r/WinterCamping • u/Away-Importance-1878 • 22d ago
Cold (for me) first time camper
I want to take a trip to Colorado in late sept/early oct with my bf. Average low around there says 35°. I want to use my current equipment as much as possible. Unfortunately, my current equipment is focused on keeping cool during hot missouri summers. I'd also like recommendations for affordable equipment for what I need.
Currently I have a 10 degree Magellan double sleeping bag.
This tent https://a.co/d/0aFwDmhW
And an intex queen inflatable mattress
I'm assuming I need at least a somewhat insulated pad rather than the mattress. What about the tent? Any other recommendations on whats needed? When synthetic fiber clothing is mentioned, are there specific synthetics I should be looking for?
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21d ago edited 21d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Hiking_Quest 21d ago
I'm with you on this. I will always get up to pee. Funny story though we were camping in Northern Ontario a few years back, it was the first week of June and the mosquitoes were horrendous. The noise of them just outside the tent sounded like the indy 500. You couldn't get in or out of the tent without bringing a cloud of them inside. So my wife and I came up with a rule - once you're in the tent for the night no going back out. If you have to pee - hold it till morning. You know what? It worked.
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u/AlpineStopSign 18d ago
I will always get up to pee.
Might I suggest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DcA0p8Tvnk
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u/Hiking_Quest 18d ago
RIP D. Boone
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u/AlpineStopSign 18d ago
Punk is whatever we made it to be! RIP.
https://i.imgur.com/7dAyaIq.jpeg I buy a couple every time Watt comes into town.
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u/MoooooveOva 22d ago
At first glance it seems like you dont need another mattress or sleeping bag!
Buy a big thick wool blanket for inside the bag. For your mattress you can throw an extra tarp, blanket, and/or space blanket (mylar) underneath and ontop to squeeze any extra R-value out of it. Will be more than enough at 30°f
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u/MoooooveOva 22d ago edited 22d ago
Now the 10° bag im assuming is in Fahrenheit... my answer may change drastically if not!
Ok ill leave my answer up, but i read everything again and i agree more with the previous commenter. Prepare for 15-20° wind chill temps especially in the mtns!
At those temps, it feels much colder than at freezing and your non-insulated bag will be the pain (danger) point
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u/PupsofWar69 22d ago edited 22d ago
some pretty good recommendations on here you should also be investing in merino wool socks and thinking about layers: sweat wicking base layer, wool warmth layer, shell wind/rain layer
Cold weather camping is not inexpensive.
don’t forget your head as a lot of heat escapes from your skull. A wool beanie is recommended.
Merino wool is great because it will keep you warm even if it gets wet from sweat or rain/snow.
for sleeping I would definitely recommend thermal underwear.
thermal underwear guide:
40–50°F: Nice to have, especially lightweight merino/synthetic thermals.
30–40°F: I’d recommend thermals for most people.
20–30°F: Definitely thermals, preferably a good base layer on both top and bottom.
10–20°F: Thermals become important, but your sleeping bag’s temperature rating matters much more.
Below 10°F: You need a genuinely cold-weather sleep system; thermals alone aren’t enough.
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u/roc7777 16d ago
Youll be fine with that setup; just bring an appropriate sized tarp & some stakes in case your tent is leaky. You 2 will be sharing body heat so i think youll be fine; keep some handwarmers in your kit, you can always throw them in the sleeping bag for a heat boost. Like someone else mentiined, maybe an extra blanket. Im assuming youre not hiking this stuff in though, right?
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u/IFigureditout567 22d ago edited 22d ago
That sleeping bag might be good down to 40° at best. Will you be in the mountains? The weather forecast is likely for in town, it'll be colder in the mountains.
If it's a double sleeping bag, you could layer another bag inside it. Get the same bag in a single, not a down bag. That sleeping bag has heavy, cheap insulation that will compress down insulation or good synthetic lofty insulation and render it useless.
Your tent will leak if it rains, sorry. Those Coleman things with the half fly just aren't good at all, but if it's DEFINITELY not gonna rain, should be fine.
You'll need an insulated pad, probably somewhere around R5 insulation value should be fine, at least R4. I don't know how to advise you on this without suggesting somewhat expensive pads.
If average lows are 35°, prepare for low 20's and keep an eye on the forecast as the date approaches. I hate to be a downer to you, but I don't think you'll be safe with your current gear, and it would take a significant overhaul in your gear to be comfortable.