Here's a fun tip I picked up making snow piles into makeshift igloos as a kid living in the Midwest! Dig a trench around the inside perimeter of your dwelling, then dig a trench in a straight line from the perimeter trench, to the outside on the most downhill side. The coldest air will settle into the trench and head out. Won't exactly make it warm, but it'll help make it a little less cold. It's called a 'cold well'.
When I was in Scouts, we had a winter camping trip every year. We were taught to lay down newspaper before setting up the tent, tarp, then newspaper. I was like 11 or so and went to a custom foam cushion place and got a 4inch foam to line the whole tent...lol cut in 2 pieces though. We never hiked in for the snow trips though.
Don’t forget the cap when sleeping. I run a 40deg quilt in the summer and a 15 degree mummy. In the winter I use my quilt inside my mummy and I’m pretty cozy down to the teens possibly the single digits but haven’t confirmed
I bought a surplus 90s US army extreme cold weather sleeping bag. I think I read it was rated for -35, and I believe it. Its thick, heavy duty and I feel very confident with it.
I appreciate your emphasis on the ground pad. It truly is the single most important component of a camping sleep system. I'm sick and tired of RUclipsrs trying to spruik uninsulated air pads. They're dogshit when the temp gets cooler.
I know a lot of RUclipsrs try crazy stuff and recommending cheap gear gets more views. People are always looking for the cheapest way to do this. For me I want it to work well above all else. And good gear costs money.
@@JonConti a related problem is how cheap gear is made overseas, often in sweatshop conditions with poor standards for workers. There's room within the outdoors scene to argue for US cottage makers making good quality gear. They'll cost more, but they'll do the job properly and they were made ethically.
Love my sea to summit sleeping bag liner! It’s a huge boost in warmth. I get painful restless legs in a mummy bag so I’ve switched to a quilt and the liner let’s me toss and turn without chills from drafts.
@@JonConti Same. My teepee (OneTigris Smokey Hut) has a mesh inner wall. That seems to help a lot with the condensation, keeping it on the outer wall and away from the inner. I'm curious about the Seek Outside with the half inner and how well that works. High quality 4 season tents like Hilleberg seem to be fully sealed up, but with a generous space between the walls. I'm not sure how that helps condensation, but it seems to be one of the best out there. Not a question, just some random thoughts on the topic. Cheers, and thanks for the local wisdom! 🍻
Once again Grand Master "J" nails it. I use the Nemo Disco 15 and then I throw one of my Cedar Ridge quilts over top. Nice thing about the Nemo is it has a pillow pocket in the hood part. I recently did a snow camp up to Mt Baker and only used my Klymit Static V which is rated at 5.5 I believe. I did not use a pad under it ( but I wished I had) it did OK but a thermalite pad or something like it would have added that extras insulation.
I just got a down blanket to throw over the top of me! I bought my family the nemo disco 15, I actually said while recording this “if you have a nemo disco 15, try adding a liner and see how it works.” I do love that pocket for a pillow. I wanted the Nemo Sonic but they’ve been sold out forever. The insulated static V is a 4.4 I think or at least mine is. And ya same experience it worked ok, but not great. I’m glad you’re able to use a 15 degree bag! I didn’t fully test that theory 😂😂😂
@@JonConti I must have missed your comment about the Nemo. A bag Liner would never work for me. In fact ibhate bags and the Disco is the only one I can remotely tolerate . I am a quilt guy all the way.
@@JonConti oh good, I thought I was having a senior moment! 😅 ypu mean like a Costco down blanket? No. I have a 40' down quilt that is about 9 Oz. That works.
I had a Sea-to-Summit inflatable pillow… but it was crinkly. It was actually keeping me awake.. so I did a cruel thing and gave it to a friend. Now he can’t sleep at night! 😂
Modern backpackers may try to cook outside in cold wind or risk their lives cooking inside without a chimney using their so called 4 season equipment. Usually they are at home waiting for good weather. All over the world there are people who follow their animals living in portable shelters, not one of them cooks outside in the wind. It is impossible for anyone to survive a winter cooking every day out side with so called 4 season equipment. Using a chimney makes camping in any weather a comfortable pleasure. A tarp pitch can be the best 4 season shelter. It has to go tight to the ground on all sides and have a wood stove inside if it is going to be any good in a winter blizzard. Stove and chimney 24 ounces, shelter near 2.5 lbs. The whole outfit cannot weigh more than 5 lbs. if backpackers are going to use it. A 10’x10’ tarp only needs to be pegged on the 4 corners with as many pegs as it takes to be secure in any wind. No grommets are needed. It has cramped space for 3 cooking, lots of space 4 sleeping. The chimney can serve as one of the 40” long corner poles. Sticks that have a small nail driven in both ends (head pinched off). One end stays put on the ground, the other end through a reinforced point exactly in the corner 40” from the edges of the tarp. All sides can be raised forming an umbrella to cool off because of heat from the tiny cookstove or summer sun. This is what 4 season equipment is all about.
Hey Jon, great vid - thanks from Laurence in Boise. Like AlaskanBorn below mentioned, I got the Klymit insulated pad and it works great, also good in a hammock too. Was that filmed on the Crooked River trail btw? One of our favorite areas; too bad it burned up recently. Dude, REI needs to pay you a commission for all the times you mention them ;-) Happy Holidays!
Good eye! This was shot on the crooked river. I was playing around with hammock camping in the winter. A guy up in north idaho showed me a sweet setup he uses all winter. Do you use it in the winter 🥶
I use the Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad and strap it to my helinox lite cot. Kinda heavy system ill probably change it up to a pad that you have . The cot actually helps keep me on my pad if that makes sense.
I bought those cots when I first started backpacking. They’re much heavier than I anticipated and I found them hard to set up. That’s crazy you backpack with them! If you could throw one on a sled that would be ideal for the winter, get you off the ground.
List of gear in the description! Let me know your winter camping tips and techniques here 😀
Here's a fun tip I picked up making snow piles into makeshift igloos as a kid living in the Midwest! Dig a trench around the inside perimeter of your dwelling, then dig a trench in a straight line from the perimeter trench, to the outside on the most downhill side. The coldest air will settle into the trench and head out. Won't exactly make it warm, but it'll help make it a little less cold. It's called a 'cold well'.
Dude awesome that is priceless advice thank you so much!
When I was in Scouts, we had a winter camping trip every year. We were taught to lay down newspaper before setting up the tent, tarp, then newspaper. I was like 11 or so and went to a custom foam cushion place and got a 4inch foam to line the whole tent...lol cut in 2 pieces though. We never hiked in for the snow trips though.
Don’t forget the cap when sleeping. I run a 40deg quilt in the summer and a 15 degree mummy. In the winter I use my quilt inside my mummy and I’m pretty cozy down to the teens possibly the single digits but haven’t confirmed
I bought a surplus 90s US army extreme cold weather sleeping bag. I think I read it was rated for -35, and I believe it. Its thick, heavy duty and I feel very confident with it.
I appreciate your emphasis on the ground pad. It truly is the single most important component of a camping sleep system. I'm sick and tired of RUclipsrs trying to spruik uninsulated air pads. They're dogshit when the temp gets cooler.
I know a lot of RUclipsrs try crazy stuff and recommending cheap gear gets more views. People are always looking for the cheapest way to do this. For me I want it to work well above all else. And good gear costs money.
@@JonConti a related problem is how cheap gear is made overseas, often in sweatshop conditions with poor standards for workers. There's room within the outdoors scene to argue for US cottage makers making good quality gear. They'll cost more, but they'll do the job properly and they were made ethically.
Love my sea to summit sleeping bag liner! It’s a huge boost in warmth. I get painful restless legs in a mummy bag so I’ve switched to a quilt and the liner let’s me toss and turn without chills from drafts.
Ya I love the liner too. People hate on it but I get a much better night sleep with it
Ventilation in the tent to reduce condensation is important too. Amazing how much moisture is expelled while you're sleeping.
Ya i’m struggling to find the balance of venting and keeping heat in
@@JonConti Same. My teepee (OneTigris Smokey Hut) has a mesh inner wall. That seems to help a lot with the condensation, keeping it on the outer wall and away from the inner. I'm curious about the Seek Outside with the half inner and how well that works. High quality 4 season tents like Hilleberg seem to be fully sealed up, but with a generous space between the walls. I'm not sure how that helps condensation, but it seems to be one of the best out there. Not a question, just some random thoughts on the topic. Cheers, and thanks for the local wisdom! 🍻
@@zenofthemoment Hey thank you!
Man this is solid info!
Once again Grand Master "J" nails it. I use the Nemo Disco 15 and then I throw one of my Cedar Ridge quilts over top. Nice thing about the Nemo is it has a pillow pocket in the hood part. I recently did a snow camp up to Mt Baker and only used my Klymit Static V which is rated at 5.5 I believe. I did not use a pad under it ( but I wished I had) it did OK but a thermalite pad or something like it would have added that extras insulation.
I just got a down blanket to throw over the top of me! I bought my family the nemo disco 15, I actually said while recording this “if you have a nemo disco 15, try adding a liner and see how it works.” I do love that pocket for a pillow. I wanted the Nemo Sonic but they’ve been sold out forever. The insulated static V is a 4.4 I think or at least mine is. And ya same experience it worked ok, but not great. I’m glad you’re able to use a 15 degree bag! I didn’t fully test that theory 😂😂😂
@@JonConti I must have missed your comment about the Nemo. A bag Liner would never work for me. In fact ibhate bags and the Disco is the only one I can remotely tolerate . I am a quilt guy all the way.
@@HikingwithGus I didn't add my comment about the Nemo I cut it so you didn't miss it! Have you tried a down blanket yet?
@@JonConti oh good, I thought I was having a senior moment! 😅 ypu mean like a Costco down blanket? No. I have a 40' down quilt that is about 9 Oz. That works.
Hey, great tip about washing liner after trip. I heard about that someplace else before…Great educational video and as usual well done….
Lol thanks for the tip!
I had a Sea-to-Summit inflatable pillow… but it was crinkly. It was actually keeping me awake.. so I did a cruel thing and gave it to a friend. Now he can’t sleep at night! 😂
Well shit... I just bought one 😂I got their down pillow cuz it locks into that pad!
👍👍
Great video, love the information
Ya buddy! ✌️
Modern backpackers may try to cook outside in cold wind or risk their lives cooking inside without a chimney using their so called 4 season equipment. Usually they are at home waiting for good weather.
All over the world there are people who follow their animals living in portable shelters, not one of them cooks outside in the wind.
It is impossible for anyone to survive a winter cooking every day out side with so called 4 season equipment.
Using a chimney makes camping in any weather a comfortable pleasure.
A tarp pitch can be the best 4 season shelter.
It has to go tight to the ground on all sides and have a wood stove inside if it is going to be any good in a winter blizzard. Stove and chimney 24 ounces, shelter near 2.5 lbs. The whole outfit cannot weigh more than 5 lbs. if backpackers are going to use it.
A 10’x10’ tarp only needs to be pegged on the 4 corners with as many pegs as it takes to be secure in any wind. No grommets are needed. It has cramped space for 3 cooking, lots of space 4 sleeping.
The chimney can serve as one of the 40” long corner poles. Sticks that have a small nail driven in both ends (head pinched off). One end stays put on the ground, the other end through a reinforced point exactly in the corner 40” from the edges of the tarp.
All sides can be raised forming an umbrella to cool off because of heat from the tiny cookstove or summer sun. This is what 4 season equipment is all about.
Hey Jon, great vid - thanks from Laurence in Boise. Like AlaskanBorn below mentioned, I got the Klymit insulated pad and it works great, also good in a hammock too. Was that filmed on the Crooked River trail btw? One of our favorite areas; too bad it burned up recently. Dude, REI needs to pay you a commission for all the times you mention them ;-) Happy Holidays!
Good eye! This was shot on the crooked river. I was playing around with hammock camping in the winter. A guy up in north idaho showed me a sweet setup he uses all winter. Do you use it in the winter 🥶
I have the StS down inflatable pillow, and it is the BEES KNEES
That’s probably what I’ll end up getting since it locks into the pad. You ever bike pack?
Hey bro great video!! I’m struggling to find a tent I like and the one in this video looks amazing, so you remember what it is? Thanks, cheers.
What about the emergency bivy sack surrounding sleep system? Don't breath in it though
I use the Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad and strap it to my helinox lite cot. Kinda heavy system ill probably change it up to a pad that you have . The cot actually helps keep me on my pad if that makes sense.
I bought those cots when I first started backpacking. They’re much heavier than I anticipated and I found them hard to set up. That’s crazy you backpack with them! If you could throw one on a sled that would be ideal for the winter, get you off the ground.
Yeah 2pounds 13 oz
Hey John Great video. I was wondering what Nemo tent that is. What’s the name of the tent?
Thanks! There's a Nemo Dagger in this video. Then it's a Luxe Teepee behind me and then later on in the video are a couple shots of a red MSR access 3
What's the lowest temp you've slept outside on the Sea to summit extreme pad? Did it keep you warm in that temperature?
who buys camping pillows when you got sweat pants n sweat tops etc
Neo xtherm works for me, you on the right path. ✌
I wanted to try the xtherm, I hear nothing but good things! But they’re out of the large version everywhere and I don’t quite fit on a regular size 😩
I've had my 25" for 3 years