Cold Weather Camp

mtwarden

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Do any of you guys that hunt in that cold weather have a cold camp? I'm wondering what you guys do to keep your water thawed and your water filter from freezing, other than having it inside your sleeping bag. I don't have a stove, and sleeping with my water filter and water bottles is the only solution that I have found.

My warm sleeping bag (-10F) was purposely purchased in the Long version (usually use a Regular), just so I could keep water, electronics, etc in the bag for cold weather.
 
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I’m taking my boys to Nebraska in a Nov for a rifle deer hunt and will be taking my truck w/rooftop tent that has attached annex…it’s a great setup that we used last summer in Rocky mtn national park and a New Hampshire/Maine trip this year…coldest nights were high 20s/low 30s…looking to add a stove to the annex room…any suggestion for a stove and retro fit stove jack?


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Feb 19, 2023
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Montana
Headed on first elk hunt next week. Nighttime lows are 7 degrees. I have a peak tent and argali stove with a chillkoot 15 degree bag, but just curious to see at what temps you guys have stayed in a tent and any tips?
Probably -20 or so and there wasn't a whole lot of restful sleep just dozing between feeding the woodstove. Even with a great bag, wall tent, and the stove roaring it was darn cold.
 
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Dec 14, 2020
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We just finished first rifle, where the low temps was right at 20. I have the marmot helium 15 bag. I had an insulated pad underneath, I put a fleece blanket inside. Slept with thick socks, polar weight long johns, puffy jacket and merino beanie. I was comfortable, I run cold though. We did have our water jugs freeze, hydration bladder hoses freeze, peanut butter, toothpaste etc freeze. Lots of lessons learned. We had our big buddy heater quit working on us, ended up using a single burner Coleman to know off the chill in our enclosed canopy. It was a rough outing. Have fun, and enjoy.
 
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Been in a tent with temps as low as -15, -20 with a small stove. few things I'd recommend:

- get off the ground with some type of cot (like alps ready lite cot)
- use a good sleeping pad (high R value) like Therma rest X Therm
- sleeping bag liner (Like the Sea to Summit Reactor)
- have dedicated clothes to sleep in & leave them in the bag during the day. (don't wear the same socks you wore during the day obviously)
- good base layers (merino, etc.), definitely have a good warm toboggan
- wear a puffy jacket if needed
- I never wanted to risk a leak by putting hot water so put 1 of those hot hands in the bottom of the bag & 1 near your torso. (this may be too much heat depending on your tolerance)

Some combination of these should be adequate. The first night is always the worst.
If you're with other people have a rotation planned for who gets up first, 2nd, etc.

- pre stage a fire starter, kindling & wood for 2-3 times of getting up to stoke the fire if necessary. That way you're not having to turn on lights, breaking sticks, tossing wood around & making a big racket.

- keep a pee bottle close so you don't have to go outside & let cold air flood in the tent
I also keep my phone, Inreach, power bank, etc. inside the bag

Also be sure to keep a window (if your tent has them) slightly unzipped to allow a little air flow. This will greatly reduce condensation.
 
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You should be fine. Wear your puffy stuff in the bag if you need to. Throw a hot hands warmer in there and it will absolutely cook.
 

Bolt

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NC
Peeing in a bottle while laying down in your bag (unzipped) is key.
Yes I do this too.take a 12 hour body warmer and slap it on your sleep shirt over your heart, I'm usually unzipping the bag in the teens just to stay cool. I found that it adds 20+ degrees to a sleeping system



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Jaquomo

WKR
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Apr 27, 2012
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I’m taking my boys to Nebraska in a Nov for a rifle deer hunt and will be taking my truck w/rooftop tent that has attached annex…it’s a great setup that we used last summer in Rocky mtn national park and a New Hampshire/Maine trip this year…coldest nights were high 20s/low 30s…looking to add a stove to the annex room…any suggestion for a stove and retro fit stove jack?


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Buddy heater and refillable 1 lb propane cylinders. I camped by a guy with exactly that rooftop rig in cold weather. He and his buddy who slept in the annex loved the instant, no-hassle, controllable heat from the Buddy. You can refill the cylinders with an adapter for about a buck apiece at today's propane prices. We used Buddys in our wall tent for decades and worked great.
 

Olympics777

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Jun 16, 2014
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Location
Moscow ID
Do any of you guys that hunt in that cold weather have a cold camp? I'm wondering what you guys do to keep your water thawed and your water filter from freezing, other than having it inside your sleeping bag. I don't have a stove, and sleeping with my water filter and water bottles is the only solution that I have found.
I just roll them up in my puffy with a couple hand warmers.
 

Clarktar

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Aug 30, 2013
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AK
Ditch the filter and use iodine.

I'm not sure I've gotten into the negatives yet. But a 30 degree quilt and some puffy pants/jacket has worked well. I also have down booties and a warm down hood.

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Joined
Feb 2, 2020
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Ditch the filter and use iodine.

I'm not sure I've gotten into the negatives yet. But a 30 degree quilt and some puffy pants/jacket has worked well. I also have down booties and a warm down hood.

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I used to keep aquamira two part drops as a backup. Have thought about using it when it gets really cold
 
Joined
Sep 29, 2019
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Buddy heater and refillable 1 lb propane cylinders. I camped by a guy with exactly that rooftop rig in cold weather. He and his buddy who slept in the annex loved the instant, no-hassle, controllable heat from the Buddy. You can refill the cylinders with an adapter for about a buck apiece at today's propane prices. We used Buddys in our wall tent for decades and worked great.

I like this idea, as I use the buddy heater in the duck and deer blind. I have a small 10lb ignik propane tank that I take for cooking with camp cooking stove.


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