How can I stay warm in subzero weather?

Question

I'm going on a campout this weekend and the temperature isn't supposed to rise above 0° Fahrenheit the entire time. I've been in subzero weather before and I didn't last long, even with plenty of insulation. What can I do differently this time?

Answer 1

1. Keep active.
2. Bring a good hat. While your body can reduce blood flow to fingers and toes to prevent the core from getting cold, for obvious reasons it doesn't want to reduce blood flow to your head. Thus, it's important to keep your head warm.
3. Eat sufficiently. Your body needs a lot of energy to stay warm. Don't deny it that energy. Mix food with readily available energy (simple carbohydrates: sugar. Chocolate is GREAT for this purpose) and food with slow-but-long-burning energy (fat. My outdoor club's former president mixes quite a lot of butter into his dinner, which he claims helps him stay warm throughout the night)
4. Before you go to bed, run a few circles around the campsite to get warm. It is much easier to keep warm inside a sleeping bag than it is to get warm inside a sleeping bag.

Answer 2

There are two important keys to keeping warm in sub-zero temperatures, keeping dry and dressing in layers.

Getting wet by any means, including sweat will make you miserably uncomfortable. It is also obviously a lot harder to get dry once you are wet in a cold environment.

As most people are aware the extremities are the hardest parts of the body to keep warm. Your feet and hands will almost always get cold especially if you are not moving them. Keep wiggling your toes and fingers in order to keep the blood circulating through your system.

Why fire is bad! .. sorta.. There is one reason why a fire can be harmful for keeping warm. If it goes out it can play a huge shock on the body (more for an emergency), but a person will be more comfortable when gradually heating / cooling. So don't sit 3 inches away from the fire, use it for a gentle warmth, not a burning

Fire Rocks and Water bottles veering away from the intense heat. These two items will slowly (water fairly quickly, but not as quick as fire) release their heat and make a person more constantly comfortable

Staying small will make you a more efficient heater, same with snuggling with another person. Armpits and Crotch (ewwww) are a good place to keep your hands warm. Just make sure they are clean ;) or you will not have many friends.

A lot of other points are already listed

Answer 3

I've not camped in subzero weather before but I have spent several hours working on glaciers. The things I've found really helpful have been lots of layers. Typically I would wear the following. Thermal underwear, tshirt, jumper, fleece, ski-jacket, rain-coat & trousers, sallopettes and waterproof trousers. Along with thick socks and decent boots, hat, neck warmer and gloves. I found having several pairs of gloves handy as when wet they lose their warmth.

As for sleeping I've probably camped out in sub zero - I've just never had a thermometer with me to check. I've found a good mummy bag (wrapped in a blanket if it's really cold) on an airbed enough.

Other tips to bear in mind are the ground is cold is insulate underneath yourself as well as on top. One trick is to use an airbed on top of a roll matt. The smaller the tent the better as it will trap some warmth in, an obviously a smaller tent will warm up from your breath quicker than a big tent. Lagerbaer also makes very good points which I was beaten to making. :) Also things like cup-a-soups are good for warming you up.

Answer 4

As others have said, your clothing, and lots of layers is important.

Additionally, the composition of your clothes matters.

Do not wear cotton in cold weather. "Cotton kills" is a common phrase amongst cold weather-goers.

Wear exclusively wool or wicking sythetic fabrics like fleece. Cotton's insulating ability goes to nearly zero when it is wet, and it absorbs moisture, so it keeps you wet.

Wool and synthetics retains their insulating ability even when soaking wet, and they also wicks water away, to keep you dry.

Answer 5

1. More insulation.
2. Stay dry inside. Make sure you wear something that lets sweat escape.
3. Keep your head covered with a hat and, if possible, a mask or balaclava.
4. Eat plenty of food.
5. When you stop, you will probably want to be doing something, stand at a fire, or get in your sleeping bag. It's hard to just stand around in sub-zero weather without getting cold.

Answer 6

Another point which hasn't been brought up yet is shelter. Have a look at these types of shelter which you can sometimes build:

• Quinzhee
• Igloo
• Trench (Just dig a trench in the snow and cover it with a tarp. Also, dig another trench inside the sleeping trench to let the colder air sink there instead of where you sleep.)

You can also add insulation by planting fir boughs in the ground at an angle. This gives the boughs a little spring and they form a layer of air under you, similar to having another matress.

Oh, also, a candle can help heat your shelter to a certain extent, but it also helps in drying the air, especially in a tent, quinzhee or igloo.

Answer 7

If you're staying out overnight, consider digging a snowhole instead of using a tent. A snowhole can be much warmer than a tent and give significantly better protection. And, as Andy Kirkpatrick writes, they can't blow away.

Answer 8

I have slept in freezing temps and sub zero. All I will say is most sleeping bags will not even keep you comfortable to half their rating. GET A GOOD BAG, add a thick blanket or two, AND WEAR PLENTY OF LAYERS. Do not forget a head and face covering. A few days ago I slept outdoors in -12F and I used a triple layer extreme cold military bag INSIDE a commercial bag rated to -25F and I was mostly comfortable. Anything extra you can do is recommended. Like building a debris shelter, digging a trench to block wind etc. GOOD LUCK