Poland does not have such problems. As soon as someone start a fire at night, forest service comes up. There are forests designated to legal camping ("Zanocuj w lesie") but fire is still illegal. Even gas stoves. People report stuff like when USSR was still in charge.
Yep. I dated a city girl for a while. She thought she looked cool in an expensive fur coat, but complained about always being cold. I gave her a down parka and she was blown away by how warm it was. Too easy.
I'm from Manitoba Canada and I agree with you, most of the "experts" have no clue, were you live and how much you practice outside makes all the difference.
I used to camp a lot in the White Mountains/ New Hampshire, extremely cold. I have to support Randall fully on the test/know your gear, camp your backyard... on the porch if you have to, get to know your gear, if it turns out bad just go back in, no negative consequences, lesson learned and confidence gained as you learn your limitations and the limitations of your gear.
Funny thing as a boyscout in the 80s we only camped in the winter. The first few trips I froze. Eventually I learned everything I needed. The most important thing is clothing. Always change your clothes never sleep in what you wear. I slept in a old square sleeping bag with a wool blanket. If it was extremely cold I used a old hand warmer in a sock. The hand warmers that used white gas or tablets. Best time of my life camping in the cold fire raging. Good times
Im lucky enough my wifes granny has 40 acres of woodland and 40 acres of field, We live right on part of the property so I get to test out my gear lil farther than right outside but Im far enough away to be away. Def beats being miles out somewhere and uh oh.
I remember my first trip to Kuwait in early December and it was 109 degrees when we arrived in the afternoon. They issued us ECWCS parkas and I wondered why... it's 109 degrees! I was certainly surprised when the temperature dropped to 38 degrees that night -- and very glad I had that parka. I knew deserts could get cold, but I didn't really think twice about it until I was actually in it! Great video, Randall! Keep 'em coming!
Good video, and I'm one of those obnoxious Canadians that has no problem with the cold. Today I hiked in -5 degrees F and will go again tomorrow whem its projected to be -10F. However, I could not tolerate the summer conditions on the gulf coast, anything over 85 degrees is unbearable for me. Have been in Houston in the summer many times and thought my junk was going to melt. All comes down to what environment you are accustomed to. Keep up the good work.
I am from Texas and hike the AT couple times a year with a hammock and have to plan for some nights in the teens. Have down 20 degree underquilt & 20 degree top quilt. I layer for sleep by wearing down pants and my 750 fill down jacket. Wearing puffy's to bed is great when I have to get up in the middle of the night to pee. Would love to carry more clothes (could another fleece layer) but I have to limit pack base weight to 20lbs + 3 water + 7 food = 30lb total weight. Any more weight is a struggle hiking up & down those mountains.
I've slept many nights outside in the winter, I always use 2 sleeping pads. A Thermarest and a foam pad. The foam pad can't go flat. You will melt the snow underneath you if only use one pad unless it is really thick one. Sleeping bag ratings are pretty close for me. I have an old -25F bag that I have slept in half a dozen times at -25F and been fine. Sleeping with several layers on. My 20 degree bag is good to about 20. The only way to know is to try it. There is no substitute for hands on experience, as the man said. Chuck from Minnesota
Lol true, as a North-Midwester there is a lot we put out there that people don't heed/ pay attention to. Best way is to test that gear (and wool is still king), and immerse in the conditions without setting yourself up for failure with piss-poor planning. Cheers bro!!!
Amen. I sign off every single word of yours. So many people underestimate the importance of a good sleeping pad. And even though this old back of mine will complain, when temperatures go below 10°C, I always carry my surplus ECWCS level 7, even if I am not planning to stay the night out.
True advice! A great mat helps so much! The problem with exercise before sleeping is the sweat creates humidity that you then have to burn off in the sack, but it cools you off instead.
The mistake I often make is too many layers on while I'm walking out to my deer stand. Sweat my ass off and freeze said ass off lol. Especially my feet.
👍👍👍 .. Truth! 100% correct. Test it at or near home before going out further afield. I generally don't get cold in Winter .. having learned from experience and preferring to carry that extra layer / beanie / gloves / whatever in my day pack and the accompanying weight. Summer, I carry some extra layers anyway during our Group Nordic Walks. That way, I condition myself for Winter.
Poor metabolism and diet, on army rations I used to be cold. I eat what I want now and have a greater cold tolerance. Also being used to a 70 degree indoor temp vs keeping my house at 60 greatly increased my tolerance
I own a R6 rated sleeping mat too and can confirm that this makes all the difference. The key principle is to create as much space between you and the ground as possible. If it's extremely cold you can put a second foam mat beneath the inflatable one. Or leafs, branches, something like that. As for my sleeping bag I'm mostly good with my 3 season down bag as long as temperatures don't drop too much below 0C. As soon as conditions get really cold I usually pack my winter sleeping bag. But then I'm also the guy sleeping in his (long) underwear.
My tips are just dont turn on the heater when you drive in your care on those freezing days. Doing this I stop feeling cold when its like 45 in T shirts, as a east texas dude where 90-110 at 80% humidity is normal. Im fine with only some warming layers at below freezing now. I also live in a shack with no insulation and a small fire box on the wood stove so thats extra acclimatization there.
You are correct sir. I can't believe I went camping in the fifties and sixties and seventies with none of this new fangled equipment and I really didn't get all that cold We just wore everything. I have a spot in my backyard and my back porch for testing new equipment. Because I don't wanna freeze when I go out.
Good video. Good common sense. Western PA born and bred, so my idea of "cold" is a bit different from yours. Though not as cold as the Canadians, lol. A good tent, tent stove, cot and wool are my means to camp in extreme cold (been down to -20 F outside the tent). My woman is outdoorsy as well, but she's not a fan of the cold at all, so my goals was to make it so she was the one comfortable. I know I hit that when she asked to open the tent flap because it was "too hot", lol. Got it up to around 80 F inside the tent with it in the single digits outside. I don't do this normally, was just for testing. Even with temps that low, I can keep the inside of the tent in the 50's easily on one loading of the tent stove. Bit chilly in the morning, but there's still enough embers to relight for breakfast and waking up. Saves on stacking wood inside, or going out to get it. Total wood used would be about what one buys in one single campfire wood bundle. Or three split logs or equivalent dead wood. Knowing your gear and using it properly is the key. I like the cot instead of the sleeping pad as it keeps me off the ground and is about the height the warm air circulates from my tent stove. I'm older, so prefer to haul a bit more weight to make myself comfortable, heh. Also helps that I routinely camp with my woman, so we split weight distribution. Even the dog has a carry pack for her own food and treats.
The ONLY high priced gear I will stand by as a Maine backcountry guide, is Wild Things Gear.. They now exclusively do military gear. But that's because of their quality prior. If youre ever lucky enough to find some of their old civilian gear in a consignment shop, scoop it up, well worth it and durable. Otherwise you have to pay attention to fabrics and stitching for everything. Also, have you ever considered on going on a trip with Veterans Expeditions? You should check them out, went on a trip with them in NH for VetFest Ice Climbing. They are some real hard chargers with a positive attitude and highly motivated.
Cold weather camping without testing the gear first is like firefighting with an extinguisher you’ve never used. The first time out is going to be live or die. As an Alabama Gulf coast guy who’s done some winter camping I can attest to everything you’ve said Randall. I told a friend to try out a new sleeping bag on his patio. He said “man I’d freeze my ass off! “. How in the heck would you think it’d be warmer in the field? Thanks for a common sense approach Randall.
Lol.. i just bought a new sleep mat. Not canadian, but in the Montana mountains 20 minutes from the border. 19° is the coldest I’ve done so far and it was a good lesson in poor sleeping bag choice.
Another great video, thanks for sharing youre knowledge. You have helped me be safer, more comfortable and confident with my winter gear choices already. Now its like bonus knowledge, thanks for sharing brand specific products, youre recomendations have always worked. Hope youre enjoying retirement!
The one time I slept out in -50c (45 + wind chill) to test my Sleep System (Wiggy's Antarctic Sleep System) was on my balcony! I slept in only my long underwear and socks, and was comfortable enough to sleep 7 hrs straight through with only my face cold. I should have worn a beenie.
I used to winter camp a bit. I'd always wake up about 1 to 3 am with my legs freezeing. No matter what I ever did I'd wake up with my legs freezeing. So honestly just finally gave it up.
Great stuff! I've seen several sources say that the bag rating, at least at the lower degrees, is the temperature at which you can use the bag and not die, but not so much comfort. So if you're using a 20° bag at 20°, you won't freeze to death. Will you freeze to death at 20° if you're in a 40° bag? Who know...probably not. I just know I can get cold in my 20° bag if it gets into the 40's. Although, that's usually if I haven't worked out, place a hot water bottle or curled up with a good book before bedtime!😉
LMAO....Canadians wearing flip flops in the winter. Everyone knows we were our winter sandals...but seriously this was good advise as usual, no bovine scatology and direct. I have been winter camping for 40+ years. A lot of what you said I learned the hard way in my early years. RUclips was still decades away, hell, so was the internet for that matter. Anyways, great content as usual. Thanks.
Spot on myth-busting, Randle. Every individual has individual limits of heat and cold. Those limits can change, but in my experience it can take weeks or longer for substantial change. And absolutely yes on a good sleeping mat being the most important consideration.
Huh. I'm from northern Michigan.... I can take 100 steps and touch lake superior. Its march and we got about another month of winter left. It snowed today even. I still got the mail in shorts. 28 F aint cold. But yeah. dress in layers if your gonna be in the bush. wool rules.
Sleeping bags are misleading and I learned that the hard way when I started. For example my 25 degree bag is rated for 40'F to be comfortable, at 25'F it is enough to keep you alive but youll feel cold. Test your gear before your in the field!
Here's another Canadian comment, but I'm originally from Scotland above the tree line and moved to Canada for the hotter weather. #1 is the health of the person, diabetes and low blood pressure will have a bitter cold effect on you even if you're in a hot tent and just get Sorel boots for the winter at least our rates are dead on.
I agree on sleeping bag temperature rating being completely wrong, I can't stand why producers stick with this rating system rather than using R-value like for sleeping mat.
Is it normal to keep your boots in your bag In tense situations? And just wear everything and just button the bag? Would love to know more about how to sleep in the cold in tense situations based on what's going on
Something you got close to but didnt touch on is what kind of conditions the cold weather is, dry or wet. It makes a huge difference when its a wet environment compared to dry. I do like how you touched on expensive gear being crap sometimes and overpriced because Ive bought flea market wool and fleece gear for 5 to 15 bucks and it work just as well for me as my more expensive heavy jackets and such. My base layers I have atm are around 70% wool which I spent maybe 10 bucks on, also have a wool pullover and fleece jacket which probly cost me like 20 bucks each. I do have lots of experience camping in the cold and hot environments from when I was a kid til now. But knowledge is something everyone needs to experience themselves and not take what works for someone else as law.
The opening with all the u-tube ex spurts had me laughing, Influence-rs are a dime a dozen. I saw -15oF on packed snow with cardboard 1/2" thick do the best at keeping me warm, the week before I had the same spot with fancy mat and pad, you can see where I slept melted into the ice. Old and cold Elk hunt was better when warm at night. Like the man cave loft nice job on the finish work. Good laugh with the video and funny faces.
I must have the opposite of your "Gulf Coast Syndrome". Heat is my kryptonite. Once it cracks 90 F, I'm running at 70% at best. I've found my sleep systems have a range even for me. If I go to bed after hiking a bit well fed and well hydrated, my 20 degree system can keep me toasty to 10. If I just walked half a mile and set camp, that same 20 degree system won't keep me warm at 30. That being said, I always give myself a minimum of 15 degrees wiggle room with my sleep system. Just because the closest forecast you could find for your location says the low will be 35 doesn't mean it won't turn into 15. If you haven't kept your electrolytes and calorie intake up, you will cool off much faster than if you had. If you have the option to take an extra 20 minutes to get some hot calories in your system, you'll sleep a lot warmer. On really cold nights, I'll keep the caloric equivalent of a king-sized Snickers bar next to me to keep it from freezing. When I wake up with a chill at 3 AM, I get a big swig of water, eat the Snickers bar then go back to sleep warm. When it's cold, your body blows through calories.
@@GruntProof I started paying more attention to heat stress after seeing a few people get heat stroke. And once you've had one, subsequent ones get triggered more easily. Of course the same can be said of frostbite.
I just look for a few swamp donkeys (moose) I drop down in between them. Theyve got incredible body heat. If I can't find them, there's usually a bear den near by. I'll sneak in there for about 6 hours for a rest. Kidding, we don't have any on that in southern Manitoba. At least not the bear den. All jokes aside, every body is different from what food gives the best energy to what food keeps you warm at night and so on. Yeah, great idea to test your gear and adjust accordingly at home before you find out the hard way on the trail.
Hot tip ; wool ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. 17 layers of wool can be equaled with three layers of appropriate synthetic materials. Oh ya , I’m Canadian and winter camp😂
@@redactedcanceledcensored6890 Personally I use Helly Hansen Lifa lightweight synthetic base layers , mid-weight fleece (I use Swazi Bushpants and bush shirt) BDU type shirt and trousers over fleece , Goretex hard shell over that.
Experience is the best teacher, know before you go, and everybody is different. What works for one, might not work for the other. Considering I live at 4200 ft, and it was 1 degree in my backyard the other day, don’t ask me for advice! 😂
English is not my first language, so I might have some typos. But some tips frome a Norwegian in no particular order: *winter is cold. You will bee cold. Want to stay warm, stay home and indoors. *eat and drink. If you can, eat close to sleeping time. *GO TO THE TOILET. Your body uses lot of energy ceeping shit warm. Literally. This is super important! *Have a dry sett of clothes. When you stop beeing activ. Change at least the clothes closest to your body. And change back again when you start moving. *Use pine(?) Or sprouse(?) Braches between the grounde and your sleeping math. This makes a ton of difference. Its not the material that ceeps you warm. Its the air you heat up with your body. Probebly have more thats not gear dependent. But at least its some
Well I normally agree with you 100 % or close . Not this time . This X 91 B will tell you after many nights trying different brands of gear . Unless you are a Leg or a woman . You will NOT be cold using a rated for the temp , Western Mountaineering bag . Fucking period !! That is with using even a half assed pad . People be smart . Buy ONE Therm -A-Rest winter Neoair pad and be WARM and hump light, year round . 72 Y.O. ,hard charging ,fucking X medic who KNOWS . Be safe out there folks ! Oh , and warm . 😁 P.S . Waaaay warmer and ligher than the MSS I have also ..... OUT
One time I severely over estimated my abilities and nearly froze to death. Next day I went and got a thicker sleeping bag. Lol. After that I was roasty toasty with my new bag and thick sleep pad.
@@GruntProof the softening of my head is directly related to the pain in my joints haha. I take a little better care of myself now. School of hard knocks man
@@GruntProof btw, spot on with the expensive gear. Some of it is good in very particular situations but $1k worth of great usually isn't any better than what'd you pick up at Walmart, academy and the local surplus store for $150
Exper-ience Exper-t , you understand the why thus you're an expert. I'm situated where i can show your videos in a classroom setting to a bunch on Navy SeaBees specifically how to tactically sleep (u don't) . Expensive Gear is typically lighter and if you're already carrying 8.5lb rifle, 10lb10oz of 556, 8.5lbs of boxed 556 you need the weight savings. 27lbs10oz of just ammo&rifle is not leaving you much space for ground pad, h20, pistol, pistol ammo, food, armor plates, MSS, hygiene, IFAK, Water Filter, Socks. In a Warzone you could be carrying extra barrels, tripods, 40mm ammo and grenades .
As a YT expert, that is great advice. you gotta try your gear out. even if its just for family camping trips... practice ... in all kinds of weather... god the ultralite fairweather experts are so smug... LOL OOO look at my $60 titanium sport.... well i got a real fork and spoon free , don't tell the ol' lady... Another important thing is acclimating yourself to those conditions. If you are always in climate controlled living conditions , you are not gonna adjust very well regardless of gear. One more big thing - Mental state , if you are not having a good time poor morale will kill you quicker than anything, giveupitis... Remember don't try this at home.... I'm what you would call a "professional"
1: being warm before/when you go into the sleepingbag, or using a hot water bottle to make the bag warm quickly REALLY helps a LOT. If you are cold, and go into a cold sleeping bag, it may take a long time to get warm. So being physically active to get warm or using a hot water bottle to add some heat is not dumb at all, but of course you need a bag thats rated for the actual temperature to KEEP warm. The same really goes for everything - put on warm clothes before you get cold, its a lot easier to STAY warm than to get warm when you already are freezing. 2: there are LOTS of expensive ways to stay warm in winter, and proper gear will usually cost more than shitty gear, but of course you dont need gear rated for a south pole expedition to do an overnighter with slightly below freezing. Usually there is a middle road where you get the best value. 3: you really should listen to people from cold areas, because a lot of the reason we dont get so cold is that we know how to stay warm...
@@GruntProof I live in the chilly soggy Pacific NorthWET. THE ABILITY OF lamilote to remain warm when wet, and actually dry the user, is truly amazing. 50 years ago, I thought down was great - until I got it wet.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree with you on some points. It is always good to have knowledge, a notion of the type of material to use in the most adverse conditions that nature can offer us. If others do it, it saves us the heartbreak of having to suffer ourselves. A hot water bottle at your feet can help, but what helps most is having a warm stomach. Eating a hot meal and drinking very little liquid keeps you warm at night or even during daytime activities. Not everyone has strong health, willingness, time or even the desire to do physical exercises before going to bed. There are even those who say that it is harmful for sleep / have a good rest. Most of the time, non-professional campers don't have or bring the best equipment for the weather conditions that have formed. I've been through this as a civilian and in the military. It is not possible to carry everything and it is not always possible to adapt solutions to the conditions of nature. At most, we can try. On the third point, we agree. The "camper" market is too inflated for serving only a small niche of people with the most varied ideologies. Some are preppers, others survivalists, others like to walk around the countryside to ease their minds. Among all, most do not know how to dress for a hike or what equipment to take. Most of them don't even take a first-aid kit or water in quantity. As in everything, we must prepare ourselves adequately for the "mission" in question. A simple walk can turn into misfortune in the blink of an eye. Reliance on computer guidance systems and lack of knowledge of normal methods, compass and maps, can go awry, especially if electronic equipment stops working for whatever reason. Even in normal life, people don't know how to dress for the weather they face. In winter, I've seen people with 2 and 3 coats, plus sweaters, because it was very cold. For me, a huge mistake, because a synthetic fabric, a fleece/polar sweater and a parka, can solve a lot and be light. There aren't many mattresses that can insulate you from the floor. I prefer to use a heat reflector and a self-inflating or inflatable mattress. Then comes the sleeping bag. I have one that resists up to -20º C (-4F) of comfort, but it can go even lower. Glad we have people like you to teach us the basics of the basics... Keep up the good work.
I highly recommend the Savotta Sleeping Pad. Its not as comfortable as a nice blow up - but its bomb proof, and works perfectly well (for me) in Northeastern Winter conditions.
I learned to stay warm in winter from people who did it to live. I learned more bush craft from people who spent generations in the bush. Canada's indigenous. The Cree and the Inuit. I needed less to get more and didn't spend and arm and leg on gadgets and stupid ideas created by so called experts.
Agree, with EVERYTHING in this video, i wonder why/how people still screw this up. It amazes me, how dumb people really are…. There are literally, people such as you, trying to educate/help people, and the same people watching this, are the same morons, search and rescue will continue to look for…. Great video man, keep it up!
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Learn how to layer your winter clothing here: ruclips.net/video/2JPxAo5lavU/видео.htmlsi=svMZLw5b4YFy8Lq7
Poland does not have such problems. As soon as someone start a fire at night, forest service comes up. There are forests designated to legal camping ("Zanocuj w lesie") but fire is still illegal. Even gas stoves. People report stuff like when USSR was still in charge.
damn
Yep.
I dated a city girl for a while. She thought she looked cool in an expensive fur coat, but complained about always being cold. I gave her a down parka and she was blown away by how warm it was.
Too easy.
I'm from Manitoba Canada and I agree with you, most of the "experts" have no clue, were you live and how much you practice outside makes all the difference.
I used to camp a lot in the White Mountains/ New Hampshire, extremely cold. I have to support Randall fully on the test/know your gear, camp your backyard... on the porch if you have to, get to know your gear, if it turns out bad just go back in, no negative consequences, lesson learned and confidence gained as you learn your limitations and the limitations of your gear.
Funny thing as a boyscout in the 80s we only camped in the winter. The first few trips I froze. Eventually I learned everything I needed. The most important thing is clothing. Always change your clothes never sleep in what you wear.
I slept in a old square sleeping bag with a wool blanket. If it was extremely cold I used a old hand warmer in a sock. The hand warmers that used white gas or tablets.
Best time of my life camping in the cold fire raging. Good times
+1 on testing your gear in the backyard. Easy and safe to bail out if something goes wrong without having to hike five miles back to the trailhead.
Im lucky enough my wifes granny has 40 acres of woodland and 40 acres of field, We live right on part of the property so I get to test out my gear lil farther than right outside but Im far enough away to be away. Def beats being miles out somewhere and uh oh.
I remember my first trip to Kuwait in early December and it was 109 degrees when we arrived in the afternoon. They issued us ECWCS parkas and I wondered why... it's 109 degrees! I was certainly surprised when the temperature dropped to 38 degrees that night -- and very glad I had that parka. I knew deserts could get cold, but I didn't really think twice about it until I was actually in it!
Great video, Randall! Keep 'em coming!
good times
I went on a 72 mile hike in Cimmaron, NM it was 74 during the day but dropped around 20 to 30 at night, wasnt prepared for it to get so cold.
@@TheLawrence1999 lolol it was -38 this morning with windchills in mn😅
Good video, and I'm one of those obnoxious Canadians that has no problem with the cold. Today I hiked in -5 degrees F and will go again tomorrow whem its projected to be -10F. However, I could not tolerate the summer conditions on the gulf coast, anything over 85 degrees is unbearable for me. Have been in Houston in the summer many times and thought my junk was going to melt. All comes down to what environment you are accustomed to.
Keep up the good work.
thanks!
@@johnoneill5812 Houston is climatologically unfit for human habitation. It might as well be Venus. Yeah, I said it.
I am from Texas and hike the AT couple times a year with a hammock and have to plan for some nights in the teens. Have down 20 degree underquilt & 20 degree top quilt. I layer for sleep by wearing down pants and my 750 fill down jacket. Wearing puffy's to bed is great when I have to get up in the middle of the night to pee. Would love to carry more clothes (could another fleece layer) but I have to limit pack base weight to 20lbs + 3 water + 7 food = 30lb total weight. Any more weight is a struggle hiking up & down those mountains.
sounds good!
I've slept many nights outside in the winter, I always use 2 sleeping pads. A Thermarest and a foam pad. The foam pad can't go flat. You will melt the snow underneath you if only use one pad unless it is really thick one. Sleeping bag ratings are pretty close for me. I have an old -25F bag that I have slept in half a dozen times at -25F and been fine. Sleeping with several layers on. My 20 degree bag is good to about 20. The only way to know is to try it. There is no substitute for hands on experience, as the man said.
Chuck from Minnesota
good idea
Lol true, as a North-Midwester there is a lot we put out there that people don't heed/ pay attention to. Best way is to test that gear (and wool is still king), and immerse in the conditions without setting yourself up for failure with piss-poor planning.
Cheers bro!!!
Amen. I sign off every single word of yours. So many people underestimate the importance of a good sleeping pad. And even though this old back of mine will complain, when temperatures go below 10°C, I always carry my surplus ECWCS level 7, even if I am not planning to stay the night out.
I'm from the U.P. Michigan a vet and your right on!
True advice! A great mat helps so much! The problem with exercise before sleeping is the sweat creates humidity that you then have to burn off in the sack, but it cools you off instead.
Good conversation. Biggest takeaway is to get out with your gear and test it (and yourself) to best figure out what is going to work best for you.
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Lol ....I spent 4 years looking for the Town of Ausfahrt while stationed in Germany! Love your coffee mug
The mistake I often make is too many layers on while I'm walking out to my deer stand. Sweat my ass off and freeze said ass off lol. Especially my feet.
Thank you GP!
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👍👍👍 .. Truth!
100% correct. Test it at or near home before going out further afield.
I generally don't get cold in Winter .. having learned from experience and preferring to carry that extra layer / beanie / gloves / whatever in my day pack and the accompanying weight. Summer, I carry some extra layers anyway during our Group Nordic Walks. That way, I condition myself for Winter.
Poor metabolism and diet, on army rations I used to be cold. I eat what I want now and have a greater cold tolerance. Also being used to a 70 degree indoor temp vs keeping my house at 60 greatly increased my tolerance
Sleeping bag temp ratings are absolute crap!
I own a R6 rated sleeping mat too and can confirm that this makes all the difference. The key principle is to create as much space between you and the ground as possible. If it's extremely cold you can put a second foam mat beneath the inflatable one. Or leafs, branches, something like that. As for my sleeping bag I'm mostly good with my 3 season down bag as long as temperatures don't drop too much below 0C. As soon as conditions get really cold I usually pack my winter sleeping bag. But then I'm also the guy sleeping in his (long) underwear.
My tips are just dont turn on the heater when you drive in your care on those freezing days. Doing this I stop feeling cold when its like 45 in T shirts, as a east texas dude where 90-110 at 80% humidity is normal. Im fine with only some warming layers at below freezing now. I also live in a shack with no insulation and a small fire box on the wood stove so thats extra acclimatization there.
interesting
You are correct sir. I can't believe I went camping in the fifties and sixties and seventies with none of this new fangled equipment and I really didn't get all that cold We just wore everything. I have a spot in my backyard and my back porch for testing new equipment. Because I don't wanna freeze when I go out.
Good video. Good common sense.
Western PA born and bred, so my idea of "cold" is a bit different from yours. Though not as cold as the Canadians, lol.
A good tent, tent stove, cot and wool are my means to camp in extreme cold (been down to -20 F outside the tent). My woman is outdoorsy as well, but she's not a fan of the cold at all, so my goals was to make it so she was the one comfortable. I know I hit that when she asked to open the tent flap because it was "too hot", lol. Got it up to around 80 F inside the tent with it in the single digits outside. I don't do this normally, was just for testing. Even with temps that low, I can keep the inside of the tent in the 50's easily on one loading of the tent stove. Bit chilly in the morning, but there's still enough embers to relight for breakfast and waking up. Saves on stacking wood inside, or going out to get it. Total wood used would be about what one buys in one single campfire wood bundle. Or three split logs or equivalent dead wood.
Knowing your gear and using it properly is the key. I like the cot instead of the sleeping pad as it keeps me off the ground and is about the height the warm air circulates from my tent stove. I'm older, so prefer to haul a bit more weight to make myself comfortable, heh. Also helps that I routinely camp with my woman, so we split weight distribution. Even the dog has a carry pack for her own food and treats.
Great advise on the subject! Gotta get out there and use the gear. I've been researching the subject lately myself.
Great info and debunk.
Wise Consulting❤🇺🇸
I don’t know how long I’m subbed to this channel, but I’ve learned a shit ton over the years
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Yep you are spot on👍🥶🥶🥶
The ONLY high priced gear I will stand by as a Maine backcountry guide, is Wild Things Gear.. They now exclusively do military gear. But that's because of their quality prior. If youre ever lucky enough to find some of their old civilian gear in a consignment shop, scoop it up, well worth it and durable. Otherwise you have to pay attention to fabrics and stitching for everything. Also, have you ever considered on going on a trip with Veterans Expeditions? You should check them out, went on a trip with them in NH for VetFest Ice Climbing. They are some real hard chargers with a positive attitude and highly motivated.
Wild Things is excellent
Well said
Cold weather camping without testing the gear first is like firefighting with an extinguisher you’ve never used. The first time out is going to be live or die. As an Alabama Gulf coast guy who’s done some winter camping I can attest to everything you’ve said Randall. I told a friend to try out a new sleeping bag on his patio. He said “man I’d freeze my ass off! “. How in the heck would you think it’d be warmer in the field? Thanks for a common sense approach Randall.
Lol.. i just bought a new sleep mat. Not canadian, but in the Montana mountains 20 minutes from the border. 19° is the coldest I’ve done so far and it was a good lesson in poor sleeping bag choice.
I found wool blankets to be absolutely underrated. They are cheap and warm. Downside is they tend to be super heavy.
agreed
right, get out there and do it 👍
Good stuff!
Another great video, thanks for sharing youre knowledge. You have helped me be safer, more comfortable and confident with my winter gear choices already. Now its like bonus knowledge, thanks for sharing brand specific products, youre recomendations have always worked. Hope youre enjoying retirement!
The one time I slept out in -50c (45 + wind chill) to test my Sleep System (Wiggy's Antarctic Sleep System) was on my balcony! I slept in only my long underwear and socks, and was comfortable enough to sleep 7 hrs straight through with only my face cold. I should have worn a beenie.
Awesome. I'm trying their 30 degree bag now
the sleeping bag usually is rated with the displayed rating being at the point at which people who run super hot are just barely not cold
Hi GP Good advice cheers Jc 🇬🇧
I used to winter camp a bit. I'd always wake up about 1 to 3 am with my legs freezeing. No matter what I ever did I'd wake up with my legs freezeing. So honestly just finally gave it up.
Great stuff!
I've seen several sources say that the bag rating, at least at the lower degrees, is the temperature at which you can use the bag and not die, but not so much comfort. So if you're using a 20° bag at 20°, you won't freeze to death. Will you freeze to death at 20° if you're in a 40° bag? Who know...probably not. I just know I can get cold in my 20° bag if it gets into the 40's. Although, that's usually if I haven't worked out, place a hot water bottle or curled up with a good book before bedtime!😉
LMAO....Canadians wearing flip flops in the winter. Everyone knows we were our winter sandals...but seriously this was good advise as usual, no bovine scatology and direct. I have been winter camping for 40+ years. A lot of what you said I learned the hard way in my early years. RUclips was still decades away, hell, so was the internet for that matter. Anyways, great content as usual. Thanks.
You don't want to track snow back indoors
I like 2 pads in winter cheap self inflate under foldable molded foam
Good Advice, especially trying out your gear before you actually need it
Spot on myth-busting, Randle. Every individual has individual limits of heat and cold. Those limits can change, but in my experience it can take weeks or longer for substantial change. And absolutely yes on a good sleeping mat being the most important consideration.
Great video! Thanks 🍻
Randall, did you ever wear either the white it black mickey mouse boots?
Great piece of gear. Have my original pair.
i have the black ones
Cold is good. It triggers sirtuins and the survival circuit.
Huh. I'm from northern Michigan.... I can take 100 steps and touch lake superior. Its march and we got about another month of winter left. It snowed today even. I still got the mail in shorts. 28 F aint cold.
But yeah. dress in layers if your gonna be in the bush. wool rules.
Sleeping bags are misleading and I learned that the hard way when I started. For example my 25 degree bag is rated for 40'F to be comfortable, at 25'F it is enough to keep you alive but youll feel cold. Test your gear before your in the field!
Here's another Canadian comment, but I'm originally from Scotland above the tree line and moved to Canada for the hotter weather.
#1 is the health of the person, diabetes and low blood pressure will have a bitter cold effect on you even if you're in a hot tent and just get Sorel boots for the winter at least our rates are dead on.
thanks!
I agree on sleeping bag temperature rating being completely wrong, I can't stand why producers stick with this rating system rather than using R-value like for sleeping mat.
Haha! Great video. Keep the goodness coming! 🎉😂
Learned no5 the hard way
My sleep pad made the biggest difference out of all my equipment. But I’m no expert, and I live in Michigan too. And no bunny slippers either sir!😂
🍻
Is it normal to keep your boots in your bag In tense situations? And just wear everything and just button the bag? Would love to know more about how to sleep in the cold in tense situations based on what's going on
In a non-permissive environment we sleep ready to go. it sucks
@@GruntProof thank you. I figured as much
Something you got close to but didnt touch on is what kind of conditions the cold weather is, dry or wet. It makes a huge difference when its a wet environment compared to dry. I do like how you touched on expensive gear being crap sometimes and overpriced because Ive bought flea market wool and fleece gear for 5 to 15 bucks and it work just as well for me as my more expensive heavy jackets and such. My base layers I have atm are around 70% wool which I spent maybe 10 bucks on, also have a wool pullover and fleece jacket which probly cost me like 20 bucks each. I do have lots of experience camping in the cold and hot environments from when I was a kid til now. But knowledge is something everyone needs to experience themselves and not take what works for someone else as law.
good points
Randall is like a father to me.
The opening with all the u-tube ex spurts had me laughing, Influence-rs are a dime a dozen. I saw -15oF on packed snow with cardboard 1/2" thick do the best at keeping me warm, the week before I had the same spot with fancy mat and pad, you can see where I slept melted into the ice. Old and cold Elk hunt was better when warm at night. Like the man cave loft nice job on the finish work. Good laugh with the video and funny faces.
I must have the opposite of your "Gulf Coast Syndrome". Heat is my kryptonite. Once it cracks 90 F, I'm running at 70% at best.
I've found my sleep systems have a range even for me. If I go to bed after hiking a bit well fed and well hydrated, my 20 degree system can keep me toasty to 10. If I just walked half a mile and set camp, that same 20 degree system won't keep me warm at 30.
That being said, I always give myself a minimum of 15 degrees wiggle room with my sleep system. Just because the closest forecast you could find for your location says the low will be 35 doesn't mean it won't turn into 15. If you haven't kept your electrolytes and calorie intake up, you will cool off much faster than if you had. If you have the option to take an extra 20 minutes to get some hot calories in your system, you'll sleep a lot warmer.
On really cold nights, I'll keep the caloric equivalent of a king-sized Snickers bar next to me to keep it from freezing. When I wake up with a chill at 3 AM, I get a big swig of water, eat the Snickers bar then go back to sleep warm. When it's cold, your body blows through calories.
I like both extremes but my body does much beetter in the heat
@@GruntProof I started paying more attention to heat stress after seeing a few people get heat stroke. And once you've had one, subsequent ones get triggered more easily.
Of course the same can be said of frostbite.
I just look for a few swamp donkeys (moose) I drop down in between them. Theyve got incredible body heat. If I can't find them, there's usually a bear den near by. I'll sneak in there for about 6 hours for a rest.
Kidding, we don't have any on that in southern Manitoba. At least not the bear den.
All jokes aside, every body is different from what food gives the best energy to what food keeps you warm at night and so on.
Yeah, great idea to test your gear and adjust accordingly at home before you find out the hard way on the trail.
Hot tip ; wool ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. 17 layers of wool can be equaled with three layers of appropriate synthetic materials.
Oh ya , I’m Canadian and winter camp😂
What are these appropriate synthetics in your opinion? The common polar fleece? Or stuff like Climashield?
@@redactedcanceledcensored6890
Personally I use Helly Hansen Lifa lightweight synthetic base layers , mid-weight fleece (I use Swazi Bushpants and bush shirt) BDU type shirt and trousers over fleece , Goretex hard shell over that.
Thank you!! What is the difference between silk weights and polypropylenes?are both ok for level one?
the polypros are warming, second layer
@@GruntProof thank you
👍🏽👍🏽 Nice shirt
Did I just see a cameo from Dan Becker?
1:16 I feel seen.
Experience is the best teacher, know before you go, and everybody is different. What works for one, might not work for the other. Considering I live at 4200 ft, and it was 1 degree in my backyard the other day, don’t ask me for advice! 😂
English is not my first language, so I might have some typos. But some tips frome a Norwegian in no particular order:
*winter is cold. You will bee cold. Want to stay warm, stay home and indoors.
*eat and drink. If you can, eat close to sleeping time.
*GO TO THE TOILET. Your body uses lot of energy ceeping shit warm. Literally. This is super important!
*Have a dry sett of clothes. When you stop beeing activ. Change at least the clothes closest to your body. And change back again when you start moving.
*Use pine(?) Or sprouse(?) Braches between the grounde and your sleeping math. This makes a ton of difference. Its not the material that ceeps you warm. Its the air you heat up with your body.
Probebly have more thats not gear dependent. But at least its some
Well I normally agree with you 100 % or close . Not this time . This X 91 B will tell you after many nights trying different brands of gear . Unless you are a Leg or a woman . You will NOT be cold using a rated for the temp , Western Mountaineering bag . Fucking period !! That is with using even a half assed pad . People be smart . Buy ONE Therm -A-Rest winter Neoair pad and be WARM and hump light, year round . 72 Y.O. ,hard charging ,fucking X medic who KNOWS . Be safe out there folks ! Oh , and warm . 😁 P.S . Waaaay warmer and ligher than the MSS I have also ..... OUT
One time I severely over estimated my abilities and nearly froze to death. Next day I went and got a thicker sleeping bag. Lol. After that I was roasty toasty with my new bag and thick sleep pad.
I did that for years in the Infantry. Young, dumb, tough, and hard headed 🤣
@@GruntProof the softening of my head is directly related to the pain in my joints haha. I take a little better care of myself now. School of hard knocks man
@@GruntProof btw, spot on with the expensive gear. Some of it is good in very particular situations but $1k worth of great usually isn't any better than what'd you pick up at Walmart, academy and the local surplus store for $150
Don't trust bag manufacturers temperature ratings and tent capacity as well!!
definitely. A 2 man tent is always a 1.5 man tent
Exper-ience Exper-t , you understand the why thus you're an expert. I'm situated where i can show your videos in a classroom setting to a bunch on Navy SeaBees specifically how to tactically sleep (u don't) . Expensive Gear is typically lighter and if you're already carrying 8.5lb rifle, 10lb10oz of 556, 8.5lbs of boxed 556 you need the weight savings. 27lbs10oz of just ammo&rifle is not leaving you much space for ground pad, h20, pistol, pistol ammo, food, armor plates, MSS, hygiene, IFAK, Water Filter, Socks. In a Warzone you could be carrying extra barrels, tripods, 40mm ammo and grenades .
As a YT expert, that is great advice. you gotta try your gear out.
even if its just for family camping trips... practice ... in all kinds of weather...
god the ultralite fairweather experts are so smug... LOL
OOO look at my $60 titanium sport.... well i got a real fork and spoon
free , don't tell the ol' lady...
Another important thing is acclimating yourself to those conditions.
If you are always in climate controlled living conditions , you are not gonna adjust very well regardless of gear.
One more big thing - Mental state , if you are not having a good time poor morale will kill you quicker than anything, giveupitis...
Remember don't try this at home.... I'm what you would call a "professional"
great tips
👍👍👍
Just the tip , see how it feels ...that's what she said!
I didn't appreciate those knife hands sarnt 😂
FROG polartec for you fire dummies
1: being warm before/when you go into the sleepingbag, or using a hot water bottle to make the bag warm quickly REALLY helps a LOT. If you are cold, and go into a cold sleeping bag, it may take a long time to get warm. So being physically active to get warm or using a hot water bottle to add some heat is not dumb at all, but of course you need a bag thats rated for the actual temperature to KEEP warm. The same really goes for everything - put on warm clothes before you get cold, its a lot easier to STAY warm than to get warm when you already are freezing.
2: there are LOTS of expensive ways to stay warm in winter, and proper gear will usually cost more than shitty gear, but of course you dont need gear rated for a south pole expedition to do an overnighter with slightly below freezing. Usually there is a middle road where you get the best value.
3: you really should listen to people from cold areas, because a lot of the reason we dont get so cold is that we know how to stay warm...
Once you discover Wiggy’s and Lamilite, you’ll never go back.
Looking forward to testing my new sleeping bag!
@@GruntProof I live in the chilly soggy Pacific NorthWET. THE ABILITY OF lamilote to remain warm when wet, and actually dry the user, is truly amazing. 50 years ago, I thought down was great - until I got it wet.
Best video before you go to baumholder
Do research myself?
Find something myself?
But that’s what social media is for isn’t it.!? 😳
You could spend decades and fortunes just learning basix.
FYI polartec is the best
@@BillSch polartec fr AKA nomex
Reason number 1: you are not hot tenting 😁
🤣🤣
Tip from a no pro: keep out of the wind, even inside the tent
Sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree with you on some points.
It is always good to have knowledge, a notion of the type of material to use in the most adverse conditions that nature can offer us. If others do it, it saves us the heartbreak of having to suffer ourselves.
A hot water bottle at your feet can help, but what helps most is having a warm stomach. Eating a hot meal and drinking very little liquid keeps you warm at night or even during daytime activities. Not everyone has strong health, willingness, time or even the desire to do physical exercises before going to bed. There are even those who say that it is harmful for sleep / have a good rest.
Most of the time, non-professional campers don't have or bring the best equipment for the weather conditions that have formed. I've been through this as a civilian and in the military. It is not possible to carry everything and it is not always possible to adapt solutions to the conditions of nature. At most, we can try.
On the third point, we agree. The "camper" market is too inflated for serving only a small niche of people with the most varied ideologies. Some are preppers, others survivalists, others like to walk around the countryside to ease their minds. Among all, most do not know how to dress for a hike or what equipment to take. Most of them don't even take a first-aid kit or water in quantity. As in everything, we must prepare ourselves adequately for the "mission" in question. A simple walk can turn into misfortune in the blink of an eye. Reliance on computer guidance systems and lack of knowledge of normal methods, compass and maps, can go awry, especially if electronic equipment stops working for whatever reason.
Even in normal life, people don't know how to dress for the weather they face. In winter, I've seen people with 2 and 3 coats, plus sweaters, because it was very cold. For me, a huge mistake, because a synthetic fabric, a fleece/polar sweater and a parka, can solve a lot and be light.
There aren't many mattresses that can insulate you from the floor. I prefer to use a heat reflector and a self-inflating or inflatable mattress. Then comes the sleeping bag. I have one that resists up to -20º C (-4F) of comfort, but it can go even lower.
Glad we have people like you to teach us the basics of the basics... Keep up the good work.
thanks for the input!
I highly recommend the Savotta Sleeping Pad. Its not as comfortable as a nice blow up - but its bomb proof, and works perfectly well (for me) in Northeastern Winter conditions.
agreed
I learned to stay warm in winter from people who did it to live. I learned more bush craft from people who spent generations in the bush. Canada's indigenous. The Cree and the Inuit. I needed less to get more and didn't spend and arm and leg on gadgets and stupid ideas created by so called experts.
6. Eat more fat.
an empty stomach never helped anybody sleep in the cold...
@@cgnicolis Probably helped a few die.
Get a BMW and three small dogs
"You're watching too many RUclips videos". Not this one, of course. : )
of course not!
comment for the algorithm.
Agree, with EVERYTHING in this video, i wonder why/how people still screw this up. It amazes me, how dumb people really are….
There are literally, people such as you, trying to educate/help people, and the same people watching this, are the same morons, search and rescue will continue to look for….
Great video man, keep it up!
🍻