"Part 1: The Pros and Cons of Car Camping in Snowy Mountains," written by a car camping professional, has been a big hit since its release. It attracted so many hits that it became the top ranked popular article, and the STEEP editorial team realized just how many users are interested in car camping. Now, in the second installment, we will introduce "Essential Items for Car Camping in Snowy Mountains."
Tips for safe and comfortable car camping
Once you understand the benefits of sleeping in your car, such as the freedom to move around freely and being able to go skiing as soon as you wake up in the morning, as well as the savings on accommodation costs, you'll be thinking, "I definitely want to try it!" But you can easily imagine that in order to actually do it, you'll need to "create an environment where you can sleep in your car safely." So, how do you create that environment?
We'll be learning from car camping YouTuber "Dad Has a Tennen Perm." He has 20 years of experience camping in his car during the snow season, including six years camping in his car with his children in areas with heavy snowfall in winter, and will introduce us to the essential items for camping in snowy mountains
The most important thing when sleeping in your car during the cold season is to create an environment that will help you beat the cold
For example, if you're sleeping in your car during the dead of winter, how cold will it get inside at night? Three hours after you turn off the engine, the temperature will drop below freezing (0°C), and by morning, the temperature inside the car may even drop to between -7°C and -15°C. Even in the spring season, you should still be careful. Even if it's warm during the day, the temperature will drop suddenly at night, and you should expect it to be colder than you can imagine
The most important thing when sleeping in your car during the winter season is to "create an environment that will help you beat the cold." First and foremost, you need to prepare items that will help you protect yourself from the cold. The two key countermeasures are "insulating your car" and "keeping your body warm." If you do these two things properly, you can sleep in your car in the middle of winter without feeling cold, and you won't need to prepare a heater.
Let's take a closer look.
Important environmental creation 1_ Above all, "insulating your car"!
When sleeping in a car, it is basic etiquette to turn off the engine while sleeping. But how can you maintain the warmth of the heater that was on before you went to sleep without lowering the temperature inside the car as much as possible after the engine is turned off?
Essential item #1: Window insulation sheets
First and foremost, window insulation is key. Car windows are large, so the cold air in midwinter cools the glass, lowering the temperature inside the car. Simply insulating the windows inside your car can significantly block out the cold outside air. This is where an "insulating sheet" is essential. Applying insulating sheet to all windows, including the windshield, rear window, and sides of the seats, will provide excellent insulation. It also has the effect of reducing condensation. Of course, it also plays a multi-faceted and important role, protecting your privacy while you sleep
Multi Shade made by a manufacturer called "Aizu ." It has high insulation properties, and in winter it blocks out the cold air from outside the car to maintain the temperature inside the car, and in summer it reflects strong sunlight to prevent the temperature inside the car from rising and also provides protection from UV rays, making it an indispensable item when sleeping in the car.
This multi-shade uses an aluminum vapor deposition sheet on the outside and a generous amount of padding on the inside, so its functionality and insulating effect are completely different from regular curtains or insulating sheets
I've seen people recommend silver mats as a way to insulate windows, but even the slightest gap in silver mats lets cold air in. Multi-Shade offers a wide lineup to suit your vehicle model, and they fit perfectly to your window glass. After all, sleeping in your car during the harsh winter can be life-threatening. It's better to use a high-performance insulation sheet than to save on costs
Essential Item 2: A car mat to prevent the floor from getting cold
If you sleep directly in the trunk of your car, you need to be careful of the cold from the floor. If you want a comfortable sleep, it's a good idea to have a thick car sleeping mat (air mattress). Is the camping boom helping? There are now a ton of air mattresses with product names like "car sleeping mat." With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to make a choice, but these are some key points to consider when making your decision
- Can you eliminate bumps in the car?
- Does it fit the size of your car?
- Comfort while sleeping
- Time to set
- Compact when not in use
check out the "Dad Has a Natural Perm" website here
Creating an important environment 2: Keeping the body warm
Protecting yourself from the cold doesn't just mean keeping your car warm. You also need to make sure you keep your body warm
Essential Item 3: Layerable clothing
The basics of keeping warm are to first keep your body warm. STEEP readers will probably understand this when I say, "Make sure to layer properly when in the car." The basics of layering are as follows: the first layer that touches your skin is the base layer, and the middle layer is between the outer layer (shell) and the base layer, creating a layer that traps air and keeps the temperature inside your clothes warm
When you come down from a day of hiking in the mountains, your clothes may be wet with sweat or snow and take a long time to dry. Your base layer and outer layer don't need to be made of as sturdy a material as your outer layer, so it's a good idea to bring extra ones to keep in the car. It's also best to warm up your body in a hot spring or similar before going to bed, and then sleep in warm clothes in the car to keep your body warm
Essential item 4: A highly insulating sleeping bag
When sleeping in the car, I use a sleeping bag. There are some cheap sleeping bags available now, but if you want warmth and breathability, it's best to choose one from an outdoor brand that is made with high-quality materials and features
By the way, my dad has always used THE NORTH FACE's down sleeping bag (pictured above) for the harsh winter weather, which can withstand temperatures as low as -18°C. He's been using this sleeping bag for nearly 20 years, and as you'd expect, a good sleeping bag doesn't wear out even after years of use. So, even though it's expensive to buy, it lasts a long time, so it's ultimately cost-effective
Any brand of sleeping bag will do for sleeping in a car in the summer, but for winter, heat retention is key, so be sure to choose one that's of good quality. Sleeping bag materials can be broadly divided into "down" and "synthetic fiber," but down is by far the warmest. In addition, down is lightweight and compact when stored, making it extremely convenient
There are two main types of sleeping bags: "mummy" and "envelope." The mummy type is recommended for sleeping in a car. It is designed like a bagworm, covering the entire body including the head, so it is warmer than the envelope type
Essential Item 5: Heat pack or rechargeable hot water bottle
In addition to layering your clothes, you can stay even warmer by sticking a heating pad behind your neck or waist, or on the bottom of your socks. Heat pads are stronger than they look, with many maintaining warmth for over 10 hours, and because they can be placed very close to your skin, the feeling of warmth is indescribable
If you're not comfortable with disposable ones, you can also use a hot water bottle. For those who find it a hassle to boil water in the car before going to sleep, there are also rechargeable hot water bottles available
There are many cordless rechargeable hot water bottles available, so you can charge them in advance and place them in your sleeping bag. They'll keep you warm while you sleep. They only take 10 minutes to charge, and will maintain their temperature for about 6 to 10 hours when used inside your futon
Important Environmental Creation 3: Securing Power Sources
Essential Item ⑥ Portable Power Supply
Portable power sources can be used for electric blankets, portable work lights, charging mobile phones and PCs, and are useful in emergencies, so having one gives you a sense of security. They are a bit pricey, but it's always good to have one
The portable power source in the photo above is a popular model for car camping made by EcoFlow. It has a large capacity of 720Wh, and can fully charge a laptop 13 times. Recently, more and more people are using electric blankets when camping in their cars. A portable power source is essential .
By the way, EcoFlow can probably be used for one to two nights without needing to be charged, depending on the temperature setting and the power consumption of the electric blanket. It's large-capacity and powerful, yet light and doesn't take up much space. It's fast-charging, requiring only 1.6 hours for a full charge, making it incredibly easy to use. However, if you're taking it on a car camping trip, be sure to fully charge it at home
Essential Item 7: Electric Blanket
If you have a portable power source, you can use an electric blanket. A single-sized electric blanket costs less than 5,000 yen, and even a large one can be purchased for as little as 10,000 yen. Not only is it convenient, but if you place an electric blanket under your bed, such as on top of an air mattress or under your sleeping bag, it will prevent the cold from the floor from getting in, allowing you to sleep comfortably and in a warm state until morning. The power of electricity is great, and the level of comfort is quite different with or without it. It can be folded up and doesn't take up much space, so there's no reason not to keep one on hand
Electric blankets have other benefits as well. It is well known that sleeping in a car for long periods of time with the engine running is a safety precaution, but even heating appliances such as FF heaters and stoves can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. In this regard, electric blankets eliminate the risk of such accidents, making them safer. They also don't pollute or dry out the air inside the car, making them environmentally friendly
Important Environmental Creation 4: Snow Countermeasures
Essential Item 7: Snow Brush
In snowy regions during the harsh winter, it's not uncommon for tens of centimeters of snow to fall overnight. If you're sleeping in your car, a snow brush with a scraper is an essential item for removing snow that has accumulated on the roof or hardened snow that has built up on the windows during the night
If you leave your car warm with the engine running right before you go out skiing, and then come back after a long time away from the snow, the water that had melted on the surface of the car often freezes in the cold outside air, leaving even more snow on top. Scraping it off can be a real pain. If you don't have a scraper, it's hard to remove the ice and snow. That's why it's a good idea to have a snow brush with a scraper on board
Essential Item 8: Shovel
During peak season, it's not uncommon to find yourself arriving at a parking lot at night to find 30-50cm of fresh snow already piled up. It's predicted that even more snow will pile up while you sleep until the next morning. In such cases, be sure to shovel away the snow around your car before going to bed at night
Be especially careful around the engine muffler. When you start the engine in the morning, snow can clog the muffler, causing exhaust fumes to back up into the car, risking carbon monoxide poisoning. It can also be a disaster if too much snow piles up and you can't open the doors from the inside, or if the outside of the car is buried in snow and you can't get out. To avoid these situations, it's important to clear the snow around your car overnight
Summary of this article
In the second part of this series, we introduced "Important things to know when sleeping in your car in winter" and "Must-have items for sleeping in your car in winter." To recap,
here are some tips for staying comfortable until morning when sleeping in your car during the winter season...
① Above all, "insulate your car"!
② Make sure to keep your body warm
③ Ensure there is a power source
④ Take measures against snow
These are the essential items for sleeping in your car on a snowy mountain
●Window insulation sheets
●Body insulation
●Car sleeping mats
●Layered clothing ●
Highly insulating sleeping bags
●Heat-retaining heating pads and rechargeable hot water bottles
●Portable power sources (batteries)
●Snow brushes
●Shovels
Spring is still a fun time in the mountains, and ski resorts open until the Golden Week holidays in May . Even though it's spring, you can't let your guard down when it comes to preparations, but the hurdles to sleeping in your car are likely much lower than they were during the harsh winter.
The next installment, the third one, will be about "Finding a place to sleep in your car"!
Someone to teach me
Dad's family has a perm
This family of four spends 40 to 50 days a year traveling in their Hiace, from the sea to the snowy mountains, all over Japan, enjoying surfing, skiing, and snowboarding. As surfers, they started sleeping in their car because they wanted to be near good waves, and have been doing so for over 20 years. From 2016 to 2019, they even traveled around Japan sleeping in their car. In the winter of 2019, they began a dual life in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture. They are YouTubers and influencers who share the appeal of a free lifestyle and sleeping in their car on social media
Car camping event "Izakaya Van Life in Niigata" will be held on April 22nd (Sat) - 23rd (Sun) 2023!
"Dad's a Natural Perm" will be holding a car camping event called "Izakaya Van Life" in April! The event is packed with activities that parents and children can enjoy, such as outdoor experiences like chopping firewood and making a fire, and workshops to enjoy nature. There will also be many stalls selling Niigata gourmet food and alcohol! If you're interested in car camping, be sure to come and check it out
▼For more details, please click here : https://tennenperm.fun/izakaya_vanlife_niigata1/
https://www.instagram.com/tennenperm_daddy/
https://www.youtube.com/user/masatoikebe
※Please note
If you plan to sleep in your car in a ski resort parking lot, we recommend that you contact the ski resort in advance. Some ski resorts have announcements such as "We ask that you refrain from sleeping in your car the night before your trip." As skiers and snowboarders who love playing in the snowy mountains, please be sure to follow the rules and etiquette of the ski resort