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Ok, winter is coming and we are all dilligent preppers. We don't have the opportunity to choose when a disaster or SHTF scenario will occur so we need to be prepared for all occasions. One thing I often see people overlook is their planning for winter. This oversight has cost people dearly in the past. even such such careful planners like Napoleon and Hitler overlooked preps for cold conditions and this wiped out millions. Winter is occurs in every environment so it's important to be prepared even if your in the city / country or bugging out / in.
Here is your chance to contribute a tip or piece of equipment that will not only make people's lfe easier but may actually save it in a cold snap or an overly cold winter.
Here are my tips:
1- Buy a winter sleep system or bag that is rated for at least 5 - 10 degrees C colder than you think you will need. Couple this with an adequate sleeping pad so that you don't lose your warmth to the ground.
2- Always have spare warm clothes. This includes socks, beanie, longs and gloves. Wet clothes will give you hypothermia and will greatly reduce the thermal efficiency of your sleeping bag. Change into dry clothes before you crawl into your bag.
3- Be prepared for WCS and have first aid designed for winter. This will include a thermal blanket, a couple heat packs and a first aid kit that is easy to open. When cold your fine motor skills suffer and this is greatly compounded by blood loss / shock. Don't have a first aid kit that you can't open.
4- Have shoes designed for winter conditions. Summer shoes will not cut it and nothing slows you down like frostbite.
5- When cooking your hearty-before-bed-meal, boil up some extra water and make hot chocolate or some other high energy drink (avoid coffee). Pour this into a small thermos and put that along with a pee bottle in your sleeping bag. If you wake up cold, drink the hot drink and have a pee in the bottle. Don't waste your energy keeping the pee warm. The bottle will make cold toilet trips avoidable (for us men at least). The extra calories from your drink will help you stay warm. If you have extra hot water you can pour this into a platy or nalgene bottle and keep this inyour bag so you don't have to work harder trying to melt snow for your cooking in the morning.
6- Before bed put your over garments between your sleeping bag and pad. This will give some extra insulation from the ground and will keep your clothes warm. When you get dressed in the morning you will be slipping into warm clothes.
I have more. Now who else has some tips?
Paul.
Here is your chance to contribute a tip or piece of equipment that will not only make people's lfe easier but may actually save it in a cold snap or an overly cold winter.
Here are my tips:
1- Buy a winter sleep system or bag that is rated for at least 5 - 10 degrees C colder than you think you will need. Couple this with an adequate sleeping pad so that you don't lose your warmth to the ground.
2- Always have spare warm clothes. This includes socks, beanie, longs and gloves. Wet clothes will give you hypothermia and will greatly reduce the thermal efficiency of your sleeping bag. Change into dry clothes before you crawl into your bag.
3- Be prepared for WCS and have first aid designed for winter. This will include a thermal blanket, a couple heat packs and a first aid kit that is easy to open. When cold your fine motor skills suffer and this is greatly compounded by blood loss / shock. Don't have a first aid kit that you can't open.
4- Have shoes designed for winter conditions. Summer shoes will not cut it and nothing slows you down like frostbite.
5- When cooking your hearty-before-bed-meal, boil up some extra water and make hot chocolate or some other high energy drink (avoid coffee). Pour this into a small thermos and put that along with a pee bottle in your sleeping bag. If you wake up cold, drink the hot drink and have a pee in the bottle. Don't waste your energy keeping the pee warm. The bottle will make cold toilet trips avoidable (for us men at least). The extra calories from your drink will help you stay warm. If you have extra hot water you can pour this into a platy or nalgene bottle and keep this inyour bag so you don't have to work harder trying to melt snow for your cooking in the morning.
6- Before bed put your over garments between your sleeping bag and pad. This will give some extra insulation from the ground and will keep your clothes warm. When you get dressed in the morning you will be slipping into warm clothes.
I have more. Now who else has some tips?
Paul.