Camping in summer is easy; the fish are usually biting, the beers are cold, and the days are long. Some places are usually best avoided during summer however, as it can be far too hot to spend time there. The insane heat can be stressful and wear a camping crew down. Solution? Spend time in some of these places in the cooler months. After a few considerations, you may find camping in cold weather to be even more enjoyable than camping in summer.

A good sleeping bag is essential. There is no substitute for getting a good night’s sleep when camping, and it will be impossible to do so if you aren’t warm. The Adventure Kings premium sleeping bag is perfect for these conditions. It’ll keep you warm in temperatures around minus 5 Celsius, but also allows for the removal of the internal lining so you can use it during summer as well. Best of all, it’s very affordable.

If you have the space to allow for it in the back of your vehicle, I find a bigger swag is better in winter. I recommend the Adventure Kings Big Daddy. Having a bigger swag means you can keep your clothes bag, or at least a spare change of clothes in there with you, so you can get into your clothes before you get out of your swag in the cool air of a morning. If you’re in the Big Daddy swag with your partner, buy 2 of the premium Adventure Kings sleeping bags and zip them together. If you’re sleeping by yourself and take a smaller swag with you, it’s a good idea to pair it with an Adventure Kings Sumo stretcher. Keeping yourself off the ground is another good way to help stay warm, as the cool temperature of the ground will get into your swag and make you uncomfortable.

Consider cooking most of your meals over the fire. If you’re going to have a fire anyway, you may as well cook with it, right? The Adventure Kings portable BBQ plate or cast-iron skillet work well over a fire. The days are shorter in winter so you’ll likely find yourself spending lots of time next to the fire anyway. The Bedourie camp oven is another great addition to your kit for these times, as you can keep an eye on your meal all day and also make sure the fire stays stoked. If you have the space to carry it, take a look at the Adventure Kings camp oven/stove. These are an affordable oven that provides a lot of warm and a great surface to cook on. They’re also quick to assemble and easy to transport.

At the same time, it pays to be prepared for rain as the weather can turn quickly in some places, and being cold is made a hell of a lot worse when you’re wet. Take a gas cooking option with you if you have the space, as a warm meal in your belly after a long day is a great way to bring the spirits up, especially if you’re cold and wet. Consider fitting an Adventure Kings awning to the side of your vehicle to give yourself some shelter from the wet as well. I can tell you from experience that standing in the rain on a cold night cooking dinner, is not nice.

If you do happen to get wet, it’s good to have an Adventure Kings dirty gear bag with you. The dirty gear bags are heavy duty and have a drainage hole at the bottom so they’re perfect for storing wet clothes. Being able to make sure your fresh clothes stay dry is incredibly important when trying to stay comfortable in a cold camp. Get 2 dirty gear bags – one for you and your partner and one for your kids.

As long as you consider the change in weather you might experience, and take clothing that is adequate for the cold temperatures, you may find winter camping very enjoyable. The warm coffees of a morning taste better, and a hot meal is that much sweeter. Adventure Kings stock all of the gear required to keep you and your family and friends comfortable.