What You Need to Actually Have Fun Camping in Cold Weather

When your ears get cold, the rest of you will get cold, too. Remedy this by wearing any type of cold weather hat you'd like—just so long as it's warm. Carharrt's classic logo beanie is popular for a reason; it's simple, easy to wear, and the acrylic wool construction will keep your ears warm even in chilly weather.

Bring a few pairs of warm socks, just in case. I love Smartwool socks. The brand's Classic Mountaineer socks are its thickest, warmest options, perfect for sleeping outside when the weather's cold, or sitting around the campsite on a chilly morning. 

It's all well and good to keep your feet toasty warm, but you'll still be miserable if you don't give your hands similar protection from the cold. I like Carhartt gloves the best. They're insulated, don't really impede your dexterity, and can take a beating. Plus, they have a solid grip if you need to chop some wood. The gloves are available in men's sizing (linked above), as well as women-oriented sizing with pink plaid details. 

For extra warmth, add a hand warmer; I like this Zippo one, which is refillable.

Once I started wearing long underwear to camp in chilly weather, the whole game changed. Get ones made with merino wool for the perfect balance between warmth and moisture-wicking properties. These Smartwool layer pants are surprisingly lightweight, so they'll fit nicely under your other camping clothes while adding extra insulation. Get them in women's (linked above) or men's sizes.

Get good boots for the outdoors. Don't get Chelsea boots. Even if you don't plan on hiking or going anywhere, they'll keep your feet warm, safe, and cozy. My go-to boots for almost every trip I take are my Danner 600s (available in men's and women's sizes). The waterproof suede uppers will keep your feet dry in rain or snow (wet feet = cold feet), and they offer support, cushioning, and traction when you're walking around.

If you want an outdoorsy boot that isn't strictly designed for hiking, I also love my Ember Commutes from Teva. The brand's reEmber Commutes (available in women's sizing, and linked above) are essentially the same boot, but constructed with webbing made from recycled plastic. Fully waterproof and lined with warm microfiber, these bad boys are great for cold, wet weather, in or out of the woods.

You could pile on layers of cotton and pray it doesn't rain or get damp outside, or you could just shell out some extra cash and get a down jacket that's lightweight and toasty as hell. This hooded down jacket comes from one of my favorite brands, Cotopaxi, in men's and women's sizing. The retro design comes in a range of colors (classic Cotopaxi!), but it's just as functional as it is stylish. The ripstop nylon shell is water resistant, as is the jacket's down insulation. The hood adds warmth and waterproofing to your head, too. The jacket is relatively lightweight for year-round versatility, so feel free to add another layer when the weather gets really cold. 

You can bundle up for sleeping in a tent on a cold night, but you'll still need a warm sleeping bag for optimum comfort and safety. Mountain Hardwear's Bishop Pass 15 is an excellent bag that's rated to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. The down feathers, draft collar, and mummy design ensure you'll be a-okay if the temperature takes a dip. It’s available in women’s sizing, too. 

If you're unsure about exactly how cold it's going to be, or just don't want to take your chances with the cold, I'd suggest bringing along an insulated blanket like this Rumpl puffy blanket. There are two advantages here: You can wear it outside as an extra layer (it even has a clip to wear it as a cape hands-free), and you can stuff it inside your sleeping bag for extra warmth (especially over your feet if you're prone to that). The blanket is water-resistant and comes in a water-resistant stuff sack so you can be sure to keep it dry.

Lastly, you'll want some sort of mattress to keep your body off the cold ground. I usually employ an inflatable sleeping pad, like this one from Sleepingo. For those who really don't want an inkling that they're basically sleeping on the ground, a quality air mattress with a built-in pump, or even a Coleman cot, might be preferable.

When you're camping in the cold, you can expect damp conditions in the morning and at night. The wood you pick up in the forest will likely be a little wet. This isn't the end of the world. You'll just want to be sure you have some dry wood with you to start the fire. These Duraflame firelogs are quick to catch, and three logs will burn for about 3 hours. They're designed specifically for cooking campfire foods, and they product less smoke than a regular log. In other words, you don't need these, but boy are they nice to have in a pinch.

Bring along a hatchet as well for any real logs (i.e. not Duraflame). Chopping the wood into small pieces will help it dry quicker, and thefore burn quicker. This 17-inch option from Fiskars is relatively inexpensive and designed for easy one-handed use. It's well-balanced, not too heavy, and features a sharp, durable head—perfect for splitting small amounts of wood while camping.
 

Smoky fires just aren't everyone's cup of tea. If you don't enjoy getting a billow of smoke to the eyes every time the wind shifts your direction, you'll love the double-walled design of this portable fire pit, which has increased airflow and decreased smoke. It's relatively compact but not too tiny, so you can throw it in the car and bring it to a car camping site.