How to Stay Warm While Backpacking

Imagine you’re in your tent after a long day of hiking. It’s dark, you’re exhausted, and worst of all, you’re shivering through the night. Sound familiar? Staying warm while backpacking is essential for a good night’s sleep and overall safety.

In this article, we’ll share practical tips on how to stay warm while camping or backpacking, including gear advice and sleeping system hacks to keep the cold at bay.

How Exercise Can Help You Stay Warm in Your Sleeping Quilt

Sleeping quilts work by trapping your body heat to keep you warm at night. If you go to bed cold, your quilt has less heat to retain, making it less effective in insulating you.

A simple and effective way to boost your warmth before bedtime is to do some light physical exercise. Performing a quick set of air squats, push-ups, or jumping jacks can raise your core body temperature, helping you stay cozy and warm once you get under your quilt.

How Food & Drink Affect Body Temperature

What you eat and drink plays a significant role in regulating your body temperature during sleep. Your body burns calories from food to generate warmth, so your daily food intake directly impacts how well you stay warm at night.

To help maintain warmth in your backpacking quilt, consider eating a high-fat snack or dessert before bed. Something like a cosmic brownie can provide lasting fuel for your body to burn throughout the night.

Staying properly hydrated is also crucial. Dehydration can make you feel colder, so enjoy a hot drink before bedtime to both rehydrate and gently raise your core temperature.

At the same time, avoid alcohol and caffeine close to bedtime, as these substances can restrict blood flow and lower your body temperature, making it harder to stay warm while sleeping outdoors.

Pee Before Bed for Warmth

Your body uses energy to keep urine warm inside you, which can drain warmth from the rest of your body. Plus, getting up at night to pee means leaving your cozy sleeping quilt and exposing yourself to cold air, causing a drop in body temperature.

Peeing right before bed helps conserve energy and keeps you warmer throughout the night.

Stay Warm with Proper Sleepwear

Wearing the right sleep clothes is essential for staying warm while backpacking. Avoid sleeping in wet clothing, as moisture can reduce your quilt’s insulation effectiveness. The thickness and layering of your sleepwear also play a key role in maintaining overall warmth on the trail. Additionally, regularly sleeping in dirty clothes can degrade your quilt’s loft and reduce its long-term performance.

Because sleeping quilts don’t have hoods, headgear is crucial to stay warm while backpacking. We recommend a standalone Torrid Hood, but some prefer hoods on jackets (like our Torrid Apparel), buffs, or beanies. 

Stay Warm with a Hot Water Bottle

A simple way to help keep warm during cold nights is to place a hot water bottle at the bottom of your sleeping bag or quilt. This technique provides extra warmth and can be especially helpful in emergency situations or when additional heat is needed.

For safety, use a hard-sided water bottle like a Nalgene; avoid popular smart water bottles, as they aren’t designed for hot liquids. Always ensure the bottle is tightly sealed to prevent leaks.

To protect your skin from burns, fill the bottle slightly under capacity with water just below boiling temperature and wrap it in a sock or cloth before placing it inside your sleeping system.