Tips for Keeping Warm when Camping

[HEM19X]

We are heading off to Victoria/SA after Easter and if last October was any indication, we will need to be better prepaired this time. While we may be spending some time a C/van parks where 240v is available, we also want to free camp most of the time.

Usually when we camp in the winter up this way, we stick to the coast & just need to swap the beer for Bundy, baseball cap for a beanie, the T shirt for a Flanney & the double plug thongs for something closed in.

So, being a novice in this area, can anybody provide their tips for keeping warm?

Thanks

Hem

[Fridge Magnet]

Hot water bottles for all the beds, swags, it's unbelievable what a difference they make.

Ugg boots, pack em if you have em.

Where we are, SW Vic, really important to find a site that won't have the souwesterly (or forecast winds) whistling through camp. So, hard up against a wind break if possible.

Nana blankets to keep the knees warm.

Big fire and and a bigger bundy/scotch/pot

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[Fridge Magnet]

Port is also good!

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[Wandering Tassie]

Give Katie a cuddy, keep warm together.

Trevor

[HEM19X]

Give Katie a cuddy, keep warm together.

Trevor

LOL, Trevor, that would keep me warm for 3 minutes, but what about the rest of the time?

[pacs]

Also may be worth putting a tarp over the CT when setup to keep the due and frost off as much as you can so your not waiting all morning for canvas to dry before packing up and moving on

[HEM19X]

Hot water bottles for all the beds, swags, it's unbelievable what a difference they make.

Ugg boots, pack em if you have em.

Where we are, SW Vic, really important to find a site that won't have the souwesterly (or forecast winds) whistling through camp. So, hard up against a wind break if possible.

Nana blankets to keep the knees warm.

Big fire and and a bigger bundy/scotch/pot

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Thanks mate, have already packed a suppy of Port & Bundy - will take the windbreak advice as well.

I don't suppose anybody has tried the thermal clothing?

[HEM19X]

Also may be worth putting a tarp over the CT when setup to keep the due and frost off as much as you can so your not waiting all morning for canvas to dry before packing up and moving on

Thanks pacs, we have one of those silver backed tarps & will certainly be removing the tropical roof but not sure if a thermal blanket would do any good unless it covered more than just the roof.

[GGV8Cruza]

Thermal clothing is a must, we carry it all the time, lightweight and takes up little room

GG

[HEM19X]

Thermal clothing is a must, we carry it all the time, lightweight and takes up little room

GG

Good to know, thanks Garrick

[JCOJ]

Thermals work wonders - and not the crap Anaconda ones but decent merino wool ones.

Also when sitting around the campfire get your shovel and put some coals under your chair - just brilliant. (We also put a wool sheepskin on our camping chairs and this makes a massive difference too!)

A good beanie too (you lose 70% of body heat through your head!)  Again not a crap one but a good Thinsulate one.

Woolen underblanket for your mattress - the highest gsm one you can afford, and a  quality down doona with flannel sheets.

Decent socks - like Explorer.  When you get cold the first place you feel it is in your feet, and wear good footwear in the mornings (not sandshoes that will get soaked in the morning dew).

Get your clothes out for the next day the night before - less time standing around freezing your nuts off looking for something to wear.

[fridayman]

Just how cold does it get? I have no idea how cold Aussie winters get, and as we will be living in the camper for a year, I am wondering how much cold weather gear to take..?

[D4D]

If you have a soft floor camper close the tailgate, it is amazing how much cold air gets under the base of the mattress.

[HEM19X]

Thermals work wonders - and not the crap Anaconda ones but decent merino wool ones.

Also when sitting around the campfire get your shovel and put some coals under your chair - just brilliant. (We also put a wool sheepskin on our camping chairs and this makes a massive difference too!)

A good beanie too (you lose 70% of body heat through your head!)  Again not a crap one but a good Thinsulate one.

Woolen underblanket for your mattress - the highest gsm one you can afford, and a  quality down doona with flannel sheets.

Decent socks - like Explorer.  When you get cold the first place you feel it is in your feet, and wear good footwear in the mornings (not sandshoes that will get soaked in the morning dew).

Get your clothes out for the next day the night before - less time standing around freezing your nuts off looking for something to wear.

Thanks John, but I think in this case  WILL NOT APPLY.


Have seen people put the hot coals in a jam/fruit tin which seems to work also


Mark

Just how cold does it get? I have no idea how cold Aussie winters get, and as we will be living in the camper for a year, I am wondering how much cold weather gear to take..?

Depends where you are mate, some places in the mountains get down to -10C or less with the wind chill. Most sensible people head to Qld/NT or the top of WA during winter - I guess I'm not sensible.

If you have a soft floor camper close the tailgate, it is amazing how much cold air gets under the base of the mattress.

You are not kidding D4D, had a few cold night in the Trackabout before working that out.

Hem

[Chippy76]

tips I have learnt over the years.

1:  80% of heat goes our through your head ... so cover it! it is amazing how often I see people complain of the cold, and they have nothing on their head.

2:  Believe it or not wearing LESS to bed will help keep you warmer. The heat will transfer from your body to the doona/sleeping bag faster and will stay there.

3:  Air matresses STAY cold in cold weather, they are freezing to sleep on . To combat this place something beneath the  matress, and a blanket on top , but under your body.

4: Rum (or port) will help warm you up

5: Rum (or port) will help warm up the missus, who in turn will help warm you up!

Cheers Chippy

[Redback]

If your gunna buy thermals, then Damart is the only choice, you pay a bit more but they are the best.

If you only look at the Catalogue it's worth it
http://www.damart.com.au/Catalogues.aspx

Oh yeah and a campfire is a good idea too.

Baz.

[BigJules]

Rum and port are for beginners.

Stone's Green Ginger Wine - blanket in a bottle.

We always take sleeping bag liners, it is amazing how much difference they make, even if you're using a doona/blackets etc. They're tiny and inexpensive (~$10) so it's not hard to take one for everybody.

[noel_w]

Redback & BigJules just beat me to it.
Damart is the best, 20 years of riding bikes around southern NSW in the middle of winter will confirm that.
Stones warms you from the inside, also riding around NSW will confirm that, a bottle in each side pocket of the gearsack when attending rallies was compulsory. Plus it comes with a complimentary hangover. 
I used to find a Damart silk balaclava under my helmet was amazingly warm, more than you would expect from such a thin fabric.

[Redback]

Redback & BigJules just beat me to it.
Damart is the best, 20 years of riding bikes around southern NSW in the middle of winter will confirm that.
Stones warms you from the inside, also riding around NSW will confirm that, a bottle in each side pocket of the gearsack when attending rallies was compulsory. Plus it comes with a complimentary hangover. 
I used to find a Damart silk balaclava under my helmet was amazingly warm, more than you would expect from such a thin fabric.

Aaaaah bike rallies, I discovered Stones at the Forbes River Rally in 1981(now the Long Flat Rally) in Wauchope Northern NSW, used to love doing bike rallies, I still have my Damart thermals, they came in very handy when I toured Europe in September/October in 1987

Baz.

[Manjimike]

We always take sleeping bag liners, it is amazing how much difference they make, even if you're using a doona/blackets etc. They're tiny and inexpensive (~$10) so it's not hard to take one for everybody.

The silk ones increase the thermal rating of your sleeping bag and can be hand washed in a bucket. when drying, lay it flat on a towel then roll them up together and then wring the towel.Next just hang the silk up out of the sun to get your lifeterm for your money.

 
Mike

[whatsa]

The dog warmer...
gets closer when cold moves away when too hot.
always warm in morning.
free face wash optional

[Stan Bryant]

Have spent many a happy weekend etc camped in the Vic alps back in my hunting days,, found the best heater was to put the gas light in the tent for about 1/2hr before bed,, nice and warm
cheers Stan

[Redcherokee]

Put the next days undies and T-shirt somewhere they can be grabbed easily from bed - like under the pillow.  In the morning drag them into bed with you for a few minutes to warm up. 

It makes a difference being able to climb out of bed and quickly get dressed into warm clothes, instead of cold ones.

[GGV8Cruza]

Make sure the wife goes to bed 5 minutes before you do so the cold chill is taken out of the bed

GG

[martyn]

It's funny how prevalent the myth about loosing heat through your head is, despite being debunked many times, e.g.:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/dec/17/medicalresearch-humanbehaviour 

That's not to say wearing a beanie to keep your head warm isn't a good idea

3:  Air matresses STAY cold in cold weather, they are freezing to sleep on . To combat this place something beneath the  matress, and a blanket on top , but under your body.

+1, I have never felt as cold as we did when we slept on a blow up mattress on our first winter camp Self inflating are much warmer thankfully.

It's probably obvious but a good quality sleeping bag makes a big difference, and when they say they are good down to -5 or whatever I'd add 10 degrees to that!