"(1) Advantages and Disadvantages of Staying in a Snowy Mountain" written by a professional who stays in the car has been very well received since its release. It was the STEEP editorial department who realized how many users were interested in staying in the car, gaining access to the top of the ranking of popular articles. Now, for the second installment, let's introduce "must-have items for staying in a snowy mountain".
Points for a safe and comfortable stay in the car
You can move freely and go skiing as soon as you wake up in the morning. Once you understand the benefits of staying in the car, such as reducing the cost of lodging, you will want to try it next time. You can easily imagine that there is. So what should we do to create that environment?
The car night YouTuber "To-chan is Tennen Perm" will teach you. Based on his 20 years of staying in the car during the snow season, including 6 years of staying in the car with his child in a heavy snowfall area in winter, let me introduce you to the essential items for staying in the car on a snowy mountain.
Sleeping in the car during the season, the most important thing is "creating an environment to conquer the cold"
For example, how cold will it get inside the car at night when sleeping in the car during the harsh winter? Three hours after the engine is turned off, the temperature drops below freezing (0°C), and by morning, the temperature inside the car can drop to -7°C to -15°C. Even though it's the spring season, don't let your guard down. Even if it's warm during the day, it's better to think that the temperature will drop suddenly at night, and it will be colder than you can imagine.
The most important thing about staying in the car during the season is "creating an environment to conquer the cold".
First and foremost, you should prepare items that are useful for cold protection and protection against the cold. There are two countermeasure themes: “insulation of the car” and “warmth of the body”. If you can do these two well, you can spend your time in the car without feeling cold even in the harsh winter, and you don't need to prepare a heater. Let's take a closer look.
Creating an important environment 1_ Above all, "Insulation of the car"!
When sleeping in a car, turning off the engine while sleeping is the minimum etiquette. After the engine is stopped, what should I do to keep the warmth of the heater that was turned on until I went to bed without lowering the temperature inside the car as much as possible?
Essential item ① Insulation sheet for windows
First and foremost is window insulation. Cars have large windows, so the cold air in the middle of winter cools the glass and lowers the temperature inside the car. Just by insulating the windows inside the car, you can cut off the cold outside air considerably. What you need is an insulation sheet. If you put insulation sheets on the windshield, the rear glass, the side of the seat, and all the windows, the insulation effect is outstanding. It also has the effect of suppressing dew condensation. Of course, it also plays an important multi-purpose role, protecting your privacy while you sleep.
The recommended insulation sheet that Tou-chan uses at the Tennenperm family is the “ Multi Shade ” from a manufacturer called “Aizu”. It has high insulation properties, and in the winter it blocks the cold air outside the car to maintain the temperature inside the car, and in the summer it reflects the strong sunlight to reduce the temperature rise inside the car and also protects against UV rays. is a must-have powerful item.
This multi-shade uses a vapor-deposited aluminum sheet on the outside and a thick filling inside, so the level of functionality and insulation effect is completely different from ordinary curtains and insulation sheets.
I've seen silver mats introduced as insulation for windows, but if there's even the slightest gap in the silver mat, cold air will enter through it. In that respect, the multi-shade has a rich lineup according to the car model, and the fit of the window glass is outstanding. After all, sleeping in a car during the harsh winter can be life-threatening. I want to use a heat insulating sheet with good performance rather than cost savings.
Essential item ② Sleeping mat in the car to prevent the floor from getting cold
If you sleep directly in the luggage compartment of the car, you need to be careful of the cold from the floor. If you want to sleep comfortably, you should have a thick sleeping mat (air mat). Is the camping boom also a tailwind? Nowadays, there are a lot of air mattresses with the product name of "car sleeping mats". It seems that it will be difficult to choose from the green selection, but the selection points will be like this.
- Can you get rid of bumps in your car?
- does it fit the size of the car
- comfort while sleeping
- time to set
- Compactness when not in use
There are three types of sleeping mats: "inflator mat", "air bed" and "high resilience urethane mat", each of which has advantages and disadvantages. I'd like to tell you more about it, but I can't wait! people to check out here
Creating an important environment 2_Keep your body warm
A car alone is not enough to protect against the cold. Don't forget to keep warm around your body.
Essential item 3: Wear that can be layered
The basics of cold weather is to keep your body warm first. If you are a STEEP reader, you can probably convey it by saying "Let's layer well in the car". The basics of layering are as you can see. The first layer that touches the skin is the base layer, and the middle layer in between the outer layer (shell) creates a layer that traps air to keep the temperature inside the garment warm.
After playing in the mountains for a day and descending the mountain, the clothes are still wet with sweat and snow... Sometimes it takes a long time to dry. The base layer and the outermost layer don't have to be made of sturdy material, so it's a good idea to bring a spare for inside the car. And it would be even better if you could warm yourself up in a hot spring before going to bed, and sleep in the car wearing warm clothes so that you don't get cold.
Essential item ④ A sleeping bag with high heat retention
When I go to sleep, I put in a sleeping bag (sleeping bag/sheraf) in the car. There are some cheap ones available now, but if you think about heat retention and moisture permeability, outdoor brands that are particular about materials and performance would be good.
By the way, Dad has been using THE NORTH FACE's -18℃ down sleeping bag for cold winters (upper photo). I've been using this sleeping bag for nearly 20 years now, and as expected, a good one won't lose its shape even after many years of use. So, even if it is expensive when you buy it, it will last a long time, so the cost performance will be high as a result.
If it's a sleeping bag for sleeping in the car in the summer, it doesn't matter what manufacturer it is, but in the winter it's important to keep warm, so be sure to choose a good quality one. There are two main types of sleeping bag materials: down and synthetic fibers, but down is by far the warmest. In addition, down is light and compact when stored, so convenience is doubled.
There are two types of sleeping bags. "Mummy type" and "Envelope type". The mummy type is recommended for sleeping in the car. It is warmer than the envelope type because it has a structure that covers the whole body, including the head, like a bagworm.
Essential item ⑤ Warmer or rechargeable hot water bottle
In addition to layering your clothes, you can also use warmers on the back of your neck, on your lower back, or on the inside of your socks to keep you warmer. Warmers are stronger than they look, and many of them keep you warm for more than 10 hours.
For those who are a little reluctant to use disposables, using a hot water bottle is also a good idea. If you're worried about boiling water in the car before going to bed, there's even a rechargeable hot water bottle.
There are many rechargeable hot water bottles that can be used cordless, so charge them in advance and put them in your sleeping bag. It can keep you warm while you sleep. What's more, it takes only 10 minutes to charge, and when used in a futon, the temperature lasts for about 6 to 10 hours.
Creating an important environment 3_Securing a power supply
Essential item ⑥ Portable power supply
Portable power supplies can be used for electric blankets, portable lights for work, charging mobile phones and PCs, etc., and are also useful in the event of a disaster, so having them gives you a different sense of security. The price is a little high, but it's better to have one.
The portable power supply in the photo above is a popular model for staying in the car from a manufacturer called “EcoFlow”. With a large capacity of 720Wh, a laptop can be fully charged 13 times. Recently, more and more people are using electric blankets when sleeping in their cars. A portable power supply is a necessity to use an electric blanket overnight .
By the way, depending on the set temperature and the power consumption of the electric blanket, EcoFlow can be used for one or two nights without charging in the middle. Despite its large capacity and power, it is light and does not take up much space. With a quick charge that takes only 1.6 hours to fully charge, the usability is perfect. However, do not forget to fully charge it at home when taking it with you on an overnight trip.
Essential item ⑦ Electric blanket
If you have a portable power supply, you can use an electric blanket. A single electric blanket costs less than 5,000 yen, and even a large one costs 10,000 yen. It's easy, and if you put an electric blanket on the air mattress, under the sleeping bag, or under the bed, you can prevent the bottom from getting cold from the floor, and you should be able to sleep warmly until morning. The power of electricity is great, and the level of comfort is quite different with or without it. It can be folded, so it's not bulky, so there's no reason not to stack one.
Electric blankets have other benefits as well. It is a well-known fact that staying in a car for a long time with the engine running is contraindicated for safety reasons, but even heating appliances such as FF heaters and stoves can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. In that respect, electric blankets are safe because there is no need to worry about such accidents. The air inside the car does not become polluted, it does not dry out, and there is also consideration for the environment.
Creating an important environment 4_Measures against snow
Essential item ⑦ Snow brush
It is not uncommon for snow country in severe winter to have tens of centimeters of snow piled up in one night. If you're staying in the car, a snow brush with a scraper is a must-have item for removing snow that's accumulated on the roof during the night and hardened snow on the windows.
Just before going out to ski, the engine was warmed up, and when I left the car for a long time and came back, the water that had melted on the surface of the car froze in the cold outside air, and the snow covered it even more. often It is very troublesome to pick it up. At this time, ice and snow cannot be removed well unless a scraper is attached. Therefore, it is good to install a snow brush with a scraper.
Required item ⑧ Scoop
"When I arrived at the parking lot at night, there was already 30 to 50 cm of fresh snow. It is expected that more snow will accumulate until the next morning while I am sleeping." In such a case, be sure to clear the snow around the car with a shovel at night before going to bed.
Be especially careful around the engine muffler. When you start the engine in the morning, there is also the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning due to exhaust gas flowing back into the car due to the muffler being clogged with snow. Also, if the snow piles up too much, the door won't open from the inside, or the outside of the car will be buried in snow and you won't be able to escape. For such times, it is important to remove the snow around the car during the night.
Summary of this time
In the second installment of the series, we introduced “important things to do when sleeping in the car in winter” and “essential items for sleeping in the car in winter”
.
① Above all, "Insulation of the car"!
②Keep your body warm
③Secure a power supply
④Measures against snow
These are the essential items for a night in the snowy mountains.
●Insulation sheets for windows
●Insulation material for the body
●Mat for sleeping in the car
●Clothes that can be worn in layers
●Sleeping bag with high heat retention ●
Body warmer or rechargeable hot water bottle
●Portable power supply (battery)
●Snow brush
●Scoop
Haruyama is still a fun season. There are many ski resorts where you can ski until the consecutive holidays in May Even though it's spring, you shouldn't let your guard down when it comes to preparations, but compared to the harsh winter, the hurdles to staying in the car will be much lower.
In the next 3rd installment, we plan to deliver "Finding a place to stay in the car"!
someone who can tell me
To-chan is the Tennenperm Family
A family of four who enjoy surfing, skiing and snowboarding while traveling from the sea to the snowy mountains all over the country with Hiace for 40 to 50 days a year. As a surfer, I started sleeping in my car because I wanted to be close to good waves, and have been sleeping in my car for over 20 years. From 2016 to 2019, he also conquered Japan with his family overnight in a car. From the winter of 2019, I started a two-base life (dual life) in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture. He is a YouTuber and influencer who spreads the charm of a free way of life and staying in the car on SNS.
Overnight event "Izakaya Van Life in Niigata" will be held from April 22nd (Sat) to 23rd (Sun), 2023!
"To-chan wa Tennen Perm" will hold an event "Izakaya Van Life" in April! The event is full of activities that parents and children can enjoy, such as outdoor experiences such as wood-chopping and fire-making, and workshops where you can fully enjoy nature. There are many stalls selling Niigata gourmet food and alcohol! If you are interested in sleeping in the car, let's go and have fun.
▼ Click here for details https://tennenperm.fun/izakaya_vanlife_niigata1/
https://www.instagram.com/tennenperm_daddy/
https://www.youtube.com/user/masatoikebe
*Please note
We recommend that you contact the ski resort in advance if you plan to stay overnight in the parking lot of the ski resort. Some ski resorts make announcements such as "We kindly ask that you refrain from staying overnight in the car." As a skier or snowboarder who loves playing in the snowy mountains, please follow the rules and manners of the ski resort.