Cold Weather Camping Tips

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[00:00:00.00] Text, L L Bean Cold weather camping tips. Drawings of mittens and a stocking cap. IN a forest a woman in a coat and hat sits on a folding chair outside of a blue tent. She rubs her hands over a fire in a metal canister. Text, Mackenzie, Cozy camper.

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[00:00:00.49] [CALM MUSIC]

[00:00:07.77] Hey. Mackenzie here.

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[00:00:08.94] She smiles and waves.

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[00:00:09.21] If you've ever wanted to camp in colder seasons or in a place where the temperature really drops, I've got great news for you. It's easy to stay warm and cozy. All you need is the right gear for the job. I've brought all that here so I can go over every piece you need to stay comfy and cozy while camping plus a few extra tips on how to stay warm. Let's go.

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[00:00:28.17] Text, cold weather tent tips.

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[00:00:29.67] First off, you're probably going to want a tent. Unless it's full-on winter, your regular summer tent is going to work just fine. But if you have options or if you're looking for a new tent, go small.

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[00:00:40.61] She snaps her fingers and the tall green tent behind her is replaced by a shorter blue tent. Text on the side reads, Adventure Dome 2.

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[00:00:41.76] Oh, great. In a smaller tent, your body heat is going to warm it up faster.

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[00:00:47.15] Text, Smaller tent equals less room for heat to dissipate. Mackenzie peeks out from an opening in the tent's zippered door.

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[00:00:47.49] If you want to keep the warmth in, you're going to want to keep the windows and doors zipped.

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[00:00:51.45] She zips the door closed. Text, zip it. She unzips the door.

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[00:00:52.73] Oh. Also, most tents have a vent at the top, which is great because the vapor from your breath needs a place to escape or things get pretty clammy. Yuck.

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[00:01:00.92] She points to a vent in the tent ceiling .

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[00:01:01.41] If your tent doesn't have a vent, just crack a window near the top.

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[00:01:04.59] Text. Cold weather sleeping bag and pad pointers. Mackenzie is tucked into a sleeping bag inside the tent.

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[00:01:10.40] Overnight is when temperatures are at the lowest and you have to work the hardest to stay warm. But with the right sleep setup, you can snuggle into a cozy bag like a big, toasty cinnamon bun.

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[00:01:20.70] She pulls the sleeping bag around her face. Text, Toasty. Text on the bag reads, Adventure 25 degrees F W's. Bring a sleeping bag rated for cold temperatures.

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[00:01:23.00] A sleeping bag rating is based on the temperature outside. It's always a good idea to go with a bag that's rated for colder than the forecast. So if it's going to get down to 40, go with a 20-degree bag and so on. You can always unzip if you're too warm.

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[00:01:35.88] 40 degrees use a 20 degree bag, 30 degrees us a 10 degree bag, 20 degrees use a 0 degree bag. Pack a thick pad. A pad underneath the sleeping bag in the tent.

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[00:01:37.04] If the air is cold, the ground is also going to be cold. So insulate yourself from the ground with a sleeping pad.

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[00:01:42.04] She presses her hand into the pad.

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[00:01:42.74] If your sleeping pad is inflatable, the cold is going to seep right up into that air. So put a blanket or foam pad underneath to keep your pad warm too.

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[00:01:51.29] Text, A thicker pad keeps you farther from the cold ground. A blue pad with text L L Bean on top.

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[00:01:52.37] If you get really cold before you go to bed like me, here are a few other things you can do to add warmth.

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[00:01:56.48] Ideas to stay warm all night. Mackenzie pulls items from a bag.

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[00:01:57.29] A sleeping bag liner adds more insulation to your sleep system. You can always wear a base layer like long underwear, a hat, and even insulating outerwear like this down jacket. If you want more information on how to layer, check out our layering guide.

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[00:02:11.27] She stands outside the tent holding a pot and water bottle.

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[00:02:11.93] An old camping trick is to heat up some water before bed, pour that into a water bottle, and put that bottle at the bottom of your sleeping bag.

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[00:02:19.81] She pours water from the pot into the bottle and places the bottle in a sleeping bag.

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[00:02:20.54] The bottle radiates heat, warming up your feet and the rest of the bag. Be careful not to burn yourself and make sure the lid is on nice and tight so it doesn't leak. You don't want to be cold and wet.

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[00:02:30.74] She hops beside the tent and metal cylinder stove. Text, How to stay warm the rest of the time.

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[00:02:31.71] All right. So that's everything you need to stay warm overnight. But what about the rest of the time? Hopefully, you have some really fun hikes and other activities planned to keep your heart rate up. But here are some other ideas.

[00:02:43.58] [ENERGIZING MUSIC]

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[00:02:43.58] She pushes a button on a speaker and dances.

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[00:02:47.57] Stay active. Dancing, playing games, and doing other activities will take your mind off the cold and keep your blood flowing.

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[00:02:54.46] She plays a card game on a table switching sides to be her own opponent. She scowls and knocks the game off the table.

[00:02:55.44] She reclines next to piles of logs and sticks.

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[00:02:56.21] Learn how to build a safe fire. Fire keeps you warm twice-- once while preparing and once while burning.

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[00:03:04.91] She gathers handfuls of logs and sticks and places them inside the metal cylinder. She sits next to a fire burning in the cylinder and holds her hands out to warm them.

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[00:03:09.50] When you're sitting around the campfire, wrap yourself up to keep warmth in. A blanket will keep you warm where the fire and the camp chair won't.

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[00:03:17.34] A blanket falls around her shoulders and she wraps herself in it.

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[00:03:17.69] This vent gets a little drafty. Hot drinks and hot foods feed your internal furnace and keep your body warm.

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[00:03:24.43] An unseen person hands her a plate of chocolate bars, graham crackers and marshmallows.

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[00:03:25.97] S'mores and hot chocolate, anyone?

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[00:03:28.34] She eats a marshmallow from the plate without using her hands.

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[00:03:28.82] It's as easy as that. Camping in cold weather does not have to be cold. Remember, pack a smaller tent, bring a warmer sleeping bag, dress in lots of layers, and keep your blood flowing. Now you're ready to spend those cooler, quieter nights outside.

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[00:03:43.32] She sits in a tent and zips the door closed.

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[00:03:45.50] See you out there. For more outdoor tips and inspiration, visit our get outside guide at llbean.com/outside.

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[00:03:55.85] She sits next to the camp fire and exhales, rubbing her hands together.