HOW NOT TO FREEZE WHILE HIKING: Choosing Clothes, Heating the Tent, and Other Tips

Magnificent views, unique emotions, challenging, but at the same time, unforgettable adventures - hiking in the off-season has many advantages. Now we will look at winter and demi-season trips from a practical point of view and figure out how not to freeze while hiking or trekking: how to keep warm in the tent and on the go, what clothes to choose for the route and what devices to stock up on.

How to dress for a hike to keep warm

It is easiest to warm up on the go, especially on sunny days: active movement disperses the blood, a backpack covers the back, and attention is focused not on the cold but on the process. And yet, an incorrectly selected hiking wardrobe can be a genuine cause of hypothermia, even on the most active route.

The main mistake that beginners make is to warm up in the same way as in urban conditions. When hiking, you need to dress in layers; each layer should perform a specific function.

Do not forget about accessories. Be sure to wear gloves to protect your hands, which are sensitive to the cold. On the head - a hat, a scarf, and a windproof mask or a universal buff balaclava. Warm trekking socks/golfs (synthetic or merino wool) on the feet. Shoes should match the season. Do not tighten the laces too much so as not to disrupt blood circulation. If the route goes through deep snow, additionally wear special gaiters so that the snow does not get into the shoes.

How to warm a tent: handy tools

Let's go directly to the issue of heating the tent. To begin with, let's consider improvised methods - a tent with a fireplace or any other stove.

Although not always reliable, there are simple and accessible methods. They will help you, for example, if you urgently need to decide how to heat the tent in the summer or in the off-season, when it gets colder, and you have 4-season cabin tents for camping or in other emergency situations. If you are guaranteed to face the cold, you should stock up on more reliable heating methods, which we will discuss later.

The earth warmed by a fire

The bonfire is carefully extinguished and covered with sand, and a tent is placed on this spot. The earth will give off heat for a long time, but it is essential to make sure that there are no smoldering areas at the site of the fire!

Insulation from wind and cold

Protect yourself from these factors by all means: make a windbreaker, put on an extra jacket, or wrap yourself in a thermal blanket, and sit only on a particular seat.

Hot water bottle

Here everything is simple: pour hot water (not boiling water) into an empty container and put it in a sleeping bag. The heat will be enough for several hours, after which it is better to remove the bottle with cooled water. As an option, instead of a bottle, take a cauldron - heat water in it, cover it with a lid, wrap it in a cloth, and put it in the tent (at the feet). The method, of course, requires caution: it is necessary to ensure that the cauldron does not burn the mat/tent and does not tip over.

Hot stones

Large stones are warmed on the bonfire. Then they act the same way as with hot water: they put it in a cauldron and put the "fireplace" at the legs. Or it can be wrapped in several layers of cloth and used instead of a heating pad. Again, it is necessary to ensure that no one gets burned and that hot stones do not cause smoldering.

The flame from a candle or dry alcohol

It is an option for extreme cases. Since an open fire and a tent are incompatible things, it will not be possible to increase the temperature in this way significantly. Never leave a lit candle or alcohol unattended!

How to keep warm in a tent: heaters, burners, stoves

We are moving from unconventional methods to modern technological solutions. All kinds of heaters will provide the best heating for the tent and, more precisely, for the tourists.

Catalytic heater

A universal flameless device, one of the safest and most efficient ways of heating in camping. Works on refined gasoline: fuel is poured into the burner, the wick is lit, and placed in a protective cover. Such a heating pad is used not only for heating (you can put it directly in a sleeping bag) but also for drying clothes and shoes on a hike.

Salt (chemical) heater

There are disposable and reusable models. Very easy to use: you just need to squeeze the product to start the chemical process with the subsequent heat release. Perfect for quickly warming hands and feet.

USB heater

Simple, safe, and convenient to use, it heats up in seconds.

Classic water heater. We think this tool is familiar to everyone. It is very easy to use, and the main thing is that there is access to hot water.

Heating the tent during the trip can also be organized with the help of burners, lamps, and portable stoves. The devices are not the safest, but they will help in case of critical cooling.

Portable folding stoves with chimneys are also used for heating tents. They work on solid fuel (firewood, peat, briquettes) and have high efficiency. However, due to their large dimensions, they are suitable for heating only large tents and tents.

Let's summarize

The cold on a hike is not scary at all if you choose high-quality clothing, a tent, a sleeping bag, and a heating pad suitable for the weather conditions, and any store consultants will always help you with this. Also, don't forget about appropriate food and hot drinks, follow safety precautions and think positively — this, by the way, warms both body and soul. We wish you warm and comfortable hikes at any time of the year!