TARPS & TITANIUM

My take on Sleeping out in Winter

Por The Bimbler

Sleeping outside in winter is far more challenging than during the warmth of summer but the reward is well worth a little effort. Having made every possible mistake including developing hypothermia I’m slowly becoming fairly adept at it.

While camping out under a Tarpaulin is never going to be as sheltered as a tent the appeal of a hammock is one of being literally immersed in the nature experience.

The trick of being comfortable is protecting yourself from the cold both below and above. I use ‘Underblankets’ which are similar to sleeping bags, the difference being they are slung underneath the hammock to create a warm layer of insulation. Underblankets can be somewhat fiddly to get right as I found out the hard way one minus 7º February night so I often use the same backpacking mattress that goes in my tent, the only modification being the addition of a foam pad to insulate the area around my shoulders.

During winter I cook using twigs because it’s comforting to feel the heat from a small fire while a warming meal is cooking.

This Titanium Woodburner packs up into a small bag and even with the chimney is almost certainly the lightest in the world at a weeny 702 grams, which is about the same as one average shoe. It’s one of my favourite bits of kit although I rarely use it under a tarp anymore because it’s completely daft for heating an outdoor space in sub zero temperatures.

here’s what the woodburner looks like before it’s assembled…

With a winter sleeping bag, thermal base layers of merino or bamboo fabric, a warm hat and hot drinks and food you’ll be fine. My top tip is to buy a drinking water bottle that will safely hold hot water and wrap it in fabric before heading off to bed as this will serve as a comforting foot warmer.