I've been watching this forum for some time now. I think I'm going to camp out in the back yard tomorrow night to full fill month 1 of one of my New Years Goals, to camp one night each month. I don't have a hot tent so I'll be using my 3 season 1 person tent. I have a good sleeping bag (army issued) with bivi sack to sleep in. I think my lay out will look something like this: Tarp on top of the snow, tent on tarp. Wool blanket, thermarest sleeping pad, sleeping bag, "furry" blanket on top of sleeping bag to attempt to catch moisture. I'll sleep in my merino baselayers with thick socks a watch cap and gloves. Any thoughts on my set up? I don't really have the funds to rush out and get something new. The best I can do is pack my bag full of hand warmers. I suppose if it gets too cold out I can just walk inside to my nice, warm bed...

Wear a turtle neck sweater, pull your bag closed around your shoulders, and wear a stocking cap. Be prepared for dampness on your bag from where you exhale.

A balaclava (hat with face mask) wont fall off in your sleep.

Try your tent in "fast fly" configuration (just groundcloth and fly). The fly will get condensation on it at night, but you can just shake it off in the morning. Doesn't gat trapped in tent body.

Good for you! I have yet to make it out this January, and this is primarily because I do not like wet, rainy weather in the 30's. Need to get out this weekend to keep my once a month promise going. Thanks for the reminder!

I think your approach is absolutely the best way to start; cold camp close to a retreat using what you have. If you hate it, a warm bed is close by and you've wasted nothing. If you dig it, look for ways to improve your comfort. In my opinion, all hot tenters should be confident cold camping if needed, and no one should start with a -40 bag. Give it a shot and report back!

Nice! This is also my goal. I think I will camp out in my backyard this weekend?

3 season tent with a zero degree bag on an Exped.

Silverback6, good luck with your overnight attempt. I would make two suggestions, first, if you have a closed cell foam pad (one you don't blow up) of any kind, I would incorporate that into your sleep system under your thermarest. Sometimes using just an air filled thermarest can make for chilly sleeping because the air gets cold and doesn't insulate from the ground as well. Even that interlocking flooring material works well as a barrier from the cold ground. Second, a little trick I learned from this site, boil some water, fill your heavy duty Nalgene bottle, close tightly, slide bottle into wool sock and place inside your sleeping bag down by your feet. This works especially well while in the woods because not only is it a foot warmer, but when you wake up, you have a quart of sterilized water ready to drink. Have fun and let us know what you learn.

Thanks all! I'll let you know what I find out tomorrow!

I'll be out this weekend with Scouts. Basic Timberline Outfitter. It all changed for me when I got down booties. Amazing. I'm also a big fan of the Expedition DLX9 - great insulation - but not as valuable to comfort down booties.

Definitely try to put something like a closed cell foam pad or insulated pad down. Also. If you have a reflective space blanket you can put that just under your bag.

I prefer a face mask to cover my cheeks and nose. But you could consider a hood from a coat as well (I use both on real cold nights).

Your furry blanket will probably slide off your bag unless you secure it. Some people hang a piece of cloth just above their face to catch moisture.

A down coat zipped up and slid over your feet can help if you get cold feet.

Hope you have a great night out.

Well that wasn't so bad at all! I found my tent to hold heat really well. My blanket slid all around but caught a lot of moisture. I used a open face balaclava and tried to put a stocking cap over it. The stocking cap didn't last long but the balaclava stayed put keeping my ears and bald head warm. The boiling water in a nalgene bottle kept the bag nice and warm. I was almost too warm. I feel like I have a pretty good set up thanks to all your help. Next month I'm going to actually go out to some back country to get after it. Thanks again for all the help it was a good experience and helped me gain confidence in my equipment.

Winter camp outs are a wonder that few people get to experience. I've slept outside without a tent on a starry night in winter and man is that a wonder to behold. Glad it all worked out.

Best of luck with camping out once a month. I began this century doing the same with my young daughter and son. She was only in kindergarten as a five year girl, may son only a few years older. We carried on the tradition from several years. Sadly kid activities, then middle school and girls and boys got in the way. Still it has been a wonderful experience! Now on BWCA trip my youngsters hoist the heavy loads and I grunt beneath the 17 foot kevlar hat. Many happy and funny memories. The kids have developed not only a love for our natural environment but a respect for it and its vast beauty whatever the weather conditions. When you get right down to it, there is no excuse for you not to continue this. Everyone is short of time. Those that make the time create timeless memories. Enjoy

quote MNLindsey80: "Nice! This is also my goal. I think I will camp out in my backyard this weekend?


3 season tent with a zero degree bag on an Exped."

Well - at 9:45pm I decided to give this ago... but.. the tent poles were being B-holes... and were all strung out and could not get my tent erect. So I decided it was a sign to sleep inside. In my nice - toasty bed.

quote MNLindsey80: "

quote MNLindsey80: "Nice! This is also my goal. I think I will camp out in my backyard this weekend?



3 season tent with a zero degree bag on an Exped."

Well - at 9:45pm I decided to give this ago... but.. the tent poles were being B-holes... and were all strung out and could not get my tent erect. So I decided it was a sign to sleep inside. In my nice - toasty bed."

Sorry to hear that. You still have a couple of nights!

I've had trouble:

- setting up tent and tarp in the dark like you did. Days are short in winter. Can't see.

- getting my tent poles to "cooperate" in the cold, and not slip in my gloves.

- stretching nylon or threading poles through nylon sleeves in the tent body in the cold.

That is why I like the tents where you can set them up without the tent body - just snap the poles into the ground sheet grommets and toss the fly over the pole structure as best you can. And I have some neoprene ice fishing gloves to help me grip the poles better in the cold if they get uncooperative. Practice setting up inside a few times.

A three season tent with a fly with two persons will add 10-15+ degrees compared to outside. You will have frost on the ceiling in the morning but it will usually sublime and disappear during the day.
I like wearing a balvacada sleeping.gloves socks etc. A good hood on your sleeping bag is a must.
Setting tent in a place out of the wind helps also.

Out in a timberline outfitter last two nights 20s with wind. Borrowed an LED work light and was pretty easy to set up. Use 100 penny pole barn nails - since this is essentially car camping - in frozen ground. I leave low vents open to prevent frost. Was toasty all night.