Couples Camp Pro Tips

Random thoughts on how to make the most of your camping experience.

Camping 101

How to make the most of your camping experience.

  • Moisture is the enemy of comfort. Keep that in mind as you make choices. There are no dryers. What gets wet, stays wet. What is wet is cold and miserable.

  • Sleep naked in your bag, especially if it is super cold. Your sleeping bag will work much better if you don’t sleep clothed. (Seriously, it’s designed to use your body heat to warm the bag.) DISCLAIMER - there’s about as many opinions on this as there are people in this world. Bottom Line: do what works for you. If that means getting into your bag fully clothed, great.

  • Wear good water resistant or waterproof shoes/boots.

  • Have a couple of wet wipes with you at all times or close by. Sometimes nature calls when we least expect it.

  • If it is super cold, a Nalgene bottle filled with hot water (heated by jetboil or a pot on the fire) will make your sleeping bag super comfy. Just heat the water, dump it in the Nalgene (close the lid tightly) and throw that into the foot of your bag when you get in. Don’t do this until you are 100% ready to go to sleep, you want to soak up as much heat as possible. Don’t heat a plastic bottle or a bottle with a plastic closure by the fire. It could easily develop a leak and your bag will be wet and miserable all night.

  • Pro-tip: Throw the clothes you’re going to wear in the morning into the bottom of your bag too (not between you and the Nalgene). They will help keep the heat in the bag and they will be toasty for the morning. Remember, DO NOT WEAR THEM TO SLEEP.

  • If it is going to rain or snow, Cotton is the enemy. Denim is only slightly better. Wear synthetic items if possible.

  • Do not place your tents super close to the fire. Sparks can reach them but heat cannot. Sparks can ruin a tent quickly.

  • Always stake the tent down (even if it isn’t windy).

  • Always put on the rainfly securely (even if it doesn’t look like rain).

  • Always keep the doors zipped shut unless you are actively accessing the tent. You don’t want to sleep with all sorts of critters and bugs.

  • Always place your tent on the most level ground you can find. The ground will not be level so place the “head” of your bedroll at the highest point.

  • Locate your headlamp and have it with you before dark.

  • Make sure that anything you bring (clothes, gear, etc) is as versatile and multi-functional as possible. It is much better to bring 5 things than to bring 25 things.

  • Don’t put food inside your tent unless you want a nighttime visitor with paws. Most tents have a “vestibule” which is a spot covered by the rainfly outside of the sleeping area where you can store items.

  • Put all trash into a trash bag immediately. Things will blow around and get scattered very quickly.

  • If you go to bed first, put in your earplugs. Tents do not block sound. The rest of your group should not be expected to get super quiet since you chose to call it a night.

Cold Weather Camping Tips

You might find a few things repeated here. That’s how important they are.

  • Recurring Question:
    How cold is too cold? While this event is not weather dependent, and we don’t expect it to be below freezing, we don’t want anyone injured. Here comes the science: The American College of Sports Medicine says until we hit -18 degrees (that’s right, negative 18) actual temp, we are good to go! Leave it to OSHA to be totally unhelpful and vague, saying that basically sitting in your house is a risk. You can get Hypothermia or Trench Foot at temps above 60 degrees (what the heck is trench foot?).

    The bottom line is, weather in the Midwest is unpredictable and it could be cold. We aren’t going on Shackleton’s expedition; we’re spending a couple days in the woods together.

    • Hydrate ahead of time. It helps you stay warm. Drink a ton of water the week before. Seriously. DO THIS.

    • Wear the right stuff. Layers, layers, layers. No cotton.

    • Protect your feet and hands. Bring your own hand-warmers and feet-warmers if you typically have trouble with that.

    • Dry is more important than warm. And warm is very important.

    • Mylar blankets can be found multiple places (like Amazon) and are great to wrap around the outside of your sleeping bag to make it warmer on the inside of the bag.

    • Wood will be available but it may be damp. We recommend bringing fire starters.

    • High-protein and high-fat foods are recommended. Examples could be hot chocolate with butter or peanut butter as the protein. Fat food creates energy. Energy means heat.

    • Folks with diabetes or on beta blockers are more susceptible to hypothermia. Plan accordingly.

    • This isn’t a kegger or wine party. We will have some pop, beer and wine available. Overindulging isn’t just irresponsible, it’s dangerous. It can increase your risk of hypothermia. Don’t put you, your spouse, or your group in a bad situation.

  • Note — The writer recommends bundling up inside your sleeping bag. Your call on which advice to follow.