Winter Camp Packing Tips

I have to admit, I LOVE Winter Camping! There’s a sense of serenity in the wilderness this time of year. And, most importantly, no bugs!

I also like the fact that an extra level of “be prepared” needs to occur in the winter. I tend to double check my packing lists, and bring one extra of practically everything… just in case.

Winter Camping is not something a scout should fear. With a couple of simple tips, it can be an amazing experience and one that can provide a great deal of confidence to an inexperienced scout. With that said, below are a few Winter Camping “tips”!

  • Hydration – Believe it or not, many scouts become dehydrated during winter camp. Being active with lots of clothes on can increase our body temps much faster than during spring or summer months when we wear clothing that allows our sweat to evaporate. Make sure your scout has a couple water bottles.
  • Sleeping Bag – selecting the right bag can be a confusing experience. All sleeping bags carry a temperature rating, but what the rating attempts to explain can vary among manufacturers. The rule of thumb I keep is this, whichever rating is displayed is the lowest possible temperature I would use for that bag. For example, I would not use a 20 degree bag in 19 degree weather. Moreover, each degree closer to zero decreases the comfort (and possibly survival) much greater than at temps closer to freezing. Put simply, I would use a zero degree bag at twenty degrees and skip any increments in-between. The next tip explains why…
  • Ground Pad – most sleeping bags attempt to measure air temperature. However, most of the “cold” a scout feels when sleeping seeps up from the ground (in many cases the soil temp can be much lower than the air temp). In winter, I want as much separation between myself and the ground as possible. I will typically use 2, or possibly 3 inexpensive ground pads during the winter months. This does a great job keeping me from feeling the ground.
  • Clothing – this is a broad topic. As a rule, bring many socks, hats and gloves. Your scout may need to go through multiple pairs if it rains or snows. Also, bring a couple “base layer” thermal underwear. I would also have a conversation with your scout and encourage him to change before bed. With each of these tips, we are trying to fight moisture, which can destroy insulation of clothing. Even if the clothing we wear “feels” warmer, it won’t be at 2 am. Another great tip… place in your sleeping bag the next day’s clothing. When you wake up, it will be 98.6 degrees when you put it on. Keep cotton tee shirts and jeans at home, but bring scout pants (they work great in winter).
  • Shoes (Boots Only) – in winter, only bring boots to camp. They are insulating, most are waterproof, and the added stability comes in handy if we encounter snow or ice.
  • Outerwear – layers, layers, layers. If I had to choose, I would wear a thin jacket and layer with fleece and wool before wearing one heavy, thick coat. Why? Each layer traps air closer to our body. We’re much warmer this way. Also, if temps go up, or we see the sun for a few hours, scouts can remove one or two layers and still stay warm. We also tell scouts “Remember, at camp once you feel cold you cannot get warm quickly”. Layers help with this dilemma.
  • Other items – I have a few other things I bring to camp… like blankets, sleeping bag liners, pillows, foot and hand warmers, and many non-cotton sweatshirts with hoods. Depending on the circumstance I may not use all these things, but having them gives me reassurance in case I do need them.

See you this winter at camp!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *