How I Stay Warm Hiking and Backpacking in Cold Weather!
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- Опубліковано 12 лип 2024
- One of the biggest struggles backpackers have is staying warm. Even outside the winter months it can get COLD in the backcountry. In this video I'll show you a few simple, easy, and relatively cheap pieces of gear that I add to my core 3-season backpacking kit to make it warm enough for comfortable winter backpacking! These tips won't help you with mountaineering or extreme cold weather situations where the temperature drops well below the teens (or under -9 celsius), but they will help transform your spring, summer and fall backpacking kit into a winter backpacking kit without breaking the bank or adding much weight to your pack! And hey, if you're like me and you basically feel cold all the time, use these tips to level up the warmth of your kit in all seasons! Have fun out there, stay warm and be safe. LOVE Y'ALL!
Intro: 00:00
Gear I use to stay warm backpacking in cold weather: 00:26
Outro: 11:22
Cat Hole and Pit Toilet Tier Patron Wall of THANKS: 12:04
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Gear in this video -
Hot Sockee Toe Covers: amzn.to/3DHNpeJ
Ignik Toe Warmers: amzn.to/3JFZe8K
Kinco Insulated Mittens: amzn.to/3JPuFgS
Gregory 3D Hydro Reservoir: amzn.to/3X5RHDe
Osprey 4 Season Reservoir Insulation Kit: amzn.to/3X3vWUH
Nuun Electrolyte Tabs: amzn.to/3XauIXD
NEMO Switchback Foam Pad: amzn.to/3X6kNCo
NEMO Sleeping Bag Liner: amzn.to/3X6VVL5
Nalgene Bottle: amzn.to/3X3Wrcv
Mountain Hardwear Vest (Men's): amzn.to/3jxjTkR
Mountain Hardwear Vest (Women's): amzn.to/3Y5SWns
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#cold #winter #backpacking #hiking #camping #naturelovers #mirandagoesoutside #mirandainthewild
That’s my synthetic vest in this video. I love that thing! Let’s blow this video up and make my vest famous.
Go Rainer’s vest!! 😂
Is there an Official Rainer’s Vest Fan Club? #ORVFC
@@just_kyles8090 There is now! Gonna promote it so everyone can join. I’ll get some pamphlets made.
As Canadian Army vet, I got few more tips for the winter!
Water: Wrap your Nalgene with an extra socks! While not as effective as a thermos, it will definitely help keep it warmer longer when you put hot water into it. Also that's another tip, fill it with hot/water when you can. Also bring along a little teaser bottle of Everclear if you need to defrost your bottles (Either my old Sgt was genius, alcoholic or both)
Gloves/Mittens: Wearing thin liner or magic gloves under your mittens are key, especially if take off your main gloves to do something that needs fingers (like do up buckles or use a gun). Also having your mittens on a short loop of cord, so this way you can have the loop attached to your velcro jacket cuff as you can dangle your mitten when your hands need to be free.
Chapstick/lighter: Tape these together on a loop of cord and wear it like necklace in your shirt, this way your bic is always warm and ready and you can't loose your chapstick in a pocket!
A trick we used in army during winter was to carry the canteen in a strap around our neck under our jacket. Everytime you took a sip you stuffed some snow in there to keep it topped up.
My tip to stay warm is like Miranda said: layer up and add a vest between your mid layer and insulation layer, buy your winter boots a half size or size up for more room to trap more hot air inside (and also fit those thick socks or toe warmers), and think of yourself as the warmth and your clothing about keeping that warmth in rather than the cold air out! Eat lots of food so your body has the energy to warm itself. HUZZAH!
HUZZAH! (do you watch the show “the Great”?)
@@sherrylaponsee7782 HUZZAH! I don’t! Is that the one about Catherine The Great?
Congrats on doing your own thing! Excited to follow along here
Your feet might be getting cold all the time because of how you are trying to warm them. Thick boots and this socks often means you are adding a lot of pressure to your foot. Impeding blood flow and possibly condensing your warm socks so much they are losing their loft.
I think my tip will be "Stay dry!", which might seem like an obvious tip, but hear me out. I think one common mistake people make when they're about to head out in the morning is to put on too much clothing. You'll then get warmer as you move, and have to stop within 5 minutes or so. If you don't, you're soon both wet and cold. Instead, choose to be a tiny bit chilly when you start your hike, and within minutes you'll be at the perfect temperature. :)
Perhaps my tip should be: "Stay warm, but not too warm!"?
Totally agree! I'm a Boy's Scout leader, and my mantra to the kids is, "don't sweat!" We started a long hike about a month ago when it was cloudy and 11 degrees F. I told all the kids to "start cold, don't sweat. If you feel hot or start to sweat, unzip a layer." By the end of the hike it was full sun and probably 25F. I was roasting, and had taken off my puffy coat and my mid layer, and had my shell unzipped and wide open. So it was 25F and I had cold air hitting my synthetic shirt to stay at an acceptable temperature!
"Be bold, start cold"!
I agree with this. I'm a sweaty dude and even in winter it's very difficult for me to make any sort of reasonable pace without sweating. I'd have to hike under a mile an hour to avoid it, so my solution was to have a breathable but warm baselayer that could dry at a reasonable pace. then I have my sacred layers that are only ever put on if I'm confident that the sweat has dried from my baselayer. Also experiment with different layers. Sometimes a lighter baselayer but paired with a wind shirt is a good move.
Adding a foam pad beneath my sleep pad and inserting a liner into my sleeping bag has definitely helped me be warmer in colder temps.
Same
Turbo hack, when you drop below freezing nylon goes through a weird plastic cold soaking process. You can definitely notice this if you touch cold plastic, it will feel like cold metal. This can often make you air filled pad feel colder than its supposed r-value. Neoprene rubber foam like the sleeping pad doesn't have this issue. So when using the two together, you will generally feel far warmer with the foam pad on top of the air pad! Give it a shot next time you're out!
I love that we are able to speak more about the practical aspects of backpacking already 😀
Miranda is such a great Backpacking and hiking personality
I live and die by my heated vest! Best $100 I’ve ever spent!
Blowing the water back in to the reservoir is also a good tip when hiking in high heat. So gross to get that initial taste of hot water then most of the time spitting it out. Great cold weather tips!
I have tried a sleeping bag liner, but since I move around a lot while sleeping, I get tangled up in it and strangle myself. I have found that a lightweight bivy sack works much better for me. It provides a breathable, insulating, windproof and waterproof layer over the sleeping bag and depending on the size, you can even fit your sleeping pad in it. In an emergency, you can also just pull it over your clothes for a little protection from the elements.
Investing in a sleeping bag liner was such a game changer for me! Living in Iceland, summer backpacking and camping is like winter backpacking elsewhere, so a fleece liner really helped to add additional warmth to my sleep system without needing to buy a new sleeping bag :D
For those moments where you absolutely need the dexterity you loosen your jacket and reach in and leave your right mitten under your left armpit and the left under your right armpit. You can easily retrieve your still warm mittens and continue on once you have wound your watch or whatever task that needed doing. Cheers from the wilds of Canada. ~ulrich
I just used this one - a Nalgene can double as a hot water bottle for your sleeping bag! Just be sure the Nalgene you’re using is rated for hot liquid, and that it is REALLY well sealed. It made a big difference for me.
i love how the hair ties match the cups in the background.
Thank you so much! I also live in WA state and I started winter backpacking for the first time this year. I had a wonderful outing on January 7th near Packwood. Although I don't have a medical condition, the front half of my feet seem to be a constant source of discomfort. Adding down booties at night solved this issue, but I am still cold when in boots during the day, even with ski boots or insulated hiking boots. It sometimes takes hours for me to warm them up at night. I just ordered the neoprene sleeves and I can't wait to try them. It's something I've never heard mentioned anywhere else. Thank you for not just regurgitating the standard tips, but bringing your own experience. LOVE!
Consecutive Miranda Goes Outside! videos without a burp: 0
Don't forget the sleeping with hot water in your Nalgene trick.
Also random thing... That Nemo Switchback closed cell foam pad makes for a great sit pad. I realized it was actually cheaper (at the time) to get 1 Nemo Switchback pad and cut it into 3 sit pads instead of buying individual sit pads. So now my wife and I both have sit pads and we gave the extra one to a friend. They're also wider than a standard sit pad.
Want to throw two more ideas building on the stuff here.
1. For the foam pad/air pad combo put the foam pad on top of the air pad (and hold it on with some cordarge or shock cord straps). The nylon material used in most inflatable pads goes through some odd changes when it gets cold and as a result feels way colder than the insulation it provides. If you've ever touched the side of a tent in the cold weather you know that the material feels like cold metal. The closed cell rubber does not have this issue and you will generally feel warmer with foam on top of air pad even though in theory the R-value is the same. Shout out to Aaron Linsdau for that one.
2. In regards to the water bladder and tube you mentioned the reflectix hack. That also works great for basically everything else. I made a koozie for my nalgenes out of it. I also have a koozie for my cook pot so when I take it off the stove I can put it in there and it helps keep the liquid warm and allows me to handle the pot without burning myself (big deal since I use it for coffee/tea). To eat out if you are using the dehyrdated meal pouches make a little sleeve of reflecix to put the meal in. It will stay warmer longer and rehydrate faster in the cold. If you rehydrate in a separate vessel (pasta side, instant mash, rice, other classics) you can do the same thing to keep the heat in longer.
3. For your mittens. You can usually find a thin liner glove made of neoprene, merino, etc. to wear underneath. In addition to another layer of warmth this also means you have something with more dexterity underneath that you can use without putting bare skin on snow or metal. For the mittens themselves, a lot of people attach a length of cordage to them so they can have the hooked into their pack or around their neck. Miranda's right, don't chuck those things on the ground. They get cold and worse they get lost.
I like putting hand warmers in my jacket pockets, the pockets are usually inside the insulation of the coat. So if you are already cold it puts warmth on the inside of the insulation to trap and rewarm you until your body can catch up. You can also potentially put them in a sleeping bag in a pinch
winter is my favorite time to camp! I don't believe I have that condition that you mentioned, as I've looked it up and my hands and toes don't discolor like I saw under the symptoms, but they do get cold easily, ESPECIALLY my feet. it's been a struggle to keep them warm. if they get cold before breaking camp it's an hour of hard hiking (where the rest of my body is steaming in just a baselayer below 20F before my feet start to feel somewhat normal. My biggest tips are: 1.) a medium thickness wool sock and a thin dress sock are warmer and more comfortable than just a thick wool sock 2.) find a good size waterbottle for fitting your socks over it. when you tuck in for the night, boil some water to put in the bottle. make sure it's secure. put your damp socks over it, one from the bottom and one from the top, then wear dry socks to bed. the heat from the bottle will force the dampness out of them and out of your sleep system, or at least to the edge of the system. 3.) in cold weather below 20F especially if the air is humid, your down quilt or bag can accumulate moisture in its outer layer quickly, even on a 2 night trip, worsening its insulation, and it will be hard to dry. Take a layer other than down to lay over top of your sleeping bag to grab this moisture to save the warmth of your bag. A synthetic jungle blanket is an option that isn't too heavy, or if you want a multiuse object, replace your outer insulation clothing layer with a wool blanket fashioned into a ruana cloak. at night this will do it's secondary job as a sleep system outer layer, making its weight easier to stomach as you're leaving behind a jacket. 4.) even if you rarely find occasion to make a fire, or simply don't love making them (responsibly) like I do, please practice the skills of making one. nothing hardcore, use a lighter and quality fire starters. On one trip after an hour of hiking in the morning in wet frozen boots I still couldn't feel my feet and I felt surely I'd get frost bitten soon if I didn't do something. I noticed quality firewood sticking above the snow nice and dry, and I swear that's the fastest I ever got a fire going in my life. This doesn't apply to being above tree line but if there's wood around and you're freezing, a quick fire can be a foot saver. 5.) know when to bail. if conditions are beyond you and you have the option, swallow your pride. better to cut a trip short and come back stronger next time with better skills and equipment.
Big secret to staying warm is loose fitting shoes/clothing. Circulation is the key to staying warm, this is why saunas are popular in northern countries, and why your little exercise tricks work. Boots should be a half to a full size up from standard, and your layers should be loose fitting. Sweating is also a big no-no. Take your time and take breaks often and try not to break out a sweat. Sweat laden clothing will suck heat away from your body quickly. Your clothing should facilitate wicking away sweat while keeping heat in. Merino wool is the holy grail here in my opinion. On top of that, keep the heat down in your vehicle before you head out, you want to acclimatize a bit and you want to prevent any sweating while wearing your warm clothing and boots during your drive to the trail. It's really common for people to crank the heat and start sweating in their boots on the drive out, and then end up with cold toes 15 minutes into the hike. Your car/truck should be just warm enough to not be uncomfortable.
I am undiagnosed Raynauds, and grabbed some of those neoprene toe cover things for my first ever winter hike (🙌🏻) after you recommended them recently. I don’t even have insulated winter hiking boots yet and those toe covers keep my foot digits SO WARM 😭 Low key thinking about wearing them daily. NH life is brutal 😅 Thank youuuu ❤
Pro tip for your stove set up, using a hand warmer under your fuel canister will help it burn better. Also having a stove with a micro valve will also help it burn hotter in cold conditions.
Finally someone that gives some love to sleeping bag liners. I've seen so many of these 'winter gear' videos and no one mentions them. They're light and small but make a huge difference.
Because if you have a good quilt or bag you don’t need them. Problem is there are so many horrible over priced bags out there with survival ratings on them and not comfort. I take my 0 deg hammock gear quilt well below zero without any issues.
I love to wear my hand-knit sweaters with Icelandic wool, they keep me super warm even around freezing temperatures. So I guess my tip is learn to knit! ; ) Also adding a woolen hat and a DIY fleece buff to sleep in has increased comfort a lot on colder nights.
Oh I love this tip!! I'm a knitter, but I've never tried to make a sweater before. Fully agree that a buff and hat make a big difference at night!
Just wanted to say I’m soo excited to learn Miranda is also a knitter!
@@MirandaGoesOutside Oh you should totally give it a try. It's so rewarding and warm ;) Also I love that you're a knitter! Would be a cool video idea too...where you hike / camp and try out some diy gear. I'd totally watch.
One of my favorite videos so far,, great tips
I get the mittens point, but I really like to use my fingers. One of my favorite items is something I picked up at a rendezvous (I do pre-1840s Rendezvous, primarily mountain man and Colonial). They were period correct and I've found myself using them when not at Rendezvous; which are wool fingerless gloves with an attached mitten top. The top covers down past your mid knuckles. So you essentially have a mitten until you need to use your fingers, just pull the top off to expose the finger to just the first knuckle and strap it back (or modern version, velcro). I've used these quite comfortably in the 20s.
You are a great help to those just starting. Plus us old-timers need to be reminded.
Take Care All
my coldest trip was mid october in North idaho, somewhere in the 30s at night. I did not have a sleeping bag liner , but I used my emergency blanket as one at it was SO toasty. Something I had to carry anyways so it was a win win. That is the same trip I learned about needing more fuel the hard way.... my morning coffee wasnt hot because I ran out of fuel. As a cold footed person I am now going to order those foot sleeve things for next year.
Oooo! Those neoprene toe covers are just what my winter cycling kit needs!
Seriously the edits are hilarious 😂. Love this channel
Yessss, been waiting for this
Love everything about your videos!
Just want to say I just came back from being in the field (ARMY) at Fort Carson, CO and had a couple nights around -15 degrees and rocked the mountain hardwear bishop pass 0 degree bag with the seatosummit liner and was super comfortable in the REI flash 1 tent. Know it’s a horrible tent for the weather but even waking up with the inside layered with frost I was definitely comfortable and can swear that the liner made me warmer! Love the content and that you doing it on your own now Miranda!
Also I am a cold sleeper, so may not bring a massive change to others.
love the room's colors
YAY!!!! stumbles in the wild is back!
Love the new vibes
+1 for the sleeping bag liner! I have done some experimenting, and the claim of adding about 5°f seemed true for mine from Sea to Summit. Bring a neck gator as well to help block drafts at night.
Yay! I’m on the wall of thanks! 😍
Thank you for these tips, especially the toe warmers. I've been having a real problem keeping my feet warm in winter and have been searching for a solution for years. Tried every thermal sock I can find and even gone so far as replacing multiple pairs of boots thinking they weren't warm enough or leaking. Can't wait for warm feeties!!! :)
Yes!!! I’m definitely getting some of those toe warmers too! Great idea
Buy boots oversized. You might be buying boots that are too tight and cutting off circulation. Your winter boots should fit loose.
I really want to try these too! One thing I do is bring extra fuel to account for lots of boiling water, both for hot drinks and for hot water bottles to put in my bag. I use 750 ml sigg bottles that can actually fit into the ankle of my boots perfectly to warm them, and down in the toe of the boots goes a 4 oz stasher bag full of boiling water. the little 4 oz bag seals pretty secure and you would have to squeeze it in your fist to make it burst open.
The foam on top of your mattress or even inside the sleeping bag is even warmer. helped me to survive. It can curl around your feet too that way. You might have to cut to shape a bit.
THANK YOU!!! I thought I would never get to hike in snow because as a Type 1 diabetic I couldn’t keep my hands warm. Mittens for the win!!! You are amazing and I’m so happy to so you soar!
The mitten thing makes so much sense but I had never thought about it!
I love to warm up rocks to cuddle with at night… specially behind my knees. Glad you mentioned the vest… and buffs… you can never have enough…
Thanks for this video Miranda. I’ll be hiking Mount Washington in New Hampshire for the first time this weekend and this video was definitely helpful. I’m a new subscriber. Really liking your channel.
Hey Arlene!! Aw yay! Be safe out there!! Mt Washington temps have been 🥶😳 and of course have fun!!
As someone who always has cold hands, a trick I was taught while skiing is to wear (merino wool) liner gloves under mittens -- it lets you take off your mittens for dexterity when you need it without baring your fingers completely to the elements
I've used this method to keep my fingers working during winter chores. Holding a scoop shovel with your already cold fingers turns them into unbendy icicles real fast. The mitten-over-glove system works wonders.
haha I love your mittens drawings. Fabulous.
Loved this! Another tip for having the water bladder not freezing is to add a little salt or vodka to it to give you a little lower freezing point.
Great mix of confident expertise and goofiness. )I think it’s important to keep these two in balance.) The neoprene toe warmers look like something I’ve wanted all my life! (Why haven’t I heard about those before?!)
I saw in an earlier of your new videos that you were thinking about merch. Given the importance of “how to poop in the woods“ in your professional career, I think one of your first products should be a “Miranda Goes Outside poop tube.” I suspect that a water- and odor-proof dry sack like those marketed to dog owners might be a better solution for packing out one’s poop, but you often talked about poop tubes. Either would work. (Which is cheaper to print your name on?) Put the most important reason to do it is that unlike stickers, T-shirts, and beanies (surely you’ll also include your trademark beanie), nothing says “Miranda Goes Outside” like a poop device.
I’m a quilt guy so I lone me some OutDoor Vitals booties & maybe even a hand warmer in my quilt on cold nights…..
Perfect !!!!!
Nice video. Bottle cozy out of reflectix works really well to prevent water from freezing. Hot water bottle against major arteries can help maintain warmth too!
Sleeping in down booties can be a game changer, plus, they are lightweight & smush down to nothing in your pack. Thanks for another awesome video!
Buns Miranda, are the hardest thing to keep warm when winter hiking and camping! Even with down snow skirts... it just gets cold back there! Cheers.
Well done not stumbling with sleeping “pad” and sleeping “bag”! 🤘
Lol…when you said “hey Suri” you activated it on my iPad 😂
The hot sockee are a game changer! Immediately bought and used 2 days later for an overnight trip in 30-39 degree weather. Will be using these in the future. I’m also a forester in training, and will definitely keep these in my cruiser vest for the colder months. 😁
I just had a very cold (unexpected) night camping and my old cheap sleeping bag and yoga mat (I know stupid, but I was expecting summer temperatures!) were definitely not made for it (temperature was around 5C with 85% humidity and that sleeping bag is a 2-season at most). Definitely my mistake! But I found that putting an emergency blanket under mat and wrapping it over my sleeping bag made a huge difference! Not a long term solution for sure (very noisy/crinkly and not too comfortable as I had to keep pulling it over me), but it does wonders in a pinch! Would definitely recommend always carrying one not only for real emergency but also as extra insulation on nights colder than expected! I only thought of it on the second night, so the first one was a bit of a nightmare but glad I did then, got a got a good couple hours sleep when way below the temperature rating my sleep system could handle.
Tiny red thing = best
Got it!
Thanks for these tips Miranda! I can definitely attest to the food serving discrepancy. In the summer “2 servings” is a minimum per meal, backpacking. But I’m a big guy, 6’2” 275lbs.
Nalgene almost fully filled with boiling water, with the cap on tight, surrounded by a sock or something to prevent it from burning you when it touches you. Then sleep with it, (near your femoral artery and it can still be a bit warm 8 hours later. Really nice for winter hammocking.
Thank you… I am going to get the mittens and toe covers… Enjoy your journey in life and keep shining..
Great video! Thank you !
This is my engagement, gosh darn.
I am in my 50's and today was the first day I have every heard about toe covers! I am ordering several pairs. My feet are NEVER warm! Thank you!
Hahahahahahaha!!! I loved that response you gave, regarding sending a text with mittens on: "Hey Siri!" Right on the money, Miranda!
I loved Rainer's remark about the Titanic, "It's not too soon! It's been, like 100 years!" Hilarious! GREAT video, but it ended too soon!☺❤
Thanks!
As a fellow Raynaud's friend here - thanks for the advice! I will definitely try neoprene toe covers :)
Good information Miranda thank you.
Miranda…. One thing I do when I’m winter camping is when I’m waiting for my Peak refuel meal to rehydrate, I put it inside my jacket against my body so that I get some heat and also my food doesn’t get cold while waiting for it to rehydrate…
Yay! I braved my first relatively cold trip recently. Like it hit 32 at night for a couple hours. I've got a puffy and dog (malamute, so she was probably warm) so I figured I'd be fine... And I was.. since my dog loves cold and I have free time around Christmas I've been thinking, dang I'm really missing out on a good chunk of the year I could be out. So this is great timing.
I used to think vests were silly, 'cause you know what about my cold arms? Now I use vests a lot as a layer under jackets/coats and as an extra layer of warmth over a shirt when a full jacket isn't needed. Plus they keep my neck warm. Say YES to the vest.
Never seen the toe sleeves before. I have chronically cold extremities even at home. Glad to learn about those!
I have raynaud’s and migraines, I appreciate your tips for how to stay comfortable outside when you have a fussy body ❤️.
Here are two things that help me. One is to put my entire sleep system (pad and bag) inside one of those cheap foil emergency sleeping bags, like a bivvy. Many will tell you that it will collect moisture but that has not proved true for me. It does make it a bit harder to get out to pee in the middle of night, but staying warm is a high priority. Second (I tried this for the first time last week at 27 deg) I filled a Nalgene bottle with 2 cups of boiling water and threw it to the bottom of my bag right before I crawled in. It kept my feet nice and warm. PS: I just ordered the Neoprene toe warmers. Great tip!
My number 1 tip: Be bold, start cold!
As in, always manage your temp to make sure you don't sweat, moisture is the enemy of warmth so if you are hiking and generating heat, do everything in your power not to get sweaty. The second you stop moving, add a layer to trap in your heat.
Ohhh those sock warmers could be a game changer! I don't backpack in the winter but I do work outside. I have insulated boots and my feet STILL get cold so I'm definitely gonna check those out
Wear glove liners underneath your mittens. It is and extra layer and keeps your fingers warm if you eventually take them off for a second.
And put an elastic on your mittens so they stay on your arms when you take them off.
Lots of cool tips. I did not realize that about upside down water bottles and freezing.
Great tips!!! Thank you… love your glove designs, perhaps a future in outdoor gear production.
Good tips!!
You are the best Miranda !! I hope you can come to Ecuador to make one of your hiking videos !! 🙌🏞️
Show us the bloopers! 😂
I would think a liner for a sleeping bag makes sense at all times of the year. It's so much easier when you get back to just throw the liner in the wash than the whole sleeping bag. You're probably not having showers before you get in your sleeping bag so having that extra layer helps keep the bag clean.
Wool is my best friend when I go hiking/camping, specifically merinowool underlayers. I also get very cold feet and fingers very easily and my favorites are wool soles (i have special shoe inserts for my knees and those get very easily cold so wool soles helps with that) and wool glove liners. Haven’t tried neoprene toe sleeves yet but will definitely try those. There is always room for improvements when it comes to keep warm. I live in the south of Sweden so we have more of a wet cold type of winter. But even when I go hiking in the mountains during late summer/ early autumn when the first frost is starting i ways use wool.
Instead of a sleeping bag liner I like to use a summer sleeping bag in a bigger size and add that on the outside of my “regular” one. And if you don’t have an extra sleeping bag with you and you feel like it’s a bit cold, you can put your jacket and other clothes on top of you and use as “blankets”
Maybe good to mention that there are different kinds of propane canisters. So if your going winter camping or camping when it’s a bit colder make sure that you have a canisters that can handle colder temperatures and not one that is made for summer temperatures.
Really loved some of these tips in this video🫶
Two cold weather items I like are a hand warmer from zippo, and portable heating pad by Sunbeam. Each $20 or less. Zippo hand warmer runs on lighter fluid, and you can hold onto it for a bit or like hours to keep your hands warm. My Dad would use it at work, napping in the back. Lol he placed it on his chest for naps and it warmed him up.
The other item I liked was a portable heating pad that uses a battery pack to power it. It's elastic and velcro, so you can attach it around your core, plug it into the battery pack, it has a pouch and you can choose 3 heating options. If you don't have a crazy long trip or you're worried about being uncomfortable at night you can try it on for a bit and get warmed up. I've used it snowshoeing, on hikes, or sleeping. Game changer.
Also good at night I'll wrap my feet in a hoodie while wearing socks to keep my feet warm at night. I've also worn a beanie hat to sleep in. Both have helped in cold weather.
Love the tip about Hot Sockees! I just ordered from Amazon to try & keep my toes warm when hiking & running in winter. Temps here in Atlantic Canada can reach -20C (-4F) with lots of humidity even at warmer temps...chills you to the bone. Colder than that & I'll stay home lol
Heated outerwear! As someone who is always cold, I recently decided that all the insulating layers I have tried didn't really work for me because my body just doesn't produce enough heat in the first place. So I bought an inexpensive heated vest on amazon, and sandwiched between a base layer and an outer shell, it's made a huge difference, even on the lowest setting. They run on rechargeable battery packs which also lose charge if left in the cold, so I wouldn't suggest anyone use these in a situation where it would be dangerous if it stopped working. But purely as a comfort measure, it's the best thing I've ever found. I'm excited for the batteries to get more compact in the future
I've gone back and forth on these trying to decide if it would work well. Have you tried USB rechargeable handwarmers? they not only work great for hands but placed in an inside pocket on low near your belly make a big difference in keeping your core warm.
Thanks
Oh my goodness, as soon as you revealed the hot sockees I went to Amazon and purchased a pair. I have been layering socks (1 pair of Seal Skinz over 1 pair of Darn Toughs) to keep my feet warm and my toes are still frozen. These toe warmers sound like a game changer 🙏
Every year my friends go on a late fall camping overnight. During these I always get very cold sleeping, and sometimes even when we are gathered around the fire late at night. This last year I brought along a lithium rechargeable handwarmer from a company called Ocoopa. It kept my fingers plenty warm around the campfire. But my toes were still freezing when I climbed into my tent and sleeping bag. An a lark I tossed the Ocoopa down around my feet and it was a game changer. I WAS SLEEPING WITH WARM TOES! I then got may hands back on the Ocoopa and was toasty all night long. Best night sleep I've ever had at one of these late fall camping trips. Highly recommend these little $35 gizmos. (Plus they can charge your cell phone.)
Now that you can talk about gear from other companies, I'd love to see if you enjoy a 1/8 inch thinlight sleeping pad. Gossamer Gear and other companies make them. It helps your inflatted pad not slip around at night and adds .5 R value for 1.5 ounces. We use them for yoga, naps, and sleeping while backpacking. Thank you for mentioning the tip on the little foot sleeve! Trying that out now!
The video popped up 6 seconds after you uploaded. UA-cam knows me so well. Greetings from frozen-solid Pennsylvania :)
🥶 sending warm thoughts your way!!!
@@MirandaGoesOutside Haha thanks! We need it!
More tips for staying warm at night are to eat and do some light exercises before you get into your sleeping bag and if it's really cold you can fill a nalgene with warm water, wrap it in a buff or something and put it in your sleeping bag.
... Never to old to learn new things ,,, I've never heard of the neoprene toe socks ,, will have to get some and see if they help... I do use neoprene gloves in shoulder season fishing and they help a great deal ... and for those planning to pick up a liner ,, there are differences in performance between the silk liners and the fleece liners for added warmth ..
I've had my water freeze in less than 2 hours (the line) on just night winter hikes around my house. As a cheap solution, my jacket had inside pockets and I simply stored a bottle inside my jacket. I also found a healthy shot of liquor before the hike would trick my body and not cause the heat to be pulled from my hands(don't get drunk, just a healthy shot about 10-15 minutes prior). By the time the effect wore off, my body was up to temp from activity. I also wore thing jogging gloves under my main gloves to allow for some protection if I needed to pull my gloves off(trying to tie doggy poop bags with full on gloves is basically impossible).
Boiling water into a Nalgene bottle in an insulated sleeve right before bed.......into the bottom of your sleeping bag. Also a rigorous walk/hike right before bed......get that body fire burning before you get into bed. Hydration is your most excellent point.....always, always, always keep hydrated as it makes a huge impact on keeping things in check in so many ways.
I was given the advice to cut a length of refectix to go under my sleeping pad to add a little R value to my sleep system. It's light and cheap. It certainly added to my comfort in an unusually cold, wet, and windy spring night up in the smokies.
I made a whole floor liner for my tent from it. It’s about 7x4, weighs less than 1lb, and rolls smaller than a closed-cell foam pad. I can sit anywhere in the tent without feeling the cold.
I'm going to have to get me some of those neoprene toe sleeves! Nothing else has worked for me either. Thanks Miranda!
My fiancé also suffers from Raynaud’s in his toes, and he wears entire socks made of neoprene! Also a big benefit in the PNW to keep your feet dry too in the rainy winter.
I have some scuba gear and tried using some of it winter hiking years ago. Like the rubber toe warmers you mentioned, neoprene socks do have some good use cases - such as stream crossings. My issue with neoprene is that as a closed-cell rubber, it does not breathe. This means that your feet will sweat which can cause rubbing, sore points, blisters and will cool quickly when you stop. In very cold environments, this can be quite dangerous if you don't layer your feet properly to have some form of moisture management. It was fun to experiment, yet I did not end up adding any of it to my winter gear. On a non-backpacking note: I did find that a 2mm shorty wetsuit worn as a base layer helps in mild weather when you are removing debris after a storm.
I have used a pair of wool Scandinavian army mittens for 20 years. They have a little hole knit into each one for tactical reasons. They let you have that one finger of dexterity though, which is all you really need.
Liberty Mountain insulated bottle carrier. Fits a 32oz nalgen perfectly, I filled it with hot water and did a 5mile hike in The Whites a couple of weeks ago and it didn't freeze (Even tested it overnight at 14f). $18 on Amazon.