Wear appropriate clothing: Avoid wearing clothing made of cotton, which includes fabrics such as corduroy, denim, flannel, duck, or cotton-polyester blends. Cotton clothing touching your skin will absorb your sweat and other moisture like a sponge and will cease to insulate.
The three Ws of layering: Know how to layer clothing. Remember, wicking (inside layer), warmth (middle layer), and wind/water resistance (outer layer).
Start shedding layers the second you start sweating: If you are overheated, the moisture you produce will chill you to the bone once you stop moving, so it is crucial to start shedding layers once you notice yourself being overheated.
Do not sleep with your face buried under the sleeping bag: The moisture from your breath will cancel out the insulating properties of your sleeping gear. Wear a knit hat or beanie when you sleep.
Keep your clothes for the next day in your sleeping bag with you: You can avoid having big pockets of air between you and the sleeping bag. Also, you will not have to put on cold clothes in the morning.
Do not sleep directly on the ground: Use a closed cell foam pad to provide insulation between your sleeping bag and the ground. A foam pad cushions and insulates.
Choose the right campsite: The morning sun can be a welcome companion. Take note of where the sun will first appear at sunrise. Angle your tent to take advantage of the early rays while shielding the door of your tent from the wind.
Bring firewood: Winter storms may have made most of the wood too wet to burn. An evening campfire will keep you warm at night and make cooking outside more enjoyable in cold weather.
Bring plenty of water: Despite the lack of heat, it is still easy to get dehydrated during the winter. Although you are not visibly sweating, you still lose a lot of water through breathing.
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