Camping in the winter is a different game. You will be dealing with many different temperatures and the gear needed is very different. This time of year you are not looking for fans and ways to stay cool. What you are looking for is the best way to stay dry and keep warm. Cold temperatures leave risks, there is always a possibility of hyperthermia. It is best to prepare against the cold rather than having to deal with any emergencies.
To be prepared for cold temperatures is definitely important, but this article has more to offer than just that. The best winter camping gear in this article may or may not be news to you. I am going to put together a variety of familiar camping gear items along with some new cutting-edge products campers like you may not have even heard of yet!
Does that sound interesting? Good, the style of the article will be both informational, as well as product based. Learn some winter camping tips and find some gear for your next journey. Winter camping is just beginning and I am here to get you started.
Best Winter Camping Gear List
- High-Quality Snow Gear
- Winter Camping Stove
- Winter Sleeping Pads
- Winter Sleeping Bags
- Wear Winter Gaiters
- Camping Tomahawks
- Water Purifying Straw and Bottles
- Winter Backpacks
- Winter LED Lights
- Crampons (Ice Grips)
1. Before Anything, Find High-Quality Snow Gear
High-quality snow gear is the key essential need when it comes to camping in the winter. Look through our tips on each snow item below and see examples too!
Snow Pants
Find a pair of snow pants that are comfortable for you. If camping in the snow and you are out walking and hiking, get pants that aren’t too large. If you buy super heavy warm pants you will sweat a lot, actually causing a higher risk of getting cold, possible hyperthermia. I recommend a waterproof outside layer, with thermals underneath.
| Men’s Snow Pants |
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| Women’s Snow Pants |
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Winter Jacket
Similar to the snow pants, wear what is comfortable and not to warm. Overheating causes sweating, which can become a quick problem. Underneath wear good thermal layers that wicker away sweat. Winter jackets are expensive and your best bet is to try them on in stores. So will not recommend anything here.
Winter Boots
Find waterproof boots. Why? Because your feet are more important than you think. Ask any outdoor winter camper, they will say that keeping your feet dry and warm is the most important aspect of winter camping. Check out these boots:
| Men’s Boots |   Merrell Men’s Moab Polar Waterproof Winter Boot |
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| Women’s Boots |   Merrell Women’s Snowbound Mid Waterproof Winter Boot |   Columbia Women’s Buga Plus III Omni Heat Boot |
Scarf & Balaclava
Finding snow gear that will prevent snow from going down your neck is important. Having a balaclava like this one is a need in a winter storm. A scarf is a great option to keep air and snow from entering, so wrap one around too.
Winter Hike Socks
It is very important to find socks that are not only made to keep you warm but socks that are also comfortable in hardcore hike conditions. When walking and trekking through snow your feet are moving almost 3 times more than they are walking on normal gravel. Finding a sock with the lowest chance of blistering your feet is important. Unlike in the summer, you can’t just take winter boots off and toss on a band-aid. This can make your feet chill quickly.
| Winter Socks |   3 Pairs Thermal 80% Merino Wool Socks | 
|   SealSkinz Hydrostop Mid Weight Mid Length Sock |
CloudLine Merino Wool Crew Hiking2. Winter Camping Stove
Jetboil MightyMo Cooking Stove
The Jetboil MightyMo Cooking Stove is a perfect small compact camp stove for the winter. It is a great price and you will get plenty of use out of one fuel tank. Simply pack the stove and take some fuel and you can cook the meal you want. Jetboil is a reliable camping brand and provides different cooking products. Check them out!
BioLite Basecamp Wood Burning Stove System
The BioLite 
Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove
3. Sleeping Pads For Winter
When it comes to sleeping in the winter, you need to get off of the ground. A normal summer air mattress will only cause more problems, the air becomes cold overnight, leaving you frozen in the morning. As a winter camper, you are looking for an R-Value sleeping pad. R-value means the material resistance to losing heat. Finding the higher R-value means having more heat, over 4.5 is recommended for 4 season camping.
Take a look at this 9.5 R-Valued Exped Megamat Self Inflating Pad on Amazon. Its price is reasonable, especially since this pad can be placed directly on the snow. You would have no worries when camping in the tent. Since it is self-inflating it is a perfect choice to take out on your adventures. It can easily be packed up and carried around your shoulders. Comfort is hard to find in a sleeping pad, however, the Exped Megamat is known to be “like home”.
4. Winter Sleeping Bags
A good 4 season rated sleeping bag is just as important as a good sleeping pad. When on the search for a winter sleeping bag you are looking to find the correct temperature rating. For example, if you are camping in -10 degrees then find a sleeping bag that is rated 0 to -30. It should definitely be in between. Really it depends on the type of sleeper you are, being a warm or cold sleeping can determine how close and far you choose your temperature bag rating. Warm sleepers choose closest to the actual rating, while cold sleepers want to stay warm so they choose a super warm sleeping bag (Ex: it’s -10 but they choose a -40 bag).
Some Winter Sleeping Bags
| Sleeping Bag | Ratings | Notes |
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 Klymit KSB 0 4 Season Sleeping Bag | - Rated at -18°C or -0.4°F. | - It is a great choice when the temperatures are just reaching past the freezing point of 0°C. |
  Outdoor Vitals Summit 0°F Premium Down Sleeping Bag | - Rated at -17.78°C or 0°F | - Weighing in at only 2 lbs and 12 oz, this sleeping bag is known to be one of the lightest options for a 0°F sleeping bag. |
  Hyke & Byke Antero Hammock Compatible Down Sleeping Bag | - Rated at -17.78°C or 0°F | - Very affordable prices with the company having over 30,000 customers! Looking for high quality but lower price the Hyke and Byke is the way to go. |
5. Wear Winter Gaiters
What is a Gaiter? Simply it is a protective sheath that prevents water and snow from entering your boots. The gaiter acts as a scarf for your boots. The reason it is important to have a waterproof gaiter for winter camping is that once your feet get soaked they will quickly get cold. Gaiters prevent this and they are simple to use and are very lightweight.
When I use gaiters I make they are of high-quality. When made with gore-tex I know I am getting the waterproofing quality I need against snow and damp conditions. The Outdoor Research Men’s Crocodile Gaiter was an opportunity I could not say no to. The price is decent, but the quality is top notch.
The Woman’s version gaiter is also available on Amazon, click to see the best price on Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain High Gaiters, Women’s.
6. Camping Tomahawks
You need some sort of wood chopping tool as a camper. The tomahawk is a small thin axe, which is the best choice when it comes to longer treks. Choosing something of high-quality will not only last you the season but it will stay with you for a lifetime of camping. I recommend high-quality for any camper. Prices are deciding factors for many, however, over time you can easily see yourself buying cheap tools over and over, so why not stick with quality from the get-go? I will show you some top quality, and even a “best bang for your buck” tomahawk.
CRKT Kangee Tomahawk with Sheath
The CRKT Kangee Tomahawk with Sheath is a perfect choice when looking for quality. It is durable, has a sleek design, and takes up minimum space. This tomahawk uses an SK5 carbon steel blade and it has a backside spike. The handle is glass-reinforced making it a “great feel” tomahawk. When chopping up wood you want a comfortable feel in your hands, and the CRKT is known to be a confident hawk. The price is fair and will last a substantial amount of time.
Hardcore Hardware Australia CTT-01 Black Tactical Tomahawk
Interested in the highest quality, toughest blade, and overall a top choice
SOG Specialty Knives F01TN-CP Tactical Tomahawk
As a camper, the SOG Specialty Knives F01TN-CP Tactical Tomahawk sells highly. Many people want a tomahawk at a “Best Bang For Your Buck” price and this is exactly the choice they make. As the lowest price tomahawk on this list, it still performs with high qualities. It is 24oz making it easy to pack on and take out. No worries of it dragging you down. Included is a nylon sheath that slings around, great to keep the hawk in top condition. Don’t forget its hammer edge for that tough and clean piercing spike!
7. Water Purifying Straws and Bottles
Most outdoor enthusiasts have probably heard of the purifying straw. The first time I heard of it I was so intrigued, I thought “wow” I can drink water on camping trips, hikes, and anywhere outside! It is truly an amazing invention.
Water purifying straws and bottles are common for camping. They are available in different styles and what not. Depending on the type of person you are, or how much you want to carry you would choose the straw or a bottle. You will not bring a full kit on a camping trip, so here are some mobile-friendly purifying products recommended for winter conditions.
LifeStraw
GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier [+ FILTER] BOTTLE
The GRAYL bottle purifier uses a compression idea to push water down and filter it up into the pressed drinkable area. The water goes through a filter that rids bacteria and other unwanted protozoans. It is available in a variety of colors, so picking one each for the family is easy!
8. Winter Backpacks
Having a winter backpack is essential when camping in such conditions. Why would a backpack be important? Firstly, this is the area where you store items that can be used for life or death situations. You pack your firestarters, foods, sleeping gear, extra clothes, etc.
If your bag is not waterproof, snow can melt and easily pass through the seams of the bag. I recommend having a waterproof backpack cover, then you can worry more about your bags quality. Without it, your tent and sleeping bag is now soaked, making chances for survival minimum. Maybe your food is sogged and ruined? Uh oh… your firestarter kit is soaked and unable to light up.
These issues can be prevented with a higher quality bag and a good cover. Prices are always important, but going cheap on a backpack can lead to some terrible camping experiences. Choosing quality is important, affordability can wait for the summer.
The North Face Cobra 60 Hiking Backpack TNF Black Summit Gold
Osprey Men’s Atmos 65 AG Backpack
Osprey Packs Women’s Viva 65 Backpack
The Osprey Packs Women’s Viva 65 Backpack is basically the women’s version of the Atmos 65. It is shaped more comfortably for women’s body shape. The pack is very adjustable for almost any size and shape. The internal compression straps help keep things stable, making your comfort experience much better. It can carry a lot of items, so if you want to stuff it tight just expect a heavy load.
Also, getting a waterproof bag cover that was mentioned above is the way to go with this bag.
9. Winter LED Lights
In the cold, you need a light that will withstand the temperatures. Cold temperatures do happen to kill battery power rapidly. When deciding to buy a winter camping light it must be durable and waterproof. The more durable the light the stronger against the temperatures. When waterproof, it will keep melting snow from entering to damage the battery, plus if water gets through it will eventually freeze in winter.
Convenient lights are also great options for winter camping. Having a small low weight light is great because it takes minimum space in your backpack. Take a look at some different options that are suited for everyone:
| Winter Camping Lights |
|   Tactical Flashlight 2 Pack |
|   Stanley FATMAX Waterproof |
POWERCAP LED Beanie
SnowCinda Unisex 5 LED10. Crampons (Ice Grips)
What is a crampon? It is a durable piece of gear that connects to the bottom of your shoes to prevent you from slipping on ice/snow. There is a strap that wraps around your boot to make sure it is tightly secured to your footwear. Connected to the strap is the steel bottom, where metal spikes are secured to the bottom of your boot. These spikes dig into ice and hard snow, preventing a bad spill. You see ice hockey trainers wearing a similar product when having to go on the ice. See a variety of options below:
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OuterStar Traction Spike Cleats
Yaktrax Walk Traction Cleats
STABILicers Maxx Original Heavy DutyConclusion
I hope you found some winter camping gear items you liked! If you are going out in the snow tent camping you are bound to have a number of these items. If you don’t have something don’t hesitate, go ahead and make it worth your while. I guarantee, as a tent camper myself that these items are essential for winter camping!
If you are looking for winter tents read our “Best Winter Camping Tents” article or our “Best Canvas Tents” article.
Are there any items that you think should have made the list? Please let us know in the comments! Also, just let us know if you like our list, I love to hear from our visitors.
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