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The best gear to stay warm, dry and happy on a fall or winter outdoor adventure
Advice by Natalie B. Compton
Everything I read about camping in Alaska was intimidating. Wild weather that can change on a dime. No cell service. Bugs. Bears. Add in a wet forecast, and I was shaking in my (brand-new waterproof) boots.
But smooth seas never made a skilled sailor, and camping isn’t supposed to be a piece of cake (that’s what glamping’s for), particularly in cooler weather. I had four nights of camping ahead of me and was going no matter what.
The key would be having the right gear, so I called some camping experts to get their advice.
For a successful trip in colder weather, “there is a lot more prep and a lot more gear you’re going to have to carry to stay warm,” said outdoor adventure influencer Isabel Riza Cautivo, who has backpacked in locations such as Iceland and Mount Shasta.
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John Junke, an active outdoorsman who has been working at REI for nearly two decades, assured me that the extra effort would pay off and that “there are ways to make yourself more comfortable,” he said.
In a perfect world, I would have unlimited backpack space and funds for the gear they recommended. If I wasn’t going to such a remote, uniquely challenging destination, I could have rented some key gear to make the trip more comfortable and to cut costs.
In short, I made tough calls and cut corners. My trip went great, and I mostly had what I needed. I also had regrets. Here are my takeaways on what I had packed — and what I wish I had packed.
1
Wind and waterproof layers
I was expecting temperatures in the 40s and 50s, with a mix of sunshine, rain, wind and mosquitoes. That meant I needed layers to protect against elements and enemies.
Junke said exactly what kind of layers depends on your body type and trip activities. If you’ll be doing a ton of hiking or biking, or if you run hot naturally, “the best thing you can do is [wear] moisture-wicking clothing,” he said. “No cotton, because cotton will absorb moisture and not release it.”
Look for materials that will keep you dry, such as wool, fleece and polypropylene. “And then, at an absolute minimum, have an extra set of dry base layers,” Junke added. You’ll thank yourself when you have a cozy backup at the end of the day.
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Kevin Long, CEO of the camping app the Dyrt, has two favorite layers he turns to for colder camping. On the cheaper end, the first is a simple balaclava — essentially a full head beanie. The second is the Airblaster Ninja Suit, a onesie base layer as epic as its name suggests. Being a head-to-toe garment — complete with zippers, so you don’t have to take the whole thing off to use the bathroom — “it’s just amazing how much warmer you stay,” Long said.
For my trip, I took Uniqlo HeatTech leggings and a turtleneck, wool socks, a fleece neck gaiter that doubles as a headband, leather gloves that made me feel like a henchman, a Cotopaxi sweatshirt, two old T-shirts, a pair of jeans, a baseball cap and some underwear. (I’ll let you debate how much is enough.) For rain consideration, I brought an old pair of waterproof ski pants and splurged on an L.L.Bean H2Off mesh-lined jacket and Blundstone thermal high-top boots.
And I was cold. I thought my layers would be enough, but I really should have brought one more, a bigger outer coat and the Randy Sun waterproof socks Cautivo swears by. “It’s nice to have an extra layer to keep your feet warm, because I feel like that’s like the first thing that goes cold,” she said.
2
A high-quality, insulated sleeping pad
After a few camping trips without a sleeping pad, I learned my lesson. And after a few more trips with a cheap, dinky one, I learned a second lesson: A low-quality sleeping pad is almost as bad as not having one. So I was lucky that, earlier this year, my fiancé, Dan, upgraded us to an insulated NEMO one. Insulated pads are made with materials to prevent you from losing body heat to the cold ground, which “makes all the difference at night,” Cautivo said.
The NEMO, which we paid $140 for, is way more expensive than I’d ever imagine spending on something that looks like a pool toy, but it’s been worth every penny. I stayed off the chilly ground and fast asleep all night long.
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Long says better doesn’t mean bigger. He prefers full-body, wider models that keep you about an inch off the ground.
“You’re probably going to be more comfortable than if you went and got a six- or 12-inch one,” which enable more disruptive movement.
3
A snug sleeping bag liner
To beef up the warmth and comfort of a sleeping bag, the pros recommend sleeping bag liners if you’re not ready to invest in a nice bag. But if you are ready, Long swears by the Ascent down sleeping bag. “It has an extra layer over the top of it like a comforter that you can zip off and zip on,” he said.
But I run hot, so I was skeptical about needing a souped-up bag or liner; plus, I’d already spent a ton of money on apparel and couldn’t stomach another expense. And I was already pushing the limit of my luggage.
I stewed in my mistake every night and wore all of my clothes to bed.
4
A Nalgene water bottle
Junke had an easy fix if you don’t have a sleeping bag liner: make heat.
“If you are cold and you get in a sleeping bag, you will remain cold,” he said. “The sleeping bag is simply designed to insulate what’s inside.”
That could mean jogging around the campsite or doing jumping jacks outside of the tent. He also recommended putting hand warmers or a Nalgene bottle full of warm water in my sleeping bag. For the latter, remember that, although Nalgenes can hold hot water without warping, not all water bottles are designed to. “Do not burn yourself,” Junke added. “Make sure it’s warm, not scalding.”
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5
Comfort food to warm your body and spirit
One of the easiest ways to make room in my luggage seemed like skipping a camping stove. I’d have to buy propane at my destination anyway, because I was flying.
Dan intervened when I told him that plan. Spending all day and night in the elements without the comfort of hot food would be a dreary scene, he warned. Cautivo agreed.
“You want to pack a cooking system, so you can eat warm meals to feel warm,” she said. “Even just hot tea or hot soup before you go to bed brings your temperature up.”
They were right. Starting the morning with a steaming bowl of porridge and a cup of coffee was huge. Having rehydrated camping meals such as pad thai and dal, rice and spinach was much nicer than the pantry food I’d envisioned. Even the ritual of setting the stove up and getting the little fire going was soothing. If only I’d had the Ninja Suit, it would have been perfect.
What’s your favorite cold-weather camping gear? Drop your tips in the comments.
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Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas, including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed. Submit your question here. Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves.