Essential Winter Car Camping Tips: How to Keep Warm

[@mrjerzheel]

A hot water bottle will retain heat for several hours, perfect for winter car camping.

[@zafiracamper]

@@mrjerzheel weirdly I never tried the ol hot water bottle, but loads of folk swear by them too 🕺

[@robertblair2035]

A high quality mohair throw works well Especially inside the sleeping bag Head being covered is a must

[@zafiracamper]

@@robertblair2035 ah this lil blanket is pretty awesome too 😄

[@happydays9613]

I absolutely love car camping, I haven't done enough this year, life took too much over, but 2025 going to do more, as mental health for me has suffered with the lack of it, lots going on. I have a mini heater, it's 250 watts, I found it ages ago for car camping, used once and it did warm the space quickly and it is tiny, good purchase, didn’t keep it on long, about a 30 min before bed and in the morning. I now realised that carrying a thick throw helps with everything else, warmth control, and thick socks to sleep in. Used a hot water bottle a lot, does work, but I no longer use it on camps now. Option is still there though, especially with my little mini kettle. I am planning to do a camp soon. Enjoyed the video, stay blessed 🙏🏿

[@markwhalebone751]

I find that car camping really helps me mentally too, it's the biggest benefit for me.

[@zafiracamper]

@@happydays9613 will keep my fingers crossed for you 🙏 I think there’s a huge consensus amongst us car campers for the 🧠 benefits of getting out (as hard as it sometimes is) it really does act as a proper life and hard reset ❤️ And also I’m seeing a consensus between me you and mark, that a lil Heat before bed is the best way to manage car camping and taking the edge off 🙏

[@zafiracamper]

@@markwhalebone751 +2 here 🙏

[@FieldviewAdventures]

Really useful video Matt ❤ BUT until next time 😉

[@zafiracamper]

@@FieldviewAdventures cheers dude - course your version of this would be central heating 😂🥳

[@heather333]

Having wind guards on your windows allows you to crack your front windows to allow air flow and moisture release.

[@zafiracamper]

@@heather333 hi heather absolutely yes :) I do have these on (altho these are prob the only car camping thing I’ve never done a separate video on so far)

[@welshman64]

Have a great Christmas ,and Near year adventures.👍🏻🚙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿⛺️

[@zafiracamper]

@@welshman64 many thanks dude / you too 🎄🎅

[@jansweeney1333]

Morning Matt, love watching 👀 your tips for surviving the winter in a vehicle ( I say that because I am aiming to get a van , to do a NO BUILD BUILD) . A car would be too small for me/ hubby/wee dog lol. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@zafiracamper]

@@jansweeney1333 thanks as always Jan :) Yeah if coupling a van is defo better - that said, me and Mrs H just about manage it in the zaffy at the mo 😁🚗

[@jansweeney1333]

@@zafiracamper me & him in doors would nt fit in the car + dog , ouch🐕🤔🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Bug-in-the-green]

Great advice, a USB heated blanket sounds ideal. Must admit , sleeping with dogs also works well, hot mess in the summer though 😂

[@zafiracamper]

@@Bug-in-the-green cheers me dears 😄 I think if Patches was still with us, he would have defo featured in this vid :( he was a regular furnace 🤣

[@Bug-in-the-green]

@zafiracamper yeah, bless him, you must him :(

[@zafiracamper]

@ was defo weird for quite along time after ❤️

[@Bug-in-the-green]

@zafiracamper ❤️

[@jenniebancroft2778]

I've just discovered your channel. Good info for when I go away during colder weather. I sleep in my Hyundai Accent, it's a small hatchback.

[@zafiracamper]

@@jenniebancroft2778 hi Jennie and welcome 🙏 Just googled your car and I think looks like you probably have quite a nice cozy set up 🙏

[@mmartin4978]

I use a good double or king duvet folded length ways so you have under and over cover, and he you need the "facilities" you can slide out easily and leave the heat in when you slide back in

[@zafiracamper]

@@mmartin4978 we will call that the “facilities slide” 😂

[@CliveJohnson804]

Some nice simple ideas but I do prefer a duvet rather than a sleeping bag.

[@zafiracamper]

@@CliveJohnson804 cheers Clive, yeah I did use our double duvet for a couple of car camps and it defo was better - prob is tho only have the one on the bed - so ended up coming home stinking of car camping 😂

[@heather333]

I agree. I have a 10tog woolroom single duvet with a black duvet cover, plus a sleeping bag and teddy blanket. So warm! I also have a dog!

[@jansweeney1333]

Thermal clothing + longjohns (all in one under clothing)!!👍🤔🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@kathyfann]

Excellent video and practical advice thank you

[@zafiracamper]

@@kathyfann many thanks Kathy 🙏

[@theq-ster6981]

As an avid winter car camper, I approve of this message! Great advice, mate! I would definitely skip the low watt heater to take the edge off. Been there, done that; waste of time and energy and also not very effective. You’re better off just starting the vehicle for a few minutes first thing in the morning upon wake and at night before bed - works much faster at heating the cabin. Only time I wouldn’t do this is if I’m trying to be 100% stealth of course. When I’m in the wilderness, nothing beats a portable diesel heater routed to the inside of the vehicle. 😊

[@zafiracamper]

@@theq-ster6981 hi there and many thanks 🙏🚗 There’s defo been alot of people interested to see how this heater will work and at the same time alot of people saying that they are a tad pants 😂 ah now a diesel heater is clearly the biggest winner here 🥳

[@nosnehpets1]

Watched, enjoyed, great tips. Subscribed. Cheers

[@zafiracamper]

@@nosnehpets1 many thanks Gary and welcome 🙏

[@Pipboy83]

04:51 ;) Some great tips nice one Matt

[@zafiracamper]

@@Pipboy83 cheers me dears 😁

[@BeyondTheHorizonxx]

Good advice Matt

[@zafiracamper]

@@BeyondTheHorizonxx cheers me dears 🙏

[@russroberts7005]

Good one Matt, thanks for sharing my friend: Russ 👍🏼

[@zafiracamper]

@@russroberts7005 cheers Russ 🙏

[@rachellane2836]

Duvet, dog and hot water bottles are my current go to heating solutions. Having electric things in bed does scare me, I'm not really sure why, maybe electric fault fires etc. But I'm more a fair weather camper, winter is for cave and comfort, so I've not needed more than this here in the UK, not until cabin fever sets in anyway! 😉

[@zafiracamper]

@@rachellane2836 I’m totally with you on the fire vibe - I think as this blanket is sooo low watts gives me some assurance 🙏 But yeah the low tech options do tend to be the easiest and best 😄 I’m willing it to get colder weirdly 😆

[@rachellane2836]

@zafiracamper hard core! Anyone would think you a Yorkshire man! 🤣😂🤣

[@zafiracamper]

@@rachellane2836 alas just a Kentish man 🤣

[@rachellane2836]

@@zafiracamper 🤣 well I'm sure for your dedication and eagerness for the brass monkeys, we can make you an honorary one! 😂❄️😉

[@zafiracamper]

@ woop woop 🥳

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

I love my fleece sleeping bag, but it's a bit narrow for an overweight like me, so it's used as an overblanket. I have a 2 piece fleece suit, but the hood annoys me, so I wear it back to front,band the hood is handy to keep my phone in to stop the cold draining the battery 👍. When I used to sleep in the back of the car I would hang a fleece blanket over me like an 'A frame' tent, which added warmth, and reduced condensation in the car. Also, for helping keep a cold nose to a minimum, I use a nylon face mask... finally, a use for those things that were never useful during the you know what 😉

[@zafiracamper]

@@h.bsfaithfulservant4136 a 2 piece fleece suit - now that’s just plain car camping luxury 😁 Yeah that A frame is a bit like what I did with that blanket once 😂

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

@zafiracamper 👍

[@MancavetoOutdoors]

good ideas to stay warm and like i said last vid getting one of those blankets but i have something way better than all of those apollo my staffy hahahaa he keeps me warm lmao

[@zafiracamper]

@@MancavetoOutdoors cheers dude 😁 ah yes the trusty pooch, which if anything like my lil patches was, is like having a blast furnace in the car 😂

[@Starchaserpaige]

Ventilation is important to remove the Carbon Dioxide that you exhale

[@zafiracamper]

@@Starchaserpaige hi there - you are absolutely spot on :) I didn’t show it in this vid, but I do have rain deflectors on all windows for this reason :)

[@markwhalebone751]

Hot water bottle. And for power rich car campers like myself tube heaters and a proper electric blanket.😜

[@zafiracamper]

@@markwhalebone751 you know what, I don’t think I’ve ever used a hot water bottle 🧐 I think if it wasn’t for my CPAP I may have looked at those tube heaters, but even my biggest power station would be dead I suspect overnight 😭

[@markwhalebone751]

@@zafiracamper They do really low wattage tube heaters I have a 60W and a 120W that both turn off when they get hot so are not continuous. Ideal for taking the chill out of the air. I think that as you said it's all about sleeping bags and bedding for sleeping in the cold and that is the first thing after sorting out your windows. Heating the air is just a comfort thing but I need it before getting in my bag and on waking up as I might not get out of the bag. lol. Mind you being an old slackbladder I have to get out at least once in the night 😜

[@zafiracamper]

@@markwhalebone751 we are 100% the same with that answer (altho I’m at least twice 😂)

[@ChillVanlife]

Some good advice and gadgets mate. I find that I am also warmer when I am naked in bed!!! you should try it Matt. 😊

[@zafiracamper]

@@ChillVanlife wait is that me naked On own or with you when me finally meet 😂❤️

[@LoveisLight-n9r]

hot cot bed tea light under neath foil protect blanket lay on around

[@zafiracamper]

@@LoveisLight-n9r hi there, the foil part is a great idea for safety and I’m thinking helps to refract the heat too :) win win

[@baileybelleuk]

I like your camera on the back window, nice idea I will have to go back and watch how you set it up

[@zafiracamper]

@@baileybelleuk it’s sooo simple :) and no hard wiring needed 🥳 VIOFO A229 Plus 3 Camera Dashcam Install and Test 😄 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKbOe5l4oZKdqKM If you look at my last car camp vid can see how it actually worked as a security camera too 🥳

[@baileybelleuk]

@zafiracamper I see that, very clear out the back window

[@zafiracamper]

@@baileybelleuk my next mission is to stop the condensation on the front window :) then it’ll be totally awesome 😁

[@baileybelleuk]

@@zafiracamper when you shut your curtains, put a small usb fan in the front on a low setting and leave on all night, hopefully you won't feel it with the curtains closed

[@zafiracamper]

@ ah funnily enough I just saw one of those dash fan things on a car camping FB group this week :)

[@Conflictofinterest902]

I’ve never tried that battery stuff you have so I can’t comment about how good they are. However, I think it prefer to do without the tech, I think a good old fashioned water bottle or two, decent clothing and some of the tent sock things (not sure if they’re classed as boots or socks but people wear them around camp) a nice sleeping bag or quilt with a snugpak jungle blanket over the top, I’ve got an autoterm diesel heater, but I’d either go all in with a diesel heater, or keep it old school with all of the above

[@zafiracamper]

@@Conflictofinterest902 ah you defo have the best of both worlds there 😁 Tbh I didn’t even know heated stuff like this existed before I got them 😀

[@Conflictofinterest902]

@ it’s not as good as it seems though mate. I might have a autoterm heater, but I currently don’t have a vehicle lol. I’m looking for a new car but kept the heater haha

[@zafiracamper]

@Conflictofinterest902 ah - yes - that’s a small issue 😭

[@mortdog]

Spot on about the cocoon! It's hard to believe how effective a small uninsulated space is 🌡

[@zafiracamper]

@@mortdog ooh hello you. And I still wish I’d done the Velcro stud thing like you did with your curtain - much more effective I think :)

[@Bongoben]

I’m looking forward to finding out haw you get on with that 100w fan heater. Also interested in haw well it can clear a misty windscreen 👍

[@zafiracamper]

@@Bongoben hopefully dude I’ll get to test it this winter :) I actually bought it when the cold weather ended earlier on in year, so has lived in box…. Until now 🥳

[@tony-ce7qp]

where can i buy pre-made window ins?for my boat!nice peaceful video!

[@zafiracamper]

@@tony-ce7qp many thanks Tony 🙏 I’m sure there’s probably someone somewhere making ones for boats 😁

[@BonesAndButtons]

Have you ever tried rechargeable hand warmers, Mr Hobbies?

[@zafiracamper]

@@BonesAndButtons hey RJ - I have occasionally looked at them, but for me it’s my feet that always feels the cold, I think as I keep arms inside the sleeping bag most the time :)

[@leemcilhatton7841]

Where did you buy your 8 watts battery bank from plz and what size can you buy up till please

[@zafiracamper]

@@leemcilhatton7841 hi Lee, this is link to what I used in the video 😁amzn.to/41nTsl6

[@dantapson5857]

My biggest issue at the moment is condensation! Any tips on that?

[@zafiracamper]

@@dantapson5857 hey Dan - this is actually something I plan on working out this year. So far the only thing I’ve found that helps is the warmer seasons 🤟 I have rain deflectors/cracked windows and those condensation bags… alas neither help I’ve found so far

[@fg-pv5ht]

Trouble with all those devices is charging them up. Why not use better quality clothing materials I swear by my 79% merino wool socks also merino wool or all wool in general is more odour resistant.

[@zafiracamper]

@@fg-pv5ht hi ya, you’re absolutely spot on :) this is why I wanted to group into low tech and tech sections on this vid :) I do have some normal thermal socks for car camping - problem is they went into wash and then went to sock heaven 😭

[@robertblair2035]

@@zafiracampermohair socks I have are machine washed. Throw which is great must be hand washed though.

[@zafiracamper]

@@robertblair2035 the pesky hand wash only label 😭

[@robertblair2035]

@ do you agree? The hand wash is a negative I put it in the bath with some woolite in lukewarm water Move around and leave it do this a couple of times and drain the water Gently squeeze the throw and repeat After rinsing squeeze dry and put in a pillowcase and spin at low RPM Put on clothesline and it dries quickly Really not a lot of work for the heat return you get with the mohair It weighs almost nothing and vacuums down to probably at least 25% of its size so definitely saves on storage space If you have the shekkels get one made from kid mohair They are normally handwoven and silky soft

[@zafiracamper]

@@robertblair2035 tbh I try not to buy hand wash only - always a pain, I like just shoving it in the washing machine 😀

[@lindaterrell5535]

Show, don’t talk and talk and talk and talk

[@zafiracamper]

@@lindaterrell5535 awl I thought I did show and talk and talk and talk 🙃

[@FeMiNem-Poet]

He' s doing great. Find the talk and talk very helpful🎉🎉

[@zafiracamper]

@ thanking you 🙏