7 Winter Essential Backpacking Tips & Tricks

Camping and backpacking during winter can be tricky because you should carry a lot more gear and learn a few skills for your safety and comfort. With the harsh weather conditions, many people don’t enjoy camping during this cold season. Expect no crowds or bugs if you fancy playing in the snow, but you should take the necessary precautions for your health. The good news is that you can make backpacking in winter as enjoyable as like in any other season of the year. Let’s have a look at some winter backpacking tips and tricks that you should try.

1) Skin Moisturizer

The harsh weather conditions during the winter season can strip your skin dry of moisture and cause wrinkles. Luckily, you can choose one of the best wrinkle creams available in the market ahead of your trip to the snow. Ensuring that you pack skin moisturizer is important if you don’t want to draw regrets from backpacking or camping in the snow. Even though you may not come into direct contact with sunlight, it is recommendable to choose a skin moisturizer that offers an SPF protection of 30 and above when engaging in outdoor activities.

2) Pack Water Bottles in Insulated Bags

Packing your water in insulated bags or pockets will prevent it from freezing. It is recommendable to use wide mouth bottles whereby you can add boiling water in the morning. These bottles should be placed upside down to prevent the tops from freezing and shut. Use insulating garments to store your water bottles inside your pack. You are supposed to continuously keep sipping your water to prevent your body from becoming dehydrated in winter.

3) Pack Snacks in a Front Pocket

Carrying your snacks in a front pocket makes it easy to eat continuously without stopping. You can clip a small bag or bottle to the front of your backpack where you can easily reach without stopping to get your snacks from the backpack. Winter backpacking consumes a lot of energy, and it’s the reason you should frequently eat to keep warm and energized.

4) Anti-aging Cream

The freezing temperatures, dry air, and bitter winds experienced during the winter season can compromise the health of your skin without an appropriate regimen. The skin feels drier, becomes tighter or more sensitive. The winter weather accelerates the skin aging process such as the formation of wrinkles. A good wrinkle cream such as Neuphoric Skin Cream is an essential requirement for backpacking in winter. You may have to apply several times a day to keep your skin nourished and healthy.

5) Carry Additional Stoves

It’s common for stoves to fail in winter. Gas stoves may stop working if not properly cleaned or if you use dirty fuel. Canister stoves as well fail to function if their fuel doesn’t vaporize. The trick is to carry multiple stoves with the same kind of fuel whenever you are out as a group for winter backpacking or camping.

6) Use Lithium Batteries

Unlike alkaline batteries which perform poorly in freezing temperatures, lithium batteries function effectively irrespective of the cold weather in winter. They are recommendable for powering electronic gadgets and travel apps when backpacking or camping in winter. Lithium batteries are commonly found in electronic devices like mobile phones, laptops, and tablets. Such devices hardly fail to function in cold temperatures.

7) Wear Latex Glove Liners

It’s common for hands to sweat when hiking in cold weather.  You have to pack a few gloves to prevent your hands from sweating and keep them warmer. Latex gloves prevent your hand sweat from becoming absorbed by your gloves. Wet gloves from hand sweat may freeze at night unless you take with them to your sleeping bag. Nevertheless, you can keep your gloves dry if you wear latex gloves under your gloves.

If you are planning a backpacking adventure in winter, it’s paramount to get familiar with these tips and tricks to make it comfortable and enjoyable. The cold weather can make you susceptible to some health issues including skin problems. However, there are plenty of ways to ensure that t your adventure in the cold doesn’t result to regrets. Taking good care of your skin and staying hydrated throughout the backpacking period is quite important.

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