Winter Camping Gear Important To Survival

The extreme temperature change can make the quality of your winter camping gear much more important and making sure it can withstand potential temperature variations as well as extreme conditions will help you survive on a winter camping trip. No one goes into the wild on a winter hike expecting to be caught in a sudden storm or to slide down an icy embankment and break a leg, but unfortunately, it does happen.

To carry every piece of winter camping gear that you might possibly need to cover every contingency that might come up would take a large truck, not your backpack. What you need to do is consider the least amount of winter camping gear you will need to survive most possible disasters. Since you do not want to carry crutches or boards in the event you do break a leg, consider carrying heavy-duty tape and using sticks you can pick up off the ground. They will work the same and if you do not break a bone, then you did not carry the extra items for nothing.

Since you probably will not carry firewood with you, your winter camping gear should include a small hatchet or folding saw with which to cut wood as needed as well as a disposable lighter to get the fire going. There may be many times when a fire is not necessary, but hot meals and keeping warm may be something you long for after a few days in the cold.

Be Prepared For Everyday Needs

Even though you may not feel thirsty during the winter, your winter camping gear should include something with which to purify water. Iodine drops or tablets work just fine but the water should also be filtered. You will also want to eat and while dehydrated food pouches can be tasty, they can get old after a few days. Having a few recipes for cooking over an open fire and having some food items to cook should be part of the winter camping gear you pack.

Unless your trip is a short one, you should also plan on a means to relieve yourself and carry personal hygiene items in with your winter camping gear to make sure you can remain healthy while on the trail. Maintaining your cleanliness in the wild is just as important as when you are at home and since washing your hands before every meal may not be possible, packing some waterless sanitizing solution can help you remain healthy while camping.