8 Cold Weather Camping Essentials at Amazon

Winter camping is a thing. And for those of us who live at high altitude, like me in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, it’s a downright lifestyle choice. I’m surrounded by hundreds of miles of National Forest that butts up to two national parks (Grand Teton and Yellowstone). We spend weekends bundled up in some remote section of the forest just for closer access to our outdoor sport of choice, whether it be skiing, nordic skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, or even snow biking. 

You’ll find us huddled around the fire with a cozy beverage in hand — like a hot toddy or a Mexican hot chocolate — on nights spent in the parking lots of ski resorts. (Yes, most Western ski areas allow camping.) But this valiant effort to be close to nature requires much more than just a tent and a headlamp. You need to be warm — like really warm — on nights spent sleeping in subarctic temperatures. This requires a gear haul that, quite frankly, I won’t leave behind. In fact, without my down sleeping bag and our Solo stove, I’d never follow my husband along on such adventures. And the rest of these items don’t fall too far behind. Shop my cold-weather camping essentials now, and then thank me, when you’re warm and cozy, later.  

8 Editor-Loved Cold Weather Camping Essentials on Amazon

• Kelty Cosmic 20-Degree Down Sleeping Bag, from $150
• Yeti Rambler 10-Ounce Vacuum Insulated Mug, $25, originally $29
• CLIQ Lightweight Portable Camping Chair, $110
• Solo Stove Ranger 2.0 15-Inch Smokeless Fire Pit and Stand, $200, originally $223
• Rumpl The NanoLoft Puffy Blanket, $71, originally $95
• Jetboil Zip Camping Stove Cooking System, $80, originally $95
• Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe Inflatable Sleeping Pad, $120, originally $130 
• GSI Outdoors Escape 3-Liter Pot and Frypan, $110

Kelty Cosmic 20-Degree Down Sleeping Bag 

I pack along a sleeping bag that doesn’t skimp on warmth. Even one drafty spot in our camper van will keep me up all night, rendering me useless on a powder day. But Kelty’s 20°F bag, with its fully-recycled silky-soft shell and its PFAs-free down fill, assures a good night’s sleep. Unlike other sleeping bags, this model has an expanded foot box, so you don’t feel confined, and its draft tube runs the length of the bag, including around the collar, for superior warmth. It comes in a few sizes, so you can choose exactly what works best for you. 

Yeti Rambler 10-Ounce Vacuum Insulated Mug

If your Yeti coffee mug comes with you everywhere, you’re not alone. Mine sure does, and it’s my trusty companion on a winter camping trip, too. I use this 10-ounce stainless mug to house my morning coffee, but then I rinse and repeat with an oatmeal breakfast, and then my evening tea. Its double-walled vacuum insulation keeps my drinks hot for hours and the magslider lid prevents spills while I’m still curled up in bed. Should it fall off the side of the table — no worries, as this mug boasts a shatter-resistant construction.

CLIQ Lightweight Portable Camping Chair

No matter how cold it is, eventually, we emerge from the depths of the van to make breakfast, and Cliq’s portable camping chair allows us to sit outside off the snow while doing so. This packable chair easily sets up in seconds and can comfortably hold up to 300 pounds, even though it weighs only 3.65 pounds. This chair also collapses to the size of a water bottle, so it takes up little space in the van, and its minimalist design makes it a great companion for summer backpacking trips, too. 

Solo Stove Ranger 2.0 15-Inch Smokeless Fire Pit and Stand

Nothing pleases a camping crowd more than a portable Solo stove, and this little number allows you to make a fire where there is no pit (think ski resort parking lots). This adventure-ready stove weighs only 15 pounds and comes with a nifty carrying case for toting it to its spot. Once a fire is built, the stove’s 360-degree Airflow technology provides a smokeless experience, assuring the comfort of everyone gathered around. It comes with a removable ash pan for easy cleanup and a heat deflector to maximize warmth on cold nights. 

Rumpl The NanoLoft Puffy Blanket 

Portable chair? Check. Outdoor fire pit? Check. Now, a Rumpl blanket is all that’s left to enjoy a winter campfire hang-out session. It’s ultralight, packable, and features down-alternative insulation, perfect for cozying up by the fire. And if it snows a little while you’re enjoying your company, never fear. The recycled polyester shell is water-resistant. It’s also odor- and stain-resistant, and easy to tote around to sporting events, or to use as an extra layer over your sleeping bag on those arctic cold nights.

Jetboil Zip Camping Stove Cooking System

Any diehard backpacker has a Jetboil stove in their quiver. It’s said to boil water in two minutes flat using a fraction of the fuel of traditional camp stoves. And this attribute is a must if you’re cooking in the cold. This cooking system features a fuel canister stabilizer, a stove with match ignition, a nearly 1-liter cooking cup with an insulated wrap, and a bottom cover that doubles as a measuring cup and a bowl. One 5-star reviewer calls it “easy and efficient,” adding, “I've never seen water boil so fast, and the whole thing was cool and ready to pack away by the time I was done eating.”

Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe Inflatable Sleeping Pad 

Not all sleeping pads are created equal, especially when it comes to winter camping. That’s why I recommend an insulated sleeping pad, whether you’re sleeping in a tent on the ground, in a truck bed, or in a camper. Klymit’s lightweight, packable air pad uses a lofty, synthetic insulation to keep you warm, and incorporates a body mapping technology that makes you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud. The v-chambers conform to the shape of your body, whether you’re a back, side, or stomach sleeper, and the side rails cradle you so you don’t fall off — a bonus for your significant other.

GSI Outdoors Escape 3-Liter Pot and Frypan

Realistically, you can’t cook everything in a Jetboil mug, and that’s where this nifty GSI collapsible pot and fry pan comes in. This pot combines a metal bottom and lid, with a collapsible silicone middle, and packs down tight enough to slip into a backpack. This cooking system features a strainer lid with burn-prevention pads and a hyperconductive heatsink, allowing for faster cooking rates than traditional pots. The fry pan nestles neatly within the bottom of the pot, and comes with a silicone-wrapped, clip-on handle, making pancake flipping a breeze.