How to beat the chill while camping

The snow is back again but don't let that put you off going camping this weekend.

Follow our tips and you and your family can still have a great time despite the weather.

Read this guide to beating the chill then get out and enjoy yourself!


TOP TIPS FOR CAMPING WHEN IT'S COLD

• Wearing layers of light clothing rather than one chunky jacket allows you to adjust warmth easily. If your clothes get wet, let them air in the car - pop the windows a fraction - rather than drenching your tent in condensation as they dry.
• A mummy-style bag is warmer than a rectangular style as there is less space for your body to heat and it wraps neatly around your head and shoulders.
• Try to air out your sleeping bag and tent whenever you can; perspiration and warm breath condense in the tent at night and the moisture will reduce warmth
• Make a loose fitting bag from an old blanket or fleece to put your feet in when in your sleeping bag. I've also got a huge piece of fibre pile fabric for wrapping around myself when sitting around; friends call it the buffalo robe
• A sleeping bag liner will improve a sleeping bag's warmth significantly  
• Insulate yourself from the ground as much as you can to avoid the cold drawing heat away; use a closed cell foam mat on top if you normally use an air mattress. A rough guide is that you want two to three times the insulation below you as over you. 
• Put a hand warmer inside the foot of your sleeping bag a while before turning in    
• Store sleeping bags loosely between trips so the filling will not be compressed for long periods and lose its insulating properties over time.    
• Before you get up, pull the clothes you plan to wear inside your bag and warm them up a little. 
• It usually takes longer to cook food in cold weather, so plan accordingly.    
• Torch batteries are affected by cold; you can often revive an apparently dead battery by warming it up in your hands or a pocket.

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