I Tried Sub-Zero Camping with CHEAP GEAR

Join me for a freezing sub zero wild camp in the Robens Chaser 2 tent where I test out some budget sleep kit to see what I need to keep warm at -1 degrees.
I had quite a few options to resort to, including:
- Ice Flame down quilt
- Widesea down sleeping bag
- Sea 2 Summit sleeping bag liner
- Naturehike down boots
- Mountain Warehouse merino base layer
- Decathlon down jacket
- Ocoopa electronic hand warmer
- Mega-trendy Adidas beanie
- Top quality 99p fingerless gloves
Special thanks to James at Sussex Outdoors for the gifted food pouch! Check out his channel here: ‪@SussexOutdoors‬
Thanks for watching! Ben 🤓
📦 VIDEO LINKS
Sussex Outdoors insulated pouch : outdoorgearessentials.co.uk/p...
Ocoopa hand warmer : amzn.to/3uyPoQC
Ice Flame down quilt : s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DF2...
Widesea down sleeping bag : s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdA...
Recommended Camping Gear : amzn.to/3RWEyh5
Filming Gear : amzn.to/45NRHfP
✉️ GET IN TOUCH
Website : www.daleyoutdoors.com
Email : [e-mail]
Instagram : / daleyoutdoors
⚠️ DISCLAIMERS
All product reviews are unbiased, honest, and fair, and are all done on my own terms. I do not let suppliers review, vet, or update my videos before they go live, and I don’t read scripts.
Some of the links above may be part of an affiliate program and generate a tiny commission. This is at no extra cost to you.
#wildcamping #backpacking #camping #outdoors

[@brianmorrison9168]

@6:43 .. reminds me .. as a scout in the 70s, my mate and I were doing a 2 day hike and camp out and packed everything as per the list provided. When we pitched the tent we were surprised to find that we had both taken a gas cannister ... and both were empty. So no hot food for 2 days, just rice crispies plus stream water with some Marvel milk powder mixed in. Some custard creams too I think. We survived though to live another day. At 65 now .. i hope I can live a few more days too

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Nightmare! Though I think I could happily survive in custard cremes 😆

[@redhound4889]

That's awful; fancy not being able to dunk your custard cream.😋

[@CragScrambler]

I did something similar years ago, I got about 12 miles into my trip, setup camp only to realize I had forgot my fuel canister. I had taken the half empty one out of my jetboil and taken an new full one and put it to one side on the counter top 😂 It was that night I discovered mountain house made with cold water isn't the best. The next day I dropped down into a local village and managed to get some fuel but since then I always check everything twice before setting off.

[@johnalley3404]

Hi a guy from Sweden told me , that no matter what the temp outside, always open an inner tent flap a little bit this will stop condensation on inner tent.

[@wr1120]

True. Blocking all ventilation will cause the inner tent become full of condensation. Your body heat will create moist warm air and that will cool off your body many times more than cold dry air because all those water molecules will be banging against your body and sleeping bag all night long. It's a concept that few people are willing to grasp even after it's explained to them.

[@dylanwynroberts]

Inner tent? Or outer tent?

[@wr1120]

inner part of the tent. The air space.@@dylanwynroberts

[@johnalley3404]

inner tent ,zip up outer as normal. we all breath out moisture so as long as you have a good warm sleeping bag you can open the Inner tent zip as much as you like.@@dylanwynroberts

[@redwestonbushcraft5807]

A dry tent is a warm tent.

[@mojaslovenija9903]

Mesh is not a problem even with winter tents.... I have always open vent holes even below zero temp. Keeping a warm is also keeping a wet air which osolates less.

[@petergilbert72]

I don’t find those Colman’s Extreme gas canisters any better than Jetboil’s normal ones. In both cases I put the canister under my clothes to warm it before using which I think gets more boils from a given amount of gas. At night the canister stays inside my sleeping bag ready for breakfast first thing. 😀

[@davidf4897]

Or a neoprene gas canister cover. I've found this to be good, but the best is a heat pipe on your stove to heat the gas going to the burner. This assumes you have any gas to heat...

[@sallywalton5375]

Looks cosy!!

[@robertpugh8422]

Nice job, Ben. I've tended to have the same problem with the bottom of my sleeping bag getting damp, through touching the inner (since most tents seem to be designed for hobbits). I tried to overcome this on a recent cold camp by tucking the bottom end of the sleeping bag into a plastic bin liner... which was a big mistake because condensation formed on the inside of the liner in the night and made the sleeping bag really damp. So, short of putting the whole thing into a breathable bivi bag, I've found something else which does seem to work so far... The LightAF mat is a brilliant piece of kit for stopping your sleeping pad from sliding about in the tent - perfect for sloping pitches. I've found you actually don't need the full length of it under your pad to hold it in place, as it's incredibly grippy; so I've recently been pulling a couple of feet of it out of the bottom end and curling it up and over the toebox of the sleeping bag. That way, if your bag slides down onto the inner in the night, the LightAF mat stops moisture transferring, plus it allows air to circulate around the toebox. The LightAF mat is very thin, so it can occasionally crumple down to the groundsheet, so next time I might try some way to ensure it stays in place all night. Anyone else found a solution to Soggy Toebox Syndrome?

[@ysonline]

One thing you can try is put your foot end inside your empty back pack or back pack waterproof cover

[@chrismoore600]

Outstanding adventure I to experiment when I get new equipment. I like to find it's limit before I take it deep into the woods. Cheers.

[@fiskmasadventures]

When it comes to condensation on tents; there's no tent that is completely condensation free, since it's always depending on the circumstances. - When the warmer air inside meets the cold flysheet the dew point is reached (warm air keeps more moisture than cold, and when moist air cools down it must give off some moisture). - When there's no wind, you need to open the vents enough so you have the same temperature inside the tent as outside, since you then have the same moisture levels (in theory). Basically - open everything., especially when it's cold. - When it's windy outside, you can open the vents a bit less, as you can open them in a way so you have a steady airflow that ventilates out the moist air that's rising towards the flysheet.

[@Diane-ue5mt]

Looks like a nice tent. Will be interesting to see how it holds up to rain🍻

[@richardparkes1325]

Hi. I also have the light tour mat and ive noticed that if the main valve cap (the one you remove to deflate the mat) isnt fully secure then it does deflate. I always make sure its pushed all the way in (fnarr fnarr 😳) and then it seems fine. Really enjoying the vids as usual 👍

[@DaleyOutdoors]

I always push it all the way in 😉🤣

[@NathanAtton]

@@DaleyOutdoors story of my life

[@richardparkes1325]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I'm sure you do sir! Doth of the cap to you. It probably was just cold like you said but I have noticed with mine that even if it isn't quite secure by a mm or so then it can affect it deflating. Great mat though. Especially for the money 👍

[@DaleyOutdoors]

@@richardparkes1325 yeah you can’t go wrong for the price. Had mine a while now 👌

[@M_Bamboozled]

Heat pouch looks good. I made one out of some foil coated garage insulation. Just made an envelope stuck with the tape that comes with the insulation. But it won't last and I love the idea of the down version for the electricals. Could also keep a water filter warm. If very cold you could add in a hand warmer. Might buy one and good to support a UK maker.

[@everyoneknowsadave3580]

Looks a nice tent … but I’ve learnt my lesson on camping in temps approaching freezing in 3 season tents! … unless it’s gonna be around 10C (50F) it’s the four season tent for me 😄 thanks for making this video … lots of great tips for making winter camping more enjoyable

[@ThePreparedNorseman]

Sil nylon always needs a tighten at night after you hit the dew point and the fabric soaks up some moisture. Robens makes some good quality tents for a fair price. Used to have a Starlight, sold it to my mate who still has it. Been looking at the Shikra. The Robens z fold mat is very light and would be a good addition to your sleepmat.

[@PHYSIZIST]

cold/ultra cold weather camping tips: 1. vapour barriers (used by folks in extremely cold conditions) - pro: massive amount of heat kept, keeps gear dry Con: keeps you sweaty, so you'll be wetter on yer skin if you sweat loads - seal skin socks - keeps boots dry and you warm (even when paired with trail runners) (stops boots freezing too hard) - latex/nitrile gloves - same as socks, there are versions that allow you to use your phone, just cant mind which kind - hard core: vapour barrier bag near skin/baselayer (between you and your sleeping bag) - when sleeping in ultracold/harsh conditions - keep all gear dry! 2. Ultralight version of 500ml or 1l Nalgene bottle pro: hot watter bottle, non-frozen water when you wake to drink/cook con: slight weight penalty and bulky compaired to summer drink bottles. 3. Zippo hand warmers: you can double use the white gas fuel with msr whisperlight stove. 4. Bivvy bag: saves outside of gear getting frosty and keeps down gear dry/protected from elements. Also, inside the tent can "snow" in ultracold conditions when the inner/fly is knocked, so going single wall with the bivvy may be preferable. Adds alot of heat. 5. Dont breath inside your sleep system - you breath out litres of water a night. 6. Keep your electronics/gas canister with you in your bag/insulation, in very cold temps they start to fail and some of that gear may be life saving. tbh i was thinking about meal warmers and i would rather save weight and let the meal be a hot water bottle in my sleeping bag/jacket.

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Thanks for the tips 👍

[@jayneread2178]

I love my Ocoopa! It's brilliant! I keep a couple in my car in winter in case I get stranded in the snow.

[@DaleyOutdoors]

They're great aren't they!

[@IvanDP1967]

Another great video Daley 👍 I've just put a budget sleeping system together from both sizes of those Widesea sleeping bags. As the 300g one is about 3 inches smaller all round than the 400g one, they fit together great. Also have a sleeping bag liner that the missus knocked me up using a thin fleece sheet. Not had chance to use it in very cold weather yet, but hopefully it should be good enough for all but the coldest of conditions.

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Great idea 👍

[@ducatimann]

Hi there Good quality video about the robens tent.i have the starlite one ..make sure that the screw in poles that set the front and rear sections are done up every time you take tent down ,as they can come detched from tent and you could lose them ..i lost 2 from my tent on a camp. offered to pay robens for the replacements but they sent them free of charge ..and i agree that washing line is a pain in the arse!

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Thanks for the tip 👍

[@user-lw2lh7nq2v]

I had the same issue with the Starlight , the pole end cap0s coming undone , so I used loctite on the threaded ends and solved that problem .Otherwise , a great tent !

[@simonward4520]

Top tip, heated body warmer. Game changer for me.

[@DaleyOutdoors]

👌

[@wallsend_wildcamper]

Had the same problem with my light tour mat last 2 times ive used it. Last night i had to top it back up 2 times and the tume before i had to top it up onces

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Hmmm. I might give it a bath test and see if it’s leaking 🤔

[@wallsend_wildcamper]

@DaleyOutdoors had considered the same thing. Its a great mat though i was perfectly warm with that and the oex leviathon

[@LMay64]

I ended up going out last night to test gear. Since I've had trouble using my gas canister stoves below -3 C (25 F), especially if there is wind, I tried out an Optimus Vega that sits remotely and has a little heat tube so that you can flip the canister. I also kept my canister in a small thermal wrap, but I've seen people use cloth medical tube bandages cut to fit over your canister (like the type to go under casts when you break your arm. The remote flipped canister allows the fuel to be used as liquid and it works great. I think Fire Maple may make a less expensive version. Just make sure it has a heat tube. The other new piece of gear I tried was a USB heated lightweight blanket from Zonli. A 20,000 Mah charger lasted 12 hours on low heat and it was super cozy in just my hoodie and a light fleece sweater. I did use down booties with toe warmers inside. It got down to about -19 C and I was warm. Anyway, fun to try out this new stuff in challenging conditions!

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Yeah I’ve got a fire maple remote stove. I didn’t think it was going to be cold enough on this camp to need it 🤦‍♂️

[@lifesahobby]

Keeping the door closed just keeps the water inside and will make you colder .

[@johntreanor812]

Hi Ben… followed you for a while but Iv just started following you on Amazon for your Budget wild camping gear. Another great video and I like your kit. Mentioning no names but some KZbinrs who do Wild camping videos..( and they are very good may I add ) use the most expensive top rank gear. I just can’t justify that sort of money so following you on Amazon will help 👏👏👍👍.

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Awesome, thank you! I do try and keep my list up to date as I buy more gear so it should be worth watching 👍

[@mandyfinden2707]

For the colder weather we are currently having, have you thought about using a gas stove with a hose connection so you can invert the gas bottle?

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Yes 🤪

[@thor1911.]

Hello from the us good video brother

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Hey, thanks 👍

[@henrybowden9907]

Hi, the keep your sleeping bag from getting wet at the foot end you could slip a cheap bin liner over it and pull it up a couple of feet. The will serve he purpose of preventing it getting wet and it's also another layer around your feet which helps with the warmth. Great video though.

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Yeah I always keep a bin liner in my bag just for that. In this occasion I thought I was further away from the tent walls 🤦‍♂️

[@weeringjohnny]

Like many, I've had an inflateable mattress go down during the night. I'm pretty sure it was cold from the ground that forced you to bundle up so much. I think you need to insulate from the ground at least as much as from the air.

[@DaleyOutdoors]

I was insulated. The mat is 5.8R rated 👍

[@Tanko3691]

Good video, its a good looking tent but defo need to take it oout in rougher weather, you had a few midges in there ? strange given how cold it is, by the way, what happened to the panacea, did you make your mind up what you will do with it?

[@DaleyOutdoors]

I saw something flying around on the video but didn’t notice that night. I’m doing an update and next steps on the panacea video soon 👍

[@NathanAtton]

I plan on taking my cloud up 2 into the depths of winter so ill see how i get on in the cold 🥶

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Should be fine. I had mine covered in frost 😆

[@MINKIN2]

895mhp wind speed... That's a slow day on Jupiter lol ;)

[@DaleyOutdoors]

😆

[@chadtilghman255]

I really need to invest in puffy gear. I'm not so sure about pants, but definitely a jacket and boots. I do like that tent, too

[@DaleyOutdoors]

I’ve been thinking about trying out some down trousers 🤔

[@chadtilghman255]

@@DaleyOutdoors you should so I know if I should waste my money or not 😂

[@therandombikepacker]

I don't own any down gear and was out in 3 season bag and a oex liner and cheap tent in -6 and was fine. Put thermals on and hot water bottle

[@peesua]

I would never class ful lmesh inner as anything other than 2 season Spring/Summer use.

[@thomasmcclean4352]

Brill vid.

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@whatsnottohike]

I like the look of this tent but i do wish they woukd put an attachment of the outer, so you can guy line it out to stop it touching the inner, which is so annoying and causes to leak inside the tent. Cheers!

[@wadirunner]

Hello. Can you please explain what is meant by a "permissions spot"? I am not from the UK. Never heard of that phrase before. Regards. Wadi

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Camping spot where I have permission to camp from the land owner 👍

[@DemiGod..]

Got down boots from another company due to reviews on amazon saying that the naturehike ones have too small an entrance to get your feet into and no insulation at the bottom making your feet freeze.

[@DaleyOutdoors]

I think the ones I have are an older version. Down all around. Can you share a link to the ones you have?

[@Markonthemap]

'Bolognaise' is the correct spelling.

[@ProcyonAlpha]

How do you rate that thermolite liner? Make much of a difference?

[@DaleyOutdoors]

It does. Just didn’t make enough of a difference this time 😆

[@ProcyonAlpha]

​@@DaleyOutdoorshaha cheers mate!

[@davidalonzi2918]

Try using a Vango classic for winter camping. Yes, not lightweight but the cotton material stops the condensation issue plus I find them super warm as well. I used one up the Scottish mountains a few years ago when it was about -15 and woke up with about 6” of snow on the tent come morning as well.

[@fion1flatout]

How does it compare with the hammock? Most problems seem to come from being on the ground. Obvs you need a tent for Kinder.. is Kinder the prize you're aiming for?

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Planning to head back after last time.

[@Bowlin01]

Nice looking tent, great use of 'cake -hole ' in an internet video👍. Keen to sponsor your waterbottle, wh at is the address to send stickers to?

[@DaleyOutdoors]

No space left mate.

[@Bowlin01]

@@DaleyOutdoors Get a second water bottle🤣😂🤣😂

[@MattinLapland]

As a camper in -20.c quite often I would open up the tent a bit more. I open the outer door a little at the top. Also! A breathable bivvy bag stops your sleeping bag from getting damp. I always use one in winter if there’s a chance the tent will condensate. Even if you pull it down and just have 3/4 of your bag in the bivvy it helps. They are light enough these days not to be too much trouble to take. I know everyone bangs on about warm merino but by wearing clothes in your sleeping bag you are stopping the bag warming up. In reality I feel much warmer in the temps I sleep at by not wearing underclothes. I have a cotton liner, two bag system and the goretex bivvy bag. The airspace is your friend. Tight things just don’t work.

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

Thanks for your insight 👍

[@MattinLapland]

Also most men have a microclimate of their own 😆 By compressing your hairy body you are transferring the cold directly to your skin.

[@BoxTunnel]

Certainly can't steal other peoples' wood if it's on KZbin! Serious question about porches/vestibules as I'm slowly gearing up for hopefully my first wild camp next year and have yet to decide on a tent. I can't stand slugs. Even looking at one makes me want to throw up. I notice you keep food and drink in your vestibule, don't the slugs crawl all over it in the damp seasons? Not joking, my biggest fear about my first wild camp is not haunted woods, the Beast of Bodmin, farmers with shotguns, Northerners, clouds of meat eating midges or random serial killers, it is evil little slugs crawling over stuff that is not in the inner. I imagine carpet bombing a ten mile square of Dartmoor with slug pellets before I set off doesn't conform to Leave No Trace. Even typing the word makes my skin crawl!

[@DaleyOutdoors]

I hate slugs too. That’s why I love winter camping 🤣 if they’re about I keep everything inside the tent.

[@BruSwayneable]

Hay Ben, any links to the light tour..

[@DaleyOutdoors]

collinsoutdoors.com/products/lighttour-r5-8-air-mattress-20d-nylon?ref=DO

[@BruSwayneable]

@@DaleyOutdoors thanks mate, how do you rate the comfort level compared to the exped ultra..

[@DaleyOutdoors]

@@BruSwayneable I find the light tour better. I’m a side sleeper and the vertical baffles on the Exped weren’t great for me.

[@BruSwayneable]

@@DaleyOutdoors thanks, I remember you rating the exped originally as a side sleeper, that's why I bought it. it's doable for sure but I always wondered if something that wasn't vertical baffles would be better for us side sleepers, I guess you found that out yourself with this new light tour configuration

[@SussexOutdoors]

Cheers for sharing Ben, looks like it got a bit nippy out there! How did the Light Tour mattress fare keeping the ground cold away? Cheers for the mention, glad the pouch let you have a warm meal by the time it had done rehydrating! All the best, James 🙏 💚

[@DaleyOutdoors]

The mat is great from an insulation POV. I only knew it had lost air when it turned into a bit of a bouncy castle in the night 😆 Looking forward to using the pouch again, greta bit of kit! Thanks again 👍

[@GrizzlyGaz]

You've finally admitted it mate...

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Stop copying me! 🤣

[@GrizzlyGaz]

@@DaleyOutdoors no.

[@DaleyOutdoors]

@@GrizzlyGaz 🙄

[@BurtonOutdoors]

#Wood

[@BurtonOutdoors]

#ChubbyChaser

[@DaleyOutdoors]

👌

[@benhikescamps]

FIRST IN 🤩💪🏻

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Boom!

[@mandyfinden2707]

This post could go oh so wrong for someone with an unclean mind _😇😇

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

@@mandyfinden2707 ☺️😁

[@Simon_J_Hodge_Outdoors]

What’s a “bikest” ? 😂

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Bike-ist 🤪

[@charlieoscar09]

So you didn't freeze but stayed warm. Confusing title

[@DaleyOutdoors]

I had to use the extra gear I took with me to keep warm because I was freezing 🤷‍♂️

[@Captain-mp4ne]

If your kit consists entirely of cheap budget gear don’t be surprised if it doesn’t work,try mixing it with higher quality gear,it costs more for a reason🤷🏼‍♂️.

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Where’s the fun in that 🤣

[@markstevenson7884]

Reynauds has put a stop to cold weather camping unfortunately… I’d be shaking like a Dog taking a 💩

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Not good mate ☹️

[@neemancallender9092]

Nice vid After watching the vid your title is click bait Why?

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Is it though?

[@leecromer3289]

Why?

[@DaleyOutdoors]

Why not?

[@leecromer3289]

@@DaleyOutdoors no, I was just thinking why use a three season tent with full mesh inner in winter, must have been a bit nippy…

[@lioneljonson161]

Thanks for repeatedly buying shit gear so we don’t have to.

[@DaleyOutdoors]

My pleasure.