I’ve all the time had a tough time discovering a buddy for a winter tenting journey. I all the time obtain the identical reply – the nights are too chilly.
However, that doesn’t need to be the case.
Not if you understand how to insulate a tent for winter tenting.
The truth is, it’s fairly simple, and should you’re questioning methods to do it, you’ve come to the proper place.
Welcome to winter tent insulation 101.
Let’s start!
How Does Tent Insulation Work?
The science behind insulation is easy – it’s a bodily barrier that stops warmth from transferring between two supplies.
On the subject of winter tenting, tent insulation works by stopping the chilly from coming into inside. On the identical time, it retains the warmth in.
“What warmth?” you could ask.
Some campers may go for a tent heater to maintain them heat throughout winter. However the most effective warmth supply is definitely the one which’s all the time obtainable – our personal physique.
That’s proper.
The typical grownup physique, at any given second, produces vitality equal to that of a 100 to 120 watt gentle bulb.
So we have now our warmth supply prepared, the one factor that’s left to do is discover a approach to preserve the heat contained in the tent. To take action, we have to use appropriate insulation supplies.
Density performs a vital function right here. Center faculty physics taught us that density is a measure of how compact the mass of a sure object is.
The denser the fabric, the nearer its molecules are. Transferring warmth is simpler between molecules which might be shut collectively. Since air molecules are unfold out, they’re awful at transferring warmth. Which is strictly what we wish in insulation.
With all this in thoughts, it’s no marvel that the most effective insulating materials is – air.
Trapping the air inside is the greatest means of protecting a tent heat. Simply consider double-pane home windows. Because of the air caught between the 2 glass panels, they preserve the home heat.
Foam is one other nice insulation materials, because it has small air bubbles trapped inside that don’t enable warmth to undergo.
One other sort of insulation value investing in is the type that displays the warmth again in direction of you. Reflective foams and foils are all a great possibility. These are light-weight and inexpensive, so there’s no excuse to not get them for your subsequent winter tenting journey.
11 Suggestions For Insulating A Tent For Winter Tenting
Now that we lined every part that that you must learn about insulation, let’s get straight into how one can keep heat in your tent throughout winter tenting.
Listed here are a couple of ideas that can assist you to preserve the warmth in, and the chilly out.
Go With A Appropriate Tent
For winter tenting, that you must assume virtually. This isn’t the time to benefit from the area huge tents have to supply.
So depart your 8-person tent at dwelling and take a small tent that’s simply large enough to fit your needs and your tenting companion. If you happen to’re tenting with a bigger group of individuals, unfold out throughout a number of 1 or 2 particular person tents.
Why is that?
As a result of massive areas are tougher to warmth up. In case your tent is just too huge, you’ll want some extra warmth sources.
A smaller tent is all the time hotter. A decent shirt is best than a unfastened one throughout winter, proper?
The tent material additionally issues. Insulation is a results of trapped air across the fibers of a given materials. So, the thicker the material, the higher insulative worth it has.
On this case, canvas takes the lead, because the thickest materials. However remember that that you must season it first.
On the subject of artificial fibers, the reply will depend on the weave thickness, however polyester is often barely higher at insulating than nylon.
Ideally, you need to use a 4 season tent. A 4 season tent is a chilly climate tent, designed to maintain you shielded from harsh climate parts, like heavy snow or excessive winds.
The identify is considerably deceptive although. Whereas they’re nice for many totally different climate situations, these tents are a bit an excessive amount of for the most well liked season of the 12 months.
In any case, a 4 season tent is a greater possibility for winter tenting. However that doesn’t imply a 3 season tent can’t work. You’ll simply want to mix a couple of strategies to insulate it higher.
Additionally See: Winter Tenting Guidelines (w/ Printable PDF)
Clear The Floor
Let’s begin with the fundamentals.
On this case, start by getting ready the spot the place you propose on pitching your tent.
If there’s snow, you need it gone, belief me.
First, as a result of if it melts through the evening, your tent can be sitting on prime of a puddle.
And second, if it re-freezes, you’re going to have icy bumps which might be all however comfy to sleep on.
Except for snow, eliminate all of the branches, rocks and anything pointy. Not solely since you don’t need this stuff to poke you from under, however as a result of they’ll create an open area that permits the chilly air to return in.
Use Dry Leaves
Lifeless leaves can show to be glorious tent flooring insulation. When piled up, they entice the air, which works on the identical precept as a puffy sleeping bag.
For this technique to work, the leaves need to be dry. In any other case, they’ll deliver the moisture in. Because of this if there’s snow, this selection is out of the query.
Pile them the place you propose on pitching your tent, to create a pleasant and fluffy layer that can preserve you heat.
You possibly can additionally pile dry leaves across the outdoors of the tent to maintain the draft from coming into.
Make Use Of A Windbreak
Whereas winter tenting, the wind is the very last thing you want. But, excessive winds are extra widespread through the colder months, because of the upper temperature gradients.
The climate could be very prone to be windy throughout your tenting journey, so a windbreak is a should.
The great factor is you will have a number of choices.
First, it goes with out saying that it is best to keep away from extensive open areas. Discover a spot that provides a pure shelter, like between the bushes or rocks. However don’t neglect to examine for attainable lifeless branches, as these may fall off throughout excessive winds.
You should utilize various things in your environment to create a windbreak. This contains snow. If your required camp space is already lined in snow by the point you arrive, you possibly can pile it upwind of the spot the place you’re about to pitch your tent.
Snow partitions are a wonderful line of protection towards wind. However to make them, a number of issues need to fall into place.
First, there needs to be sufficient snowfall so that you can really construct a wall 2 to three ft excessive.
In addition to that, you’re going to want a shovel. However, this could already be in your winter tenting important gear record.
Different choices for pure windbreaks embody bushes, a fallen tree, a pile of branches or stones, and so forth.
Lastly, a heavy-duty tarp will do the job simply as nicely. Tie it between two bushes, at a 45º angle. The angle is essential, because it prevents the tarp from ripping throughout excessive winds.
Use A Tarp As Flooring Insulation
A tarp also can work nicely as tent flooring insulation. It creates a water-proof barrier between your tent and the chilly floor, and it’s ultimate for snowy areas.
Except for that, it prevents the heat contained in the tent from getting out.
If you happen to resolve on utilizing it, there’s one factor to bear in mind.
The sides of the tarp can prolong previous the sides of the tent if the climate is dry. The extra space round your tent you cowl that means, the hotter it will likely be.
However, if it rains or snows, be sure that no edges are protruding. In any other case, water will collect on them and slide underneath the tent. Since we’re attempting to remain as heat as attainable, a moist tent flooring will not be an possibility.
Use A House Blanket
House blankets, in any other case often called emergency blankets are your greatest associates in the case of winter tenting.
They can be utilized in quite a lot of methods, the most effective one being lining the interior tent wall with it. That means, they mirror your physique warmth, as an alternative of letting it exit by means of the partitions.
These blankets are fabricated from a skinny sheet of plastic that’s coated with aluminum. They have been first developed by NASA for the US area program, so we will relaxation assured they work amazingly.
The truth is, they’re used for first help too, as they’ll forestall hypothermia.
Use duct tape to connect emergency blankets to your tent. You are able to do this simply on the partitions, however putting one on the ground is even higher. It’s unlikely you will get too heat throughout winter tenting.
Bubble Wrapping
Personally, I discover popping bubble wrap very satisfying.
And I do know I’m not the one one.
The truth is, there’s a scientific rationalization – our brains produce dopamine when popping bubble wrap. With this in thoughts, I do know it will likely be arduous to chorus from doing that should you’ve obtained it within the tent.
Right here’s the factor, although.
Bubble wrap will be nice outdoors insulation. You possibly can cowl your tent with it, and it’ll work as a thick layer that retains you secure from the weather.
However there’s a catch.
Except for not being a breathable materials, bubble wrap is cumbersome. Except you’re driving actually near your campsite, carrying that roll round with the remainder of your tenting gear can be tough.
Don’t Overlook the Rain Fly
These days, most tents include a rain fly. In case yours doesn’t, getting one is a necessity.
Throughout winter, the weather are tough, and a rain fly gives you respectable safety. Not solely will it preserve you dry, however it is going to block the wind, too.
A rain fly works nicely as insulation. If it goes all the best way to the bottom, it traps the air between itself and the tent, which is one thing it is best to by no means overlook.
At all times take a look at your rain fly earlier than going tenting. The very last thing you need is to seek out out it leaks throughout your journey. Plus, you possibly can simply deal with it with a waterproofing spray at dwelling to make it waterproof for the upcoming season.
Use Interlocking Flooring Mats
I’ve seen fairly a couple of individuals go for interlocking flooring mats when winter tenting.
Sure, these puzzle tiles children wish to play with.
They lock onto one another, making a thick layer that doesn’t enable the air to undergo.
They’re light-weight, mushy and heat.
The one disadvantage is their dimension. Relying on the tent, you may not be capable of cowl the entire flooring, so that you’ll have to chop them to suit.
Put Heavy-Responsibility Reflective Foam On The Flooring
On the subject of flooring insulation, it doesn’t get any higher than this.
The froth is stuffed with trapped air, and due to reflective surfaces on either side, that air goes nowhere.
When you place it on the bottom, the froth doesn’t let the warmth get out, nor does it let the chilly get in. Presumably, you’re going to make use of a sleeping pad, so the froth will forestall the warmth out of your physique from getting transferred to the chilly floor.
The truth is, you possibly can even apply it to the edges of the tent. You possibly can simply connect it with duct tape.
Put Down Carpets Or Rugs For Further Coziness
When winter comes, I all the time take my carpets and rugs out of storage and place them on the flooring. That means, my ft keep heat always.
For a similar cause, I wish to deliver a rug on a tenting journey in chilly temperatures.
Carpets and rugs aren’t magical insulators. However, they will help with staying heat, particularly when sleeping on a skinny pad.
In case you don’t have a small rug or carpet laying round the home, a thick wool blanket also can do the trick.
What Now?
Now that you understand how to insulate a tent for winter tenting, I feel you’re prepared for a winter outside journey.
All the supplies lined on this article are light-weight, which makes them simply moveable to a tenting website.
Except for that, there are methods you need to use your environment to maintain the nice and cozy air in and chilly air out. And if you mix a couple of of those strategies collectively, you possibly can relaxation assured your tent can be heat like summer season in The Bahamas.
