How To Insulate A Tent For Winter Camping: An All-Telling Guide

Introduction

Many people view camping as a three-season hobby, and never venture out into the great outdoors when the snow starts to fall.

However, if done correctly, winter camping can be an absolutely magical experience.

eIn certain instances, your tent can be used for winter camping with a few changes.

Below we will outline how to insulate a tent for winter camping.

A Note About Insulating Your Tent & Staying Warm

Before we tell you everything you need to know about keeping your tent (and yourself!) insulated in your tent, we just want to note that these things all compound and stack on top of each other.

In other words, we recommend doing as many of these things as possible in order to maximize the insulating effects.

Conversely, depending on how cold the environment you are camping in is, any one of these things in isolation may not be enough to keep you warm, but stacked on top of each other will provide you with adequate insulation.

Let’s get started.

Use Thermal Blankets To Insulate Your Tent

Thermal blankets work by keeping the heat in, instead of letting it dissipate throughout the top of your tent and into the air.

Instead, the thermal blanket reflects the heat back into your tent, thus keeping you warm.

It can help retain your body heat in the tent or even the heat from a portable space heater.

Tape the thermal blanket to the ceiling using duct tape, a zip tie, or anything else you can use to retain keep the blanket attached.

They can also be used as an emergency blanket in case the temperature drops, making it an all-around versatile tool and an absolute necessity for camping in the wintertime.

Already At The Site? Use Leaves

One easy (and free!) thing you can do to help retain heat is to use any surrounding leaves to help provide a buffer from you and the cold ground, thus helping you insulate your tent.

Place a tarp (or thermal blanket) on the ground, and from the outside of the tent, stuff leaves inside the outer perimeter to provide a buffer.

If you find yourself in a windy area, you can use stakes or even sticks to keep the leaves inside of the insulation layer.

You may have to readjust a few times depending on the wind, but a simple layer of leaves underneath your tent can help you retain heat in the winter.

Use A Tent Heater If You Can (But Make Sure It’s Safe)

For camping in extreme weather, utilizing a tent heater can be an easy way to make sure that your tent warm at night when the temperature drops.

We recommend using Mr. Heater MH9BX Propane Radiant Heater, which is a portable propane heater that works up to elevations of 7000 feet.

Make sure you have adequate ventilation and a few carbon monoxide detectors in your tent just to be safe.

If you already have a portable heater, make sure you read the directions fully and that it is safe to use in your tent, and has an automatic shutdown feature in case it turns over.

Additionally, make sure you provide a buffer between the tent heat and the grounding of your tent, along with proper ventilation.

Make Sure You Have The Right Sleeping Bag

One of the most important things you can do before camping in extreme weather is to get a sleeping bag that can handle the extreme cold.

Make sure you pick up a tent that can handle temperatures as low as possible – we recommend using the Coleman Adult Mummy Sleeping Bag, which can handle temperatures as low as 0°F.

Picking up the right tent can be the difference between being properly insulated while camping in the winter and experiencing extreme colds.

Do not skimp on your sleeping bag. If you already have one, check the specs to make sure it can handle the weather.

Sleep On A High-Quality Sleeping Pad

Using a high-quality sleeping pad will provide a buffer from the cold tarp you are sleeping on, thus allowing you to retain heat while you sleep.

Make sure your sleeping pad can handle intensely cold winter temperatures and won’t deflate.

We recommend STOÏK’D Self Inflating Sleeping Pad, which is a high-quality, easy to transport sleeping pad.

It comes includes an emergency blanket, making it a great choice for camping in cold weather when you need extra insulation and warmth.

It has an R-Value of 4.0, making it a phenomenal choice for camping in the winter.

Stock Up On Heat Packs

Be sure to bring plenty of heat packs with you on your camping trip. You can put these in your sleeping bag while you sleep to help create warmth.

Alternatively, you can use a water bottle (or many water bottles) filled with hot water, but please be careful with these.

You run the risk of burning yourself if the water is too hot or spilling the bottle onto your self or your gear.

Keep Yourself From Sweating

If you start to sweat while in your tent, condensation will form in the tent which will actually start to make you cold, thus defeating the entire purpose of insulating your tent.

Make sure that when in your tent or sleeping back you are wearing a t-shirt, long johns, and socks all made out of wicking material which will prevent you from sweating due to the breathable nature of the fabric.

If you find yourself start to overheat while in your sleeping bag, you can actually unzip it slightly, thus allowing for heat to dissipate into the tent as opposed to into your sleeping bag, which can cause you to overheat and thus start to sweat.

Don’t Let Condensation Form In Your Tent

It may seem counterintuitive to a novice camper, but oftentimes you will need to open up the ventilation system even when it is cold in order to prevent condensation from your breath and body heat (and hopefully not sweat) from forming and thus making you and your tent wet.

Wear A Wool Cap

A significant portion of body heat is lost through the head, which is why it is important to sleep with a wool cap on while you sleep.

Find one that has tassels so you can secure it on your head while you sleep – other hats may fall off while you sleep, thus exposing your head to the cold air and allowing body heat to dissipate.

Pick Up A Dedicated Extreme Weather Tent

We highly recommend buying a dedicated extreme weather tent before you go winter camping.

A high-quality extreme weather tent will help shield you from the cold winter air, snow, water, and more.

We recommend ALP Mountaineering Taurus 4-Person Tent, which will keep you insulated from the cold.

Keep in mind that smaller tents are better for camping in the winter because the smaller the tent, the more heat it will retain.

Purchase a tent that is adequate for your own camping needs – if you are camping with two people, purchase a two-person tent, if you are going by yourself, pick up a single person tent, etc.

In the summertime, it can be nice to spread out with a large tent, but in the winter, it is crucial to pick the right sized tent to keep you well insulated.

However, you need to make sure you have enough room for your gear, so it is all about striking the right balance.

Additional Tips

• Drink Warm Fluids Before Bed  – Hot soups, cocoa, even hot water will do to help keep your body warm during the night. Try to avoid going to bed cold if you can.
• Eat Calorie Rich Foods – Eating calorie-rich food before you sleep will help keep your body warm.
• Wear Thermals While You Sleep – Sleeping with clothing on can keep you warm, but make sure you are wearing the right type of clothing, otherwise, you risk overheating and sweating in your sleeping bag.
• Fluff Your Sleeping Bag – Fluffing your sleeping bag before you enter it can help it retain heat. Consider using a sleeping pad for extra warmth.
• Try To Set Up Near Wind Coverage – Trees, bushes, even foliage can help with blocking icy cold winds late at night. Try to set up close to coverage if possible.
• Use A Camping Solar Panel – We always recommend having a solar panel charger soaking up rays during the day in case you need to make contact.
• Wear Multiple Pairs Of Socks – Do your feet get cold while you sleep? Feel free to put an extra pair of socks to keep warm.
• Don’t Forget A Scarf – Scarves are a great way to keep your neck insulated from cold winter chills.

What Should I Do If An Item Becomes Wet?

If an article of clothing or item becomes wet, it is crucial that you place it outside of the tent.

If you keep it inside of the tent it will soak up the heat you are trying to keep insulated, thus lowering the temperature in the tent.

Conclusion

There you have it! The best ways to insulate your tent for winter camping.

We wish you the best of luck with your camping experience – make sure you test your tent and gear before you get out into the elements. Safety is paramount.

Also, feel free to bring your dog camping with you if they are the right breed – having your dog in the tent can help keep you warm! Have a great time out in nature.