Hot Tips For Successful Winter Tenting
It was my inaugural trip on the Mojave Road. The first night was spent camping in the mountains near Caruthers Canyon. It was February or March, and the temp dropped at night. Two guys in the group apparently hadn’t prepared well. After spending a cold and miserable night in the mountain, they packed up and went home the next day.
Nothing ruins a trip faster than a cold, uncomfortable night. The following suggestions should help ensure a comfortable night of winter tenting. I’d like to thank my friend Paul Yuenger for his assistance with this article.
Before we begin, it’s important to note that a good supper is important. You need sufficient fuel for your internal “fire.” A substantive, well-balanced meal will carry you through the cold night.
Comfortable tenting starts with a good foundation
One facet often overlooked is the foundation. By that I mean what’s underneath you.
Start with a good “footprint.” That’s an impermeable tarp or ground cloth placed on the ground. After erecting the tent, lay a packing blanket on the tent floor. On top of that is your sleeping pad. I recommend the MegaMat by EXPED. Constructed of open-cell polyurethane foam, it offers superior comfort relative to air mattresses. (Therm-A-Rest also makes a foam sleeping pad. It’s pretty good. Just not as thick as the MegaMat.)
Next up, the sleeping bag and layering
Now consider the sleeping bag. Don’t scrimp here. It’s possible to find a good cold-weather sleeping bag at a reasonable price. Look for one rated to zero degrees, if possible. Many have a poly fill, but that material has come a long way. Sleeping bags are light and pack easily, yet still keep a person warm.
Of course, you can always consider goose down. Just be prepared to pay a premium. A cheaper alternative is to slide a second sleeping bag inside.
Augment the sleeping bag with layering. Tuck a wool blanket inside the sleeping bag or wrap it around the sleeping bag. For added warmth, 
cover yourself with another blanket.
Gear and clothing for comfortable winter tenting
The advent of the lithium-ion battery has added a new dimension to cold weather clothing. Consider these items for your trip.
Electric socks: The early version of electric socks took a 9-volt battery. Now they’re powered by a lithium-ion battery. It lasts longer and can be recharged easily.
Electric vest: Another wonderful adaption of lithium-ion technology. Sporting a slim, stylish design, they produce heat for several hours.
Electric blanket: Remember using an electric blanket as a child? Now you can bring that comfort inside your tent – no 120-volt power source required. Makita makes a blanket that runs off an 18-volt lithium-ion pack (sold separately).
Paul goes a step further. His heating strategy incorporates an electric mattress heater. He places that between the air mattress and the sleeping bag. He trimmed off the skirt, which is designed to hold it to the mattress. This cuts down on the bulk a little. The MegaMat stays in place just fine, he says.
Though he sometimes wears a jacket, he has found this arrangement to be a very efficient method of keeping his body warm
All these items require recharging at some point. That’s where a power station comes in.
Jackey makes a fine line of power stations. Incorporating a lithium-ion battery pack and a solar panel, each power station features USB outlets, as well as a 12-volt plug. Some models also include 120-volt outlets. Jackery offers numerous models; a 300-watt unit runs about $349.
These portable power stations have become quite popular, and the prices are coming down.
Wear proper clothing to stay warm in the tent
Blankets and sleeping bags are important. But don’t overlook outer garments, even while inside the tent.
Wear a light jacket or hoodie at night; a wool or fleece beanie provides additional comfort. A pair of thick socks will keep your feet warm, too. The hat and socks make a big difference. As a bonus, you’re all bundled up in case you need to make a 10-100 run at night. Wear dry clothes. The clothes you wore all day will be damp.
Options for heating your tent
Heaters can burn propane, butane or diesel. Here is a brief overview.
Propane: A popular brand is Mr. Heater. Their Buddy line is just right for tents. Mine is the Portable Buddy. It is adjustable from 4,000 to 9,000 BTU and heats up to 225 square feet. The Portable Buddy is designed to hold one propane bottle. Another version holds two bottles.
The manufacturer claims that a tank lasts for 5 ½ hours on low heat and about 2 ½ hours on high.
The heaters feature tip-over and low-oxygen shut off technology. The Buddy heaters will not work above 7,000 feet due to the low-oxygen shut off feature.
Butane: Paul has had good luck with Naturehike’s 3,750 BTU heater and the Kovea Cupid heater. Due to its output, the Naturehike can also be used to heat water in the morning.
Bear in mind that butane’s vapor temperature is around 32 F compared to propane’s minus-44 F. You may need to keep the butane cans slightly warm.
Butane heaters are small, rectangular, and seem to pack better. Because they don’t have an oxygen sensor (like Little Buddy heaters), the butane heaters may operate at higher elevations.
Even with their safety features, Paul and I don’t recommend running a butane or propane heater while you sleep. Rely on bedding and layering to keep you warm. Use the heater to warm the tent before going to bed or after waking up.
Diesel: Diesel heaters run outside the tent. A small, built-in fan blows hot air through a tube into the tent. Just slide the tube under a corner of the tent door.
As a result, you can run it all night without worrying about carbon monoxide.
There is a plethora of diesel tent heaters on the market. For off-road camping we recommend one that is squat with a wide base for stability.
One good model is the BougeRV. At about $219, it includes the exhaust tube, delivery hose and accessories. The heater is a fairly compact 15x10x24 inches. Here is an in depth review of the BougeRV https://youtu.be/_QMt43T8RRY
You need a source to run the small built-in fan all night. Use a lithium-ion battery with a solar panel (to recharge it in the morning) or a Jackery power station.
The only noise is from the built-in fan which is minimal if outside the tent. However, if it bothers you, lay a small table on its side to create a buffer.
You also need a supply of diesel fuel. One or two gallons is sufficient for most trips. The unit will hold 5 liters (1.3 gallons). Of course, outside temperature and the run setting will affect fuel consumption (0.04 gal up to 0.12 gal per hour). If you camp in temperatures below freezing add an anti-gel to the diesel fuel. By all accounts, diesel heaters work very well.
Winter tenting entails some planning unique to that season. Handled properly, the tent will remain comfortable, thereby helping you enjoy that refreshing time in the great outdoors.
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