Winter camping can be a challenging but rewarding adventure for the brave at heart. How you prepare for the winter getaway can make the difference between a wonderful experience and an uncomfortable memory. There are two main areas that need to be addressed. Choosing the right clothing and shelter can help you on your way to a great weekend of winter camping.

You probably know that you should dress in layers when embarking on such an adventure. Just about every school teacher and just about every mom will tell you that dressing in layers is a must during the cold season. Doing this will insure that your will be able to regulate your body temperature. You can remove layers when feeling warm and add them when you get a little chilly. Everyone knows this basic rule of winter camping.

Not everyone knows that there is a certain method of layering the clothes to maximize the effectiveness of the strategy when going winter camping. Begin with a bottom layer against your skin. This is usually long johns or something similar. The next layer is for insulation and usually consists of fleece. The outer layer should be waterproof and windproof to insure that you will be protected from the elements.

Avoid wearing cotton on your winter camping getaway. Cotton loses its insulating qualities very easily. When cotton gets wet, it gets cold. When it gets wet and cold so do you. The fabric takes a relatively long time to dry out as well. This is not the ideal material for outings in the frigid temperatures. Stick with fleece and wool on your winter camping trip for maximum warmth that lasts.

Your shoes are also a very important aspect of your winter camping outfit. Make sure that you choose waterproof boots or shoes. Most prefer plastic or leather treated with oil instead of regular leather or those that have Gore-tex linings. These shoes and boots may absorb water. That water will freeze in the cold temperatures leaving your feet cold and wet. This is a bad combination on your winter camping trip.

The other aspect that requires attention is your shelter. Some like to use three season tents but these may not hold up to cold temperatures. They are well-ventilated and winds can easily penetrate the fabric. You can opt for the three season tent if you are planning winter camping trip during a mild season.

in camping gear, Coleman camping gear, camping supplies, camping accessories, … CotsColeman for kidsClothing/GearColeman for kidsDigital Camera’sFishing …

Wenzel camping equipment - tents,sleeping bags,supplies
Camping equipment by Wenzel - tents,sleeping bags,stoves,air beds … Wenzel camping equipment carries the tradition of … rugged, durable, top-performing camping gear. Wenzel has earned … reputation as America’s family camping brand after more than …

CampingGurus.com
Offers supplies including tents, sleeping bags, lanterns, grills, and backpacks.

One of the biggest hassles of camping is getting clean.  Camping can be great fun, but not having a camping shower can take away from the enjoyment.  Many camp grounds do provide camping shower buildings in the larger parks, however going to these types of parks is not the kind of getting back to nature camping that some people want to do.  The camp grounds that have the conveniences of a camping shower usually have multiple campers in sites that are too close to have any privacy, let alone a communion with nature.  Staying in one of these camp sites is like sleeping in the hallway of an apartment building.  You hear everything that is said in the site next to you.  This type of camping can be fun with a group, but it is a high price to pay for a camping shower.

The camping that true nature lovers like to experience is the kind where the only equipment you have is what you bring with you.  These are remote sites that are often labeled as primitive in the camping brochures. Primitive usually means that you have an outdoor toilet, a well with a hand pump for water and a fire ring.  Some sites also provide a picnic table.  These sites are usually far apart from other campers so there is a great deal of privacy, but no camping shower.  Years ago the only camping shower that was available was a large bag that was filled with water and hung from a tree.  The water was warmed by the sun during the day.  The bottom of the bag of this camping shower had a spigot that you could turn on and off.  This made for a very primitive out in the opened camping shower experience.  You could hang towels or blankets from clothes lines that you strung from one tree to the next to create some privacy.

Today the camping shower is much more sophisticated and convenient.  There are many variations on the camping shower and some have batteries that instantly heat the water.  With this option you can have a hot camping shower even on cold cloudy days. Cloudy days often meant cold showers with the old camping shower models. Also you do not have to be as concerned about conserving warm water for the next person.  One camping shower provides pop up sides and a heavy mesh flooring to stand on.  Standing in dirt or on pine needles does take away from getting cleaned up!  The sides are made of mesh that allows air flow, but you cannot see into the camping shower from the outside.  With the improvement of camping equipment and the additions of small luxuries to camping more people are going to experience the primitive camp sites.