The most common winter camping mistakes

Camping professional and blogger Sebastian Kobel shares tips on how to avoid common mistakes and make winter camping an unforgettable experience.

We all remember our first camping holiday and probably everything that went wrong. Unsuitable equipment, forgetting something here and there and improvising the rest of the holiday ... But if you think you can go on a winter camping holiday with a similarly fatalistic attitude, you're wrong: Particularly in winter you need different and often very special camping equipment. And if something is forgotten, improvising in sub-zero temperatures is not always very easy or pleasant.

Here are my tips for equipping a winter camper as well as interesting facts about winter camping in general.

Insulation mat for the driver's cabin (motorhome)
Insulating the front windscreen of the motorhome or the entire driver's cabin prevents the cold from entering the vehicle. This is particularly noticeable on the windscreen.

Roof chimney extension (caravan)
Caravans have the chimney of the heating system on the roof. If there is a lot of snow, the chimney can quickly be covered. With the roof chimney extension, it is still uncovered even when there is 20 cm of fresh snow.

Refrigerator winter cover (motorhome and caravan)
The refrigerator grilles on the outside of the vehicle are used for the supply and exhaust air of the refrigerator. In winter, however, a lot of cold air gets into the vehicle through them.  Special winter covers for these grilles provide a remedy.

Heating with electricity?
Cosiness is an important aspect of winter camping: When you come in from outside, the vehicle should ideally be cosy and warm.  Most motorhomes or caravans are equipped with gas or diesel heating. However, there are also campers who prefer heating with electricity. I personally advise against this, because unlike in summer, many campsites charge for electricity in winter according to consumption and not as a flat rate. This can quickly become quite expensive when heating with an electric heater. I prefer to heat with gas in winter.

Sufficient gas supply
Gas consumption is high, especially in winter, and you can easily need two gas bottles for a weekend's heating. I strongly recommend that you have enough in reserve and that you check when planning your trip whether you can change the bottles on campsite.

Plastic or steel gas bottles?
Plastic gas bottles have become indispensable for camping. The advantage over the steel cylinder is its considerably lower weight - probably the most important reason why many campers opt for plastic. But in winter, the experienced camper likes to go back to the steel bottle. Plastic bottles freeze much faster than the heavier steel bottles. My tip: Watch the weight, pack consciously and go for the (heavier) steel bottle.

Setting off without a reservation
If you think winter camping is only for the hardy and there aren't many of them, you're wrong. Winter camping is becoming more and more popular. Especially among new campers being on the road with your own vehicle is an exciting experience even in the cold season. The increased demand is now leading to bottlenecks at the campsites in winter as well, especially at weekends or on public holidays. If you are travelling for winter sports and want a site close to the ski slopes, you should definitely book in advance. There can be a shortage as early as autumn, and some of the very popular campsites in the winter ski resorts are already very well booked in summer. Only by making a reservation can you be sure of finding a place for Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Pay attention to the costs
The myth that camping holidays are basically »cheap holidays« is long outdated: Camping is not cheap, especially not in winter. Compared to summer camping, higher costs for electricity and gas consumption as well as winter equipment add up quickly. Anyone considering winter camping should take this into account already when buying a vehicle.

Summary
Winter camping requires good and thorough preparation. It is important to plan the trip, reserve the campsite, put together the right accessories and stock up sensibly. Once you have succumbed to the fascination of winter camping, you won't be able to get away from it again in a hurry.  A cheese fondue in front of the camper in freezing temperatures will remain unforgettable.

Ready to set off?

Sebastian has put together a winter camping checklist that might help you plan your next winter camping trip.

winter camping checklist