How to Keep Warm in a Tent in Autumn

There is a joy to camping towards the very end of the season. Sitting next to a fire adding another layer and feeling like you’re squeezing every opportunity in. I’m never ready for camping season to finish. As a solo traveller the sweet spot for camping is as the nights draw in and the kids are back at school - not that I have any problem with kids but when you don’t have your own you appreciate things are a bit more peaceful and other solo travellers will be knocking around this time of year too. But the downside is you miss the mild nights and towards the end of September the evenings drop in temperature, regardless of what the daytime was doing.

Over the past few years I’ve really got keeping warm down to a bit of a fine art. There are a few things that can really make a difference and on my latest trip to Dartmoor the temperature dropped to 2°c on a couple of evenings and me and Monty came out alive and well rested the next morning so I must be doing something right!

So, apart from having a strapping big Labrador sharing an airbed with you how can you keep warm in a tent at night?

Pick your pitch wisely

In autumn and winter you want to be looking out for sheltered sites. That said - remember the golden rule - warm air rises and cold air sinks so avoid a valley. But also, a hilltop will leave you exposed with nothing to break the way of a cold wind. Look out for sites with light woodland or the perimeter is sheltered with trees. Make sure you pin up your ground sheet when not at the tent so if it rains water won’t drip and roll in. The key to keeping warm is keeping everything dry as a bone.

Tend to your tent

This is so important - make sure your tent is both ventilated and waterproofed. The temptation maybe to try and close any cracks or cover vents but this essentially locks in moisture - so as you warm up condensation forms and the moisture will very quickly turn cold so ventilation and the escape of any condensation is key to you keeping warm. If water gets in your tent you’re going to have a real job to stay warm so treat your tent each season with some waterproofing treatment, especially around all the seams. I use NikWax and have excellent results from it.

Do not let yourself get cold

Pack layers! And by layers I mean base thermals, fleece mid layers and warm top layers. This all sounds very technical but you don’t have to spend a fortune on technical clothing and you may be able to find something you already have.

First off let’s start with thermals. I highly recommend Uniqlo for them - I love their jersey thermals because they fit snugly under other layers and you can keep on to go to bed. Whatever you do - don’t be tempted to also wear the set you’re going to sleep in while out hiking in the day - sweat will leave moisture in them and this will make you cold. Make sure you change into dry clothes assigned to evenings only to sleep in. So by all means buy two pairs of leggings and long sleeve tops but assign each set to day and night use. I can’t stress this enough.

A great mid layer is something that is fleece lined or is a fleece. I have a number of mens crew neck sweats/jumpers that I live in with my thermals under for camping. Or a long wool jumper will work too. I exist in fleece lined leggings while camping because you don’t want loose trousers to drag and pick up the dew from the grass - these can be picked up for a snip around the activewear shops. I buy mine from the exercise section in TK Maxx as they have great sustainable brands at low prices.

Avoid cotton clothing - it isn’t great for wicking away sweat or moisture away from your body and in fact can even move heat away from your body. Also if it gets wet it’s game over for keeping warm as it will take a while to dry. If budget allows it aim for merino wool layers - as a fabric it’s a campers best friend. Again Uniqlo is good for mid price Merino and fleece clothing. If you do have an option to invest Patagonia have some great technical clothing.

Make sure you have a hat - preferably with wool in it. If you can’t stretch to a new wool one keep your eye out in charity shops as they are often around. You’ll need some warm socks - in the winter Muji usually do a range of socks that stay on your feet. This is really important as most thermal socks slip off and leave you with cold toots.

Don’t be tempted to go to bed with too many clothes on - you’ll have a few shivery moments removing some layers down to your base thermal layers but if you get too warm while sleeping you’ll sweat and the cold will set in.

You can do a few star jumps or jumpsquats to warm your core temp as you get into bed - be careful to stop before you start breaking a sweat though.

Hot water bottles

Note the plural here! Getting into a warmed up sleeping arrangement is going to really help you get off to a good start. As you sit next to the fire and enjoy your evening outside the tent get the hot water boiling and collect in a big thermos until you are ready to fill your hot water bottles, tuck into your bed and have your final toilet trip while they do their job. I highly recommend going for a long one that you can cuddle that will keep a good percent of your body warm. Mine was a bit of an essential addition picked up from a fairly cheap shop but had I the chance to buy something a bit more sustainable these natural rubber long bottles look great.

Pay attention to your airbed environment

The thicker your airbed the bigger the airflow - aka colder air getting through. So while a nice chunky airbed may seem like a comfortable choice you’ll actually struggle to keep it inflated and you’ll get cold on it. There are some really good slim airbeds on the market and if you’re going to spend on camping equipment I would reserve a good portion of your budget on getting your airbed right. Buying cheap ones is such false economy as you’ll have to keep replacing them - not good for you or the planet. I highly recommend the Air Comfort by Decathlon on the basis of having owned one for 4 seasons and it’s going strong despite big strong Labrador paws putting it to the test. It never deflates - I’ve used it for 7 days before without it needing a top up. It’s quick to pump up and rolls down small.

You need to create insulation under and over your airbed. Any barrier between you and the cold ground is a buffer for the cold. First - find a big wool or pile blanket and out that between your ground sheet and your airbed. Then cover your side of the airbed with a thick fleece pile or quilted blanket before putting the sheet on. Then you're going to need as many blankets as you can take with you! I’ve found what makes a massive difference is a teddy fleece wrapped around you - these can be picked up from about anywhere a the moment. I use a quilt as the outdoors brands are yet to design sleeping bags for claustrophobic plus size folk.

This is such a little thing but I promise you it makes SUCH a difference. Teddy fleece bedding seems to be having a moment - and the pillowcases will be revolutionary to your sleeping experience in a tent! They feel warm from the minute you lay your head and as your head is the only thing exposed it’s worth giving them some love. I got mine from Wilko in a flash of inspiration while on a trip and having nipped in on the hunt for some cooking fuel. It’s worth bearing in mind that teddy fleece isn’t a sustainable or environmentally friendly fabric unless you find recycled polyester so go easy on your stocks.

Don’t lose body heat

Good tents will be designed to hold heat as it builds with you in so any escape of heat on a cold night is a real drag! Because it seems our bladders seem to like to be suddenly full as soon as we get all cosied in and ready to sleep a dash across the campsite is a given. Sure, the stars look pretty as you trot over to the loo but you’ll pay for it with a period of rebuilding body and tent heat that can take a long time in the depths of night. I got pointed in the direction of a female urinal thingymajob and a large, lidded jug (trust me - go for a large one!) and it means you don’t have to leave the tent at night. Get used to using this before you leave for a trip - it takes a bit of knack but once you’ve got it you’ve got it 😀 Don’t try holding in the natures call - the body will waste important energy keeping your full bladder warm!

Consider an oil radiator

If you have the space in the car and go for an electric hook up on your pitch (this can sometimes drive the cost of the site up and you’ll need a hook up lead that you can buy from a car shop) you can buy oil filled radiators that can really take the edge off a cold night - go for a mid sized one as the small ones won’t touch the side. It’s best to knock these on in the bedroom area of your tent before the temperature drops and make sure you keep the zip closed so it’s toasty when you go to bed.

Also, make sure you spend as much time as possible near a fire before going to bed! Any other tips for keeping warm (keep it clean please!) in a tent? Drop them in the comment below 👇🏻