Took my son for our first camp of 2025, and his first winter camp on Saturday. We camped atop a local hill with an elevation gain of about 200m. Snow was forecast and started as we neared the summit. We reached our camp location with just enough time to setup before sunset. It began snowing quite heavily, temperatures were below zero outside and 2C inside the tent. We had pasta for dinner. I don't usually take a tablet on camping trips but seeing as we would be inside the tent for a good 16 hours, I took a tablet for my son to watch a film. I took my book to read. I slept in my Rab Neutrino Pro 700 which, with one thermal layer, was still a little too warm for me at 2C inside tent temperature. I ended up removing my long johns early hours of the morning. My son slept in a 3 seasons kids bag plus a Thermarest Corus 32 quilt wrapped around him dressed in pyjamas and a fleece and he was plenty warm enough. I did place two handwarmers wrapped in spare socks inside his sleeping bag to be on the safe side.
At some point through the night, the snow turned to rain which was rather disappointing, the snow on the ground turned mostly to slush and we woke up to what I would describe as a heavy drizzle. My son was disappointed as he was most looking forward to a snowball fight! I did however get to test out my new Paramo Velez smock, which I absolutely love. It kept my mostly dry, just a couple of small damp patches where my rucksacks shoulder straps rest on my shoulders, which is to be expected. What I love most about the smock is being able to open up the entire front for ventilation when on the move. I tend to run hot so this is huge for me, and no more feeling like I'm in a sweaty bin bag like I often felt in Gore-Tex. The Dutch Army Mittens I bought for less than £10 performed amazingly, warm and much easier to put on when hands are cold and wet, they are unbelievable value for money, I prefer them over my Seal Skinz which I paid a lot more for. I'm definitely a mittens convert.
It was our first time out for a couple of months because of work and we both thoroughly enjoyed it.
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At some point through the night, the snow turned to rain which was rather disappointing, the snow on the ground turned mostly to slush and we woke up to what I would describe as a heavy drizzle. My son was disappointed as he was most looking forward to a snowball fight! I did however get to test out my new Paramo Velez smock, which I absolutely love. It kept my mostly dry, just a couple of small damp patches where my rucksacks shoulder straps rest on my shoulders, which is to be expected. What I love most about the smock is being able to open up the entire front for ventilation when on the move. I tend to run hot so this is huge for me, and no more feeling like I'm in a sweaty bin bag like I often felt in Gore-Tex. The Dutch Army Mittens I bought for less than £10 performed amazingly, warm and much easier to put on when hands are cold and wet, they are unbelievable value for money, I prefer them over my Seal Skinz which I paid a lot more for. I'm definitely a mittens convert.
It was our first time out for a couple of months because of work and we both thoroughly enjoyed it.
20250104_161614 MEE 20250104_163418 20250104_164106 20250104_202501 20250104_211247 20250105_100823 20250105_105232
