Winter Camping Gear Checklist: How to Stay Warm on a Snowy Night Out

Winter camping has a lot going for it: no bugs, no crowds, a quiet you won't find in July and a night sky that seems twice as bright. The difference between a magical night and a miserable one is almost entirely about staying warm and dry.

This checklist is built for a first winter trip: car camping or a short snowshoe in to a campsite, not a mountaineering expedition. Start close to your car, pick a night with a mild forecast and bring a backup plan.

1. The sleep system

Most people sleep cold in winter because of what's underneath them, not what's on top. Frozen ground pulls heat away fast, so the pad matters as much as the bag.

Coleman North Rim 0°F sleeping bag

A mummy bag with a hood that cinches around your face holds heat much better than a rectangular bag. The North Rim is rated to 0°F, which gives a comfortable margin on most winter nights at car-camping sites.

What to know: the temperature on a sleeping bag label is not a comfort guarantee, and people sleep warmer or colder than each other. Pick a bag labeled well below your expected low, and wear a dry base layer and hat to bed.

Gear Doctors Oxylus self-inflating pad

R-value is how well a pad insulates you from the ground; higher is warmer. For frozen ground and snow, look for an R-value of 4 or more. This pad is rated R 4.3. Many winter campers put a closed-cell foam pad under it for even more warmth.

RANDDER down booties

Your feet get cold first. Slip down booties on in camp and wear them inside your sleeping bag. They're light and pack small.

Sleep-warm tips: eat a snack with some fat before bed, go to the bathroom before you get in the bag, change into dry clothes and fill a bottle with hot water to tuck in by your feet (make sure the lid is tight).

2. Layers that stay warm when you sweat

Cotton holds moisture and pulls heat from your body, so leave it at home. Dress in layers: a wool or synthetic base, an insulating middle layer and a waterproof shell.

Merino.tech merino base layer set

Merino wool keeps you warm even when it's damp and resists odor, so you can wear it for days. This set includes a top and bottom.

Darn Tough hiker socks

Merino hiking socks stay warm when damp. Pack a dry pair just for sleeping.

Carhartt knit beanie

You'll wear a hat almost the whole trip, including to bed.

3. The camp kitchen: hot food and water

In winter you'll melt snow for water and want hot drinks often, so a fast stove matters.

Jetboil Flash stove system

The Jetboil Flash is a compact canister stove with an integrated pot that boils water quickly. Use it for hot drinks, dehydrated meals and melting snow.

Jetboil Jetpower fuel

Canister fuel loses pressure in the cold, so the stove may run weaker on a frigid morning. Keep the canister in your jacket during the day and in the foot of your sleeping bag at night (in a stuff sack), then use it outside. Bring more fuel than you would in summer, since melting snow uses a lot.

4. Keeping water from freezing

Hydro Flask 32 oz wide mouth

An insulated bottle keeps water liquid much longer than a plain bottle. Wide mouths are less likely to freeze shut. Store it upside down so ice forms at the bottom, not in the lid.

Stanley Classic bottle

Fill a big thermos with boiling water in the evening and you'll have hot water for coffee before you even light the stove in the morning.

5. Getting there: snowshoes

G2 snowshoes with trekking poles

In deep snow, snowshoes keep you on top instead of post-holing to your knees. This kit includes trekking poles and a carry bag, which makes it easy to start.

6. Safety and the long dark

Winter nights can last 14 hours or more. Plan for darkness and cold batteries.

LHKNL rechargeable headlamps

Bring a headlamp for each person, plus spare power. Cold drains batteries, so keep the headlamp in your jacket or sleeping bag at night.

HotHands hand warmers

Hand warmers in gloves and boots help, and tucking one next to your phone or battery pack keeps it working longer.

Swiss Safe emergency blankets

An emergency blanket weighs almost nothing and can add warmth in a pinch or protect someone who's getting too cold while you get help.

Winter camping checklist

• 0°F sleeping bag and an insulated pad (R 4 or more)
• Down booties, beanie and a dry set of sleep clothes
• Merino base layers, a warm middle layer and a waterproof shell
• Stove, extra fuel and a lighter (kept warm)
• Insulated water bottle and thermos
• Snowshoes and poles if there's deep snow
• Headlamps, spare power and hand warmers
• Emergency blankets and a first aid kit
• A trip plan left with someone at home, and the weather forecast checked

Check local fire and camping rules before you go. Heading out by car? Pack our winter car emergency kit. For more gear ideas, see our gifts for the outdoorsman and winter power outage kit.