28
votes
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
The general rule I use is if your tent needs to be heated to be comfortable, then you're "doing it wrong" and should have gotten a better tent. There isn't really any weather (especially backpacking, ...
- 2,810
21
votes
Accepted
How to keep my legs warm in winter?
One thing you can look into are long-legged thermal underwear - this wouldn't effect how you look on the outside as they go under your clothes and create an insulating layer to help keep you warm. ...
- 15.4k
20
votes
When do you put on long underwear?
There is some merit to acclimatisation, but you have to be careful if you're out in the cold for prolonged periods. It's also unclear to what extent you acclimatise in terms of just comfort, and in ...
- 26.1k
19
votes
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
I would say there really aren't any. Even a hypothermia patient would get wrapped in a hypo wrap and the stove would be used to boil water to go into Nalgene bottles.
The problems with running a ...
- 69.2k
19
votes
Accepted
Why did people rub snow on frozen feet?
Was there any logic behind this practice (rubbing frostbite with snow)? Is this method encouraged /
discouraged by modern medicine?
According to Hypothermia, Frostbite and Other Cold Injuries: ...
- 23.4k
15
votes
Accepted
What is the most efficient strategy to melt snow using a stove?
For maximum efficiency (i.e. melted water per used fuel) make sure the following things are always true:
Always have some water in the pot.
Never have only water in the pot.
Having water increases ...
- 21.7k
10
votes
Accepted
Does it feel colder than before if you warm yourselves up and go out in the cold again?
EDIT: Please also read the other answer, which tells you why wrong (well perhaps not for 100% of the cases=)
This is just my experience: I would warm up if I felt cold and had the opportunity to do ...
- 1,747
10
votes
How to keep my legs warm in winter?
Long thick socks will help in 2 ways -- they'll reduce heat loss through your feet/lower calves and reduce draughts up your legs. Even 2 pairs of normal socks would be better than nothing. There are ...
- 26.1k
10
votes
Accepted
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
This question seems dead, but I felt I had to chime in here. As a specialist expeditioner of Arctic regions as a photographer, sometimes heating a tent becomes a necessity over time. Damp boot liners ...
- 116
10
votes
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Tricks for dealing with fingers numb from cold
Cold numbing extremities is partly due to cold actually at the extremities, and partly the blood reaching them not being very warm.
I've often seen winter runners wearing gloves and short sleeves. I'...
- 26.1k
10
votes
When do you put on long underwear?
I personally would take the safer perspective, and start wearing long underwear earlier than others, and adjust my outer layers as necessary. Long underwear is functionally little more than tight ...
- 4,802
9
votes
What is the most severe temperature that a proper snow cave can protect you from?
TLDR: -148 °F including windchill has been survived inside of a snowcave.
I went looking for cases of people surviving extremely low temperatures while inside a snow caves, and it looks like the ...
- 69.2k
8
votes
Does it feel colder than before if you warm yourselves up and go out in the cold again?
I think part of what is missing in your question and the answer by flawr is core body temperature.
When you first get cold your body automatically shunts blood away from the surface of your skin to ...
- 30.3k
8
votes
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
Assuming you do not count putting a hot water bottle in a sleeping bag as heating a tent (although it will eventually heat the tent), it only makes sense to intentionally heat a back packing tent if ...
- 10.7k
8
votes
Drinking very cold water in cold weather at what temperatures is it dangerous?
As others commented, it depends. But unless you are at camp 4 on Everest or in a similar extreme situation, it won't actually matter much.
If you do the math or let online calculators do it for you (i....
- 1,077
7
votes
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
Many adventurers have a stove on them, though not necessarily for the purpose you describe.
From "Obtaining Water from Snow and Ice" by Dryad (who offer bushcraft and wilderness courses:
Most ...
- 3,526
7
votes
Using liniment / heat rub to warm up feet
Depending on how cold the rest of you has got, warming the extremities by increasing blood flow to them may be a bad idea. They're probably numb in the first place because your body prioritises ...
- 26.1k
7
votes
When do you put on long underwear?
I am more sensitive to cold than the average person, in fact more sensitive than anyone I know. I have very little natural insulation.
On the specific point about acclimitization: people vary a great ...
- 23.4k
6
votes
How to keep my legs warm in winter?
Your criteria: a full day with a decent chunk of inactivity, cold but not frigid, with some precipitation.
Normally when active outdoors in such weather I wear softshell pants (schoeller-type fabrics,...
- 8,428
6
votes
How to keep my legs warm in winter?
Another option is flannel-lined jeans. I find them more comfortable and simple than thermal underwear, and they are very warm in the winter. You also have the option of adding the thermal underwear if ...
- 182
6
votes
Tricks for dealing with fingers numb from cold
A fast method that works if you are not really cold but just have cold/clumsy fingers:
Flick your hand, as if you want to shuck off a glove. This will get the blood rushing into your hand, just enough ...
- 3,579
6
votes
Why do my Scarpa Phantom Techs boots feel cold even in mild weather?
Because the proper mountaineering boots are not designed to keep your feet warm, but to keep your feet dry. It's the role of the socks to keep your feet warm, and the role of the boots to keep your ...
- 9,487
5
votes
What was the temperature without windchill for the climbers that "Minus 148 Degrees" is written about?
From an ad for the book on the website of the AMC Store:
In 1967, eight men attempted the first winter ascent of Mount
McKinley, now known as Denali. They faced winds in excess of 150 miles
per ...
- 23.4k
5
votes
How to keep my legs warm in winter?
You could try wearing a pair of sweats under your pants. I've done that before, and was quite warm, and comfortable. Pajamas are also an option.
- 151
5
votes
What sleeping gear should I use in a lean-to?
A hut like this should at least be dry and reasonably sheltered so you might get draughts but not direct driving winds. This means that you can afford to focus on warmth rather than more general ...
- 6,202
4
votes
What sleeping gear should I use in a lean-to?
For a lean-to:
Sleeping bag - And other sleeping items for warmth.
Ground pad - The floor of the lean-to will chill you almost as quickly as the ground. Also it protects your sleeping bag from dirt, ...
- 32.1k
4
votes
Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense?
After reading the "you're doing it wrong if you need to" I'll take a contrarian view:
I've camped several times using an outfitter's tent -- canvas walled, barely liftable dry, and barely dragable ...
4
votes
Adapting feet to the cold?
Try wearing a pair of wool socks inside your footwear. I used to hike and canoe in MEC reef boots -- basically a neoprene boot with a rubber sole. I would wear a thin pair of polypro socks and a ...
4
votes
Accepted
Lightweight vacuum flasks / ways to carry hot liquids
A smaller flask is of course lighter, but loses heat faster and holds less. Your whole drink strategy needs to be considered.
A litre is a lot though, unless sharing - there's plenty of choice of 500-...
- 26.1k
4
votes
How does layering differ for cold weather vs extreme cold weather?
The layering system refers to technical properties, not to individual, single items of clothing.
base layer: something wicking moisture away from you
insulation: something keeping warm air around you
...
- 2,630
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible