Winter camping adventures with the family can prove to be some of the best holidays ever, providing that you remember a few essential tips and tricks. Take a look at the list below to see what you need to remember to do before and during your winter camping trip!
Check the weather conditions
A winter camping adventure will almost certainly entail cold weather, blistering winds and potentially even snow.
While it may seem obvious that these weather conditions will be present, you should always double check the weather conditions of the location you’re travelling to. This is so you can be fully prepared and ensure that you bring all the necessary equipment for dealing with the extremely cold weather and downpours of snow or rain.
Bring plenty of hearty and warming food and drink
The cold weather will probably freeze you to your very core so it’s imperative that you bring plenty of hearty meals that you can warm up on the campfire. A thermal flask like the Hydroflask bottles stocked with warm drinks can also help when the cold really starts to kick in.
Canned soups and hearty stews that can be easily heated up are perfect for a family camping trip as they’re incredibly easy to store. Hot drinks such as hot chocolate and tea will be a warm welcome during the cold weather and you’ll be ever so grateful that you brought plenty of supplies with you.
Bring all the correct winter clothing
The cold weather can be incredibly bitter, especially on a night time so it’s imperative to pack all the essential winter clothing such as wool socks, thick boots, thermal jackets, thermal underwear and gloves. Plenty of layered clothing will help to keep the cold out, particularly if it’s all waterproof as you’ll remain much warmer this way. You’ll also find yourself sleeping in many layers including a hat and gloves so remember to pack accordingly.
Ensure you have all the correct equipment
Camping in the winter is understandably going to be much colder than during the summer so it’s very important to remember to bring all the essential camping equipment. Take a look at the best family tent reviews to ensure you get the best tent that’s suitable for the whole family.
Essential items such as a fully insulated tent, torches, warm sleeping bags and a fully functioning stove are all required to make a winter camping adventure with the family a success.
Make sure you have plenty of drinking water available
In extremely cold weather, water pipes have the tendency to freeze over and if you’re staying at a campsite that provides water, you may find yourself quite stuck if the temperature drops and the pipes freeze. Try to bring a sustainable amount of water with you that can either be heated and purified or just consumed straight from the flask.
Bring plenty of wood with you
It could prove to be disastrous if you get to your camping location to find that there is very little firewood to burn so you should bring as much with you as possible so that you’re fully prepared for every eventuality.
A campfire will be your saving grace during a winter camping adventure as you’re probably going to want to keep it lit at all times so plenty of firewood is an essential item to remember.
Remember entertainment for the kids
Cold, wintry nights can be pretty long and treacherous so some light entertainment for everyone can prove to be incredibly beneficial. As long as you remember to pack torches, batteries and portable charges then you can find yourself reading until you finally settle down to sleep for the evening.
Children may also get pretty bored stuck in a tent for hours on end, particularly if there’s a chilly storm one evening so you should be prepared with as much entertainment as you can bring.
Capture the moment
While holidays are all about being present in the moment and enjoying time with family, it’s also nice to have physical copies of those memories in the form of photos and videos.
The GoPro Hero 5 is excellent for bringing on winter adventures as most models are fully weather proof and take beautiful pictures.
John Miller is a travel blogger who is passionate about travelling and writing. When he is not travelling, he enjoys learning new languages and spending time with his family and friends. If you want to learn more check out his blog at Pretravels.
Staying warm is always a priority when we go camping. being cold when camping is just miserable. You can enjoy the fresh, winter air without having to be cold yourself!