Travel light: 10 winter camping essentials for an outdoor holiday

Just because the temperature has dropped and Christmas is on the horizon doesn’t mean that the great outdoors is closed off. The winter wilderness is there to explore, but you just need a little more kit than a normal camping trip. That’s where our ten essentials can help.

Our recommendations are for those who may be new to winter camping, or do it in generally warmer climates. That is to say, if you’re looking for something you can take up Mount Everest, then I’m afraid we can’t help you there.

First things first, you’re going to need a decent backpack. For a reliable backpack that can handle the elements

Weighing just 48oz, the bag comes with a rigid skeleton built-in, and is capable of comfortably carrying up to 50lbs of, well, whatever you want to put in there. It features enough straps to attach ropes and other climbing gear, all fitted to a snug backpack fitted with padded shoulder straps and hip belt.

2) The tent: 3F UL GEAR Lanshan Pro 2

The tent will really make or break your winter camping experience, so it’s worth investing a decent chuck of time into finding the right one for you. There’s also pretty much no limit to what you can spend.

On the pricier side, the Trango 2 tent is a strong refuge for two people that offers high-grade protection and can withstand fierce winds and heavy snow. This double-wall tent is built with a strong central-support frame and DAC Featherlight NSL poles.

For a more reasonable price, we’d recommend the 3F UL GEAR Lanshan Pro 2. This two-person tent offers a single wall construct made from SilNylon, which is four times stronger than the normal fabric. It does require the use of two 120-125cm Trekking poles to pitch, though.

We also want to give an honourable shout out to the Berghaus Grampian 2. This cost effective tent can withstand mild winter temperatures, and performs very well against rain, wind and snow.

3) The sleeping bag: Kelty Cosmic Synthetic 0

Much like a tent, buying a sleeping bag can set you back anywhere from $8/£8 to $800/£800. North Face’s Inferno sleeping bag may be able to withstand -40C temperatures, but at $800/£800, it might be a little overkill for your needs.

But, also much like a tent, you’ll quickly notice the difference when you’re shivering at 3am and regretting every decision you’ve made. So then, our tip is to invest in a decent bag if you plan on taking winter camping seriously.

Our pick for an affordable-ish sleeping bag is the Kelty Cosmic Synthetic 0, which offers a -8°C warmth rating that won’t overlybreak the bank. At 2064g, it’s not the lightest sleeping bag out there, but won’t add too much extra clutter to your backpack.

4) The jacket: Rab Mythic G Down

Next up, you’ll need a jacket, and one of our favourite unisex models comes in the Rab Mythic G.

The jacket is made from 1000FP European goose down and a heat-reflective TILT lining. This basically translates to a very high warmth-to-weight ratio, making it toasty to wear and easy to carry. There’s some smart tech in there, too. The lining is body-mapped and designed to trap heat where you want it, and offers breathability where you need it on a long hike.

If you’re already cramming your thermals inside your bag, then the Princeton Tec Alloy-X Handheld may be your best friend. This pen torch packs 400 lumens in nothing bigger than a ballpoint pen, and lights for around 28 hours in its low setting.

An attached clip means the light can be secured to pockets, belts and packs, while the dual fuel LED pen light can be recharged with a USB cable via the battery itself. It can also operate on two standard AAA alkaline batteries.

Trust me, a good headtorch will be your best friend when you’re wading through the wilderness in the early morning searching for a DIY toilet. It doesn’t really need to cost the world either. If it shines bright, is comfortable to wear and can withstand a downpour, then you’re on to a winner.

The Alpkit Qark headtorch has everything you need for a budget price. It shines up to 400 lumens, and is fully rechargeable 3.7V 800mAh batteries. For some extra peace of mind, it’s also AAA-compatible. Lightweight, water-resistant and

While there might be a thousand and one brands out there offering hiking boots with more grip and greater comfort than the last, our personal experience points to Adidas as being the most consistent all-terrain boot makers out there. They’re affordable, pack style, and hold a quality that can withstand the storm (and lasts absolutely ages).

• Buy the Petromax Atago Stove here

If you’re battling the elements, you’ll need a decent stove to warm yourself up with. One of our favourites is the Petromax Atago Stove, an all-in-one BBQ, stove, oven and mini-fire pit. It can be fuelled with charcoal or firewood, and comes with a grilling grate for frying food or making coffee. Combine it with a Dutch oven, and the stove will also kick out some impressive heat.

10) The gloves: Sealskinz Walpole Mitts

After you have your feet all wrapped up, you’ll need to do the same for your hands. Our pick for the best multi-functional gloves out there are the Sealskinz Walpole mitts.

With Primaloft Gold insulation, a magnetic fold back mitten and thumb pouch and an outer fabric that provides a strong seal against water, these gloves pretty much do everything you’ll need out there.