To go beyond 3 season camping you’ll need extra gear and some know-how.

Below are my gear selections that I pack and sled in on winter camping trips. The listed items below have worked well for me and have proven successful after a few years and multiple trips.  This is the winter kit that I use now, overtime some items might be replaced with better quality, lower weight, higher functioning gear.

WINTER CAMPING GEAR LIST

On Person: Knife, Lighter/Firesteel, Whistle, Compass, Map, Cell Phone, Charger, Snack, Spikes Bait (keep em’ warm close to body).

Packs: Waterproof Sealine Packs, Waxed Canvas Pack for Food and Cooking Kit.

Shelter: SnowTrekker EXP Shortwall Basecamp 8×10 (2+ person) & Kni-co Medium stove with Stove Hearth and Heat Reflector, Tent Pegs, Rutland Stove Thermometer, Stove Pipe Wire, Stove Gloves, Canvas Ground Tarp. 

Boots: Sorel Pack boot with Wool Felt Inserts (that can be dried next to stove) or Muck Boots (dependent on wet or dry snow condition). Worn with insulated Vapor Barrier Socks, Gaitors and Kahoula microspikes.

Gloves & Hat: Egli’s Polar Mitts and Polar Hat, Fox River Wool Fingerless Ragg Gloves, Beige Wool Ear Flap Hat, Ball cap

Clothing: Wicking Smartwool base Layer long and short sleeve, Wool button down, wool vest, wool sweater, WeatherWool Anorak, Wool Pants or thick Waterproof Gore Tex Jacket and Pants if above freezing temps.

Other Clothing: Face Masks and Ski Goggles (if high winds predicted), Underwear, Two Pairs Heavy Duty Wool Socks, Neck Gaitor.

Sleeping Bag & Pad: 0 down Marmot Never Summer and MSS Bivy cover (other bags/liners added if temps predicted extra low), Exped Downmat 9m with option for extra thermarest pads and reflectix material to insulate and block wind drafts.

Transport: Large Eagle Claw Sled and drag rope with 3ft section of tube covering rope at point of pull/resistance. 

Snowshoes: Faber Snowshoes with Lampwick Binding or Modern Snowshoes with built in plastic binding.

Ice Fishing Gear:  Ice Picks, spud bar, tip-ups pre-rigged for target catch, a jig rod with 2-4# ultra-lite line, ice spoon, Mora ice Auger drill, Berkley gulp maggots, 10# fluorocarbon line for Lake Trout or Rainbow trout or Catfish, metal leader for Pike. Mini Tackle Box with sounder, hooks, weights n jigs.    Buy Bait: (spikes, worms, live fish) on route to destination and keep hold of the receipt as some states require certified safe bait fish. Drop in water conditioning tablet so you can close it tight and do not have to hear a power bubbles style battery pump.

Light Kit:  Mini Coleman Propane Lantern with extra Mantles taped inside carry box, Luminoodle, Luci Light Solar Power, Beeswax candles (with aluminum can lantern), rechargeable Headlamp and Flashlight.

Fire Kit: Matches, Lighter and Firesteel, Waxed cotton fire starters or other sure fire method. 

Electronics Kit: Chargers and Cables, Hand Warmers, Headphones.

First Aid Kit: First Aid and Emergency Supplies that include burn and cut care needs. Also an air horn.

Cooking Kit: Metal Nalgene seated in metal cup in a wool sleeve pouch, Mors 1.8L/2qt Pot, 9″ Cold Handle Pan,  Wood Spoon n Spatula, Paper Towels, Antiseptic Alcohol Hand Sanitizer. (The metal bowls allow for boiling but also keep food warm next to the fire or it’ll be instantly cold after removing from heat.)

Other Misc. Gear: Bungees to hold tarp over sled, Sunglasses, Reflective Ribbon, Square Milk Crate for gear that doubles as seat, Adventure Sworn Buck Saw and blade replacement, Bahco or Silky style hand saw, Full-Size Wetterlings Forest Axe, Jute string for tie-outs, Zipties, Hand Sanitizer and TP, Whisk Broom, Aluminum Snow Shovel that fits in stove, Leatherman (with wire cutter)

Bring and Leave in Vehicle: Full Tank of Gas!, Firewood, Hard Edged Snow Shovel, Plastic Scoop Grain Shovel, Jumper Cables, Spare Tire, Wool Blanket, Back-up Sleeping Bag/Pad, Extra Food/Snacks, Change of Warm Clothes, Propane Coleman Burner and Lantern

David Alexander is a professional outdoor guide and conservation biologist.  He enjoys making nature more accessible to people and wildlife.  You can follow him at www.natureintoaction.com