layers and don’t forget to bring warm socks, hats, mittens and scarves. Sleeping bags are also important when it comes to keeping warm at night.
These easy steps will help keep your winter camping trip safe and comfortable!
If you can’t insulate, use a smaller tent
Using a smaller tent is a great way to stay warm in the winter. If you use a 3-season tent in the winter, it will be colder inside. A larger tent needs more heat to stay warm, and this heat comes from your body.
Using a smaller tent also has the added bonus of fitting into small spaces that might not be available during the coldest months of the year.
If you live in an area that experiences harsh winters, it might be best to pack up your larger tent and hunt for smaller venues to pitch your tent during the winter.
The most important thing is to stay warm on a cold night. If you have a small tent, simply bundle up more so you’ll stay warm longer.
A little discomfort won’t kill anyone – just make sure to drink some hot chocolate or something before you go to bed.