The Golden Rules of Winter Backpacking

Winter Backpacking can be one of the greatest outdoor experiences you'll ever have. But if you're not prepared, it can be memorable for the wrong reasons! In this episode, we look at the Golden Rules of Winter Backpacking, which will help you stay warm, comfortable, happy and healthy during your winter backpacking experience.
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My favorite gear for backpacking:
Backpack:
Sleeping Mattress:
Sleeping Bag: bit.ly/3JTea1h
Satellite Communicator: bit.ly/3HvEqMQ
Camp Stove: bit.ly/34mBc06
Cook pot: bit.ly/3tdCZ23
Freeze dried Food: pinnaclefoods.co/
Headlamp: bit.ly/3sYXKOS
Rain Jacket: bit.ly/3JGoOYU
Down Puffy Jacket (warm!): bit.ly/32Jn5Sb
Down Puffy Jacket (lightweight):
Hiking Boots: bit.ly/3eSMmvy
Hiking Socks: bit.ly/3qLVyaI
Water Filter:
Water Bladder: bit.ly/3t2SrxF
Camp Pillow: bit.ly/34n4749
Folding Knife: bit.ly/3sXQNNH
Trekking Poles: bit.ly/3Hzq4LB
Link to 'Sleeping Great When Winter Camping' video: • How To Have a Good Nig...
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[@batwithglasses]

We always heat up water for our Nalgenes and then keep them between our legs against the femoral arteries and we are toasty warm all night and we have fresh water in the morning and not a Nalgene-sicle.

[@BackpackingTV]

This is definitely a top tip! Golden rule number six?

[@emeline894]

Great video! Some additional tips: do not breath inside your sleeping bag, you can add about 10 °C to your sleeping bag by using a fleece liner inside and wear loose fitting shoes and clothes so air can be trapped between the layers.

[@yogman10]

Keep up the fantastic work, I love watching these videos! I'm super pumped to go winter camping now!

[@BackpackingTV]

aw thanks! And heck yeah! Get out there! (then let me know how it went)

[@WoodyXRay]

I try not to wear my down jacket when I'm hiking or cross-country skiing because I will get too hot and sweat. I save it for when I stop and I have it in my pack where I can get it quickly to put on and stay warm when I stop moving.

[@thebeardedgorilla8596]

Awesome advice. I like that coat. Looks vintage with those colors

[@BackpackingTV]

Most importantly, I'm glad you like the jacket. I'm a fan of the colors too! Secondly, glad you like the advice!

[@doms.6701]

I like to do sit-ups in my sleeping bag right before bed to create and trap heat. Not the best advice: but if you have a 30° bag but not the money for a dedicated winter bag, then you can buy a inexpensive 55° and use it as a liner in your 30°. I've used that system and stay warm even when it has been 10° out.

[@nobodynoone2500]

Just buy a purpose built liner at that cost. It will pack smaller.

[@steveolsen7804]

Great info, thanks!

[@BackcountryTreks]

Good tips👍 one I feel is very important and sometimes overlooked is knowing the weather forecast specific to your location and elevation. Obviously conditions and weather can drastically change as you gain elevation so it’s important to be aware of the specifics the best you can.

[@BackpackingTV]

very true! local weather would obviously play a major role in enjoyment and safety. Good call!

[@RosMyster]

High quality, very good advices here. Thanks.

[@BackpackingTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joshualewis8068]

Great tips! Thank you for sharing.

[@BackpackingTV]

Glad to help!

[@chirsbom337]

You should look into netting base layer. Nothing beats its combination of warmth, quickness to dry and breathability.

[@jamesbrooks3664]

Boil water before you go to bed put it in your Nalgene put it in the sleeping bag with you. It will keep you warm through the night and you will wake up in the morning with not frozen water.

[@jonsorensen1007]

RULE #1 TELL SOMEONE WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND WHEN YOU WILL BE BACK. Why do so many channels and articles miss this important rule? Great vid though.

[@batwithglasses]

Oh.... And NO mosquitoes!👍😁

[@BackpackingTV]

that's a big time bonus!

[@hughkelly4470]

another good tip for keeping your water from freezing is turning the bottle upside down. Water will usually freeze where it is exposed to air first.

[@aitornavarro6597]

Could also keep a bottle inside your sleeping bag, like at the basr of your feet. It's important to have liquid water in the morning, also toilet paper or wipes so they don't freeze.

[@yuriklaver4639]

Wide ski's. Perfect. Down can be risky however. Great vid!

[@BohemianAdventurers]

Somehow just managed to find this channel. I am looking forward to browsing your videos and see what else you have out there for me-this video had some great info. As a Minnesotan, I can attest to these Golden Rules! I am looking forward to more content-Love building up my knowledge base and virtual community!

[@lool289]

thanks for that!

[@BackpackingTV]

of course!

[@maxviking3210]

Really great video! You covered a lot of very good tips for winter hiking! Well that said I can’t help myself to add a few things.. you might have said some of them, and if thats so I apologise .. and they apply both for the camping part and transport. First I thought about is checking the weather and not only in the air but also on the ground.. snow condition and weather changes can be a big issue, if you feel insecure.. make sure you already scouted other possibilities like some nearby cabin or so. Second is that if you plan to hike in the winter the estimated time to get between different camp-sites can vary a lot depending on the weather. Don’t be tempted trying to travel longer distances just because you are on skies and faster. Third is check your equipment before you leave, and train to use it at home first so you are able to put it up in darkness or in heavy snowstorms.. if you can’t do it in good conditions or if you find something is broken.. thats a terrible situation in the winter. Last thing.. easy one but most people do that misstake.. never ever leave anything on anytime on the ground. In the snow it is so easy that its lost and if the weather changes.. well you get it.. always but everything on you or in your bag.. like when you put up your tent.. no poles sticks bags or anything on the ground. 💪🏻

[@killgill]

Tis was very helpful, thanks

[@BackpackingTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gdude7397]

This advice cannot be overstated. Fuel your body. Don't allow yourself to get too wet, cold, hungry, or worst of all, hypothermic. In just a few minutes, you can go from being mildly uncomfortable to being completely disorientated, weak, and suddenly fatigued. It is crucial to stay ahead of the game and take care of yourself like he says.

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

That’s nuts!

[@RichardEnglander]

I spent 2 winters in the French Alps, I learned to put my gloves inside my jacket because in just minutes they froze up, not nice. Especially when on a chair lift, don't drop them 😂

[@ashryl]

Thankyou

[@Morpheus903]

I never cease to be amazed by how many people use the Klymit Insulated sleeping pad. It has almost NO R-value. I mean, maybe 0.75, but even a foam mat has an R-value around 2. The Klymit is cheap, but for the R-value it provides, you'd be better off with a foam mat - it's cheaper and provides you with more insulation from the ground. There are a LOT of better pads than that. You seem like you're really experienced, so it leaves me in a WTH state of mind! lol

[@km4546]

Klymit makes insulated pads with a much higher r value- that is what I have used snow camping and it worked great!

[@Chernochegger]

Imagine winter camping in a tent! Trench gang

[@nobodynoone2500]

I've done the snow cave a few times and it's pretty great if it's deep and the right consistency. If there is any risk of melt, a tent or hammock wins 100%.

[@orangeziggy348]

The first golden rule is to have a minimum of $10,000 to spend on your stuff.

[@aitornavarro6597]

That's for sure

[@kairasmussen9014]

nooo haha thrift shop or consignment store cmon! did many camps with just a plain tarp super ghetto but ya learn what works lol

[@wanderfux]

Great video! thx for sharing your experience. I am a big fan of merino wool for all my layers, summer or winter. Keeps you warm as hell and dries out faster than anything else. As a big bonus it nearly never starts to smell bad compared to all those synthetic fibers - highly recommended to try:)

[@BackpackingTV]

Merino wool is fantastic! Expensive, but fantastic!

[@traceylasslett5514]

Always pick up new tips! Thank you!! You also present the information in a non intimidating way. ( Brain freeze lol) Be well and Trail on!!

[@josholsen2993]

Nice video! I hydrate with a big mouth drink , mostly vitamin water on the way in .I use then save the bottle for in my tent, for pee in if I need to. Again nice work! Probably only works with men though:)

[@chrismoellering695]

Staying warm, yes, food is important, so is keeping your bladder drained. Get rid of the liter of fluid and it's that much less your body has to keep from freezing. Learned that from days spent in cold environs watching wildlife. Starting to feel chilled? Pee and eat almost always fixes it.

[@jesusgallardo762]

hi, great videos, i enjoy watching them. i just noticed the skis you have on your video and they do not look like the conventional cross country skis. can you make a video explaining the differences and your recommendation for skis on a backpacking trip ? are your skiis for backcountry skiing?they are not of the kind as for downhill alpine skiing right? i would love to see a video about that. thanks!

[@BackpackingTV]

Hey! Yeah my ski setup is for alpine touring and backcountry skiing. It's a heavier setup than nordic. If you are mostly covering flat terrain I'd say go with a nordic setup. But any downhill descents can be very spicy! And for me, I'm just not going to invest in another setup when my alpine setup is functional.

[@jesusgallardo762]

@@BackpackingTV thank you for the response... ah ok i get it. So for flatter terrains nordic is ok. I live in ontario so thats me! Haha and yes! I totally have noticed that downhills with nordic is a lot harder than with normal downhill skis. However i have wondered and thought that the reason one could hike on nordic skis was because of the scales that allow you to have traction. Especially if you go on uphill terrain. Do you have enough traction on yours to allow you to “hike”? Thank you!

[@UAPReportingCenter]

What jacket is that? Love it

[@BackpackingTV]

Cotopaxi Fuego, it's solid!

[@happyhiker6322]

What brands are your touring skis and winter shovel?

[@hikecamptrekk1540]

Do you have any video of how to set up a tent 🏕 for a rainy day ?

[@BackpackingTV]

I have a video on backpacking in the rain that discussed that.

[@alexanderlindsey4066]

What kind of tent is that? I have a REI Geo Mountain 3 from about 2003 that looks a lot like that

[@lynxx1999]

Great video. I have been struggling packing all of my winter gear into my backpack. The biggest culprit is my sleeping bag. I noticed yours looks similar in size to mine when packed, is there a particular way you pack your winter gear?

[@keisha717]

You can buy a compression stuffsack specifically designed to compress a sleeping bag to make it smaller so it doesn't take up as much room in your pack (just don't store a bag long-term while compressed). Or you can simply use a few 1" webbing straps with slide-release buckles to compress a regular stuffsack. I personally prefer the later technique.

[@neil57able1]

Hi guys, can anyone tell me what brand and model this tent is?

[@timmylew]

What size Cotopaxi Fuego? Whats your size? Im 6'3 180 and was wondering what size to order.

[@5USgRWFH]

flagging tape is handy.

[@BackpackingTV]

yes, great idea!

[@michaelfrymus]

What tent is that?

[@grahamkay8711]

hi eric what do you think of the klymet sleeping pads got one in the spring but have not used it yet because i had back surgery but wanted to no how they are

[@tiburonimbus]

That he's using it during his Winter backpacking should tell you enough, performance-wise. I personally find them comfortable to sleep on (I have 4 Klymit pads of various flavors). They claim an R-value of 4.4 on the insulated one he has. It's a 2.5inch thick pad, and I'd say I start to feel cold from the ground around 0-10*F. I typically will double up a foam-mat underneath at that point, but its highly subjective to how you personally sleep: warm versus cold.

[@nobodynoone2500]

@@tiburonimbus Their actual r-value is way less, 2.something. Go look it up. They are great for mild weather but are shady with their ratings.

[@tiburonimbus]

@@nobodynoone2500 So I've heard. However, I've used it into the negatives, and feel just as cold on my Thermarest @ R4.2 with the new rating system everyone is using. I'm colder on my Exped 3R, but that's to be expected = colder than when using my Klymit pad. Mine is an older version of the insulated, so maybe I got lucky? It has worked well for me, so I chalk it up to how I personally sleep: warm. It's a good pad still, imo. YMMV. I am annoyed at the false R rating, though... I do feel like the system everyone uses now favors certain pads over others, pending the baffle shapes, and air pockets, also.

[@oranbooker1356]

Great info. Can you please tell us what gloves you are wearing in this video. Thx

[@Alpine642]

I alwys bring a bit less food and I bring a bit extra ammo . Mostly use nature to feed myself when I’m out overnight hiking

[@nobodynoone2500]

You use extra calories in winter, you should be bringing more. Ammo is never a bad idea if bringing a boomstick.

[@heinbloed7316]

More like Eric Handsome 🦭 Love your Videos. Keep it up.

[@BackpackingTV]

This is my favorite comment of all time.

[@treemeisterz7477]

Never camped in the snow but have camped in very cold temps and have trouble with condensation collecting in my tent sometimes even with the vents open any tips anybody?

[@RichardEnglander]

Take a super absorbent cloth and wipe it down. Also consider the wind direction and your vent location

[@michaelfrymus]

Im wondering how you filter the water in winter... After boiling the snow, you will probably have a bunch of crap in there. So, how do you filter all the larger and smaller particles out?

[@TJStellmach]

One option is just strain it through a cloth. Another is to decant the top layer (and whatever is floating on it), then transfer to another vessel (leaving behind whatever debris sank to the bottom).

[@dtrainw]

Most down coats aren't very breathable. Are they still a good idea while actively hiking/backpacking? Or, should my outer layer (while hiking) be a synthetic/fleece, then take out the down later? Also, am I stuffing a shell in my bag for final camp destination or does the down jacket serve that purpose. I have a $400 budget for 1-2 coats. Help! Thanks!

[@hawkins5560]

I found my down jacket from decathlon to not get swampy. My fleece jacket would leave me soaked, but not my down. I also wore a sun shirt as a base layer which might have been what helped a lot. I think the down is best for camp, with the shell mainly being that outer layer that really prevents heat loss from wind. I'm not an expert on that end though.

[@macmurfy2jka]

I find that my jacket system is a hard shell (Gor-Tex Rain Jacket actually) that can cover my synthetic vest, and a down puffy that covers everything. Underneath the vest is a soft shell fleece and a thin base layer. My pants are soft shell over base layer. I then take Gortex rain pants that fit over all that. My thoughts are: if it’s wet rain/ slush, it can’t be too cold in the winter so all the layers minus the down puffy should be fine. If it’s not, might be time to seek shelter. If it’s really cold, it’s gonna be dry so having insulation is more important. But, so is breath ability, to the hard shell only comes out in some real wind. If you already own a rain jacket, and a vest, go with the down puffy. Though if you are asking this question you might be a winter newb, so you might not be great at moisture management. If that’s the case synthetic is safer, even if it doesn’t pack down as light or small.

[@dtrainw]

@@macmurfy2jka I'm not a winter newb. I just haven't worn down. I was wondering if people actually hike in down, or just unpack it when they reach a destination for it's warmth (summit, campsite, lunch break).

[@macmurfy2jka]

@@dtrainw that’s usually just what I do. It’s super important to have, but only gets used seldom. Light is right in that case. I was just out in the Alps, ski mountaineering for a week. Mostly, the only time I broke out the down was in just those situations. Once I did wear it while active, but that was for a decent, so still not super active. Honestly should have taken it off before. It got pretty sweaty. So yeah, you are very correct in your assessment.

[@Masteroiece]

I understand the importance of staying dry, however, what to do when your excessively sweating while mountaineering and are wearing minimal layer. That’s always my problem I get too hot with a running jacket over my base layer going up a mt.

[@haviland586]

Slow down

[@generalemail1964]

If it’s just a base layer it’s not too much problem. It will dry very quickly when you stop. The key is to layer up soon after you stop so you don’t lose heat and get cold. It’s harder to warm up once you’re cold already. Once you start off again, remove layers as soon as you’re starting to get warm, back down to just base layers and a shell to keep the wind chill effect down.

[@RichardEnglander]

Consider Paramo

[@waynedaly100]

Wow we only get rain in Ireland

[@BackpackingTV]

Well, not dealing with waist deep snow is a plus? Cold, driving rain though...

[@TheDogWalkerGuy]

Hi. What is the puffer jacket you're wearing in this video please..I like it Thanks

[@BackpackingTV]

Hi! It's the Cotopaxi Fuego.

[@TheDogWalkerGuy]

@@BackpackingTV thank you

[@yorkiemeetsworld2224]

..how do you keep a light backpack with winter gear?

[@BackpackingTV]

It is a tricky game keeping a light backpack in the winter. It's mostly about resetting your expectations. But pack weight doesn't have to be brutal!

[@haviland586]

I like to drink hot water or tea while in my sleeping bag just before going to sleep. Yes it will make you have to pee in the middle of the night, but if you're like me, you'll have to get up anyway.

[@arlensmith1092]

Modern backpackers may try to cook outside in cold wind or risk their lives cooking inside without a chimney using their so called 4 season equipment. Usually they are at home waiting for good weather. All over the world there are people who follow their animals living in portable shelters, not one of them cooks outside in the wind. It is impossible for anyone to survive a winter cooking every day out side with so called 4 season equipment. Using a chimney makes camping in any weather a comfortable pleasure. A tarp pitch can be the best 4 season shelter. It has to go tight to the ground on all sides and have a wood stove inside if it is going to be any good in a winter blizzard. Stove and chimney 24 ounces, shelter near 2.5 lbs. The whole outfit cannot weigh more than 5 lbs. if backpackers are going to use it. A 10’x10’ tarp only needs to be pegged on the 4 corners with as many pegs as it takes to be secure in any wind. No grommets are needed. It has cramped space for 3 cooking, lots of space 4 sleeping. The chimney can serve as one of the 40” long corner poles. Sticks that have a small nail driven in both ends (head pinched off). One end stays put on the ground, the other end through a reinforced point exactly in the corner 40” from the edges of the tarp. All sides can be raised forming an umbrella to cool off because of heat from the tiny cookstove or summer sun. This is what 4 season equipment is all about.

[@trenton910]

Condensation in the tent in winter...😢

[@ericchristian4057]

Is that the Nemo Kunai?

[@BackpackingTV]

No. It's the Marmot Thor 4 season tent. But Nemo is plush!

[@tepanganiban]

Number graphics and/or time stamps please

[@dennis2376]

Remember to burn tp. :)

[@BackpackingTV]

Depends on where you are. Gotta be very careful if you do that though. Forest fires have definitely been started that way!

[@orangeziggy348]

I thought you were going to talk about 'winter tent'

[@Roger-ny9xr]

This is a redo of one of your previous videos.

[@tonycunha1847]

I thought I was drunk. I couldn’t keep watching.

[@986kph]

Winter tents are totally unnecessary for most people.

[@nobodynoone2500]

Those Klymit pads you show suck for insulation, and openly lied about their r-value for years. I would avoid them and find something with a certified r-value above 3.

[@BackpackingTV]

haha that's a flashback to me in my college days!

[@joshuawoolfolk7691]

Rule number 1: you have to jump in the lake

[@danielglidden9290]

Hang on lemme go grab my platinum card for my million dollar savings…

[@nobodynoone2500]

It's not cheap, but i'd rather be in debt than dead.

[@mgpBLARG]

tip #1 Don't put your mic in your 1st layer

[@rayb.hopkins9709]

I stopped the video for this comment. Having not seen the content why would one want to subscribe in the first 20 seconds of the channel presentation? That message should come at the end. An avalanche of channels do the same. I saw “show me first”. Then I will decide yea or nay to subscribe or like. Ok, continue watching now.

[@ropeyarn]

Gee, I thought he'd tell us something useful like check the weather report often. Burying your water bottle? Staying dry in winter is not such a difficult goal. I guess he wasn't left with much to say after the lawyers examined the script.

[@jurgschupbach3059]

First Rule Don't do it

[@nobodynoone2500]

Why bother doing anything? Why even stay inside? Why bother living at all? f