Best Winter Camping Gear For Cold Weather

4-Season Sleeping Bag

If you want to make sure you get a good night’s sleep while camping in winter, then a decent sleeping bag is essential.

Traditionally, down sleeping bags used to be much warmer than synthetic options, although nowadays there are some super snug synthetic bags out there (but down is still our favorite because it compresses so well).

There are tonnes of other ways sleeping bags can keep you that bit warmer, such as hoods and baffles (stitched sections that stop your insulation from bunching up and leaving cold patches). And the best will have the option to let cooler air in so you can use them during summer months too.

One of our all-time favorites sleeping bags for cold climates has to be the Hyke & Byke Eolus sleeping bag. This down-filled hooded, baffled mummy bag will keep you warm at temperatures as low as 0°F. It also has a spacious foot box, is super lightweight, and comes with a stuff sack, making it great for hiking trips.

So, what’s the catch? On the literal side, the zippers occasionally catch, so watch out for that, and it isn’t machine washable due to the down filling… and that’s about it! We’re genuinely surprised that this bag, available in a range of sizes and funky colors, doesn’t come with a higher price tag.

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Camping Stove

One bit of gear that will make all the difference to your outdoor endeavors in cooler climates is a camping stove. It’s amazing how one hot meal in the evening can really take the chill out of your bones.

Camping stoves come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from super minimalistic ultralightweight stoves to heavy-duty stoves ready for family cooking. Our preferred stove, however, sits somewhere in between. The JetBoil MiniMo is portable cooking set containing not only a stove but also a fuel can stabilizer, an insulated cooking pot, and a bottom cover that doubles up as a measuring vessel.

On top of that, it also features a push-button ignition and operates with great simmer control even at temperatures as low as 20ºF, so you can get those hot drinks when you need them most.

Sure, it’s a bit heavier than the ultra-light standalone stoves and it’s not as stable as the heavy-duty cooking stoves you can buy, but it strikes a great balance between weight and functionality – it has everything you need to cook gourmet meals in the wilderness but it certainly won’t break your back if you’re planning on backpacking around.

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Extra Blanket

So we know we’ve already mentioned sleeping bags… but an extra blanket adds a whole new dimension to a chilly campsite. Not only can you use it while you’re snoozing to protect any pesky limbs that escape the confines of your sleeping bag, but it’s also the perfect fireside companion.

Cold-weather blankets can get very technical, but one of our favorites takes a simple, no-frills approach towards keeping you warm. The Kelty Bestie Blanket is insulated with cloud loft, which means it’s machine washable (yay), and it can be crammed into a little stuff sack of its own so it won’t take up precious space if you’re backpacking around.

It’s very reasonably priced, lightweight, and incredibly comfy. It certainly won’t cut if you’re planning on summiting Everest, but if you’re looking for a simple solo blanket, you won’t find much better.

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Down Jacket

As we mentioned earlier, we’re a sucker for all things down, and jackets are no exception. One of the reasons why we love them so much is their fantastic warmth-to-weight ratio and their ability to compress so well – as much as we want to be warm, we don’t want to like Mr. Blobby if we can avoid it.

Arc’teryx is a reputable outdoor brand that makes a range of jackets, fleeces, and pretty much every other layer you can think of, but their Cerium LT ‘Hoodie’ has been one of their most successful products to date.

Available for both men and women, this puffer provides great insulation (mainly down but with clever synthetic patches in areas that might get wet) while maintaining a streamlined appearance, and it’s super lightweight too. This makes it a great jacket for while you’re on the trail but it’s also ideal for milling around the campsite at night.

It is a little on the pricey side, and be warned that it runs a little tight (if you’re in between sizes, go for the larger one), but overall it’s totally worth it – oh and it comes in heaps of colors too!

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4-Season Tent

No, we didn’t forget arguably the most important bit of gear for camping in the winter – a 4-season tent. Obviously, tents come in all different shapes and sizes, and the one you go for will depend on a tonne of factors – like who you’re camping with, whether you’re backpacking or driving, and your budget.

Overall, however, there are some key features you want to look out for in a 4-season tent. Firstly, you want something you can set up in no time – you don’t want to spend any more time than necessary hanging around puzzling over instructions.

Secondly, you need some ventilation so that the heat coming off your body and hitting the cold wall of your tent doesn’t cause a condensation build-up. Thirdly, cold doesn’t always mean wet and windy, but if you want a tent for all occasions then it needs to be waterproof and windproof too.

Our favorite 4-weather tent on the market at the moment is the MSR Access, which is aimed at winter backpackers. It’s ultralightweight, incredibly easy to set up, has excellent ventilation, and has a serious waterproof coating too. And we love the mesh on the body of the tent for added insulation.

If you’re planning a backpacking trip in the cold, you won’t find it much better. It is a little bit pricey, but if you go for the two- or three-person option, perhaps you could split the cost between you – plus you know it’ll last you a while thanks to the 3-year warranty.

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Insulating Hat

Did you know that we lose most of our body heat through our heads? Makes sense to wrap them up then, doesn’t it? There are so many types of hats out there it can be hard to pick one, but don’t worry – even the simplest of hats can make all the difference.

A great example of a low-key yet fully functional hat is the Mountain Hardwear Perignon Beenie. Despite its minimalistic appearance, this hat has tonnes of features to stop that precious heat from escaping. Not only does it keep the top of your head warm, but it also fully covers your ears and the top of the back of your neck.

The hat is highly wind-resistant too, thanks to the use of Mountain Hardwear’s wind-blocking design and materials, yet is highly breathable too – no one likes a sweaty head after all.

It might not keep you as warm as some larger hats, but its small design means you can wear it under a helmet or a hood, making it nice and versatile. The main drawback is that it isn’t waterproof, but that doesn’t matter too much if you just want something to slip on your head at night or wear under a waterproof jacket hood. Plus, at this price, it’s an absolute bargain.

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Gortex Gloves

There’s nothing worse than trying to unzip a tent with freezing cold hands… and you never have to again if you don a pair of Burton Gore-Tex Gloves.

Gore-Tex is renowned for its waterproofness and durability – just what you want in a pair of outdoor gloves. On top of that, there’s a handy little pocket for hand warmers, and the Gore warm technology is split over two layers for breathability – because sweaty hands are almost as bad as cold ones.

The sleek lining is super comfortable and is nice and sleek so movement remains mostly unrestricted, but they are still a tad on the bulky side

Available in a range of sizes so that you can ensure the perfect fit, these gloves will be so comfy you won’t want to take them off – and you won’t have to either, thanks to the touch-screen technology.

We wish they were slightly cheaper (although they come with a lifetime warranty) but, overall, there really isn’t much we don’t like about these heavy-duty gloves!

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Refillable Handwarmers

As much as we love a good pair of gloves, sometimes your hands need that extra kick of warmth to really get rid of their chill. Handwarmers are the perfect bit of outdoor gear for rapidly heating up your hands – activate them, pop them in a pocket or glove and you’re done – easy!

We especially like the Zippo Refillable Handwarmers. We know they’re a little bit more expensive than the disposable ones, especially after you’ve bought the fluid too, but you can use them time and time again, so they’re a sound investment (and much better for the environment).

They’re great for kids too – especially if you’d rather they didn’t get too close to the fire trying to heat up!

Thermos Flask

Another great way to heat yourself up instantly is with a hot beverage straight out of a thermos. We know some stoves, such as the JetBoil MiniMo, can boil water pretty rapidly, but it’s not always the right moment to set up a stove. Instead, you can use your stove to boil a load of water in the morning, then save it for a later point in the day in your thermos so you’re ready for a hot drink any time, winning.

There are heaps of thermos flasks out there, but one of our personal favorites is the Thermos Ultimate MKII Flask. Not only does it keep drinks hot for up to 24 hours, but it also keeps them cool too – so you can use this flask to keep cool in summer too.

It’s also BPA-free (so no nasty chemicals, yay) and feels cool no matter how hot the contents. It’s not the cheapest option out there and it’s a tad on the heavy side, but it does come with a 5-year warranty and is made of durable stainless steel so it will last you a while.

Tent Heater

Finally, tent heaters are another innovative way to heat yourself up when camping in cold weather. We especially like the Mr. Heater F2125100 because of its safe and free-standing design – say goodbye to those pesky cables tripping you up in the middle of the night!

It’s super simple to use too, and it can be used for more than 5 hours at a time, which is more than enough time to warm up your tent. We also love that it can sense when it’s been knocked over and turn itself off – a great feature if you have children or dogs camping with you.

It’s certainly more expensive than buying a hat or a new pair of gloves, but it’s a cheaper alternative than a fancy mountaineering tent. Obviously, you won’t want to carry it around when backpacking but, if you have space in the car, we doubt you’ll regret taking one of these along with you.

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