Learn practical ways to stay warm outdoors through clothing, shelter, insulation, fire and heat management while reducing the risk of cold-related problems.
Activity Overview Difficulty: IntermediateTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Suitable campsite or woodland camping areaBest for: Scouts and ExplorersSkills: Campcraft, survival skills, insulation, resourcefulness, outdoor safety Improvised ground insulation is a way of reducing heat loss between your body and the ground when you do not have enough conventional sleeping equipment. The ground can draw heat away from…
Knowing how to stay warm outdoors without a fire is an important survival skill. A fire can provide warmth, but there are many situations where lighting one isn’t possible, practical or safe. You might be camping somewhere where fires aren’t permitted, caught out in poor weather, travelling without fire-lighting equipment or simply need to conserve…
Staying warm in a sleeping bag is an important part of camping, especially during colder nights in the UK. A good sleeping bag can provide excellent insulation, but simply having a warm-rated sleeping bag doesn’t guarantee a warm night’s sleep. What you wear, what you sleep on, where you camp and how you look after…
Cold hands can make outdoor activities uncomfortable and can make simple tasks much harder. Whether you’re hiking, camping, taking part in a Scout activity or spending time outdoors in winter, knowing how to keep your hands warm is a useful practical skill. Your hands are particularly exposed to cold weather, and once they become very…
Cold feet can turn an enjoyable outdoor activity into a miserable one. Whether you’re hiking, camping, taking part in a Scout activity or simply spending time outside during winter, keeping your feet warm and dry is an important part of staying comfortable and reducing heat loss. The good news is that keeping your feet warm…
When you’re outside in cold weather, staying dry is one of the most important things you can do to stay warm. Rain, wet grass, splashes and even your own sweat can leave clothing damp. Once that happens, your clothing may not insulate as effectively and you can start losing body heat more quickly. For Scouts,…
Staying warm outdoors isn’t simply about putting on more clothing or sitting next to a fire. Your body is constantly producing heat, but it is also constantly losing heat to the surrounding environment. Understanding how that happens makes it much easier to stay warm when camping, hiking, taking part in Scout activities or spending time…
Knowing how to dress in layers is one of the simplest ways to stay warm outdoors. Whether you’re hiking, camping, taking part in a Scout activity or simply spending time outside during colder weather, a good layering system allows you to adjust your clothing as conditions and activity levels change. The aim isn’t necessarily to…
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. ⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Wet clothing can become dangerous in cold, windy or exposed conditions. Water conducts heat away from the body much faster than dry air, and wind can…
Staying Warm Outdoors Staying warm is one of the most important skills you can learn when spending time outdoors. Whether you’re camping, hiking, taking part in a Scout activity or learning survival skills, keeping your body warm can make the difference between being comfortable and becoming dangerously cold. The good news is that staying warm…
