Winter can be uncomfortable with cold everywhere. Getting exposed to cold air will make you shiver and make the whole camping uncomfortable. The tent alone won’t keep you warmer. There are many ways to keep the tent from too much cold and keep you warmer. Here is how to insulate a tent for winter camping.
1. Set Up The Ground Well
Before setting up the winter tent, ensure the ground where it’s getting pitched on is flat terrain. To avoid catching a cold while camping, your campsite should not be in a place near water bodies or windy areas. The winter season is very cold. You might not want to place a tent in the snow if you expect warmth. To have the tent warm all time, clear any snow around it before placing the tent. Clear the ground you’re setting up the tent on first.
2. Create A Windbreak
You can find natural windbreaks in your campsite where you can set up the tent. Campsites that have large rocks or shrubs make a good site to place a tent. They block the cold wind from reaching the tent. If there are no natural windbreaks nearby and you are DIY savvy, you can create one for yourself. The tent’s opening should face away from the wind to avoid direct cold air.
3. Carry A Smaller Tent
Experienced campers will tell you that smaller means more heat. Having a larger tent gives a larger surface area for heat to escape. A smaller tent can retain the heat inside longer than a larger one. To keep warm inside a tent, have a smaller tent if you are many people in the camp. Save the big tent for summer and opt for a small size in the winter. The tents are specifically for winter camping. You can get these online or in local stores.
4. Tent Heater
Have a tent heater that is suitable for the size of the tent you have. Tent heaters insulate the tent by heating it to keep the place warm. There are portable electric tent heaters, while some do not require any electricity. If your campsite is accessible to electricity, an electric tent heater might just come in handy. However, the best ones are those that don’t need plugging into function. Have a propane tent heater to help insulate the tent.
5. Heat Packs
To keep warm and survive the cold, you need to have heat packs on your packing list. They keep the tent warm, protecting you from the freezing temperatures outside.
There are so many ways you can choose to place them, either directly in the tent or have them closer to your body. To get direct heat, place them on your sleeping bag or slide them into your pocket.
The good thing is that they will keep you warm for the entire adventure. You don’t worry so much about it running out of heat. Suppose this happens, you shake it outside in the air and regain the heat back. This is the simplest way to keep the tent warmer anytime without worrying about heat running out and leaving you in the cold.
6. Cover Up The Tent
The best way to keep a tent warm is by covering it up from the icy wind. There is more than one way to cover the tent. A cover ensures the heat the tent has gotten does not escape to the air. To do this, you can either purchase a tent cover, tarp it, or get a large rain fly. If you do not have a tent cover, you can compromise by gathering leaves and using them to cover the tent.
7. Tarp
Place a tart at a 45-degree angle under the tent to provide insulation. If you don’t have a tarp, you can cover the ground with leaves.
8. Rainfly
A rainfly will insulate the tent and keep the inside from becoming cold. You can attach it to a tent or place it over the tent. It will lock in heat and prevent it from escaping outside.
9. Thermals
Thermal clothing and blankets are a great way to stay warm day and night for the entire winter trip. The tent alone won’t keep you warmer; winter camping means you also need to be as warm as possible. Instead of your regular clothing, have thermal wear like socks, underwear, and even blankets.
You need to dress in layers for additional heat. Thermal clothing is very comfortable, and they retain heat in your body. You can choose to cover yourself with the thermal blanket or use it as a cover for the tent. If you wear extra-warm clothes and cove the tent with this blanket, there is no chance you will get affected by the cold.
To cover the tent, have the thermal blanket sit on the tent and secure it with duct tape. This locks in the heat released from your body and prevents it from escaping outside. The body releases a lot of heat that shouldn’t go to waste when you use a thermal blanket on your tent. You can also place foil on the walls of the tent to reflect the heat from your body.
10. Have Thick Sleeping Bags
Sleeping bags will keep you warm inside the tent at night, but a thicker one will give you more warmth. It insulates the heat more, especially the ones that have a drawstring, with no heat to get to escape. Sleeping bags come in varieties, and the best ones for winter camping are the ones with maximum heat retention properties.
11. Buy A Four-Season Tent
Lastly, if you want to insulate a tent during winter, the best way is to purchase a four-season tent. An insulated four-season tent survives any season, although they may be a bit pricy.
Winter camping gets too cold, especially at night. For this reason, the cold weather tent needs to be properly insulated if you want to get heat. Temperatures get low during the night, and keeping warm is essential. Winter gear is important and hacks on how to insulate a tip. Before embarking on camping in colder ways, check the packing list to ensure you have the right gear. Bring everything needed to keep warm and have backups.
