keeping warm in tents during winter / rainy weather

[spader]

Hi All

So when the summer goes away, and short period of autumn, then soon it will be chilling winter. When you camp in this cold freezing time, how do you get heat in the tents to keep warm?

Are there any type of heaters for tent, would it be possible / advisable to burn wood stoves in tent? Or do you just have to use your own body temperature, blankets, lots of layers and sleeping bag to keep yourself warm?

Thanks in advance.

 

[rik_uk3]

Wood stoves are great, marine alcohol heater/stoves work as do any cooking stove so long as your tent is ventilated. Clothing, hot food/drinks and a good sleeping bag are by far the easiest way of staying warm though.

 

[Squidders]

Never underestimate how good a hot water bottle is with a fleece cover, I got a Nash fishing one and it stays warm all night in my sleeping bag.

 

[thedawnawakens]

Pack plenty of warm breathable layers layers works for me.

 

[The MAX]

Wood stoves are great, marine alcohol heater/stoves work as do any cooking stove so long as your tent is ventilated. Clothing, hot food/drinks and a good sleeping bag are by far the easiest way of staying warm though.

You have to be very careful with this. It very much so depends on the type of tent, as well as the type of stove. Typical tents made of nylon usually say to not use any flame/heat/combustibles inside the tent ESPECIALLY when sleeping. However, there are more traditional, or expedition style tents where this is possible. I'm no expert on these, but I just wanted to make sure you don't die a fiery death.

Only tents I've seen stoves in have been canvas, and usually these are much larger tents than a typical dome tent, and it is usually a completely enclosed stove with a chimney pipe.

I hope to learn more and try winter camping myself very soon.

I have watched some videos where people have camped in just a regular 4 season dome tent, but they use many layers. Reflective sheet on bottom, good sleeping pad, wool blankets, good sleeping bags, etc. It's also important to make sure you are well hydrated and you've taken a whiz before bed. Keeping hydrated makes your body easier to stay warm, and no body wants to get up in the middle of the night to pee especially in cold weather. I've also heard doing a little bit of physical activity can do wonders with warmth before bed as well.

 

[mousey]

As already said hot food, hot drink, hot water bottle. Personally I'd not have a stove or a heat source with a flame in anything but a canvas tent. If you have a wife/ girlfriend who likes camping that's another good source of heat failing that a dog kicks out some warmth too.

 

[rik_uk3]

You have to be very careful with this. It very much so depends on the type of tent, as well as the type of stove. Typical tents made of nylon usually say to not use any flame/heat/combustibles inside the tent ESPECIALLY when sleeping. However, there are more traditional, or expedition style tents where this is possible. I'm no expert on these, but I just wanted to make sure you don't die a fiery death.

Only tents I've seen stoves in have been canvas, and usually these are much larger tents than a typical dome tent, and it is usually a completely enclosed stove with a chimney pipe.

I hope to learn more and try winter camping myself very soon.

I have watched some videos where people have camped in just a regular 4 season dome tent, but they use many layers. Reflective sheet on bottom, good sleeping pad, wool blankets, good sleeping bags, etc. It's also important to make sure you are well hydrated and you've taken a whiz before bed. Keeping hydrated makes your body easier to stay warm, and no body wants to get up in the middle of the night to pee especially in cold weather. I've also heard doing a little bit of physical activity can do wonders with warmth before bed as well.

DON'T LEAVE A FIRE ON WHEN YOU SLEEP

You can use a stove in any tent regardless of the material so long as you have fitted a good flue Jack and position the stove correctly

Climbers, mountaineers, cross country skiers et al use small stoves in small tents, the bottom line is use common sense and VENTILATION.

Five minutes into this shows a great stove combo (check out his other videos too )

[video=youtube;sMz0aMaAUiE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMz0aMaAUiE[/video]

 

[bilmo-p5]

Never underestimate how good a hot water bottle is with a fleece cover, ...

A sigg or similar alu waterbottle in a pair of thick socks works well as a hot water bottle too

 

[Man of Tanith]

I use the little hand warmers. They throw out a decent heat. Place em in between thighs on femoral artery and you'll stay nice n warm.
Another one slung at bottom of sleeping bag keeps toes toasty warm too

 

[ozzy1977]

US army modular sleeping bag, a little large but cheap and rated down to -50*f (around-45*c)

 

[Goatboy]

A sigg or similar alu waterbottle in a pair of thick socks works well as a hot water bottle too

And you have some unfrozen water in the morning too.

 

[Goatboy]

DON'T LEAVE A FIRE ON WHEN YOU SLEEP

You can use a stove in any tent regardless of the material so long as you have fitted a good flue Jack and position the stove correctly

Climbers, mountaineers, cross country skiers et al use small stoves in small tents, the bottom line is use common sense and VENTILATION.

I'll leave my Frontier Stove lit when I go to bed, but only with a clear flue and I know the Tipi has great ventilation. But it's designed for this, wouldn't risk it with a liquid or gas stove.

 

[petrochemicals]

In a little synthetic tent the problem is ventilation being needed and removing all of the heat from the tent. A few things I have read about, a full tent mat covering the entire floor, polystyrene on the walls. I think the best thing in a small tent if your going to be awake in your tent is a synthetic sleeping bag, down is ok but due to its compactability compresses and leaves you cold when you move.

Edit:

just had a thought, you know the silver emergency blankets, I have one I rig as a flysheet, over my tent, in hot weather, to create very nice shade, thats COOL ! ,perhaps you could use one, for insulation, use the FOIL Luke use the FOIL.

 

[rik_uk3]

I'll leave my Frontier Stove lit when I go to bed, but only with a clear flue and I know the Tipi has great ventilation. But it's designed for this, wouldn't risk it with a liquid or gas stove.

If I'm honest we leave the bigger Wildo stove on but we live in the age of litigation so I never advise doing it on a forum The Heatpal is OK left on, nowt to go wrong with them

 

[Squidders]

If your tent isn't huge and you just want something to give you a bit of warmth before bed and while you get up in the morning, these are just brilliant: http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-portable-gas-camping-heater-p142458

Not very bushcrafty but then again, nor is a big folded, welded and riveted stainless steel stove in a large nylon tipi... what it is, is warm, stable, cheap, light weight, easy to fuel, easy to light and easy to extinguish. I take one when i'm out in January in my tent as a real luxury. I have been mocked about this by shivering people in the past but I learned to live with it as I don't let image ruin my enjoyment of a warm tent in a cold woods.

 

[Tipi]

A bushcrafty solution to this would be the heated ground trick, with heated rocks buried under where you sleep. never tried it in a tent though.

generally i rely on good insulation, a good thick pad (thermarest or similar) and a good sleeping bag. can vouch for the Hot waterbottle and sock trick. Camelbaks work well too, though dont put boiling water in them! they dont like that! have heard the MSR dromendarys can take very hot water but not tested it.

 

[Squidders]

I have put boiling water in an MSR dromedary and it's been fine, apparently they can be frozen too.

I think the heated ground thing only works enough to keep a night time chill off in warmer climes, certainly its not going to work in snow as it'll be cold again in very little time. I have also seen someone make a raised bed over embers that provided a lot of warmth but while interesting, I am veering off topic a bit.

 

[Goatboy]

A bushcrafty solution to this would be the heated ground trick, with heated rocks buried under where you sleep. never tried it in a tent though.

generally i rely on good insulation, a good thick pad (thermarest or similar) and a good sleeping bag. can vouch for the Hot waterbottle and sock trick. Camelbaks work well too, though dont put boiling water in them! they dont like that! have heard the MSR dromendarys can take very hot water but not tested it.

Platypus bags will take boiling water as well being freeze able. They also have closure caps.

 

[rg598]

It really depends on what type of camping you do.

If you stay at a particular camp site, or use a large shelter, then that's one thing. It's not what I do, so I don't know exactly what people do in such circumstances.

If on the other hand you are backpacking with your gear, the options are generally limited to insulation. During the day you are mostly busy moving, so the cold is not a problem. When you stop, you have to put on extra insulation such as a belay jacket. At night you are in your sleeping bag which should keep you warm.

The colder it is, the more insulation you bring.

 

[Goatboy]

It really depends on what type of camping you do.

If you stay at a particular camp site, or use a large shelter, then that's one thing. It's not what I do, so I don't know exactly what people do in such circumstances.

If on the other hand you are backpacking with your gear, the options are generally limited to insulation. During the day you are mostly busy moving, so the cold is not a problem. When you stop, you have to put on extra insulation such as a belay jacket. At night you are in your sleeping bag which should keep you warm.

The colder it is, the more insulation you bring.

Insulations good Ross, though it was from trying to go light on winter expeditions that I found a bottle/bladder hotwater bottle not only vital but a great moral booster. If you get in a bag cold you will stay cold longer as your body internalises the heat, and all the insulation does is trap heat - it doesn't produce it. But good food, few minutes exercise to build up some heat and get in your bag before you get cold and you should be fine. Great pics by the way would love to be out in snow right now.