Looking at the option of camping in the cold? You can easily get your tent ready for winter camping with just a few simple steps. You’ll also find that some of these winter camping hacks are a great way to start preparing early on ways to winterize your tent and learn how to make a tent warmer, too. Read more to find out how to insulate a tent for winter camping.
If you’re planning a winter camping trip, the best way to prepare for the cold air and the cold weather is to have proper insulation on the inside of the tent. For the best results, be sure that you have a heavy-duty tarp and an insulated tent so that you can stop the cold air from coming up through the floor of your tent.
For even more tips on camping during the winter season, check out the different ways below to keep your entire tent warm. Having a warm tent is so important on the coldest nights.
Affiliate links are used in this post at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Disclosure and Privacy Policy for more info.
While there are many things that you can buy to keep you warm during winter camping, there are some simple steps that you can easily do as well to make your camping experience as warm as possible.
Should you put a tarp over your tent?
If you’re worried about the weather at all, a tarp over your tent can help. It will block out the wind, rain, snow, etc. and is a great way to just add another layer of protection from the elements of Mother Nature. Just make certain that you stake it down really well so it doesn’t blow off or flap in the wind all night.
Is it colder to sleep in a car or a tent?
Many people actually think that car camping versus tent camping in the winter would be a better idea, but it’s actually the opposite. Tent camping in the cold gives you the chance to insulate your tent and create a warmer atmosphere in a much smaller space.
Winter camping in a car means that there isn’t as much insulation and the interior of the car takes more effort to stay warm due to the size.
How much warmth does a tent add?
This all just depends on how much you insulate your tent but if you do a good job at doing so, you can expect it to be about 5-10 degrees warmer than the temperature outdoors.
How cold is too cold to camp?
This is where it can get a bit tricky. For those who aren’t used to camping in the cold, you need to be careful and test the waters a bit before diving in. Even temps in the ’60s can create a very cold experience for someone who isn’t used to it. However, if you’re experienced and have all the right winter camping gear and know how to make a tent warmer, you can camp in the winter when it’s 40 degrees as well.
Ready to learn how to winterize your tent? These simple tips can help!
How to Winterize Your Tent
Keep in mind that these are just a few of the ways that you can insulate your tent for winter camping.
Choose a flat area for your tent
No matter where you decide to put up your tent, make certain that it’s a flat area that is clear of snow, rocks, and other debris. You’ll want your tent as flat on the ground as possible.
You don’t need to worry about clearing dry leaves out of the space, as those can actually be a great option for making an extra barrier on the ground.
Once you do that, lay down a tent footprint or a tarp. This is an extra layer of protection from the cold ground that might not look like much, but it will really help a lot.
Get out of the wind
If at all possible, get out of the wind. Use a natural barrier like hills, or position your tent in a way that the wind won’t be fighting against the openings. You can also try to position a tarp by staking the bottom portion to the ground and the top portion to a tree to create a wind barrier. (Be very careful around trees as they’ll break around high winds.)
If you can have a natural windbreak, that is going to be the best option. Using a snow wall to block high winds is great for the winter months. Strong winds will make any camping area chilly, so wind breaks are a must!
Choose the best tent
There are so many options when it comes to choosing the best winter tent. You can choose a one-man winter tent if you’re camping alone, or look at your options for a 4-season tent, too. Read reviews, talk to others who winter camp, and make certain that you do your research before buying a tent and trying it out in the cold temperatures.
use a ground tarp
This will help to insulate the tent floor. A tarp or a tent footprint will work just fine. Just be certain to make it be light and functional for your needs. Stake it into the ground and lay it smooth.
A waterproof tarp is the perfect insulation layer between you and the cold ground. Laying this on the ground under your tent is an effective method to keeping your whole tent dry and warm.
invest in a tent heater
Be very careful with this as you don’t want to use anything that would be a fire hazard or have chemicals being blown into your tent. There might be options for tent heaters that are safe, but this is something that you should verify with an outdoor expert in your area.
Also, be sure that you purchase one that is labeled “indoor safe”, as this is SUPER important.
Many people think that bringing a small heater from home will do the trick, but that can be a huge fire hazard and cause issues.
A portable tent heater can be great for a larger tent so that it fills the space with warmth. Just be sure to pay attention to prevent heat loss.
use floor blankets
The more layers that you lay on the floor, the warmer you’re going to be. While you do need a blanket on top of you to snuggle down with, laying warm blankets on the floor is just even more barriers to keeping out the cold.
A wool blanket is great to sleep on and is an important step to keeping warm. If you can add this with a warm sleeping bag, you’ll be able to trap heat pretty easily and snuggle down inside your tent, even when it’s super cold outside.
purchase a proper sleeping bag
When it comes to sleeping bags, you need an insulated one, without a doubt. Don’t skimp on this because it’s really no fun to sleep cold.
In addition to having an insulated sleeping bag, you’ll want to make certain that it’s waterproof as well.
For warm nights, having the right insulation materials in your sleeping bag is key. Pick one that is well insulated or has a sleeping bag liner. Your body heat will stay in the sleeping bag, keeping you nice and warm.
Use natural insulator when you go camping
Mother Nature actually offers some natural insulation as well, so if you need to use dead, dried leaves to create a barrier or use the trees to block the wind, do so.
Just be certain that you’re doing so in a safe manner and aren’t at risk of having the trees or branches break and drop on you or the tent.
cover your tent with a tarp
Last but not least, cover the top of your tent with a tarp, too. This will cut the wind and help keep the rain out and just again, provide another layer of protection from the outside elements. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, either. Just put it over your tent and stake it to the ground.
Will a tent hold heat?
Technically, tents were not made to be holders of heat. This is where having a smaller tent with tent insulation is important. Cold nights will zap tents of heat very quickly, but having less space in a tent vs. a ton of extra space will give you better odds of holding more heat.
The tent walls are thin, which means that the heat is naturally going to escape. This is where adding tarps and liners can help, but it’s not always guaranteed.
Can you add insulation to a tent?
Yes, you can. Reflective foam is a great extra insulation for the sides of your tent, and is something that can be done relatively easily.
THE IMPORTANCE OF INSULATING YOUR TENT (AND YOURSELF!)
Make certain that you’re not skimping when it comes to insulating your tent. We all know that the hot air rises, so you need to have your roof area insulated with either a tarp or a barrier so that you’re not losing hot air that you could be using.
When it comes to insulating the tent floor, there are a few other things that you can do, too.
- Insulate yourself and wear layers of clothing to bed
But not just any layers of clothing. You need to change out of what you’ve been wearing for the day and put on brand new, clean clothes. Then, layer up. The reason you want to change is that you’ve sweated all day long and that sweat will make you cold at night. Clean, warm clothes are best.
And don’t forget to put on a stocking cap as well! Trapping the heat so that it stays with you and your body is going to be the number one thing to think about when it comes to staying warm.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER TIPS ON HOW TO INSULATE A TENT FOR WINTER CAMPING?
MORE CAMPING POSTS
- Campsites and Tent Camping On California Beaches
- Tent Camping for Beginners
- Best Camping Cookware for Open Fire Cooking
Leave a Reply