Most people wouldn’t even dream about camping outside in the middle of a freezing winter.
But most people aren’t adventure junkies or survivalists. And if you fall into either one (or both) of these categories, or you just enjoy getting outside in the cold, this article is for you.
If you live in one of the colder parts of the world, you’ll know that camping during the winter can be deadly if you are ill-equipped or unprepared for the harsh conditions that may arise.
If you plan to camp this winter, make sure your equipment is up to scratch, to keep you safe and warm.
And probably the most important piece of camping gear you should invest in is a high-quality winter tent because a tent designed for summer conditions just won’t cut it in the cold.
Sure, if needed you can find shelter and keep warm without a cold weather tent but it’s better to be prepared than have to try to improvise to survive if the weather changes for the worse or you find yourself faced with an emergency.
Cold weather tents come in a wide variety of sizes and designs, so no matter your budget or situation, there is a winter survival tent out there to suit you.
In fact, there are so many options out there, that you might find yourself overwhelmed with choice.
So to help you out, I’ve composed a quick list of top quality camping tents that I think are the best in the business.
And although some of these tents may differ in price, they’re all guaranteed to do exactly what they’re built for – keep you warm.
But with so many tents on the market, how do you decide which one is right for you?
Choosing the Correct Tent
Years ago, I was on a winter fishing trip with a buddy of mine in the northern mountains.
The weather on the first day was quite pleasant for winter (surprisingly, just as the weather report had predicted) but that night, a change of wind direction brought with it weather that felt like it was coming straight off the Arctic. Man, it was cold!
At the time I wasn’t as cold-weather savvy as I am now and despite having what I considered, a fairly decent tent, I suffered through that first miserable night wishing I was back home.
The next day I was adamant we should return home but my friend wasn’t ready to head back yet and wanted to stay the weekend, as planned.
He invited me to throw my sleeping bag in his tent and camp there for the remaining couple of nights. I was a bit skeptical at first, but when I opened up the flap of his tent and felt the warmth coming from inside, I was convinced.
His recently purchased cold weather Arctic Oven tent was made of much warmer material than mine, and he had even fitted it with a wood stove to keep it heated.
We might not have caught many fish that trip, but at least his tent kept us from freezing our butts off!
So why am I telling you this? Well, I wanted to point out the importance of being fully prepared to face any challenge the weather might throw at you.
Imagine if we had become trapped out there and my friend had not had the foresight to pack his winter tent. The consequences could have been dire.
But of course, you won’t need a tent as warm as this in every situation. So plan ahead and pack the correct tent according to the conditions you might face.
Despite being cold, my tent was good enough for that first night of our fishing trip. But for extended stays in freezing cold weather, a warmer tent is essential.
Another thing that is important to consider is whether or not you will be driving or carrying your tent to your location on foot.
We drove to our fishing trip location, so it was no problem to bring a bigger tent in the back of the pickup. But there is no way we would have lugged that thing through the forest if we were walking into the location. So your mode of transport plays a big role in deciding which tent is best for you.
Lastly, you need to think about how many people and how much gear you need to fit inside the tent. Obviously, the more people and gear, the bigger the tent has to be.
If you are a fan of minimalist camping, the lighter your tent, the better, and a large tent is not needed.
The Best Cold Weather Tents
Most tent manufacturers offer a cold weather tent in their range now, meaning you are spoiled for choice with a vast range of extras and options to suit your needs.
But having this wide selection on offer, means you need to weigh up your options a little more and think about the pros and cons of each tent you are interested in.
With that in mind, I’ve compiled this list of winter tents that are well worth your consideration.
So from the high-end lines with all the bells and whistles, to the more budget-friendly basic models, here are the tents that will keep you warm this winter.
Arctic Oven 12’x18’ With Vestibule
The first cab off the rank is one of my favorite tents I’ve had the pleasure of sleeping in. The Arctic Oven is a heating powerhouse that will keep you warm and cozy in sub-freezing temperatures. With many sizes and additional options available, these tents vary in price from the hundreds to the thousands of dollars.
Pros – Incredibly warm
- – Large layout
- – Designed for use all year round
- – Can fit up to 10 people inside during summer
- – Oven included
- – Has a vestibule
- – Wind resistant
- – Extremely durable
Cons – Heavy (you will need a vehicle)
- – Can only accommodate 5 or 6 during winter
- – Time-consuming to set up
- – A bit on the expensive side
ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3
A 3 person tent but still lightweight enough to carry into camp ( I wouldn’t recommend carrying it when solo camping though). The ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3’s dome design makes it compact but still spacious enough to comfortably fit three.
PROS
– Small- Well-priced- Compact
– High vestibule
– 14 square feet of cooking and storage space
Cons – Not as durable as other tents
– Fairly heavy for its size
– Susceptible to winds due to tall sidewalls
Big Sky Chinook
A lightweight tent designed for those that are traveling light. The Big Sky Chinook’s double-walled design prevents condensation from forming inside the tent and is designed to keep you warm.
Pros
- – Lightweight- Perfect for backpacking
- – Great for bugging out
- – Large interior
- – High ceilings
- – 2 vestibules
- – Easy setup
Cons
- – Small
- – Only designed for 2 people
- – Exterior poles exposed to weather
Mountain Hardwear EV 2
Mountain Hardware is known for making top quality outdoor gear and the Hardwear EV 2 lives up to those expectations.Designed using the latest cold weather technology and incorporating Mountain Hardwear’s 3-pole Evolution Tension Arch, this high-end tent was designed with serious cold-weather campers in mind.
Pros
- Compact
- Extremely warm
- Wind resistant shape
- Large vestibule for storage and cooking
Cons
- Low ceiling can be a little cramped
- Heavy for its size
- Not completely waterproof (according to some recent reviews)
- Only one color option
Marmot Thor 2 Person Tent
This budget-friendly tent is capable of withstanding almost any weather conditions. The Marmot Thor 2 person tent will keep you warm and won’t break the budget either.
Pros
- Two-door design- Made from extremely durable 40d Nylon Ripstop fabric
- 38 square foot interior
Cons
- A little heavy (8 lbs 6 ozs.)
- Vestibule fastening clips not secure and may pop off
- Small front vestibule door
Canvas Cold Weather Tents
While all the tents featured in this article so far have been nylon and polyester design, another great winter tent material worth considering is canvas.
Canvas tents are extremely durable and warm, making them a fantastic option in winter.
Check out our full article on Canvas Tents – How To Find The Best One For You.
A Brief History of Tents
Since the dawn of mankind, shelter has been a priority and necessity for survival. While our ancestors started their lives living in caves and seeking shelter in dense forests, eventually new technologies paved the way for man’s transition to huts and eventually tents and the homes we know today.
Tents themselves have a very long history and have been used for thousands of years by nomadic people all over the globe.
The first evidence we have of such tents were found in what is now Russia and were constructed of mammoth hides, which made a warm and wind-resistant shelter. A life-saving technology in the harsh Siberian climate.
Fast track a little through history and we begin to see the development of teepees in North America and yurts in Mongolia.
Both the Native Americans and Mongolians lived a nomadic lifestyle and used their portable dwellings to move to a new area once they felt they had taken enough from the land they were currently camped on.
You might be surprised to learn that the Romans also used tents quite often. But instead of being used for a nomadic lifestyle, Romans carried tents in order to conquer the world. Using them as temporary camps for their armies while on the march through Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Most Roman tents were made from calf or goat skin and were made in a huge variety of sizes and designs.
And the history of using tents during wartime has continued ever since.
Look back at any war – from the American Revolution right up to modern military efforts in the Middle East and you’ll find a wealth of tents used for a huge variety of reasons.
After all these years, this simple design is still the most efficient and easiest way to set up a temporary camp.
But that’s not to say the technology hasn’t come a long way during those years. The durable, heated, wind and waterproof winter tents that we know today are a long way from their mammoth skinned distant cousins of the past.
Stuck Without a Tent?
At the start of the article I mentioned that while it’s better to be prepared and carry an adequate tent if you do find yourself trapped outside in the freezing winter cold, you can still find shelter and warmth in your natural surroundings.
But it’s vital that you know what you are doing because, without this knowledge, there’s a very high chance you won’t survive the night.
Here are a few skills to help you survive.
Build An Igloo
This method has been used and perfected over a long period, in the coldest and harshest environments.
The basic idea is to start carving a heap of ice bricks and then stack them together to form a windproof dome.
The trouble with this technique is that it is very time-consuming. So unless you have all day to prepare you probably won’t get your igloo finished in time for nightfall. Especially if you’ve never constructed one before.
But if you manage to build an igloo, its thick walls will keep you well insulated from the cold winds and temperature outside.
Digging a Snow Cave
Using a similar concept as an igloo, a snow cave is a much faster alternative, so is a great option when you are short on time.
A snow cave only needs to be big enough for you to fit inside while trying to use your body temperature to keep warm.
If you spend a lot of time outside in the winter, knowing how to build a proper snow cave is essential, as they are the most commonly used survival snow shelters used and save many lives every year.
The basic idea is to dig out enough snow so that you can fit inside the cave, then construct a wall at the entry to protect you from the wind and cold.
This wall (or door) can be constructed of anything at your disposal (a jacket, snowboard, piece of ice or wood etc) but the important thing to remember is that it must be as sealed as you can get it. Otherwise, you will waste all of the life-saving heating that you’ve been trying to build up inside. But just remember that you still need some oxygen in your cave or you might suffocate. So find the right balance.
Check out this video of someone building a snow cave.
Insulate Your Summer Tent By Using Snow
If you find yourself caught in an unexpected blizzard with only a summer tent for shelter, don’t lose all hope.
Turn your summer tent into a makeshift igloo by adding a thick layer of snow to the exterior (enough to block the wind and insulate the interior of your tent).
Then sit tight and wait out the storm until the snow begins to melt. This should be a sign that the conditions have improved enough outside for you to continue your journey.
Last Thoughts On Cold Weather Tents
Whichever tent you decide on for your winter camping adventures, make sure you are always well prepared and stocked to face any adverse conditions that may arise.
If things go bad, you need to be able to protect yourself and others with you from the deadly effects of hypothermia. Remember, cold weather is dangerous and you need to plan and prepare for the worst.
But don’t let this stop you from getting out there and enjoying the wilderness this winter. Winter camping is a fantastic experience and if you prepare correctly with the right tent and gear you should not have any problems.
Before purchasing your new tent, remember to consider what style of camping you plan on doing, how many people need to fit in the tent and the length of time that you plan to be outdoors.
Do your research correctly and you’ll find the right tent for your needs.
So get out there this winter and experience the beautiful snow-covered landscapes and exciting times that winter camping provides.
Enjoy your camping and stay safe.