Little tip concerning hot hands: I use them to keep my electronic devices and water filter warm when I winter camp. You won’t wake up to all your batteries drained and your filter frozen and compromised. Bring a bubble wrap envelope (from an amazon delivery) toss anything you want to protect in there, then throw in a hot hands, leaving it open just enough it gets oxygen. Come morning time you can continue to use it in that manner, or take your stuff out, seal the envelope, and the hand warmer should deactivate and will be usable the next night too
Smart! I've been thinking about making a envelope out of reflectix for this same thing, minus the hot hands. I was thinking the reflectix might be insulative enough to keep the items inside from freezing but idk. Might have to test it out this winter.
Nice, I’ll use the “cozy” I use for my dehydrated meals bc I don’t like putting them in my sleeping bag bc I toss and turn and might break them. Thanks!
@@MidnightLight. that’s a good question bc Hot Hands can get very hot. I don’t have experience putting them in the bubble wrap envelope, just the reflectix/silver car windshield cover/food bag cozy, no problems with melting that so far.
@@MidnightLight. I can’t say it could never happen, but I can say it’s never happened in the number of times I’ve done it. Never seemed to get close either. Bubble wrap isn’t THAT good of an insulator, and if you’ve got it wrapped up tight enough to really hold in heat it’s likely starving the heater of oxygen and slowing down the chemical reaction too.
The sleeping bag liner really is a game changer. My first time using one was about 6000 ft up Mt Rainier in February a couple years ago. My bag was rated for 20F , the liner rated for another 25F. It got down to right about 0F that night. I started the night off a little cold, but by midnight I had stripped off every bit of clothing in an attempt to stop sweating! 😅
Sweating likely came from creating a situation where your bag could expel your body moisture because it was suffocated by the inner bag. It could not breath. Which creates a whole host of other problems like moisture build up from adding layers of nylon and insulation that were not part of the testing or design process that went into rating the bag in the first place.
@@kookiemoose moisture build up is kind f ow this keeps you warm. Water evaporating uses a lot of energy. By keeping the vapor inside the liner, you prevent more water from evaporating and get back some warmth from the condensation process. Additionally you prevent condensation issues in your sleeping bag and tent.
@@milosennhauser2879I know this was a year ago but wouldn’t that just lead to more problems especially once you’re ready to exit the sleeping bag you’re going to be wet and trying to quickly change and get dry before you turn into a human ice pop
Honestly, I find that an overlayer or bivy sac or both is better than a liner. Leaving more room in the bag. A stitched envelope of a wool or polyester blanket works great. And it keeps your sleeping bag protected from the elements.
I like to put one of those silver mylar emergency blankets between the tent floor and my pad. It act as a bit of a radiant barrier to keep thermal migration down.
I have tried 4 different liners and they all sucked and didn't add any warmth or feel comfortable... then I decided to try Appalachian Gear Company's alpaca liner and wow. It is so warm, comfy, and it doesn't get twisted up when I toss and turn! Love that thing.
I have a pair of down booties and I always bring them in cold weather to sleep in for both my tent and hammock setup. One of those things I am glad I learned about them. I also bring a few hot hands warmers. I use them usually for a heat source at night if I get cold sleeping. Mini heater to take the edge off. Great video!
You should do a video on what to pack when you're hiking in mountain ranges that create their own weather. Rainier, Mazatzal. These places are some of the hardest to prep for without taking everything. Forecast of 70 and sunny and getting 30 super rain cell and 50mph winds
I bought down booties last year but was too warm to use them. Use them for the first time this past weekend and that combined with a warmer sleeping bag made me wake with a start because I was so warm and snuggly that I thought I was in my own bed :p
I have to say, I do really like your videos. They are lighthearted, honest, very helpful and they don't push the typical "you have to have this high-end high dollar gear" that so many other youtubers push. You give examples and your opinion through your experience and let the viewer decide for themselves.
Since the last 3 weeks of my hike unexpectedly turned into a winter hike (temps in the teens Fahrenheit, fully frozen waterbottles in vestibule in the morning), and I only had 3-season gear, here‘s s few more tips that really worked well for me: - get a cozy for your gas can. it is absolutely essential to be able to boil water - make sure you bring enough fuel - I already have a synthetic puffy that I also wear while hiking. For the night I added a down vest. - have your dinners in a ziplock and an empty and clean dehydrated meal packet. when you reach camp, pour the boiling water in, stick it under your shirt, and set up your camp. eat after you snuggled into the sleeping bag. - have a nalgene bottle with you, bonus points if you also made a cozy for it. fill it with hot water and take it into your sleeping bag. reheat during the night if necessary. this also has the advantage that you actually have non-frozen water to drink in the morning. I usually warm it up in the morning, stick it under the shirt, break camp and start hiking. - obviously take all electronics and the filter into your sleeping bag. - if you‘re using trailrunners and normal socks through snow, use oven bags over the socks to make them waterproof. they last for several days without getting any holes.
I've used knock off micro spikes from the Zon. THey literally broke the first time I used them. I've been using my Katoolah Microspikes for several years with no issues. Don't forget to SHARPEN them before the season starts!
In -60°F Alaskan weather I always kept my head warm with a simple beanie and turtle fur neck gaiter combo pulled up over my nose so only my eyes were uncovered. Worked great for all day long outside hiking in extreme cold weather. When ice buildup would happen from exhaling you'd shift the turtle fur gaiter around your head and by the time it got back around the ice/moisture was gone.
1 of the best little things I got for winter camping is an insulted pouch for your dehydrated meals keeps them hot for longer and they hydrate better then after put your phone and power bank and your water filter in stops them freezing
I take that outdoor research beanie on every hike, even in the summer. Can’t tell you the number of times the weather has turned and I throw that on under my rain jacket. Everyone in my group starts by making fun of how ugly it is, by the end that are always asking where to get one. Once got caught in an unseasonal summer snowstorm on a newzealand volcano.. that beanie and overmitts saved me. Regarding the down socks. I have some really light weight shoe covers that I layer over the down socks as camp-ware; I do this instead of camp shoes in alpine regions. When I get in the tent I strip the shoe covers.
@@thewanderer2299 ya, my shoes are always damp when on the trail. My camp shoes on the other hand stay dry which is why the shoe covers over down socks works well for me. That might be because I live and hike in the Rockies which is desert terrain. I suppose it would be different for my family in Olympia Washington and my friends back east.
Appalachian Gear's alpaca wool sleeping bag liner and their hoodies are my absolute favorite cold weather backpacking gear! So incredibly warm and cozy. Loved all your tips! Thank you so much for sharing.
You failed to mention that the 'Vapour Liner' for the sleeping bag also prevents your body moisture from going into the bag's loft, and reducing its effectiveness. For camping at -25C, mine worked quite well. I made it out of a Tyvek coverall, and lined it with Silvered Onionskin. Worked lovely!
I bought a -20F rated sleeping bag from REI in the late 70s or early, very early 80s. Still have it, still trust it. Spent a week on the shore of Lake Superior at Split Rock Light House for xmas one year. Awesome.
I would like to add something to the Western Mountaineering Hot Sac that Dan didnt mention. Its main purpose is not to add warmth to your sleeping setup but to stop your sweat from getting into the sleeping bag which is essential for keeping a down bag nice and warm on longer winter hikes. You could also try and dry it throughout the day, but that probably wont work very well without sunshine. Also i have not personally tested it but i have heard that it isnt as sweaty as you might believe.
The Western Mountaineering booties are amazing. I was toasty in 15 degrees and the ability to wear them outside for nighttime visits was very important!
If you use a vapor barrier, you ought to be sure to wear some sort of base layer that has wicking properties, otherwise you will be swimming in your own sweat.
😆 hahaha! Cracking up cause- right as you were describing the Snow gaiters , the clip was you gingerly legging over a higher branch.. - RIPPP- sound-, just as you scraped the branch (off screen you pulled the velcrow!) Nice placement! Great recomendaions!! 👍🏼 OutDoorDan!! (So many bloop-takes in this vid😆)
those hand warmers saved my life when i did my very first snow backpacking. totally unprepared for the cold, luckily i brought a bag of hand warmers and used it to heat inside my tent.
First thing I thought was down booties. They’re awesome! The cheap ones work well, worth it if you get cold toes Also love tiny pump, I use it for pool toys too, what a great little device
What I am interested in trying out, is my cooler box as a heat insulator. Putting some thermoses with hot beverages inside, so I can enjoy some warmth before freeing the car for the return trip. The inside is covered with heat reflecting material, and I got the useful tips of turning it upside down and leaving the box on one of the seats and cover it with a blanket to minimise heat loss.
I recently bought a custom-tailored sleeping bag -4°F (-20°C) comfort rating (~-30°C/-22°F survival rating) from Cumulus. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but I have a few friends that recommended them to me. I will go hiking for the first time in a long while this winter in Scandinavia (not 100% sure exactly where I'll go yet), and I am really looking forward to it.
I have a pajak. Yes the 16h. The lowest I’ve used it at was -5f. I didn’t feel a thing but being uncomfortably hot.! Do I need it no did I want it yes,
Good suggestions, Dan. I bought a new synthetic fill sleeping bag specifically for mountain snow conditions that includes a built-in vapor barrier liner (total weight 4-3/4 lbs). It works very well in temperatures under 20-degrees F, especially at 0 and below, anything above 20 degrees and the bag is too warm and sweaty.
20 + year user here of the Forty Below overboots. Great if you don't want to spend the money for high tech and warm mountaineering boots or if it's not cold enough during the day for warm boots. If you have the money and it's cold enough to walk with them, nothing beats a warm mountaineering double boot. The ability to remove the boot liner and to bring it in your sleeping bag can be a necessity, depends how high/far/long you go.. Fill your water bottle with boiling water, put it in your down parka/sleeping bag to keep you warm. Winter tent (no screen), candle lantern and more than one person per tent.
Love the videos Dan. I am not an avid hiker but I like camping and keeping it light. I always find something useful in your videos. This one… inflate your mattress outside. It just makes sense. Thanks man.
I prefer a Wiggy's or Enlightened Equipment synthetic balaclava. You can hike in those and sweat without worrying about them failing, and you can breath through them without compromising the insulation.. They also compress less on the bottom of your head than down will. If you put a couple of those chem warmers near your kidneys at night, you won't have to get up to answer nature as much. Cold kidneys like to flush water to reduce the volume your core has to heat. Warm kidneys let you sleep instead.
So funny. Decathlon (a french brand) is a low-cost supplier in Europe. Yes, some things are not bad. I've already checked out the down jacket. In the color shown, it costs currently €45 (US$44.50) in Germany.
There are some interesting articles about using vapor barrier sleeping bag liners and vbl clothing for winter. It'll be interesting to see if that liner works for you. Edit: When you get out of that hotsack vbl is when you freeze because you are likely a bit damp, and if you have clothes on, 😩 they are also damp and can then freeze nice and crispy when you get up. I think I'd go with vbl clothing worn under whatever sleep clothes, including a puffy jacket and hood or balaclava, then when you get out of your sleeping bag or quilt, you still have some dry insulation on because the vbl clothes keeps the moisture underneath your insulation layers. VBL's are also supposed to make you notice if you start sweating so you can adjust your layers accordingly.
VB clothing and liners can be tricky but using VB top and bottom in cold weather sleeping situations is one of the best places to start, especially if you do multi-day trips and use down insulation. I find it tricky to use when hiking as I sweat profusely without VB but sleeping is great. Nice when nature calls too as it wind-proofs your sleeping clothes substantially.
@@eristicfreethinker2098 Thank you. I haven't done any winter camping yet, so it's good to hear about others' experience about how to use gear effectively.
@@dianejones493 One piece of unsolicited advice; try out all your gear, particularly sleeping kit in the backyard or near an easy bail out in the coldest temperatures you expect. Much better to make a mistake and be able to walk back into a warm house. 🤓
Very good video for beginners. Obviously, everyone is different when it comes to what they need to stay warm. I've been almost exclusively winter camping for the past decade, and I use some of the gear listed here, but I am a Yeti, so I would not need as much gear as a lot of other people. This makes it hard for me to recommend gear to beginner winter campers, so I'll refer them to this video next time, and to your channel
I swear by mini pump, down booties/balaclava, and pretty much down everything or wool everything. Just got a pair of down filled outdoor pants to add to my cold weather defense mechanism.
A quick tip to get your feet warm before you go to sleep. Bounce on your toes back and forth. Turn your feet around whilst balancing on the other. To get the rest of your body warm very quickly, do jumping jacks and when you are warm enough go into your sleeping bag. I bet you will sleep very well.
The idea of winter camping scares me to attempt and I'm canadian haha where I live, mid winter is down to -40s. I watch videos like these trying to convince myself to just do it anyways!
Planning on hitting the New England trails this January once I've got all the gear I need... Thank you for posting this! Definitely getting myself some booties and a flextail!
I’m surprised you didn’t talk about bivy sacks. I taught backpacking, ski touring, mountaineering, and snow caving for 14 years. In the fall and winter it can increase the warmth factor of your bag and keep it dry, in a tent or in a snow cave.
Hi Gerald- I wonder if you can please give me your recommendation for a late fall, full on winter model that you prefer What area(s) did you instruct ?
I live in Alaska and I backpack and camp all year around. The OR down beanie is the bomb. I also use a Smartwool balaklava face mask while I sleep. I put hot hand in my boots at night, put the boots in a plastic bag inside the bottom of my sleeping bag. I slept out with no heat source before -in an expedition suit at -30F. I wore mittens too. I use a big Minute Maid Lemonaide bottle to pee in overnight. What I like best about cold weather camping and backpacking is NO BEARS.
Great video! The Hot Sac Vapor Barrier Liner sounds great for an emergency when you don't have a sleeping bag, but I wouldn't use it in a sleeping bag because sweating in the winter is not good. Decades ago I used a space blanket reflective barrier because my sleeping bag wasn't nearly warm enough, but it retained all the moisture.
You are supposed to use the space blanket on the outside of your bag in that situation. You don't want the space blankets really touching you because they reflect radiant heat but isn't enough of a barrier to use as a regular blanket as it doesn't really insulate in that way.
Retaining all the moisture is exactly why one uses a VBL in the first place. The problem in very cold conditions is that your sweat (and you always sweat a little bit) can freeze within the insulation of your sleeping bag. Over multiple days and especially if you compress your bag every day this can lead to a significant loss of loft and thus insulation. A VBL prevents that by keeping the moisture from entering the sleeping bag.
That's what I'm pretty sure this is designed for...camping in winter in Alaska....you wake up with a wet bag..... This keeps the moist from getting to your down ..... I COULD be wrong....but I think the WORST thing you could do is put it around the outside of your bag... Yes you will be warm and toasty....but your bag will be soaked in the morning and if it's cold outside it can be hard to dry... At least that's my way of thinking.
@@rudysal1429 I understand your thinking...but consider this ....yes space blankets don't do well with conductive heat. As in if you lay on something cold the cold will pass through the mylar.... But the heat reflected by the mylar is most useful when it doesn't have to reflect through insulation...(not that the way you mentioned wouldn't work...) It's just that you'd be making your whole bag wet instead of the VAPOR barrier.... Plus if in extreme cold and warmth is the goal..... I would almost be willing to bet you'd be warmer with the mylar next to you radiating all your heat back then being insulated by the sleeping bag
Food for thought: Sierra Madre Hot Pocket stuff sac. I purchased it and looking forward to using it this winter. My wife has already been using it while watching TV.
Why no one takes a hot water bottle Camping is mental. It’s the best item I take. Stick it in the foot box, last longer than hot hands, warms the whole bag up and you will not get cold in your bag if you have a freak drop in temp. Works even better in a hammock
Last week in Algonquin Prov Park, Ontario, we woke up to two mornings of 28F weather. Each night I put a hot water bottle in my down sleeping bag and slept warmly the entire time. My only concern was that the sleeping bag is down-filled and I worried about getting moisture on it if some spilling happened. I can see using it in a sleeping bag but I don't see how it would warm a hammock adequately.
Hand warmers are awesome. I use electrical tape tape one to the top of each toe, then one in each back pocket. It will keep the toes warm all night and the ones in you back pocket are where the femur artery goes through your pelvis warming the blood as it goes by. It like small electric blankets. 😎
I have 0 degree down booties from Goosefeat Gear. My personal verdict: down booties aren’t a panacea for cold feet. If you take a cold hand and put it inside a mitten, you might notice that your hand doesn’t simply become warm (it’s just less cold). You still need an active heat source to have truly warm feet - meaning either hand/foot warmers or a fire (glad Dan mentioned the hand warners). If you get your feet toasty warm by the fire then throw on your booties, they might stay warm without hand warmers in your socks. All of this is subject to your blood pressure/circulation, etc. in a nutshell - booties might not solve all your problems.
LOL you got demonetize at the end. Dan I really like how a lot of your new videos just express your personality instead of you're older videos where you edited out a lot of the mishaps or whatever I like this oh and thanks for the info
i got my helly hansen for 33$ for a puffy an i couldnt be happier. tip is to buy your winter gear during summer. i saved 600$ by doing just so this summer.
Nothing like snuggling up to a river rock heated by the fire. Free heat that lasts all night long. Toss one in the bottom of your bag to keep your toes toasty. Just make sure it was not directly in the fire or you will burn yourself and melt the bag. A bivvy sac is a must for cold weather camping. Especially if you are camping in a snow cave or lean to. You don't want snow outside your bag getting it wet. And never skimp on ground covers.
Great stuff as always, Dan - thanks! I think the Nano Spikes do come in different sizes. I have a pair and they work well (I have a pair of the Micro Spikes, and they also work great). BTW, just got my wife one of those OR down hats for an Xmas gift :-)
I've always had good luck with Arctic Shield products. A bit heavy, but the boot insulators work without boots and better than down for me. IR reflective layer. I have the whole suit, can't put it on indoors or will poach. Not for hiking, designed for sitting in tree stands.
FlexTail has a new version of the TinyPumpX called the TinyPump2 that has a stepless dimmer, much stronger motor and can deflate. Costs $10 or so more than the TinyPumpX
Last winter in the uk I used a 3 season quilt cumulus 350 rated to I think about 4c I wore down jacket down pants a Rab hat and Montane prism gloves was ok down to -6c wouldn't want to push it any further tho think that was about the limit
I've used cheap amazon ones and the steel on them can be so bad they pull apart after 1-2 hikes. If you get some of those chepo ones, close the links up extra hard with some pliers or at least bring a multitool on your hike.
Thank you for these videos, especially the ones that are cold weather - related. Unfortunately, I can't ever hike/camp/do anything in cold weather because I will literally die. Look up cold urticaria. Yes, I'm allergic to the cold that I will go into shock and....well, yeah.
A VBL is made to keep your down sleeping bag dry. You add a lot of water to the down just because you sweat quite a bit at night. Over a few nights you end up losing some degrees of your sleeping bag. A VBL counters that. It's not meant to help with the temperature rating of your bag. Just to keep the rating there. You have VBL suits, worn underneath your gear when on excursions in really cold weather to avoid your sweat soaking your insulating layers.
Год назад+4
Hi Dan, I went camping out last weekend and it was 2°C at night (35,6°F). I had lots of condensation... Do you have tips for condensation management? FYI, I was in an Helsdon Hammock (the 4 seasons one, not the Eureka version).
double that last comment. you do not want that vapor barrier next to you, you will be soaked from sweat. perhaps over your bag but that will probably mean soaked sleeping bag. same as an emergency foil blanket. nit z good idea.
@@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism makes sense but as I understand it, they are only good if you are already warm trapping in your body heat. If you are already cold they are useless.
I had a reflective blanket like the vapour thing, but it was so noisy I couldn't get to sleep in it. It was warm though... As for booties, I just bring a spare pair of socks and a couple of dry bags, I hardly ever get cold feet. The same goes for my head, although I do use a fleece balaclava and occasionally sleep in it.
Little tip concerning hot hands: I use them to keep my electronic devices and water filter warm when I winter camp. You won’t wake up to all your batteries drained and your filter frozen and compromised. Bring a bubble wrap envelope (from an amazon delivery) toss anything you want to protect in there, then throw in a hot hands, leaving it open just enough it gets oxygen. Come morning time you can continue to use it in that manner, or take your stuff out, seal the envelope, and the hand warmer should deactivate and will be usable the next night too
Smart! I've been thinking about making a envelope out of reflectix for this same thing, minus the hot hands. I was thinking the reflectix might be insulative enough to keep the items inside from freezing but idk. Might have to test it out this winter.
Nice, I’ll use the “cozy” I use for my dehydrated meals bc I don’t like putting them in my sleeping bag bc I toss and turn and might break them. Thanks!
I usually sit on my hands for a while.
@@MidnightLight. that’s a good question bc Hot Hands can get very hot. I don’t have experience putting them in the bubble wrap envelope, just the reflectix/silver car windshield cover/food bag cozy, no problems with melting that so far.
@@MidnightLight.
I can’t say it could never happen, but I can say it’s never happened in the number of times I’ve done it. Never seemed to get close either.
Bubble wrap isn’t THAT good of an insulator, and if you’ve got it wrapped up tight enough to really hold in heat it’s likely starving the heater of oxygen and slowing down the chemical reaction too.
Pleeeeeeease put the down beanie on, please. 🙏🏼 There is absolutely nothing to smile about in the UK right now! 😢
The sleeping bag liner really is a game changer. My first time using one was about 6000 ft up Mt Rainier in February a couple years ago. My bag was rated for 20F , the liner rated for another 25F. It got down to right about 0F that night. I started the night off a little cold, but by midnight I had stripped off every bit of clothing in an attempt to stop sweating! 😅
Sweating likely came from creating a situation where your bag could expel your body moisture because it was suffocated by the inner bag. It could not breath. Which creates a whole host of other problems like moisture build up from adding layers of nylon and insulation that were not part of the testing or design process that went into rating the bag in the first place.
@@kookiemoose moisture build up is kind f ow this keeps you warm. Water evaporating uses a lot of energy. By keeping the vapor inside the liner, you prevent more water from evaporating and get back some warmth from the condensation process. Additionally you prevent condensation issues in your sleeping bag and tent.
Some sleeping bags actually make me sweat in - temps
@@milosennhauser2879I know this was a year ago but wouldn’t that just lead to more problems especially once you’re ready to exit the sleeping bag you’re going to be wet and trying to quickly change and get dry before you turn into a human ice pop
Honestly, I find that an overlayer or bivy sac or both is better than a liner. Leaving more room in the bag. A stitched envelope of a wool or polyester blanket works great. And it keeps your sleeping bag protected from the elements.
I like to put one of those silver mylar emergency blankets between the tent floor and my pad. It act as a bit of a radiant barrier to keep thermal migration down.
I have tried 4 different liners and they all sucked and didn't add any warmth or feel comfortable... then I decided to try Appalachian Gear Company's alpaca liner and wow. It is so warm, comfy, and it doesn't get twisted up when I toss and turn! Love that thing.
You would know Spotter. You just completed the AT.
Alpaca is crazy warm
I always said. I don’t care what I look like, just that you’re warm. Remember when the first time winter hiking camping. Years ago. Love the videos.
I have a pair of down booties and I always bring them in cold weather to sleep in for both my tent and hammock setup. One of those things I am glad I learned about them. I also bring a few hot hands warmers. I use them usually for a heat source at night if I get cold sleeping. Mini heater to take the edge off. Great video!
Where do you put the hot hands when you are in your tent
You should do a video on what to pack when you're hiking in mountain ranges that create their own weather. Rainier, Mazatzal. These places are some of the hardest to prep for without taking everything. Forecast of 70 and sunny and getting 30 super rain cell and 50mph winds
I bought down booties last year but was too warm to use them. Use them for the first time this past weekend and that combined with a warmer sleeping bag made me wake with a start because I was so warm and snuggly that I thought I was in my own bed :p
Ah Dan it’s so sweet of you to volunteer to help keep Emmett warm. Best chuckle of the day boys!
I have to say, I do really like your videos. They are lighthearted, honest, very helpful and they don't push the typical "you have to have this high-end high dollar gear" that so many other youtubers push. You give examples and your opinion through your experience and let the viewer decide for themselves.
Can confirm that down jacket is awesome....bought it on your recommendation and take it on every trip!
My favorite is when I’m prepared for a blizzard and the forecast was horribly wrong 😂
Since the last 3 weeks of my hike unexpectedly turned into a winter hike (temps in the teens Fahrenheit, fully frozen waterbottles in vestibule in the morning), and I only had 3-season gear, here‘s s few more tips that really worked well for me:
- get a cozy for your gas can. it is absolutely essential to be able to boil water
- make sure you bring enough fuel
- I already have a synthetic puffy that I also wear while hiking. For the night I added a down vest.
- have your dinners in a ziplock and an empty and clean dehydrated meal packet. when you reach camp, pour the boiling water in, stick it under your shirt, and set up your camp. eat after you snuggled into the sleeping bag.
- have a nalgene bottle with you, bonus points if you also made a cozy for it. fill it with hot water and take it into your sleeping bag. reheat during the night if necessary. this also has the advantage that you actually have non-frozen water to drink in the morning. I usually warm it up in the morning, stick it under the shirt, break camp and start hiking.
- obviously take all electronics and the filter into your sleeping bag.
- if you‘re using trailrunners and normal socks through snow, use oven bags over the socks to make them waterproof. they last for several days without getting any holes.
I've used knock off micro spikes from the Zon. THey literally broke the first time I used them. I've been using my Katoolah Microspikes for several years with no issues. Don't forget to SHARPEN them before the season starts!
What do you sharpen them with?
In -60°F Alaskan weather I always kept my head warm with a simple beanie and turtle fur neck gaiter combo pulled up over my nose so only my eyes were uncovered. Worked great for all day long outside hiking in extreme cold weather. When ice buildup would happen from exhaling you'd shift the turtle fur gaiter around your head and by the time it got back around the ice/moisture was gone.
You are a funny guy!!
1 of the best little things I got for winter camping is an insulted pouch for your dehydrated meals keeps them hot for longer and they hydrate better then after put your phone and power bank and your water filter in stops them freezing
Dan snuggles up with Emmitt to keep him warm LOL 😆 How sweet!
I take that outdoor research beanie on every hike, even in the summer. Can’t tell you the number of times the weather has turned and I throw that on under my rain jacket. Everyone in my group starts by making fun of how ugly it is, by the end that are always asking where to get one. Once got caught in an unseasonal summer snowstorm on a newzealand volcano.. that beanie and overmitts saved me. Regarding the down socks. I have some really light weight shoe covers that I layer over the down socks as camp-ware; I do this instead of camp shoes in alpine regions. When I get in the tent I strip the shoe covers.
wet shoes are always a problem for me when I get in for the night
@@thewanderer2299 ya, my shoes are always damp when on the trail. My camp shoes on the other hand stay dry which is why the shoe covers over down socks works well for me. That might be because I live and hike in the Rockies which is desert terrain. I suppose it would be different for my family in Olympia Washington and my friends back east.
Appalachian Gear's alpaca wool sleeping bag liner and their hoodies are my absolute favorite cold weather backpacking gear! So incredibly warm and cozy. Loved all your tips! Thank you so much for sharing.
You failed to mention that the 'Vapour Liner' for the sleeping bag also prevents your body moisture from going into the bag's loft, and reducing its effectiveness.
For camping at -25C, mine worked quite well. I made it out of a Tyvek coverall, and lined it with Silvered Onionskin. Worked lovely!
I bought a -20F rated sleeping bag from REI in the late 70s or early, very early 80s. Still have it, still trust it. Spent a week on the shore of Lake Superior at Split Rock Light House for xmas one year. Awesome.
I would like to add something to the Western Mountaineering Hot Sac that Dan didnt mention. Its main purpose is not to add warmth to your sleeping setup but to stop your sweat from getting into the sleeping bag which is essential for keeping a down bag nice and warm on longer winter hikes. You could also try and dry it throughout the day, but that probably wont work very well without sunshine. Also i have not personally tested it but i have heard that it isnt as sweaty as you might believe.
The Western Mountaineering booties are amazing. I was toasty in 15 degrees and the ability to wear them outside for nighttime visits was very important!
If you use a vapor barrier, you ought to be sure to wear some sort of base layer that has wicking properties, otherwise you will be swimming in your own sweat.
I usually go bare, but sometimes wear really lightweight polypropylene to migrate and evaporate the sweat.
😆 hahaha!
Cracking up cause- right as you were describing the Snow gaiters , the clip was you gingerly legging over a higher branch..
- RIPPP- sound-, just as you scraped the branch
(off screen you pulled the velcrow!)
Nice placement!
Great recomendaions!! 👍🏼 OutDoorDan!!
(So many bloop-takes in this vid😆)
those hand warmers saved my life when i did my very first snow backpacking. totally unprepared for the cold, luckily i brought a bag of hand warmers and used it to heat inside my tent.
Thanks Dan for the late video, I was freezing my tuchas off in Santa Fe over the weekend AND THEN you drop this video telling me what I shoulda done
Great tips, Dan. I always struggled finding stuff to stay warm without overheating.
First thing I thought was down booties. They’re awesome! The cheap ones work well, worth it if you get cold toes
Also love tiny pump, I use it for pool toys too, what a great little device
What I am interested in trying out, is my cooler box as a heat insulator. Putting some thermoses with hot beverages inside, so I can enjoy some warmth before freeing the car for the return trip.
The inside is covered with heat reflecting material, and I got the useful tips of turning it upside down and leaving the box on one of the seats and cover it with a blanket to minimise heat loss.
Dan, have you ever heard about the Polish brands making sleeping bags and trekking clothing? Małachowski, Pajak, Cumulus, rings a bell?
I recently bought a custom-tailored sleeping bag -4°F (-20°C) comfort rating (~-30°C/-22°F survival rating) from Cumulus. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but I have a few friends that recommended them to me. I will go hiking for the first time in a long while this winter in Scandinavia (not 100% sure exactly where I'll go yet), and I am really looking forward to it.
I have a pajak. Yes the 16h. The lowest I’ve used it at was -5f. I didn’t feel a thing but being uncomfortably hot.! Do I need it no did I want it yes,
I’ve just bought a cumulus panyam 600 sleeping bag. Already have their quilt
Loverly products 🙂🙂
It’s all assess ability, no point buying stuff that costs you a fortune to ship
Good suggestions, Dan. I bought a new synthetic fill sleeping bag specifically for mountain snow conditions that includes a built-in vapor barrier liner (total weight 4-3/4 lbs). It works very well in temperatures under 20-degrees F, especially at 0 and below, anything above 20 degrees and the bag is too warm and sweaty.
20 + year user here of the Forty Below overboots. Great if you don't want to spend the money for high tech and warm mountaineering boots or if it's not cold enough during the day for warm boots. If you have the money and it's cold enough to walk with them, nothing beats a warm mountaineering double boot. The ability to remove the boot liner and to bring it in your sleeping bag can be a necessity, depends how high/far/long you go..
Fill your water bottle with boiling water, put it in your down parka/sleeping bag to keep you warm.
Winter tent (no screen), candle lantern and more than one person per tent.
Love the videos Dan. I am not an avid hiker but I like camping and keeping it light.
I always find something useful in your videos. This one… inflate your mattress outside. It just makes sense.
Thanks man.
I prefer a Wiggy's or Enlightened Equipment synthetic balaclava. You can hike in those and sweat without worrying about them failing, and you can breath through them without compromising the insulation.. They also compress less on the bottom of your head than down will.
If you put a couple of those chem warmers near your kidneys at night, you won't have to get up to answer nature as much. Cold kidneys like to flush water to reduce the volume your core has to heat. Warm kidneys let you sleep instead.
Hammock Camping! You need to get Emmit to try it and see what he prefers being “newer” to backpacking!
So funny. Decathlon (a french brand) is a low-cost supplier in Europe. Yes, some things are not bad. I've already checked out the down jacket. In the color shown, it costs currently €45 (US$44.50) in Germany.
Just started getting in to backpacking along with my years of WV Native Trout fishing. Your videos have been a real help. Thank you.
There are some interesting articles about using vapor barrier sleeping bag liners and vbl clothing for winter. It'll be interesting to see if that liner works for you. Edit: When you get out of that hotsack vbl is when you freeze because you are likely a bit damp, and if you have clothes on, 😩 they are also damp and can then freeze nice and crispy when you get up. I think I'd go with vbl clothing worn under whatever sleep clothes, including a puffy jacket and hood or balaclava, then when you get out of your sleeping bag or quilt, you still have some dry insulation on because the vbl clothes keeps the moisture underneath your insulation layers. VBL's are also supposed to make you notice if you start sweating so you can adjust your layers accordingly.
VB clothing and liners can be tricky but using VB top and bottom in cold weather sleeping situations is one of the best places to start, especially if you do multi-day trips and use down insulation. I find it tricky to use when hiking as I sweat profusely without VB but sleeping is great. Nice when nature calls too as it wind-proofs your sleeping clothes substantially.
@@eristicfreethinker2098 Thank you. I haven't done any winter camping yet, so it's good to hear about others' experience about how to use gear effectively.
@@dianejones493 One piece of unsolicited advice; try out all your gear, particularly sleeping kit in the backyard or near an easy bail out in the coldest temperatures you expect. Much better to make a mistake and be able to walk back into a warm house. 🤓
@@eristicfreethinker2098 You bet I'll be doing that. 😄👍
Dan's the best!
Keep it up.
You are always spot on
I have the hot sac and use it I've been in my unders in the 20s and still was sweating in it. Really good item.
Very good video for beginners. Obviously, everyone is different when it comes to what they need to stay warm. I've been almost exclusively winter camping for the past decade, and I use some of the gear listed here, but I am a Yeti, so I would not need as much gear as a lot of other people. This makes it hard for me to recommend gear to beginner winter campers, so I'll refer them to this video next time, and to your channel
I swear by mini pump, down booties/balaclava, and pretty much down everything or wool everything. Just got a pair of down filled outdoor pants to add to my cold weather defense mechanism.
A quick tip to get your feet warm before you go to sleep. Bounce on your toes back and forth. Turn your feet around whilst balancing on the other. To get the rest of your body warm very quickly, do jumping jacks and when you are warm enough go into your sleeping bag. I bet you will sleep very well.
The idea of winter camping scares me to attempt and I'm canadian haha where I live, mid winter is down to -40s. I watch videos like these trying to convince myself to just do it anyways!
The exact video I need right now! Thanks, Dan! 🤙🏼
Planning on hitting the New England trails this January once I've got all the gear I need... Thank you for posting this! Definitely getting myself some booties and a flextail!
Slurp modulation…now that’s cool. 😎😎
I’m surprised you didn’t talk about bivy sacks. I taught backpacking, ski touring, mountaineering, and snow caving for 14 years. In the fall and winter it can increase the warmth factor of your bag and keep it dry, in a tent or in a snow cave.
Hi Gerald- I wonder if you can please give me your recommendation for a late fall, full on winter model that you prefer
What area(s) did you instruct ?
@@djfglobal3377 I live in Calgary, Alberta. So most of my work was done in the Rocky Mountains.
I live in Alaska and I backpack and camp all year around. The OR down beanie is the bomb. I also use a Smartwool balaklava face mask while I sleep. I put hot hand in my boots at night, put the boots in a plastic bag inside the bottom of my sleeping bag. I slept out with no heat source before -in an expedition suit at -30F. I wore mittens too. I use a big Minute Maid Lemonaide bottle to pee in overnight. What I like best about cold weather camping and backpacking is NO BEARS.
I can vouch for the down booties. I even wear them regularly lol
Great video! The Hot Sac Vapor Barrier Liner sounds great for an emergency when you don't have a sleeping bag, but I wouldn't use it in a sleeping bag because sweating in the winter is not good. Decades ago I used a space blanket reflective barrier because my sleeping bag wasn't nearly warm enough, but it retained all the moisture.
You are supposed to use the space blanket on the outside of your bag in that situation. You don't want the space blankets really touching you because they reflect radiant heat but isn't enough of a barrier to use as a regular blanket as it doesn't really insulate in that way.
Retaining all the moisture is exactly why one uses a VBL in the first place. The problem in very cold conditions is that your sweat (and you always sweat a little bit) can freeze within the insulation of your sleeping bag. Over multiple days and especially if you compress your bag every day this can lead to a significant loss of loft and thus insulation. A VBL prevents that by keeping the moisture from entering the sleeping bag.
@@rudysal1429 Yes, I used it on the outside of the sleeping bag, but I was surprised at how wet the space blanket was on the inside.
That's what I'm pretty sure this is designed for...camping in winter in Alaska....you wake up with a wet bag.....
This keeps the moist from getting to your down .....
I COULD be wrong....but I think the WORST thing you could do is put it around the outside of your bag...
Yes you will be warm and toasty....but your bag will be soaked in the morning and if it's cold outside it can be hard to dry...
At least that's my way of thinking.
@@rudysal1429 I understand your thinking...but consider this
....yes space blankets don't do well with conductive heat. As in if you lay on something cold the cold will pass through the mylar....
But the heat reflected by the mylar is most useful when it doesn't have to reflect through insulation...(not that the way you mentioned wouldn't work...)
It's just that you'd be making your whole bag wet instead of the VAPOR barrier....
Plus if in extreme cold and warmth is the goal.....
I would almost be willing to bet you'd be warmer with the mylar next to you radiating all your heat back then being insulated by the sleeping bag
LOL the minecraft drinking sounds at the start already got me XD
Your videos are seriously the best!! Thank you so much!!
Food for thought: Sierra Madre Hot Pocket stuff sac. I purchased it and looking forward to using it this winter. My wife has already been using it while watching TV.
Regarding not blowing up you're equipment yourself, your breath can leave enough moisture to cause mold under t right ( wrong?) Conditions.
That beanie looks more like Devo whip it,. Whip it good!
Why no one takes a hot water bottle Camping is mental. It’s the best item I take. Stick it in the foot box, last longer than hot hands, warms the whole bag up and you will not get cold in your bag if you have a freak drop in temp. Works even better in a hammock
I just put hot water in my nalgene.
Last week in Algonquin Prov Park, Ontario, we woke up to two mornings of 28F weather. Each night I put a hot water bottle in my down sleeping bag and slept warmly the entire time. My only concern was that the sleeping bag is down-filled and I worried about getting moisture on it if some spilling happened. I can see using it in a sleeping bag but I don't see how it would warm a hammock adequately.
Small Parabolic gas heater, no more cold problems, total game changer, hot rubber water bottle.
Hand warmers are awesome. I use electrical tape tape one to the top of each toe, then one in each back pocket. It will keep the toes warm all night and the ones in you back pocket are where the femur artery goes through your pelvis warming the blood as it goes by. It like small electric blankets. 😎
I have 0 degree down booties from Goosefeat Gear. My personal verdict: down booties aren’t a panacea for cold feet. If you take a cold hand and put it inside a mitten, you might notice that your hand doesn’t simply become warm (it’s just less cold).
You still need an active heat source to have truly warm feet - meaning either hand/foot warmers or a fire (glad Dan mentioned the hand warners). If you get your feet toasty warm by the fire then throw on your booties, they might stay warm without hand warmers in your socks.
All of this is subject to your blood pressure/circulation, etc. in a nutshell - booties might not solve all your problems.
LOL you got demonetize at the end. Dan I really like how a lot of your new videos just express your personality instead of you're older videos where you edited out a lot of the mishaps or whatever I like this oh and thanks for the info
Cold head... mad-bumper hat. 15ish bucks. Works great and you can wear it around or in the bag.
i got my helly hansen for 33$ for a puffy an i couldnt be happier. tip is to buy your winter gear during summer. i saved 600$ by doing just so this summer.
Some great advice there! excellent stuff.
We try to put grass or foliage (or hay) under the tent. Not sure whether it actually helps.
Oh ,check out Sierra Madre, they made a hot pocket to replace the bottle thing..they make awesome hammock tent set ups your welcome
Nothing like snuggling up to a river rock heated by the fire. Free heat that lasts all night long. Toss one in the bottom of your bag to keep your toes toasty. Just make sure it was not directly in the fire or you will burn yourself and melt the bag.
A bivvy sac is a must for cold weather camping. Especially if you are camping in a snow cave or lean to. You don't want snow outside your bag getting it wet. And never skimp on ground covers.
Hot water in Nalgene bottle in sleeping bag at night trick?
Yeah, that's the video I need (not seen yet but the preface is already good)
Great stuff as always, Dan - thanks! I think the Nano Spikes do come in different sizes. I have a pair and they work well (I have a pair of the Micro Spikes, and they also work great). BTW, just got my wife one of those OR down hats for an Xmas gift :-)
Excellent content as always. I am with ya, I have bought so much gear to get to where I am with a comfortable set I am happy with.
I've always had good luck with Arctic Shield products. A bit heavy, but the boot insulators work without boots and better than down for me. IR reflective layer. I have the whole suit, can't put it on indoors or will poach. Not for hiking, designed for sitting in tree stands.
The Decathlon jacket it 🔥🔥🔥
Rather than the Vapor Barrier, I use a SOL bivy over my sleeping bag. It's waterproof and windproof, but BREATHABLE.
FlexTail has a new version of the TinyPumpX called the TinyPump2 that has a stepless dimmer, much stronger motor and can deflate. Costs $10 or so more than the TinyPumpX
It would be a cool test to see if wearing down pants, jacket, gloves, and boots with a 30 degree quilt would be just as warm as a 10 degree quilt.
Last winter in the uk I used a 3 season quilt cumulus 350 rated to I think about 4c I wore down jacket down pants a Rab hat and Montane prism gloves was ok down to -6c wouldn't want to push it any further tho think that was about the limit
Nice list of gear and thanks for providing the links, and thanks
Lots of good ideas.
Thanks for posting this…!!!
Western Mountaineering “Vapor Barrier”- $110
Emergency Bivy- $20
Same idea, same size and weight…..
I've used cheap amazon ones and the steel on them can be so bad they pull apart after 1-2 hikes. If you get some of those chepo ones, close the links up extra hard with some pliers or at least bring a multitool on your hike.
Thank you for these videos, especially the ones that are cold weather - related. Unfortunately, I can't ever hike/camp/do anything in cold weather because I will literally die. Look up cold urticaria. Yes, I'm allergic to the cold that I will go into shock and....well, yeah.
A VBL is made to keep your down sleeping bag dry.
You add a lot of water to the down just because you sweat quite a bit at night. Over a few nights you end up losing some degrees of your sleeping bag.
A VBL counters that.
It's not meant to help with the temperature rating of your bag. Just to keep the rating there.
You have VBL suits, worn underneath your gear when on excursions in really cold weather to avoid your sweat soaking your insulating layers.
Hi Dan, I went camping out last weekend and it was 2°C at night (35,6°F).
I had lots of condensation...
Do you have tips for condensation management?
FYI, I was in an Helsdon Hammock (the 4 seasons one, not the Eureka version).
I'm hoping to hike the AT next year and the idea of hiking in snow is making me nervous... I'm from Texas.
Lots of good info
Thank you
.. You can avoid the winter conditions by "flip-floping" the trail ..
Mannnn I'm definitely finding a pair of those western mountaineering booties! Once again, thanks for helping me destroy my bank account 👏👏😂😢
Okay the effects sold me I liked it 👍
Gear will get you out of the house SKILLS will help you thrive and survive. They're free.
double that last comment. you do not want that vapor barrier next to you, you will be soaked from sweat. perhaps over your bag but that will probably mean soaked sleeping bag. same as an emergency foil blanket. nit z good idea.
@@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism makes sense but as I understand it, they are only good if you are already warm trapping in your body heat. If you are already cold they are useless.
Dan, all Outdoor Research hats look dorky, but they work so well.
Dan, I have a clothes iron I don’t use anymore if you need one.
I had a reflective blanket like the vapour thing, but it was so noisy I couldn't get to sleep in it. It was warm though... As for booties, I just bring a spare pair of socks and a couple of dry bags, I hardly ever get cold feet. The same goes for my head, although I do use a fleece balaclava and occasionally sleep in it.
Ear plugs are very light.
Idk why I laughed so hard at the Minecraft drinking sound at the beginning
The game changer for me was down pants. They look as stupid as the down beanie but I love them.
Ok ok ok my Flextail pump/light just arrived while I was watching this video 😂
Watching just to see emmits editing skills improve 👀
Great video! Thanks for sharing!
I gonna go camping soon thank you
Yessss balaclava apart
I HAVE ALREADY ALL 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Great advice! Thank you!👍