7 tips for camping in winter

A snow-covered landscape and a starry sky - camping in the middle of such a backdrop sounds like a dream. Have you ever thought about camping in winter? With the right equipment, your camping trip in the cold season is sure to be an exciting change.

We'll tell you what you should bear in mind for your winter camping trip, what equipment you absolutely must have with you and how to stay cosy and warm** in your tent.

The first question is whether you want to set up camp at an official winter campsite or whether you prefer to spend the night remotely in the middle of nature. If you prefer to wake up in a lonely snow-covered landscape, you definitely need to pay attention to where you pitch your tent. Find out about the relevant wild camping rules in advance. Especially in winter and in snowy conditions, it is important to look for a spot that is sheltered from the wind and make sure that the snow is deep enough to secure the pegs. In this way, you bury the pegs deep into the snow at an oblique angle and then press them down so that the peg freezes in place. Also avoid places where snow could come loose, such as in ravines or on slopes. The risk of avalanches is higher there.

Once you have found an ideal spot, tread it flat with your shoes. This gives the tent more stability and ensures it is securely anchored. Ideally, you should use special snow or sand pegs in the snow, which hold better. Also make sure that you don't just make temporary guy ropes, but use every guy rope option on the tent to stabilise it.

The tent entrance is best placed on the windward side. Once the tent is up, dig out the area in front of the tent entrance. This makes it easier to sit down with your feet out of the tent and makes it easier to get out of the tent.

You should pay attention to a few things when choosing a tent. Firstly, you will need more space in the tent, as you will have more equipment with you due to warm clothing and special equipment, which will be stowed in the tent. A sufficiently large vestibule is an advantage for stowing additional equipment. But don't leave any loose items lying around in case the wind blows snow into the vestibule. Pack and stow everything securely.

Just like in summer, it is important that the air can circulate in the tent when temperatures are low. Otherwise, moisture will remain in the tent and your clothes will get clammy. Therefore, the opposite sides should have ventilation openings, which you can close due to the changing weather.

It is also important to ensure that the tent has a high water column. This way, you are well protected in the event of snowfall and rain. A waterproof, sewn-in groundsheet provides further protection from penetrating moisture and wind. Snow and dirt also have no chance of getting into the tent.

Our Gotland tents are very suitable for camping in winter. They have opposing windows that you can close, offer a 5,000 mm water column, as well as a sewn-in groundsheet with a 10,000 mm water column and very robust fibreglass poles that can withstand wind. The waterproof sealed seams also protect against water or snow penetration. Although the Gotland does not have a vestibule, the design provides a large living area between the sleeping cabins where you can stow everything easily.

Even if you have looked for a sheltered spot, the wind can of course change and it can quickly become uncomfortable, especially in snow. To be a little safer, it's best to build yourself a wind and snow shelter out of snow. That way you are better protected.

It is best to build this 'snow wall' a few metres away from your tent. The drifting snow will collect in front of the wall and you will have a more comfortable place to sleep.

A combination of two insulating mats is useful in winter temperatures. This additional layer protects you from the cold ground and provides double insulation. Place a foam mat under an inflatable sleeping mat. Self-inflating sleeping mats create a thick layer between you and the tent floor. Alternatively, use a sleeping pad that you inflate yourself. These two sleeping pads also provide a comfortable place to sleep. For example, our Elite Air inflatable mattress is ideal for this. With its small pack size and very low weight, it is easy to stow away.

In addition to a double layer of sleeping mat to protect you from the cold ground, you will need a warm sleeping bag. Make sure you check the comfort range so that you are nice and warm and don't start to freeze during the night. In the case of snow, this means that the comfort range is in the minus range. Find out in advance about the night-time temperatures at your destination. It's better to choose a comfort zone that is lower in the minus range than to risk being too cold at night.

If you tend to get very cold, place a warming bottle at the foot end of your sleeping bag to warm it up a little before you sleep and to keep your feet warm while you sleep.

There is no question that you should generally dress appropriately for the low temperatures. However, make sure you wear gloves when setting up the tent so that your hands are not completely frozen when you have finished setting up.

Sometimes less is more: don't pack yourself in loads of warm clothes to sleep in. Your sleeping bag stores your body heat. Functional underwear is the optimal solution for a restful and warm sleep. Switch to warm, dry socks if your socks get wet during the day. Keep your hat on in the tent, even when sleeping - your body loses most of its heat through your head.

A little tip: movement before sleeping warms your body up even more.

In addition to the equipment mentioned above, we have a small list of useful items for you that you should definitely have with you when camping in winter - especially away from official winter campsites.

When camping in winter, make sure that you are always warm. Your clothing, sleeping mat and sleeping bag should provide you with sufficient protection against the cold. It is also important to pitch your tent out of the wind and to secure it securely. This will make your winter camping a special experience.