The Best Winter Camping Gear of 2016
Nine tools to thrive on cold overnights
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There's no need to put away your camping gear come winter. Just upgrade it. Presenting everything you need to stay warm and have a blast on snowbound nights.
Western Mountaineering Snojack parka
This 850-plus-fill down jacket, made from Gore Windstopper, was easily the warmest of the dozen tested. But with quilted stitching along the side panels, we never felt we were trading mobility for coziness. Bonus: the expanded hood creates better peripheral vision.
Price $775
Valandre Odin Neo sleeping bag
The new Odin Neo is 10 percent lighter than last year’s but equally capable. With an impressive draft collar, it kept us warm even in the negatives.
Price $900
Granite Gear Nimbus Trace Access 85 pack
The Nimbus Trace is bigger (85 liters!) than ever, but keeps important features like the lightweight yet stiff composite suspension system. Cool feature: the front panel can be peeled away with a rip of Velcro for quick access to extra layers.
Price $370
Sea to Summit Comfort Plus sleeping pad
Sure, this pad has Thermolite insulation, durable face fabric, and a double-valve system that inflates in less than a minute. But we’re most excited about the layered cushioning. A bubble of air along the bottom kept us above the snow, while a pressurized chamber let testers fine-tune the softness.
Price $200
Ortovox Snow saw
Great for cutting shelter blocks and testing snowpack. Pair with the Kodiak shovel.
Price $59
Sierra Designs Convert 3 tent
This three-person tent shines in winter, with its large removable vestibule, which kept gear for three adults dry during a snow storm.
Price $690
Ortovox Kodiak shovel
For moving lots of snow, nothing quite measures up to the Kodiak. A large blade, sticky rubber coating on the shaft, and shovel and hoe digging modes made this the ideal tool for making avy test pits.
Price $89
Petzl Tikka headlamp
Petzl updated the Tikka by making the on-off switch bigger for mitten-friendly use and adding a glow-in-the-dark element, so the tangerine-size light is easy to find at night.
Price $30
Snow Peak GeoShield stove
The GeoShield locks into a single-piece unit—windscreen plus stove. But we really like the way the canister connects to the heating element via a hose, so you can optimize gas pressure for subzero temperatures.
Price $100