A sleeping pad’s R-Value measures its ability to insulate you from cold ground and keep you warm. The higher the R value, the more effective it is. Sleeping Pad R value performance testing is done in a 70 F environment with no air movement. As such, it doesn’t reflect many real world conditions where you’d use a sleeping pad, so I recommend that you augment any gear selection that you make with field testing.If you are interested in sleeping pads for early spring, late autumn or winter conditions, R-Value is additive. When it gets cold, I like to use two pads, a closed cell foam pad and an insulated inflatable one with a combined R-Value of at least 5.For purposes of backpacking, you also need to factor in weight, comfort, compressibility, and rigidity when you make a sleeping pad selection. In addition, side sleepers may not receive the full R-value of benefit of an inflatable insulated pad because their bodies are not in full contact with the surface of the pad. This is particularly true for insulated sleeping pads that depend on your body heat to warm them up, including the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir product line, Exped’s DownMats and Big Agnes’ Insulated Pads.The following table provides a side by side comparison of the major sleeping pads available in the US market.
The pad weights listed are sized for 72″ long x 20″ wide pads, though there are a few exceptions below. The R-Value of a pad should still remain the same if you select a longer, shorter, or wider variation of the pad. If a sleeping pad has a R-Value of “Not Available”, it’s because the manufacturer has not supplied one or R-value testing has not been performed. If you make a purchase after clicking on the links above, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you.Camping in the snow brings the beauty of a pristine winter landscape – and no bugs! With a little planning, it can be very comfortable and a uniquely relaxing experience.You are unlikely to meet crowds at your favorite camping space, and besides, snow offers such exhilarating activities as skiing and snowboarding. Here are some great cold weather camping tips: Don’t go by yourself, or at least make sure you are within contact or reach of emergency services. Let others know where you’ll be, and if you go completely off the grid, think about acquiring a Personal Locator Beacon (PBS) which you can activate in times of distress.
Check the weather forecast and don’t go if conditions are expected to be poor. Look for a little detail – the NOAA-NWS website includes detailed backcountry forecasts, and be prepared to face the unexpected with some extra food and clothing. Don’t forget sun protection, as harmful UV rays are reflected from the snow’s surface. Do some research on the area and make sure you will be able to navigate it safely, and add a compass and map just to be sure. You will need warmth, light, insulation, food, water and shelter, and always keep a first aid kit nearby. Stay dry and warm! Start with synthetic and wool fabrics for the base layer next to your skin to wick perspiration away and direct it to the outer layers for evaporation. Cotton is a poor choice as it will retain moisture next to your skin. The middle layer adds warmth by retaining body heat. Fleece and microfleece clothing and goose down jackets sound about right. You need a water- and windproof, breathable outer shell, and this is where technology can be very helpful.
Choose from laminates like Gore-Tex or cheaper polyurethane-coated fabrics. Look for underarm or core vents that will allow excess heat and moisture to escape when you toil up a steep trail. Keep those vulnerable extremities covered Choose footwear like mountaineering or winter boots. Layer up with boot insoles and more than one pair of socks, and take along a good supply. In the evening, put your insoles and socks into the sleeping bag for instant warmth in the morning, and don’t leave your boots out in the cold! Pop a chemical hand or feet warmer into your boots before you go to bed to dry out your boots overnight. Protect your eyes from the elements and dangerous UV levels with clear/tinted glasses or goggles. A flimsy tarp stretched between two trees won’t cut it. A mountaineering or “4-season” tent will be much more comfortable. It should be easy to set up while you wear thick gloves in frigid conditions. You can choose between single or double wall constructions (warmth vs. weight) but a dome shape, dual doors so you can get in and out fast and extra guy lines are highly desirable.
The layer principle applies to your sleeping bag as well – you can always vent the sleeping bag if you overheat in the night, so try to buy a bag rated at least 10°F lower than the coldest expected temperature. Insulation comes from goose down or synthetic materials, and Nature wins hands-down due to down’s superior ratio of warmth-to-weight. Just don’t get that down wet, or choose a water-resistant down bag with a synthetic shell. Winter bags are shaped differently from standard sleeping bags – there are special draft tubes on the zippers and the collars and hoods to prevent heat from escaping the bag. You will have fewer daylight hours, and you need longer lasting batteries for headlamps and flashlights. Low temperatures will decrease battery life, so keep them insulated or inside your sleeping bag. Always take a few extra batteries.Top-rated tentsSee allAir beds in every sizeSee allCampingHaving the right gear is key to a successful camping trip. To choose the best equipment for next your outdoor adventure, you'll have to consider a variety of factors, including how you'll be transporting your gear, the weather and the number of people on the trip.
If you'll be traveling to the campsite by car, you can afford to pack more and heavier gear than if you'll be hiking or boating to the site. Cabin tents, camping chairs, large coolers and cast-iron cookware are all good choices for car camping trips. For backpacking, you'll need a backpacking tent, light and compact sleeping bags and lightweight cookware made from aluminum or titanium.Weather is another important factor. Most tents and sleeping bags are appropriate for spring, summer and fall, but if you'll be camping in the winter, you'll need gear that's designed for lower temperatures.The number of campers on your trip will determine the size tent you need as well as the amount of gear and food you have to take with you. On a hiking trip, extra campers can be an asset, since equipment can be divided among multiple people.At Walmart, you'll find Every Day Low Prices on all the equipment you need for your next camping trip, from tents and backpacks to knives and tools. There are a lot of important basics that you need to know if you’re a newbie, so check out this guide from REI to make sure you know the bare bones to survive.
If your flashlight batteries stop working in the cold, warm them up before using them. Batteries don’t discharge as well until warmed up, so hold them in your hand near a heat source or keep them in your sleeping bag. Buy your winter camping essentials when they’re on sale during the summer. Another cheap option: Rent your gear from REI. If you’ve got room in your sleeping bag, keep your clothes for the next day in there with you. Avoid having big pockets of air between you and the sleeping bag — it’s just more space that you’ll have to expend body heat trying to warm up. Instead, stuff your next day’s outfit in there with you and as a bonus, you won’t have to put on cold clothes in the morning. Use hand warmers to warm up your sleeping bag. If you’re in super-low temperatures, your sleeping bag relies on your body as its only heat source. With a hand or sleeping bag warmer, you can warm up the sleeping bag much faster while trapping in the heat.
You can also use them to warm up your boots before you put them on. They’re $11.89 from Overstock. Yoga mats can double as foam sleeping pads to isolate you from the ground. If you’re on a budget and already own a yoga mat or two, double up on them and layer them underneath you. Keep your matches in a metal, not plastic, container. Plastic can break if frozen. Always pack way more than you think you’ll need. Don’t sleep with your face buried under the covers/sleeping bag. The moisture from your breath will cancel out the insulating properties of your sleeping gear. If there are other people in your tent, sleep close together so that less cold air rises through the tent floor. Make your own flannel sleeping bag liner. A sleeping bag liner can add 8° to 15°F of extra warmth. A DIY flannel liner is a good option if you’re on a budget. If you have to pee, don’t hold it. Use a pee bottle. Your body has to burn calories to keep urine warm, so it’s better in the long run to just deal when your bladder calls (or force yourself to pee before going to bed).
If you’re a guy, keep a pee bottle nearby. If you’re a girl, try a urination funnel for more convenient peeing. Put boiling water in your water bottle and sleep with it at your feet. Fill your water bottle with boiling water (make sure it’s able to withstand boiling temperatures, like a Nalgene) and put a sock around it. Keep it in your sleeping bag for extra warmth. In the morning, you’ll have non-frozen water to drink. You can also try the air cooler from Granite Gear. Open the vents in your tent even if it’s freezing. Otherwise, your breath will condense, creating snow or water inside your tent. Cowboy coffee is the easiest and best way to make coffee while camping. Get the directions here. Buy or make a stove stabilizer platform so your pot doesn’t fall over while cooking. When you’re dealing with a heat-generating stove, it’s possible for any melting snow to topple the delicious food you’re making. You can buy a stabilizing platform, but you can also make one.
There are a bunch of ideas here in the comments, including using a disposable pie pan. Keep your water bottles upside down so they freeze at the bottom first. Hopefully, this will keep the water at the top liquid and drinkable. Tie a tarp between two trees to create a wind wall. If you have heavy wind and/or snow coming from a particular direction, a wind wall will keep your tent warmer and help with fire building as well. Click here for a handy graphic on tying tarp knots. Double insulate your sleeping bag the DIY way with two car windscreen heat reflectors. Sew two car windscreen heat reflectors together and place your sleeping bag inside. It reflects your body heat back onto you so you’ll stay much, much warmer. Just make sure you poke holes in them so you don’t wake up soaked in sweat. Wrap your fuel bottles with duct tape. If your fuel bottle is made of aluminum, it can give you instant frostbite in cold weather. Duct tape will help insulate it and make it easier to handle.
Use wooden utensils, not metal ones. Since metal can get super cold, metal utensils can cause the temperature of whatever you’re cooking to drop quickly. Opt for wooden or plastic instead. Use your backpack as a foot cover. Alternatively, you can stick your hiking boots and other things you don’t want to freeze into the bag and stuff it into the bottom of your sleeping bag. Hook a binder or key ring to your zippers to make them easier to unzip. “When it’s really cold outside and you have on a lot of layers, it can be hard to find your zipper—-especially with frigid hands or while you’re wearing very thick gloves. As a simple solution, just hook a 3⁄4-inch key ring on the handle.” Know the quickest and best way to start a fire in adverse conditions. Take a small square of foil, a cotton ball coated with Vaseline, and fold the cotton/vaseline soaked ball into the foil in a small square. When it’s time to start the fire, cut an X in the packet and twist out a small amount of cotton into a wick and strike a spark to it.
It will light dependably first time, every time. It will last up to 10–15 minutes depending on how much vaseline you put in the cotton. A powerful pocket chainsaw helps you cut wood easily — especially when you’re having a hard time finding dry wood. This is a great tool to have anyway, but it’ll come in very handy if you’re winter camping. If you’re having a hard time finding dry wood, sometimes the best option is to get it from the inside of a log. The chainmate is $13 from Amazon. And now for some basic survival tips: Wear synthetics, and say NO to cotton. Synthetics are a cheaper alternative to wool and do a good job of wicking away moisture and sweat. Whatever you do, don’t wear jeans — they take forever to dry. Start shedding layers the second you start perspiring. Strenuous activities like hiking will naturally induce sweating. The liquid will chill you to the bone once you stop moving, so start shedding layers once you get overheated.
Wear sunglasses to prevent snow blindness. Snowblindness is a type of temporary eye damage caused by snow reflecting UV light. Because snow is reflective, looking out into white snowy expanses can cause a sunburn to the eyes. So don’t forget your sunglasses, even if you know it’s not going to be sunny. And don’t forget your sunscreen either. You can drink the snow. Leave your pump filter at home — it’ll freeze. The best options for drinking water is either a chemical or UV treatment. But you can also melt snow down for drinking. You can boil it to be on the safe side, but it’s not necessary since snow doesn’t harbor gut-busting bacteria. Invest in a pair of fleece-lined waterproof socks and a balaclava. If you know you’re going to be in a wet climate, wool socks might not cut it. Used by the U.S. military, these socks keep extremities dry and warm down to temperatures as low as -30º F. They’re $54.95 from Hammacher Schlemmer. A balaclava will keep cold air out much better than a hat and scarf will.