How to stay warm at night while camping?

Posted on: 2024-11-15

Feeling cold at home at night isn’t a big deal—you can just get up and grab an extra blanket. But when it happens during a camping trip, it’s a different story. At best, you’ll spend a sleepless, miserable night, and at worst, it could lead to hypothermia.

To avoid these situations, here are 10 tips to help you stay warm at night during your camping adventures:

1. Eat Well Before Sleeping

Skipping a meal is never a good idea, especially during physical activities like hiking. Your body needs fuel to function, and eating well is essential—even at night while resting. Proper nutrition helps your body maintain normal functions, including generating heat.

However, eating well doesn’t mean overeating! Digestion consumes around 10% of your daily energy. If you overeat, your body will focus its energy on digestion rather than keeping you warm.

Whenever possible, opt for a warm meal. Freeze-dried meals are a popular choice for hikers—comforting, nutritious, and perfect after a long day. Plus, the warmth of the food can help raise your body temperature.

Freezedried meals

2. Drink Tea and Go to the Bathroom

Hydration goes hand in hand with nutrition and is just as important. While staying hydrated during the day is crucial (you already know the drill), it’s also important to hydrate before sleeping. A dehydrated body doesn’t function optimally, which means it struggles to generate enough heat to keep you warm.

After your meal, consider enjoying a warm beverage like coffee or tea, provided caffeine or theine won’t disrupt your sleep. If that’s a concern, opt for a caffeine-free herbal tea instead. The warmth of the cup will heat your hands, and the drink itself will warm your body from the inside.

That said, avoid drinking too much. Waking up in the middle of the night with the need to urinate can lead to discomfort and heat loss. Even if you have gear that allows you to take care of business inside your tent, you’ll still need to get out of your sleeping bag. If you have to go outside, the cold will affect your body even more.

A key tip from seasoned hikers: always use the bathroom before sleeping. Holding it in causes your body to expend extra energy maintaining your bladder’s temperature, energy that could otherwise keep you warm.

3. Protect Yourself from the Wind

This tip is especially important if you’re sleeping in a hammock or under the stars. It may seem obvious, but avoid exposing yourself to the wind. To do so, you can either build a natural windbreak like Robinson Crusoe using branches and leaves or find natural barriers like trees or a stone wall. For snowy mountain bivouacs, seasoned adventurers might even construct an igloo.

Another option is to use a tarp. While it’s an additional investment, a tarp provides significant comfort. It’s a versatile waterproof sheet that protects against both rain and wind.

If none of these options work for you, a tent is always a reliable choice. It’s windproof and waterproof, offering excellent protection, though you’ll need to carry it during the day.

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4. Use an Insulating Sleeping Pad

A sleeping pad isn’t just for comfort—it also provides insulation from the cold. To be clear, it won’t generate heat, but it will prevent heat loss. Contrary to popular belief, most of the cold you feel comes from the ground, not the air. Using an inflatable or self-inflating pad that lacks insulation is a sure way to stay cold through the night.

To determine a pad’s thermal resistance, check its R-Value. This standardized rating applies to all sleeping pads. The higher the R-Value, the better the insulation.

  • For summer camping, an R-Value of 1 to 2 is usually sufficient (as long as you’re not camping at high altitudes).
  • For winter camping, a pad with an R-Value above 4 is essential to stay warm.
  • For high-altitude winter camping, an R-Value above 6 is necessary.

You can also layer two sleeping pads to combine their R-Values. For example, if you have a foam pad and an inflatable pad, stacking them can provide sufficient insulation.

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5. A Sleeping Bag Is Essential

Just as hydration complements nutrition, a sleeping pad works hand in hand with a sleeping bag. A sleeping bag functions by trapping the heat your body generates. Instead of dissipating into the air, this warmth stays contained within the sleeping bag, keeping you cozy.

Here’s how to make the most of your sleeping bag:

Choose the Right Size

  • If your sleeping bag is too small, you won’t fit comfortably and won’t be able to close it properly.
  • If it’s too large, the extra empty space will require more energy to heat, reducing efficiency.

To select the correct size, choose a bag that’s 25 to 30 cm longer than your height. When wearing the hood, it should reach the level of your nose.

Match the Comfort Temperature

After finding the right size, ensure the comfort temperature rating of the bag matches the conditions of your bivouac. This rating, indicated on most sleeping bags from manufacturers like Therm-a-Rest, NEMO, or Cumulus, tells you the lowest temperature at which you’ll remain comfortable.

Avoid confusing this with:

  • Limit Comfort Temperature: You’ll likely feel cold.
  • Extreme Temperature: You risk hypothermia or worse.

Prepare Your Sleeping Bag Properly

If you have a down-filled sleeping bag (as opposed to synthetic), unpack it well in advance of bedtime to allow it to regain its loft. If it remains compressed in your pack all day and you take it out only minutes before sleeping, it won’t fully expand, and you may feel cold during the initial moments.

With the right sleeping bag and proper preparation, you’ll stay warm and comfortable throughout the night.

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6. Use a Sleeping Bag Liner

If you’ve tried all these tips and still feel cold while camping, you may be naturally sensitive to the cold. But don’t worry—winter camping is still within reach. One great solution is a sleeping bag liner.

A sleeping bag liner, also known as a “sleeping sack” or “liner,” is a lightweight sheet placed inside your sleeping bag. It’s a compact and light accessory that can add a few precious degrees to your overall warmth.

What to Expect

When purchasing a liner, keep in mind that the temperature gains advertised by manufacturers can be slightly exaggerated. For example, the Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Compact Plus claims to add 11°C of warmth. In reality, you might gain just a few degrees—but even that can make a big difference in cold conditions.

A sleeping bag liner is an excellent addition to your gear, especially for those who feel the chill more than others. It’s lightweight, easy to pack, and adds that extra layer of insulation to keep you comfortable.

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7. Don’t Wear Too Many Layers

It’s a common reflex: piling on layers of clothing to stay warm. However, this can backfire. Wearing too many layers can cause you to sweat, and sweat is the enemy of warmth when camping. As sweat evaporates, it cools your body, making you feel colder later.

Stick to a Few Key Layers

For optimal comfort and warmth, wear minimal layers. Thermal underwear and a merino wool t-shirt are usually enough. Merino wool is soft, regulates body temperature, and minimizes sweat—ideal for staying warm during a cold trek.

Focus on Extremities

While layering your entire body isn’t ideal, you should prioritize covering your extremities (head, hands, and feet), as these are the most vulnerable to heat loss.

  • A beanie is a must in cold weather. A buff or the hood of your sleeping bag can also work.
  • Keep your nose and mouth exposed to avoid condensation inside your sleeping bag, which can compromise its insulating properties.

By striking the right balance and focusing on key areas, you can stay warm and sleep comfortably without overheating.

8. The Hot Water Bottle: A Classic Solution

A hot water bottle is a tried-and-true method for staying warm. You can create your own using simple items:

  • Heat some water.
  • Pour it into a water bottle or reuse an empty freeze-dried meal pouch.
  • Place the makeshift hot water bottle in your sleeping bag, ideally near your feet or hands.

Once the water cools, be sure to remove it from your sleeping bag to avoid discomfort or added chill.

Hand Warmers as an Alternative

Hand warmers are another effective option. They’re easy to use—simply ignite the stick with a lighter, and the slow-burning combustion provides warmth for minutes or even hours, depending on the model.

A standout choice is the hand warmer from the French brand CAO Outdoor, which is known for its efficiency and reliability.

These options add a cozy touch to your bivouac, ensuring warmth even on the coldest nights.

9. Do Some Light Exercise Before Sleeping

A little exercise before bedtime can help warm you up. While it may be hard to muster motivation after a day of hiking, you don’t need to run a marathon. Simple movements like a few push-ups or crunches are enough to raise your body temperature.

Keep It Light

The goal is to gently warm up your body, not to work up a sweat. Overdoing it can leave your clothes damp with perspiration, which will quickly lead to feeling cold—exactly what you want to avoid!

By finding the right balance, light exercise can be a quick and effective way to prepare your body for a warm and restful night.

10. Warm Up with a Campfire

Building a campfire is a classic way to warm up your hands and body, especially before bedtime, perhaps while cooking your meal. However, it’s generally not recommended to leave the fire burning while you sleep—unless you’re sleeping under the stars in an area with no fire risk, such as a snowy zone.

Choose Eco-Friendly Fire Practices

Whenever possible, opt for a wood-burning stove instead of a ground campfire. This helps protect the environment by avoiding damage to the flora and fauna beneath the fire pit. It also eliminates leftover ash and reduces the risk of wildfires while the fire is still burning.

This approach aligns with the principles of Leave No Trace, an educational program that teaches people how to minimize their environmental impact during outdoor activities. By adopting responsible fire practices, you can enjoy the warmth while respecting the natural world.

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As you can see, there are plenty of ways to stay warm at night while hiking or camping. These tips are well-known among outdoor enthusiasts. The key takeaway: it’s all about balance.

  • Eat well but don’t overdo it.
  • Do some light exercise but avoid excess.
  • Dress warmly but don’t layer up so much that you sweat.

With time and experience, you’ll learn to understand your body and figure out the best ways to enjoy cozy nights while camping. Happy bivouacking!

Posted in: Survival

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