As the summer comes to an end and the air becomes colder, year-round campers may be preparing themselves for a fall camping trip. Especially during the night time, campers should look for ways to make their sleeps warm, and safe.
This guide to keeping warm during chilly Canadian fall nights will explain many of the various ways you can ensure you will sleep comfortably.
Check Weather Conditions and Hazards
Before you pack and finish planning your camping trip, always ensure that you are aware of the weather conditions in the area that you are selecting as your destination. Make sure you plan for possible wind, chills, or even snow flurries. This will directly impact what items you should pack, and how you should prepare yourself.
Sleep with a Hot Water Bottle
One effective and easy way to keep yourself warm at night is to fill up a water bottle with hot water and keep it with you inside your sleeping bag. Use a high-quality plastic bottle with good insulation to keep your body warm effectively for a long period of time. When you have the bottle full, tuck it in between your legs. This is so that it is close to your femoral artery and will heat your entire body.
Eat Food
If the night is cold, make sure that you keep a few snacks in your tent. Eating a high-calorie snack in the middle of the night can help fuel your body for the night. As your body starts to digest this, the energy your body requires will warm your insides. For example, a protein bar is perfect to pack as it provides a good number of calories, and a high level of protein that will give your body more fuel as it fights off the cold weather.
Get the Proper Sleeping Bag and Sleeping Pad
Before you leave for your trip, look for a sleeping bag that will keep you very warm. Most sleeping bags that you will find in store or online will list the temperatures that they are able to function at. This does not mean that they will keep you comfortable in extreme weather. Search for one that is fitted, and has proper insulation that is meant for colder weather.
An insulated pad underneath your sleeping bag is also key to sleeping comfortably in cold weather. Look for a sleeping pad with a high R-value to ensure that it is insulated properly. An R-value represents the ability of a sleeping pad to resist the conductive flow of heat. The higher the R-value rating, the more effective that a sleeping pad is at maintaining heat.
Wear the Right Clothes
What you wear is extremely important when you are trying to sleep in cold temperatures. Make sure that you remember some simple tips to ensure that you are being as safe as possible.
Avoid tight fitting clothes. This can restrict the blood flow to your extremities and make your body colder.
Wear synthetic fabrics or wool as these materials are perfect for effective insulation.
Wear warm socks, gloves, and even a warm toque or cap.
