How to Use This Checklist
This list covers what most campers bring for a winter trip. Adjust it to the lowest temperature you expect, how far you will be from your car, and whether you will camp on snow. Car camping lets you bring comfort items that would be too heavy for a backpack, so those are marked as optional extras.
Check your own gear at home well before the trip. Set up the tent, inflate the pad, and test the stove. Finding a broken zipper in your driveway is easier than finding it at a snowy campsite.
For the reasoning behind many of these items, see our guide to staying warm while winter camping. For a year-round baseline, start with the what to bring camping checklist.
Shelter
- Tent suited to the conditions. Four-season or winter-rated tents are built for wind and snow loads. A three-season tent may be enough for cool, snow-free nights.
- Footprint or groundsheet
- Extra stakes, since regular stakes may not hold in snow or frozen ground. Snow stakes, or using buried sticks or stuff sacks as anchors, are common approaches.
- Guylines and spare cord
- Repair kit with pole splint and tape
- Snow shovel, useful for clearing a tent site and digging out
- Door mat or small tarp for the entrance
- Optional for car camping: a larger tarp or canopy for a sheltered cooking area
Sleep System
- Sleeping bag rated for the conditions. Many campers pick a bag rated lower than the coldest forecast.
- Sleeping bag liner, optional
- Insulated sleeping pad with a high R-value
- Closed-cell foam pad to go under the insulated pad
- Pillow or a stuff sack filled with spare clothes
- Hard-sided, leak-proof water bottle for use as a hot water bottle
- Dry sleep clothes, kept separate from daytime clothes
- Optional for car camping: a cot, extra blankets, or a second sleeping bag to put over the first
Clothing
Avoid cotton, which holds moisture. Choose wool or synthetic fabrics.
- Base layers, top and bottom
- Mid-layers such as fleece or wool
- Insulated jacket, down or synthetic
- Waterproof and windproof shell jacket
- Waterproof shell or insulated pants
- Warm hat and a balaclava or neck gaiter
- Gloves and mittens, plus a spare pair
- Wool or synthetic socks, several pairs
- Waterproof, insulated boots with room for thick socks
- Gaiters if you will be in deep snow
- Camp shoes or insulated booties for the tent
- Sunglasses or goggles, because snow reflects bright light
Kitchen and Water
- Stove suited to cold weather. Standard canister stoves can lose performance in the cold, so some campers use liquid-fuel stoves or keep canisters warm in a pocket or sleeping bag.
- Extra fuel. Melting snow for water uses a lot more than boiling water from a source.
- Lighter and waterproof matches
- Pot with a lid
- Insulated mug and spoon
- Wide-mouth water bottles, since narrow openings freeze shut more easily
- Insulated bottle sleeves
- Easy, high-calorie food and snacks that will not freeze into bricks
- Thermos for hot drinks
- Optional for car camping: a cooler used to stop food freezing, a bigger stove, and a wash basin
Light, Navigation, and Safety
- Headlamp and spare batteries. Cold drains batteries quickly, and many campers carry lithium batteries.
- Backup light
- Map and compass, plus a phone or GPS with a downloaded map
- Power bank, kept somewhere warm
- First aid kit (see camping survival skills), with blister care and extra attention to cold injuries
- Emergency shelter or bivy and a space blanket
- Whistle
- Satellite messenger or personal locator beacon if you are going somewhere without cell coverage
- Fire starters
- Hand and foot warmers
- Knife or multitool
If you plan to travel in avalanche terrain, you need training and specialized equipment, usually a transceiver, probe, and shovel, and the knowledge to use them. A checklist is not a substitute for that training. Check local avalanche forecasts and land-manager advice.
Hygiene and Small Extras
- Toilet paper and a way to pack it out
- Trowel and local waste rules
- Hand sanitizer
- Lip balm and sunscreen, because snow and altitude can burn skin
- Tissues
- Pee bottle, clearly marked
- Trash bags, including one for wet gear
- Camp towel
Car Camping and Backcountry Differences
Car camping: weight matters less, so bring extra blankets, a large tarp, a bigger tent, more food, and a spare set of dry clothes in the car. Keep a shovel, traction aids, warm layers, and some food and water in the vehicle in case of delays.
Backcountry: weight and reliability matter most. Bring only what you know how to use, repair, and pack. Practice setting up in poor light with gloves on.
Last Checks Before You Leave
- Check the forecast for your lowest temperatures and wind, not just daytime highs.
- Tell someone your route and when you will return.
- Confirm the campground is open and note any closures, fire restrictions, or road conditions.
- Pack the warmest items near the top, in dry bags or sacks.
- Charge phones, power banks, and headlamps.
If you are bringing children, our guide to winter family camping adds planning notes for children.