In winter, the number one question being asked is “How do I keep warm in my vehicle?” Of course you can wear layers and hats and use hot water bottles. You can even stuff cardboard into your sleeping bag! But if you’re willng to spend a little on gear, you can keep yourself warm all night without tons of blankets, and enjoy luxuries like hot coffee without going outside to use fire, and showers that feel like you’re at the spa.
The most essential part of a camping setup is always the bed, and the number one mistake many people make is getting the wrong mattress. An air mattress is very cold in winter, and a foam mattress can be hot in summer. From my backpacking days, I learned that insulated camping pads provide warmth in winter, aren’t hot in summer, and have great support year-round. The good ones are self-inflating and have a high R-value (9 or better). The layers of foam and memory foam inside them insulate the air so it’s not cold, and you can adjust the firmness by adding or removing air. My favorite is the REI camp bed, and I’ve been so happy with them that I’ve bought half a dozen for friends and family. You can also find well insulated pads on Amazon but be sure to check the R-value and the ratings. If you’re going up and down mountains or placing heavy objects (like lumber or giant utility crates) on your mattress, it’s a good idea to open one valve, that way you never bust a seam.
For winter, it’s important to have a sleeping bag that can keep you warm in low temperatures, and if you want something that’s compact, that usually means down. Two good candidates would be the Kelty Cosmic 20 Sleeping Bag for men (rated for 21 degrees) or the REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag for Women (rated for 17 degrees). Marmot also makes a great bag for women. For extremely cold weather, get a 0 or -0 bag. If you’re female and considering a men’s bag because they’re cheaper, you should know they aren’t rated the same. Also keep in mind that the men’s bag is larger, so there’s more air in it that can create cold pockets. I like to buy my camping gear at REI because they have an excellent return policy and you can exchange something even after you’ve used it!
If you absolutely hate sleeping bags, and the weather isn’t very cold, a down comforter can be awesome. I bought an inexpensive down comforter from Target and folded it in half. Depending on how cold I was, I’d sleep on top of one side of it, with just one layer on top of me, or if I was very cold I’d cover myself with both layers. If the weather got very warm, I’d sleep on top of it! And when you fold it up, it compresses to a size smaller than a pillow.
Sometimes the night is very cold and we want our heat STAT! For those times, nothing beats an electric blanket. Depending on the size, the electric blankets used in a home use 200-400 watts per hour. A 12v electric throw however, only draws about 50w. If you put the throw under your sheet and turn it on 30 minutes before you go to bed, it will be toasty warm by the time you get in it. Once your body is warm, the down layer on top of you will keep the heat in, and you can turn off the throw if you want to. Note that some throws have an auto shut-off after an hour or two. This feature is great for saving battery power, but you’ll have to keep turning it on if you get cold again. If you want it to stay on all night, choose a blanket without that feature.
The number one thing people ask about when it comes to car camping is how to boil water. It takes a lot of energy to boil water, and a vehicle’s 12v outlet isn’t designed for that. There is only one kettle that I know which uses a 12v outlet, but it’s not my favorite. You can see my review here. For a fast way to boil water without using fire, I recommend having a power station that can output 300w or more. There are thermos-type kettles made by Loutytuo, Spardar and others. They draw about 300w and hold about 12oz. I don’t recommend putting anything other than water in them because the opening is narrow and it will be hard to clean.
My favorite kettles are small and collapsible, but still hold more than thermos-type kettles. The Loutytuo kettle holds about 15oz, so you can make coffee for two at the same time. The draw 700-900w depending on the model so you’ll need an adequate power station.
If you plan to use a kettle or run a 12v electric throw all night, a power station can provide the electricity you need to keep you warm inside and out. A 12v electric throw draws about 50w per hour, so you’ll want a power station that has a storage capacity of at least 500wh (50w * 8hrs = 400w). My EcoFlow River Pro has 720Wh and is enough to power my fridge and electric throw all night, and still make coffee in the morning. I love this unit in particular because it has a feature called X-boost, that can lower the wattage of appliances that draw more than 600w down to 600w. That means I can use my 900w kettle, my hair dryer, my curling iron or even power tools!
If you’re going to be bathing out in the wild in cold weather, you have two options. Option 1: You can boil water in a pot using gas, or in your electric kettle, and add the boiling water to room temperature water to make warm water. I have long hair, so I need about 2 gallons of warm water just for that, which means heating 3 kettles-worth of boiling water. Option 2: Heat water to your desired temperature with a propane water heater/pump combo. This device is magical. You put the pump in a bucket or even a river, turn it on, and out comes hot water! The pump runs on 12v so you need to power it with your vehicle, or you can use a 12v battery or power station.
You can’t take this last option with you, but they’re everywhere so that’s not a problem! When you’re on the road and it’s pouring rain or the snow is falling, endless hot water feels like heaven. Truck stops are everywhere, and were often the only opportunity during Covid shutdowns when gyms and national parks were closed. Truck stop showers cost less than the night at a campground and offer unlimited hot water and electricity. You can dry your hair, charge your laptop, and possibly do your laundry down the hall at the same time, since many truck stops also have laundromats. Conversely, laundromats in touristy areas sometimes have coin-op showers.
Well there you go! You can travel in winter and stay cozy, without having to hide under 10 layers of blankets. You can enjoy hot water at the touch of a button. And all without living in “sticks and bricks”, or breaking the bank for hotel rooms. So keep warm and have a happy winter season!
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