Essential Camping Gear To Help Your Dog Stay Warm In The Winter, According To Reddit

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When the seasons change and the temperatures start to drop you may feel as though your days and nights of epic camping trips with your dog are numbered — at least until spring comes and the weather warms up. If you're an outdoor enthusiast who likes to vacation with your pet, winter can be a bit of a bummer. Cold-weather sports like skiing, snowboarding, and ice climbing are fun options, but they aren't ideal for bringing along our four-legged friends. Instead of succumbing to the winter blues and spending the season trapped indoors, you might want to consider investing in some cold weather camping gear to help your dog stay warm.

Although dogs have more built-in cold weather protection than we do (fur coats), extended periods of time outdoors in cold weather can be dangerous for them. The body temperature of dogs runs a bit higher than humans, and hypothermia can occur when it drops below 99 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature outside dips below freezing, you'll need to be extra cautious. The right gear is crucial for ensuring they stay comfortable, safe, and warm. 

Reddit is an excellent place to search for camping tips. The discussion website allows users to ask questions and share their real world experiences. A few users have posted questions asking how to keep pets warm on camping trips, and plenty of Reddit users commented with some of their favorite gear essentials that you'll need if you're going to spend time outside with your fur baby this winter. We scoured the comment sections of several subreddits to find the best recommendations, including dog clothing, sleeping bags, and mattress pads, so you can have a successful camping trip with your dog regardless of the season.

You wouldn't leave the house on a cold winter day without multiple layers of cozy clothes and a thick winter coat to top it all off. Your dog shouldn't have to either. Although dogs have fur that provides them with some warmth, it isn't always enough to withstand super cold temperatures. Short haired breeds or dogs with a single layer of fur are particularly at risk for contracting hypothermia when they're exposed to cold temperatures for an extended period of time. Luckily, there are a variety of cold weather clothing items on the market made specifically for dogs. Multiple Reddit comments mentioned that they're crucial to have if you're cold weather camping.

Even if your dog is able to stay warm while they're running around camp during the day, it's good to have an extra layer for when the temperatures drop at night. FuturePlantDoctor recommended a sherpa lined jacket for your pup to wear when they're sleeping, so that even if they kick off all the blankets they are still protected from the cold. Redditor u/ExternalGiraffe9631 said their dog Maisie wears, "a fleece gator neck and a large child's hoodie."

Many Reddit users mentioned investing in a fleece onesie for their dogs. Fleece is a synthetic fabric that imitates wool, and it's great at keeping people and pets warm and cozy. It's moisture wicking and helps to trap body heat. You can find quality (and super adorable) fleece onesies for dogs on the Chewy website starting at around $50. If your dog doesn't usually like to wear clothing, it's a good idea to practice trying it on before you head out on your next camping trip. "Building tolerance to them at home can be really helpful," u/mischeviouswoman wrote.

Cuddling up with your pup in your sleeping bag is a great hack for keeping warm in your tent, but you should still have a designated place within your tent for your dog to sleep. Some dogs may start to feel cramped after a while and prefer to have their own space. Besides, if you have a medium or large fur baby a regular cold-weather sleeping bag will be too small for both of you when it's properly zipped up.

Some Reddit users suggested repurposing an old sleeping bag that you no longer use. "If we are car camping, we bring her bed and a sleeping bag I made for her out of an old human bag that I cut in half and sewed shut (so it's the top half of a human bag, the zipper still works)... we open it up on the bed and once she curls up we zipper her up," u/42fishdog42 said.

You can also purchase sleeping bags made specifically for dogs. A Redditor named u/butterluna suggested the brand Ruffwear, which they said "will for sure keep that warmth in!" The Ruffwear Highlands Dog Sleeping Bag starts at around $100 for a medium size on REI's website. WilderDog makes a slightly more budget friendly version that costs $64. "I do add his little bed inside the sleeping bag and he'll curl up in there to be zipped up in! If yours constantly kicks off the covers, you can always drape a blanket or two over them -otherwise, I feel like most animals are pretty aware of whether they need to find additional warmth," u/butterluna added.

A sleeping pad is one of those game-changing items for a much sounder sleep in nature, but it isn't just the extra cushion that makes them essential. REI's website explains why: " When your body contacts the Earth, you open up a conduit for heat loss. And the planet is a lot bigger than you are, so it can suck up all the heat your body can produce. So, you should always have an efficiently insulated sleeping pad between you and the cold, hard ground." The same thing can happen to your dog if they don't have a nice place to sleep that keeps them off the ground.

According to u/rival_22, having something under your dog is the most important thing for cold weather camping because "if they are on the cold ground or tent floor that will suck the heat right out of them." A closed cell foam pad is a good choice according to u/cwcoleman. They recommended the Therma-A-Rest Z Lite, which you can purchase for about $50 on Amazon. If you choose to purchase the Ruffwear brand sleeping bag for dogs, you might want to opt for their sleeping pad because it's the same size and shape. It folds up small, so it's quite portable and it costs around $40. If you're car camping and have the space, just bring their regular dog bed. Your pup will likely feel comforted by the familiarity.

Some Reddit users prefer a raised bed for their dog while camping to keep them off the ground. Ruffwear's Mt. EverRest Dog Cot costs about $180, but it's best for small or medium size dogs as it has a 70 pound weight limit. It's possible to find similar options for under $50 on Amazon if you search "elevated dog cot."

In order to formulate our list of essential camping gear to help your dog stay warm in the winter, we read through hundreds of comments of various subreddits. We searched for the recommendations that were mentioned frequently by multiple commenters. We also searched for specific products at different price points to help you make the best choice.