Camping in 50-degree weather: a detailed guide

You don’t have to put away your camping supplies for the year just because it’s freezing outdoors. You could still respond to those wild calls from the cold hills and snow-covered woodlands.

However, there are drawbacks to camping in 50-degree weather or below. If you’re confident enough to go for it, you should spare a couple of minutes to comprehensively go through this article.

What to pack for camping in 50-degree weather?

You’ll need a few essentials to ensure you get the most out of your camping experience in cold and adventurous weather. After all, it’s no joke to go camping in 50-degree weather.

Lightweight sleeping pads

Sleeping bags could be a hit or miss, depending on your ability to make the best decision.

However, sleeping pads are made especially to keep you warm and prevent you from losing body heat, even in temperatures as low as 50 degrees.

Although there is a cushion, it won’t be very useful once the sleeping bag and sleeping pad are combined.

The insulation provided by a strong sleeping pad, however, is its main benefit and may help you get a good night’s sleep even in cold weather when camping.

Using many sleeping pads is another method to increase the insulation in your sleeping setup. Combining multiple sleeping pads increases insulation and reduces the likelihood of dealing with the hard ground underneath you.

The most suitable option available is unquestionably a closed-cell foam pad, particularly in cold weather.

However, to get the best sleeping bag for a cold camping trip, you must:

• Make a budget plan.
• Find the appropriate size.
• Find the appropriate temperature ratings.
• It is recommended to choose a synthetic option.
• Ensure that the temperature rating is ten to fifteen degrees higher. (Mostly, the sweet spot is a rating of thirty degrees Fahrenheit.).

Mummy sleeping bags can be a good option for most people.

Tents and shelter

Selecting the appropriate tent and shelter is crucial when going camping in 50-degree weather.

Three-season tents are the best option because they offer adequate protection against moderate temperatures and weather.

To lessen condensation within the tent, consider purchasing tents with excellent ventilation, such as mesh panels.

Here are some more suggestions for tents and shelter:

• Choose a tent with a rainfly that covers the whole tent to be protected from wind and rain.
• It is recommended to use a tarp to create an additional barrier between your tent and the ground to add insulation and protect from dampness.

Sleeping bag liner

You should consider using a sleeping bag liner if the temperature drops to 45 degrees.

In certain situations, the sleeping bag liner could raise your body temperature by a few degrees, which could mean the difference between a restful night’s sleep and spending hours trying to find the warmest position.

Stainless steel water bottle and insulator

Food is something you may survive without; however, drinkable water is something you cannot. It’s a fact that must be appropriately addressed.

Steel water bottles can be your most valuable item on this adventurous camping trip. Additionally, it’ll be quite beneficial to have a water bottle insulator at hand.

Clothing and wearables

Clothing and wearables are largely dependent on personal preference. However, there are certain guidelines regarding what to wear and bring when camping in 50 degree weather.

Clothes

Instead of wearing one heavy layer, use multiple layers (base, mid, and top layers). Multilayer Jackets retain body heat more effectively.

Waterproof clothing should be worn on top. Furthermore, the fitting shouldn’t be so tight as to suffocate you.

If you’re willing to shell out a little more cash,  battery-operated heated jackets are a decent choice. They can provide consistent warmth for as long as 6–8 hours.

It’s also a good idea to have additional warm clothes and a rain jacket in case of unexpected weather changes. Your rain jacket and pants should have a minimum 10,000mm waterproof rating and a minimum 5,000g breathability rating.

Footwear

Start with a pair of ankle socks then layer on top of them with a thicker pair of socks. The bigger one should be made of cotton or something similar, allowing your toes to breathe.

Carry extra pairs of both kinds of socks particularly if you enjoy hiking on a camping trip.

You might try using foot warmers instead of warm socks. Your feet can stay warm with these little packs for up to eight hours.

Accessories

Take along plenty of winter-appropriate accessories. Many winter campers would rather hold onto their masks, scarves, hats, gloves, etc.

Select a hat with warm earflaps.

Consider covering your face and neck as well. A balaclava or a face mask could be two reasonable options.

Heater and propane tank

You may choose to bring a personal heater to use in your tent if you’re just not a lover of the cold. Numerous battery-powered portable heaters are available to keep you warm all night long. Just be sure to understand how to use it properly!

Blankets

Blankets are a simple method to add insulation to your sleeping pad and most individuals already own some. A few blankets should be brought and placed between the sleeping pad and your bag.

You can’t go wrong when there are lots of blankets available. They are easy to add or remove to attain the ideal amount of heat, and they provide greater comfort than a sleeping bag alone.

Having said that, it can be difficult to bring a lot of blankets if you’re backpacking or don’t have sufficient space.

Whenever possible, try to get some “camping” blankets that are more durable or at the very least less expensive, in case you have to discard them.

Tips for camping in 50 degree weather

Below are a few tips for camping in 50 degree weather.

Avoid sleeping bag mistakes

Not fluffing a down sleeping bag: typically, Down sleeping bags are designated for extremely cold temperatures. However, they only act as insulation when the Down feathers are fluffy.

The feathers in a down bag will be squashed together and won’t insulate if you use it right out of the compression sack.

As a result, remember to fluff a down bag before use.

Sleeping with your head inside the sleeping bag: your initial instinct when camping in cold weather might be to stick your head inside the sleeping bag. However, this will allow breath vapor to enter the bag. You will get cold even in the smallest amount of moisture! Throw on a cap if your head is cold.

Selecting an excessively warm sleeping bag: it’s wise to err on the side of caution when selecting a sleeping bag; nevertheless, don’t go overboard and use a 0F bag in a 40F temperature. You’ll end up sweating excessively at night. You’ll feel really cold when you’re sleeping because of the sweat.

Using adult sleeping bags for children: the sleeping bag won’t retain warmth because of the additional space. Invest in a kid-sized sleeping bag for your children.

Pack extra calories

When you go camping in the colder weather conditions, ensure that you bring significantly more food than you usually would.

Cooking in freezing weather conditions

Remember that camping stoves powered by isobutane perform poorly in below-freezing weather. You should switch to liquid white gas since it works better in the cold.

Never cook in your tent, no matter how chilly it gets. Carbon monoxide poisoning could lead to death.

Use the restroom before going to bed

It’s a fallacy that a full bladder will make you feel warmer. This is not true at all! Before going to bed, make sure you use the restroom. If not, you’ll have to crawl out of your cozy sleeping bag in the freezing cold at night.

Avoid sitting on the ground

You will lose body heat while you sit on the cold ground. Carry chairs or a closed-cell foam pad for sitting. Moreover, it also helps keep your butt dry.

Tips for a Campfire

Camping requires a campfire, however, it becomes much more crucial in the cool fall weather. On the other hand, maintaining a campfire in the event of wind or rain might also be more difficult.

Carry your own wood

Carrying your own pre-dried wood, if you can, will guarantee the best fire-building results. Just keep in mind that carrying firewood into a campground may be subject to specific regulations.

Often, you are limited to bringing firewood from the vicinity of where you plan to camp. All it truly does is help prevent unintentionally introducing invasive species into the vicinity. Simply getting some firewood from the campground or a neighboring town may ease your burden.

Also, the wood in the campground occasionally gets wet during rainy seasons because it is not sheltered. Unless you have incredible bushcraft skill sets, you might have to forgo the fire if the wood is wet.

Allow the wood to dry

It will be necessary to allow the wood you collect to dry out if you are unable to transport or buy already-dried campfire wood. Simply said, wet wood burns less efficiently and tends to emit more smoke compared to dry wood.

You could also require more kindling to start the fire because of the wetness. Damp firewood won’t be able to withstand the heat of the fire as easily.

If you’re in the woods, look for wood and twigs at tree bases as these areas are less exposed to rainfall. Dry wood can be found in the mountains despite daily rainfall.

Protect it from the rain

It shouldn’t be too problematic to have a little rain once your fire is going.

However, you should still try to keep the area around the campfire as dry as possible especially if you anticipate heavy rain during your camping trip.

You can cover the fire with a tarp or pop-up, nevertheless, you should still allow the smoke to escape easily. For this reason, starting the fire well before covering it with the shelter might be a good idea. You can prevent most of the smoke from being trapped in this way.

Create a hole for your fire

There are frequently fire pits available when camping at campgrounds; these are designed to keep your fire contained and safe. When that isn’t the case, though, you might want to build your own little fire pit. It’s a fantastic method for shielding your fire from the weather.

Don’t dig a pit that is too deep. Despite the temptation to make the pit larger for more protection, you wouldn’t want air to be able to reach your fire. If not, you run the risk of suffocation, and maintaining the fire could be quite difficult.

Emergency procedures

You should be aware of the symptoms of hypothermia and have the necessary emergency plans in place when camping in 50 degree weather.

Hypothermia manifests as shivering, slurred speech, disorientation, drowsiness, and a weak pulse.

This frequently occurs in people with thin skin. This is because people with thin skin tend to lose body heat more quickly.

When the body loses heat more quickly than it can generate it, a dangerously low body temperature is reached, which is known as hypothermia. Maintaining a constant body temperature in cold weather might be more challenging for such people.

Nevertheless,  any individual is susceptible to hypothermia if they are ill-prepared for cold weather.

When camping in cold weather, it’s crucial to stay dry, wear warm clothing, and take other safety measures to avoid hypothermia.

If you suspect hypothermia, do the following:

Transfer the person to a sheltered, warm location. If possible, it is beneficial to have an officially designated emergency shelter available.

Take off any wet clothing and replace them with dry, warm clothing instead, or cover them with blankets.

Serve warm beverages ( stay away from alcohol and caffeine).

Warm the head, neck, and trunk gently and steadily. Hot water bottles and heating pads should not be used as they could lead to burns.

Lastly, in case of an emergency, always keep a fully charged phone and a reliable communication device at hand.

Camping activities

Hiking is a popular hobby among campers. Colder temperatures provide ideal hiking conditions, which can allow for more relaxed and longer walks.

Wear moisture-wicking materials, dress in layers, and keep a daypack filled with necessities like snacks and water.

Fishing is another fun recreational activity because the slightly cooler temperatures frequently result in better fishing conditions and more active fish.

Wearing warm clothing, and water-resistant footwear, and carrying all the required fishing equipment are essential.

Ask local bait shops for recommendations and guidance on the best areas to start if you’re not sure where to start.

Camping in cold weather could make stargazing a wonderful experience.

Less humidity means that the night sky is frequently clearer, offering breathtaking views of the stars and constellations.

Get comfortable with blankets and warm clothing for a stargazing session.

Remember to bring binoculars or a telescope for an even better experience.

Cooking over a campfire is yet another fantastic feature of camping in 50 degree weather.

It’s fun to get together over a cozy fire, cooking delectable foods, and exchanging tales throughout the cooler months.

Conclusion

A camping adventure is most enjoyable in the spring and fall when temperatures are likely to reach 50 degrees.

Although it’s colder and you can’t technically go swimming, there are fewer people around and it’s far more pleasant to engage in any kind of physical exercise in cooler weather.

You may witness the rebirth of the earth in the spring. The flowers are blooming, animals and plants are emerging from hibernation, and tree leaves are beginning to grow. Being outside at this time of year is just lovely.

You can also witness the leaves changing color in the fall as they get ready for winter. The landscape appears serene and peaceful, with the possible exception of a few squirrels who are still getting ready for the upcoming cold months.

Camping in 50 degree weather may be a fun and safe activity, provided you’re dressed in proper clothing for the cooler temperatures and are ready for the change.