A short guide to enhance the camping experience: clothes, camp and the food

The weather forecast promised sun and 15 degrees when you planned the spring adventure a few months ago. As the date of departure approaches, the situation is completely different and the forecast shows closer to zero mixed with sleet. Cancelling the trip would have been cowardly, but at the same time, it's unnecessary to force yourself through the long weekend of adventure and relaxation, right? Remain calm, here are our top three tips for how to make yourself comfortable in the uncomfortable and lay the groundwork for a fantastic experience and a nice night’s sleep. In addition, yes, we speak from our own experience, as our trip to Val Sadole, located at 1600 metres above sea level, in the Dolomites, everything we didn't expect, happened.

The Clothes

First things first - everything is easier in comfortable temperatures, without getting wet. We know, the layer-on-layer principle is a bit over said by now, but it needs mentioning again because it's key to everything. Pack light, but make sure you can dress according to the weather and activity. Start with a proper outer shell, to protect against both wind and wetness. Our choice lands on Houdini's - The Orange Jacket. Maximum waterproofness and breathability with an extremely low weight and easily packable.

During quiet activities, such as camping, we dress properly, with comfortable underwear in wool that both breathes and stays fresh longer than ditto in synthetic materials. As an additional layer, we choose the Rolls Royce of the middle layers – The Power Houdini. A true classic with high wear resistance, which warms well and is comfortable due to its stretchiness.

During the day trip that takes place at a slightly lower altitude where the snow is absent but the threat of rain remains, we replace the mid-layer with a tencel t-shirt and a pair of lightweight shorts that increase flexibility and are more adapted to a higher pace and more “worked-up” warmth.

The Camp

A roof over your head creates a basic security and is a must to "survive" the night if the temperature is close to zero. It’s better to share a tent that is too small (for warmth) than to sleep alone in a large one. Wrap yourself in a proper sleeping bag and keep the thermal underwear on. If it's really cold, a hat makes all the difference for the whole body. The more layers you have beneath you, the easier it is to keep warm, try at all costs to avoid getting wet from underneath.

The Amenity Dome Small from Snow Peak is perfect for two people and is both easy to pitch and take down.

Tip: if you are less experienced - make sure to pitch the tents in daylight. Everything becomes so much more difficult in the dark, although the moonlight and a couple of bright Hozuki lanterns help with visibility and contribute to a cosy atmosphere throughout the camp.

The Food

They usually say that happiness is in the stomach and with warm food in the body everything feels a little easier. It doesn't have to be too complicated when making a good dinner if you simply plan properly beforehand. Bring ingredients that are not so temperature change sensitive and require minimal equipment. In our case, we decide on a red wine risotto topped with salsiccia (of course it's just as easy to make it vegetarian - just skip the salsicca and add a little extra seasoning). Success in every way and thanks to the cold we can heat up the leftovers for lunch the next day. To cook the risotto, you need a gas burner (or a really hot fire), two slightly larger containers/vessels, a cutting board, a knife, a zest grater and a ladle to stir/scoop with. You can find the recipe further down.

By sharing our experiences, we hope that you will find inspiration to venture out on the adventure that you repeatedly scroll past and only dream about at home on the couch. Feel free to share your own experiences in the comments section and let us know what your dream destination is and what gear you simply cannot live without.