---
title: "Snug in the snow: how to enjoy a winter adventure + gear tips"
description: "Tips and advice for everyone who wants to head out on a frosty adventure ❄️ but doesn't want to freeze. On choosing the right sleeping bag, sleeping pad and other gear."
canonical_url: "https://gramino.com/blog/winter-adventure-and-gear-tips"
last_updated: "2022-12-04"
---

# Snug in the snow: how to enjoy a winter adventure + gear tips

Authors: Tomáš Roztočil

Date: 2022-12-04

Tips and advice for everyone who wants to head out on a frosty adventure ❄️ but doesn't want to freeze. On choosing the right sleeping bag, sleeping pad and other gear.

Winter's here. Plenty of adventurers are retreating into their comfortable burrows with a giant mug of cocoa and slowly planning next summer's expeditions. But as the saying goes, the season never really ends. The article below might inspire you if you're one of those who don't want to go soft over the winter but don't have much experience sleeping in sub-zero temperatures yet. It might even tempt the die-hard opponents of the darker half of the year.

Before you commit to a night out in winter conditions, you need to realize that freezing temperatures are nothing to play with. **So don't head out on your first frosty bivouac alone**, but rather team up with someone who already has experience with this kind of adventure – that's the only way to be sure you won't end up on the front page of the local paper the next day like so many other brave souls. But if you prepare well, you'll wake up to a view of an empty snow-covered ridge and the all-embracing silence you only find in the winter mountains.

## Why a tarp isn't enough once the freeze sets in

Winter nights are long and cold – so how do you make sure you not only survive sleeping outside in the freezing cold, but actually enjoy it? The key to intense and positive experiences while staying and sleeping in the winter mountains isn't magic, but plain physics – the laws of thermodynamics, specifically. Put simply, the more heat you manage to keep inside your body and right next to it, the more pleasant your trip will be, and that's exactly where **quality winter gear helps**. If you underestimate how well your body needs to be insulated, at best you're asking “only” for a sleepless night and at worst even for **hypothermia or frostbite**.

On winter adventures you can't get by with the bare minimum of gear you'd take in summer. Like it or not, the whole **“big three”** has to gain bulk and weight – that means your [shelter](/c/sleep/tents), [sleeping bag](/c/sleep/sleeping-bags) and [backpack](/c/backpacks). On top of that, you obviously won't manage without a quality [sleeping pad](/c/sleep/sleeping-pads), [a warm jacket](/p/cumulus-incredilite-endurance) or without a [hat](/c/clothing/hats), [gloves](/c/clothing/gloves) and proper [insulated socks](/c/clothing/waterproof-socks). That doesn't mean you have to give up the lightness that makes hiking in the mountains so much fun. Even with the higher demands on weight and space, you can cut your winter sleep system down considerably – but in winter, know-how and handling your gear correctly matter even more than with a summer ultralight setup.

## **Gear** **tips**

- On steep snowy slopes you'll definitely appreciate a pair of lightweight, packable microspikes that give you confidence and stop you from slipping – [**Snowline Chainsen Light microspikes**](/p/snowline-chainsen-light).
- Lightweight trekking poles make wading through snow easier and shift part of the load onto your upper body – [**Fizan Compact trekking poles**](/p/fizan-compact).
- In winter, when daylight is in short supply, a powerful headlamp with good battery life matters more than ever – [**Petzl Actik Core headlamp**](/p/petzl-actik-core)**.**

- [Snowline Chainsen Pro](/p/snowline-chainsen-pro.md)
- [Snowline Chainsen Light](/p/snowline-chainsen-light.md)
- [Fizan Compact Pro](/p/fizan-compact-pro.md)
- [Nitecore NB20000 Power Bank GEN3](/p/nitecore-nb20000-power-bank-gen3.md)
- [Petzl Actik Core 2025](/p/petzl-actik-core.md)
- [Yate Emergency Blanket Silver](/p/yate-emergency-blanket-silver.md)
- [DexShell Heathered Rib-Knit Beanie](/p/dexshell-heathered-rib-knit-beanie.md)
- [Montane Respond Dry Line Mitt](/p/montane-respond-dry-line-mitt.md)

## **Don't head into the freeze on your own**

Just like on any other hike, you shouldn't underestimate planning in winter either, in line with the [Leave No Trace principles](/blog/leave-no-trace). Before the hike, meet up with the rest of your group somewhere warm and split all the gear and food fairly between you. At a briefing like that you'll certainly end up with several first aid kits and stoves, and once you put your heads and backpacks together, you can safely leave a lot of surplus gear at home.

**The key to saving weight in winter is sharing above all**, and not just gear and food, but often your sleeping space too. Snuggling up to another sweaty hiker might feel unnecessary on a spring crossing, but sharing a small tent in winter can decide whether you dream through the night or lie awake all of it.

## **Sleeping bag**

Quality sleep is the foundation of every trip, and that goes double for winter adventures. Your body has to compensate for **all that cold by generating heat**, and that costs a lot of energy. In a thin sleeping bag or a badly prepared bivouac your body won't recover, so you can wake up even more tired than when you lay down.

So if you're planning to sleep in freezing temperatures, don't hesitate to invest in a [quality sleeping pad](/c/sleep/sleeping-pads) and a [down sleeping bag](/c/sleep/sleeping-bags), which we covered in detail in [one of our previous articles](/blog/6-tips-how-to-choose-a-sleeping-bag-for-treks-and-multi-day-crossings). Trust us, nothing ruins a trip more than shivering and chattering your teeth all night instead of dreaming peacefully. But even the best gear doesn't guarantee anything if you don't use it properly and don't get ready for the night the right way.

Besides picking a sleeping bag with a rating that matches the temperatures you're heading into, the **bag also has to fit you**. **If it's too big for you**, you'll be left with **unnecessarily large pockets of air inside**, and your body will have to spend a lot of precious energy warming them up. So if there's spare room in the foot of your bag, stuff it with your extra clothing when you're sleeping in the cold. **Having a sleeping bag that's too tight is even worse**. The down in the bag (most often in the hood or at the feet) gets compressed and can't build up the loft it needs. The bag then doesn't insulate the way it should. Try **not to fidget and to minimize how much you roll over in the bag**. Every time you turn over with the bag and the down compressed under your body weight comes back up, you lose part of that precious warmth, and until the down fluffs up again you may feel cold.

- [Cumulus Teneqa 850](/p/cumulus-teneqa-850.md)
- [Patizon G 1100](/p/patizon-g1100.md)
- [Patizon G 800](/p/patizon-g800.md)
- [Patizon Gdry 750](/p/patizon-gdry-750.md)
- [Cumulus Alaska 900](/p/cumulus-alaska-900.md)
- [Cumulus Teneqa 700](/p/cumulus-teneqa-700.md)
- [Cumulus Panyam 600](/p/cumulus-panyam-600.md)

One of the common mistakes most winter sleepers make is escaping the cold by burrowing as deep into the bag as possible. The biggest enemy when sleeping in the cold, though, is water – we're naturally full of it and we constantly breathe it out as vapor – **over a single night we exhale as much as several deciliters of water as vapor**. That moisture then condenses inside the bag, freezes and forms what's called a thermal bridge, which literally sucks the heat out of your bag. That's why it's much better to leave your head where it belongs and, in a hard freeze, cinch the hood around it so that **only your nose and mouth stick out**.

You can add **a few degrees to your bag's thermal comfort by using** **an insulating liner**.

#### **Lightweight, high-performance sleeping bag liners**

- [**Sea To Summit Thermolite Reactor Compact Plus**](/p/sea-to-summit-reactor-midweight-liner) – 263 g, fits up to 175 cm.
- [**Sea To Summit Thermolite Reactor**](/p/sea-to-summit-reactor-liner-mummy) – 248 g, fits up to 200 cm.

- [Sea To Summit Reactor Liner Mummy](/p/sea-to-summit-reactor-liner-mummy.md)
- [Sea To Summit Reactor Fleece Liner Mummy](/p/sea-to-summit-reactor-fleece-liner-mummy.md)
- [Sea To Summit Breeze Liner Mummy](/p/sea-to-summit-breeze-liner-mummy.md)

## **Sleeping pad**

But even the puffiest down sleeping bag won't save you from the cold if you don't pair it with [the right sleeping pad](/c/sleep/sleeping-pads). It's **from the ground that most of the cold reaches your body**. When you're looking for the right winter sleeping pad, the number to go by is the R-value, which expresses how well the pad resists heat flowing from your body into the ground.

We cover how to choose the right sleeping pad in detail in [one of our previous articles](/blog/how-to-choose-a-sleeping-pad-for-treks) – but if you're planning to sleep out in winter, then **definitely aim for the highest R-value you can get (ideally 4 and up)**. If you only head out on winter trips now and then, you can pair your regular three-season inflatable pad with a second foam pad. R-values can be added together, so you'll easily reach a figure similar to a dedicated winter pad. In really hard frosts, or if you underestimate the conditions and feel the cold coming from the ground, you can use your backpack and other gear or clothing as extra insulation and put it under the spots with the most pressure (usually your hips and torso).

- [NEMO Tensor All-Season](/p/nemo-tensor-all-season.md)
- [NEMO Tensor Extreme Conditions](/p/nemo-tensor-extreme-conditions.md)
- [Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max](/p/therm-a-rest-neoair-xtherm-nxt-max.md)
- [Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT](/p/therm-a-rest-neoair-xtherm-nxt.md)
- [Sea To Summit Ether Light XR Insulated](/p/sea-to-summit-ether-light-xr-insulated.md)
- [Sea To Summit Ether Light XT™ Insulated](/p/sea-to-summit-ether-light-xt-insulated.md)

When you sleep on snow, snow can get pushed in between the baffles of the pad, especially on pads with deep baffles, and end up closer to your body. You need to prevent that with a [footprint](/c/sleep/footprints) or a thin mat or foam pad. **In freezing temperatures it's good to inflate your pad to the max**, and the thicker it is, the further you are from the cold ground. When you inflate a pad by mouth you push warm, moist air into it, which can then condense, degrade its insulating ability and change volume as it cools (the pad will go soft), so it's better to **inflate the pad with a pump sack**. Luckily, most Therm-a-Rest and Sea To Summit inflatable pads come with one in the box – check the specs before you buy.

Therm-a-Rest also separately offers the [BlockerLite Pump Sack](/p/therm-a-rest-blockerlite-pump-sack), which doubles as a waterproof stuff sack, and a small, genuinely light (65 g) electronic pump, the [NeoAir Micro Pump](/p/therm-a-rest-neoair-micro-pump).

[Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Micro Pump](/p/therm-a-rest-neoair-micro-pump.md)

Our absolute favorite among miniature pumps is the [TINY pump 2X from Flextail](/p/flextail-tiny-pump-2x) (96 g). This pump is compatible with practically every inflatable sleeping pad and inflates really fast – it handled a NeoAir XLite NXT Regular in 48 seconds!

[Flextail TINY pump 2X](/p/flextail-tiny-pump-2x.md)

#### **Foam pads and mats for extra R-value**

- [**Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol**](/p/therm-a-rest-z-lite-sol) – 410 g, 183 x 51 x 2 cm, R = 2.0
- [**Warmpeace Cirrus**](/p/warmpeace-cirrus) – 385 g, 185 x 55 cm, R = 2.2
- [**Yate EVA Classic 1.0**](/p/yate-eva-classic-10-mm) – 275 g, 190 x 50 x 1 cm, R = 1.5
- [**Yate Alu Matte 180/50**](/p/yate-alu-matte-180-50) – 100 g, 180 x 50 x 0.3 cm or [190 x 60 x 0.3 cm](/p/yate-alu-matte-190-60), R = 0.5
- [**EVA Foam Pad 3 mm**](/p/eva-foam-pad-3-mm) – 78 g, 50-200 cm x 50 cm, R = 0.5

#### **Warmer three-season sleeping pads**

- [**Therm-a-Rest ProLite Apex**](/p/therm-a-rest-prolite-apex) – a reasonably light and high-performing self-inflating pad (620 g, R = 3.8 per the standard).
- [**Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT**](/p/therm-a-rest-neoair-xlite-nxt) – a proven ultralight and packable inflatable pad, now 7.6 cm thick (380 g, R = 4.5 per the standard).
- [**Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT MAX**](/p/therm-a-rest-neoair-xlite-nxt-max) – the rectangular version of the XLite NXT, with noticeably more room to move (510 g, R = 4.5 per the standard)
- [**Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated**](/p/big-agnes-rapide-sl-insulated) – a more affordable inflatable pad that trades a few grams for a comfortable 9 cm of thickness (510 g, R = 4.8 per the manufacturer).
- [**Sea To Summit Ether Light XT™ Insulated**](/p/sea-to-summit-ether-light-xt-insulated) – an extremely comfortable 10 cm thick inflatable pad (490 g, R = 3.2 per the standard)
- [**Sea To Summit Women's Ether Light XT™ Insulated**](/p/sea-to-summit-womens-ether-light-xt-insulated) – an extremely comfortable women's 10 cm thick inflatable pad (495 g, R = 3.5 per the standard)

#### **Winter sleeping pads**

- [**Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT**](/p/therm-a-rest-neoair-xtherm-nxt) – one of the best ultralight winter sleeping pads you can get these days (458 g, R = 7.3 per the standard).
- [**Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max**](/p/therm-a-rest-neoair-xtherm-nxt-max) – a rectangular winter sleeping pad with the same warmth and more room (650 g, R = 7.3 per the standard).
- [**Sea To Summit Ether Light XT Extreme Insulated**](/p/sea-to-summit-etherlight-xt-extreme-insulated) – a well-designed winter pad 10 cm thick (720 g, R = 6.2 per the standard).
- [**Sea To Summit Women's Ether Light XT Extreme Insulated**](/p/sea-to-summit-womens-ether-light-xt-extreme-insulated) – a well-designed women's winter pad 10 cm thick (685 g, R = 6.3 per the standard).
- [**NEMO Tensor Extreme Conditions**](/p/nemo-tensor-extreme-conditions) – we trusted this pad with our lives and took it on a month-long polar expedition across the Kungsleden in winter

## **Where and how should you sleep?**

Don't underestimate your choice of sleeping spot either. Use any natural shelter or lee you can find and study the weather forecast carefully – if there's even a minimal chance of snowfall, cowboy camping is off the table. On your first winter adventures, definitely swap the tarp for a somewhat sturdier [tent](/c/sleep/tents). In a tent, unlike under a tarp, you're sheltered from the freezing wind. The temperature inside is also usually a few degrees higher than outside. In Central European conditions, a more robust three-season tent will usually see you through winter too.

You also need to pick a suitable surface. **Snow may feel cold, but compared with rock or ice it won't take nearly as much heat from you**. If you still decide to bivouac, you have to make sure the end of your sleeping bag doesn't hang off the pad into the snow while you sleep, which would bypass all your technical gear entirely – it pays to put something under the foot area, a backpack or a waterproof jacket for example.

#### **Gear** **tips**

- [**MSR Hubba Hubba NX**](/p/msr-hubba-hubba-nx) (1 710 g) – an ultralight yet durable three-season tent for 2 people.
- [**MSR Mutha Hubba NX 3**](/p/msr-mutha-hubba-nx-3) (2 260 g) – an ultralight yet durable three-season tent for 3 people.
- [**Big Agnes Salt Creek SL2**](/p/big-agnes-salt-creek-sl2) (1 840 g) – an ultralight yet durable three-season tent for 2 people.
- [**MSR Front Range™ 4 Person Ultralight Tarp Shelter**](/p/msr-front-range-4-person-ultralight-tarp-shelter) (861 g) – a roomy enclosed tarp for 4 people for year-round adventures.

## **Heat sources for your sleeping bag**

In the Nordic countries you'll occasionally run into adventurers hauling a packable wood stove behind them on a sled, along with a serious load of firewood. For fans of [traveling light](/blog/how-to-lighten-your-backpack-7-tips), though, we have a slightly more elegant solution. Almost all of us have a powerful heater to hand. You've got two basic models to choose from, and one of them even comes with a consciousness of its own. As a radiant heater you can use a **bottle filled with hot water** **and** **tucked into a sock** – at night you put it at your feet inside the sleeping bag, or better still between your thighs. Your human companions are a powerful heat source too, since plenty of sleeping bags can be zipped together.

If you're still cold in your sleeping bag despite all the advice above, you may have forgotten the single most important thing. **No piece of gear actually warms you up – it insulates**. So if you crawl into your bag already tired, hungry and chilled through, know that you'll be cold all night even in polar-grade gear. **That's why you should always top up your energy with a hearty meal before bed and remember to get your body properly fired up** – the bizarre combination of jogging around the forest and swinging your arms works brilliantly.

Just as important is **emptying your bladder**. There's nothing worse than waking up before dawn and having to climb out of a warm sleeping bag. After that all you have to do is get into the bag in just a T-shirt, and if the bag insulates well, quality sleep is guaranteed.

For cooking in winter, the stove that's proven itself for us is the [MSR Windburner Group Stove System](/p/msr-windburner-group-stove-system), which we decided to add to our range **after our winter trip along the Swedish Kungsleden trail** above the Arctic Circle, where it did the job. What we appreciated most was the **roomy 2.5 L pot**, which was **perfect for melting snow**, and the burner's good **wind resistance**. The burner stands on its own legs and the gas canister is separated from it by a hose, which makes the **whole system perfectly stable**, so you don't have to worry about tipping it over. The Windburner stove **has a pressure regulator**, which keeps fuel flowing to the burner steadily even at lower temperatures and as canister pressure drops.

[MSR Windburner Group Stove System](/p/msr-windburner-group-stove-system.md)

If you're planning trips into the hardest frosts, a liquid-fuel stove will give you the most certainty. The downside of liquid-fuel stoves, though, is the more demanding preparation, operation and the weight of the whole system.

#### **Food tip**

- [REAL Turmat Kebab Stew](/p/real-turmat-kebab-stew.md)
- [REAL Turmat Asian Curry](/p/real-turmat-asian-curry.md)
- [Adventure Menu Penne Bolognese with Parmesan](/p/adventure-menu-penne-bolognese.md)
- [Adventure Menu Chicken Tikka Masala with Basmati Rice](/p/adventure-menu-chicken-tikka-masala-with-basmati-rice.md)
- [Summit To Eat Chicken Fajita with Rice](/p/summit-to-eat-chicken-fajita-with-rice.md)
- [REAL Turmat Cod in Curry Sauce](/p/real-turmat-cod-in-curry-sauce.md)
- [Summit To Eat Chicken Fried Rice](/p/summit-to-eat-chicken-fried-rice.md)
- [REAL Turmat Taco Bowl](/p/real-turmat-taco-bowl.md)
- [Adventure Menu Cricket Protein Penne in Sauce with Beans, Spinach, and Olives](/p/adventure-menu-cricket-protein-penne-in-sauce-with-beans-spinach-and-olives.md)
- [Summit To Eat 5 Bean Cassoulet](/p/summit-to-eat-5-bean-cassoulet.md)
- [Adventure Menu Creamy Risotto with Asparagus and Broccoli](/p/adventure-menu-creamy-risotto-with-asparagus-and-broccoli.md)

## **What should you wear?**

Proven natural materials that work brilliantly in winter conditions include **down and merino wool**. The most important thing is to stay dry. So try to avoid sweating unnecessarily. It's better to have more layers you can use to fine-tune how much you're insulated. **Set aside separate clothes for sleepin**g (long johns, T-shirt, socks) so you can be sure you always get into your sleeping bag dry.

If you go for lighter footwear even in winter, you definitely won't manage without warm [waterproof socks](/c/clothing/waterproof-socks), which keep your feet warm and dry even in unpleasant, changeable conditions.

- [DexShell Running Lite Sock 2.0](/p/dexshell-running-lite-sock-2-0.md)
- [DexShell Ultra Thin Crew](/p/dexshell-ultra-thin-crew.md)
- [DexShell Thermlite](/p/dexshell-thermlite.md)
- [DexShell Hytherm Pro](/p/dexshell-hytherm-pro.md)
- [DexShell Ultralite Gloves 2.0](/p/dexshell-ultralite-gloves-2-0.md)
- [DexShell Drylite Gloves](/p/dexshell-drylite-gloves.md)

#### **Clothing tip**

- For winter we recommend **waterproof socks** with an insulation factor between 3-5. The ideal models are – [**DexShell Hytherm Pro**](/p/dexshell-hytherm-pro), [**Trekking**](/p/dexshell-trekking), **Terrain Walking Ankle** or [**Running**](/p/dexshell-running-lite-sock-2-0).
- Fluffy merino socks will definitely come in handy too – our favorite brand here is [**Darn Tough**](/b/darn-tough), which gives a lifetime warranty against holes.
- If you're one of those people who get cold easily and whose feet freeze even in the warmest sleeping bags, don't hesitate to reach for a proper pair of **down booties** [**Cumulus Protection Boots**](/p/cumulus-protection-boots), [**EE Torrid Booties**](/p/enlightened-equipment-torrid-booties) or [**Montane Anti-Freeze Slipper**](/p/montane-anti-freeze-slipper).
- Your extremities suffer the most in freezing temperatures. If you get cold easily, we recommend the down mitts [**Montane Anti-Freeze Mitt**](/p/montane-anti-freeze-mitt). For handling things, though, **gloves** with quality synthetic insulation (PrimaLoft® Gold, for example) work better – [**DexShell Ultra Weather Winter Gloves**](/p/dexshell-ultra-weather-winter-gloves).
- When it's snowing and blowing hard, a **waterproof hat** comes in handy too – [**DexShell Beanie Solo**](/p/dexshell-beanie-solo).

## **Before you head out**

As you can see, winter camping takes a serious pile of gear more than minimalist summer trips. That's another reason you won't manage on a winter hike without a roomy, [durable backpack](/c/backpacks). Always be extremely careful when cutting weight for winter. **Start with the maximum instead** – after a few nights in the freezing cold you'll surely come up with your own methods and find out which gear you can't do without and which you can leave at home.

#### **Backpacks** **for winter trips**

- [**Mountainsmith Scream 55**](/p/mountainsmith-scream-55-2023) – a comfortable, lightened hiking backpack for longer trips. The long U-shaped zipper on the back of the pack lets you get into the main compartment quickly and easily, right to whatever you need at that moment.
- [**Granite Gear Crown3 60**](/p/granite-gear-crown3-60) – a well-thought-out ultralight backpack that asks for no compromises on comfort or durability. The Crown3 60 will be a great companion for multi-day crossings as well as the longest treks.
- [**Hyperlite Mountain Gear Junction**](/p/hyperlite-mountain-gear-junction-55l) or [**Unbound**](/p/hyperlite-mountain-gear-unbound-55) – an ultralight yet durable waterproof backpack made from the revolutionary Dyneema® fiber, with a volume of 55 liters, available in several 55-liter models – Junction, Windrider, Southwest and Unbound – in white and black.

The winter mountains are without doubt one of the most fascinating but also most dangerous places a human foot can set out into. So build up your experience there step by step and don't underestimate even the most innocent-looking trips. Snow up to your knees, a biting wind and hard frost can turn an otherwise easy walk into a serious all-day expedition. When you're planning, be realistic and keep in mind that **you won't cover as much ground in winter as in summer**. If you're planning to bivouac on the ridges in winter conditions, don't hesitate to talk your plan through with the local mountain rescue service first – local knowledge of the conditions is absolutely priceless, especially in winter.

- [Yate Emergency Blanket Silver](/p/yate-emergency-blanket-silver.md)
- [NEMO Switchback](/p/nemo-switchback.md)
- [EVA Foam Pad 3 mm](/p/eva-foam-pad-3-mm.md)
- [Gramino Beanie](/p/gramino-beanie.md)
- [Montane Anti-Freeze Slipper](/p/montane-anti-freeze-slipper.md)
- [Montane Anti-Freeze Mitt](/p/montane-anti-freeze-mitt.md)
- [Darn Tough Men's Hiker Micro Crew Midweight](/p/darn-tough-hiker-micro-crew-midweight-mens.md)
- [Cumulus Teneqa 700](/p/cumulus-teneqa-700.md)

This post is also available as [HTML](/blog/winter-adventure-and-gear-tips).

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