The Cozy Clothing Item Campers Use To Stay Warm During Chilly Winter Nights

Being outdoors during winter can be quite brutal, especially at night when the temperature drops. As such, staying warm when you go winter camping is a matter of both comfort and survival, and every camper must know the right tip for staying warm. Interestingly, some of the best ways to keep the cold away include using items that need no special know-how, or even things you might easily overlook. In this case, a beanie is one surprisingly simple clothing item campers use to keep themselves warm on chilly winter nights.

While the idea that the head loses the most heat is a myth, science confirms that the head can be very sensitive to cold, and the cold from an exposed head can spread to the rest of the body. This goes to show just how helpful it'd be to have a snug beanie over your scalp in cold conditions. And if you ask seasoned campers, they'll tell you that covering your head is indeed a considerable part of the hacks you need to stay warm in winter.

When you wear a beanie, it helps to trap and reduce the heat escaping from your head. It can also function as a windshield for your ears and forehead, further lowering the odds of you losing heat quickly or experiencing frostnip or frostbite.

While they're also used for fashion, it's worth noting that the most helpful beanies in winter conditions are those made from wool, fleece, or acrylic. Wool seems to take the cake, because even if it gets damp, it can still retain heat and pull sweat away from your skin. So, if you've been hiking or moving around before bed, wool is a tough-to-beat choice, ready to regulate moisture and hold in all the needed heat. Campers who may be seeking affordability can go for synthetic beanies like fleece and acrylic; they dry quickly and feel really light, which can also be great when on the move or engaging in intense activities.

When wearing a beanie, just make sure it covers your ears well enough, even better if it comes with a double-layer band, so as to prevent cold air from creeping in. Also, it helps if your beanie can extend to the back of your neck. To get maximum comfort, don't forget to combine your beanie with other essential winter items worth packing, such as dry socks and layered clothes. And if you put on your beanie when inside a sleeping bag, you get to trap more of your body's warmth. All these together will keep you toasty throughout your winter camping experience.

Thankfully, beanies are small enough to be stuffed in a backpack or even your pocket without stress. Redditor Molsser, talking about why they like their beanie, notes: "I like it because it has more uses than just hat. It's warm and takes up no space at all and isn't itchy." Beanies stand tall as a small but useful winter clothing item among campers.