Seasoned Campers Recommend Avoiding This Gear To Stay Warmer In Cold Winter Climates

Camping in winter comes with its peculiar challenges, and surviving the cold weather while camping requires that you have ways to keep yourself warm. In that case, one item some campers may consider an important campsite amenity is a camping cot, particularly because it will keep you off the frozen ground. But seasoned winter campers say cots won't help to keep you warm, primarily because of the wind blowing under the cot. A standard cot is basically just a thin piece of fabric stretched over a frame in the air, and in wintry conditions, it won't insulate you from the cold air blowing under you, ultimately leaving you shivering all night.

Several campers who have tested this theory confirm the inefficiency of camping cots in very cold conditions, and suggest that it's better to avoid them altogether. "I'd say you would be worse off because of the height of the cot off the ground. Air will flow above and below, cooling you faster," explained u/CogginNoggin in an r/camping thread. Another experienced camper on Reddit likens the use of a camping cot to merely lying on the floor. "Cots are wonderful but basically R-0 insulation," said u/jtnxdc01. "Plan as if you were sleeping on the ground."

For context, it all comes down to simple physics: Heat tends to escape faster when the cold air is able to flow around you. So if you're sleeping on the ground (especially on a sleeping pad), you can lock in some of the heat, and even your body heat slowly warms the ground. But on a cot, you're surrounded by air, requiring proper insulation or a barrier underneath. That means the cot's primary benefit, getting you off the ground, doesn't really help in the cold.

Now that campers have advised against using a camping cot, you might be wondering about other effective ways to stay warm when camping in the cold. Several seasoned campers consistently recommend one thing: an insulated sleeping pad. "A cot is just a support, not an insulating layer," u/jaxnmarko said in response to a question about sleeping outdoors in potential temperatures of -20 degrees Fahrenheit. "I've had no problems with my pads and have been winter camping well below those temps for decades."

Specifically, you should get a pad that has an R-value (or resistance value) of 6 or higher, especially in situations where the temperature is really dropping. The pad helps to successfully trap heat and does a great job of resisting heat loss and blocking the cold. "The sleeping pad is critical," u/PalpableMass explained. "Winter camping means you need a lot of R value insulation between you and the cold ground steadily sucking away your warmth." Some campers even add blankets or foam layers to their sleeping pad, in addition to using a sleeping bag, all for extra insulation.

If, however, you still prefer the cozy feel of the cot, there's a way to help you stay warm: Treat the cot the same way you'd treat the ground. This could mean putting your insulated sleeping pad on top of the cot. "Either way you want to be sleeping on something insulated," says r/dano__. Some campers reduce airflow by filling the space under the cot with foam, or perhaps draping a light tarp or blanket over it. It's also worth emphasizing that cots aren't necessarily useless; they just won't be enough to keep you warm on their own, as insulation remains your key source of protection.