Camping culture in Korea is very big. Camping is considered to be a perfect way to escape the suffocating cities and relax while bonding with your friends or family during weekends. There are many campsites, which offer safety and basic amenities all around the country. The most common season for camping is late spring or early autumn. But camping in the colder season of winter is also quite popular for those who know how to enjoy it.

While for some people camping in the winter season means a war against cold, for others, it is a moment to experience the true warmth. A cold day in nature, when snow falls down and the temperature drops to -10°C, is a perfect moment to feel the romantic atmosphere of true winter camping, admiring the beautiful scenery from the inside of the warm shelter of the tent. However, in order to enjoy such warmth during winter camping, a thorough preparation is necessary.

Here are the most important camping supplies for those who plan to go on a camping adventure in winter:

Heater

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When you go camping in the cold season, especially in winter, a heater is a must. Generally, in Korea both convection kerosene heaters and reflective heaters are often used inside a tent during winter camping. Of course, it depends on the camping style, but convection heaters, like Toyotomi Omni 230, are highly recommended, because they are easy to use and thus are very popular in Korea. Please note, that when using a kerosene heater, it is advised to keep the tent ventilated and to have a carbon monoxide detector to prevent accidents caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

In addition to its main purpose of making the tent warm, kerosene stove can be used in a variety of other ways. For example, it can be used for warming up meals, for grilling or cooking some simple dishes. If the air in the tent is too dry, a water kettle can be placed on the stove and used as a humidifier. Also, when there are some wet clothes, they can be attached to the ceiling over the heater for drying.

It is also important to remember that when using heaters, the temperature difference between the upper and lower air is large because all the heat goes up. The circulation fan is very useful in this situation to circulate air inside the tent. In many cases, the ceiling fan is enough, but sometimes it is more efficient to use a special camping circulator. For example, a circulator is very useful when using a docking tent for car camping. In this case it can be used in parallel to the floor and push warm wind into the car, which is a sleeping space.

Heating mat

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There are various types of heating mats, ranging from 5V USB-type mats that can be used with auxiliary batteries, to electric mats that require power banks that support 220V. Obviously 220V electric mats, like this The Ann Electric Mat, are warmer than USB heating mats, but they are expensive and have the disadvantage that a large-capacity power bank must be present in open areas without electricity. That is why it is recommended to start with a USB heating mat. If a warm winter sleeping bag is prepared, a USB heating mat should be enough.

Supplementary battery (power bank)

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These days batteries or power banks became essential products that help us every day. For camping, they are especially helpful. In addition to charging mobile phones, lanterns, and speakers, supplementary batteries or power banks are crucial for a heating mat or a circulation fan. It is important to remember that the longer the outdoor camping period, the more supplementary batteries or power banks it is better to prepare. Power banks like this Romoss PMT40 40000mAh Portable Powerbank will make it much easier for you to enjoy your time in nature without worrying about running the batteries low.

Sleeping bag

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Nowadays there are many kinds of winter sleeping bags and the price range is very wide. That is why it is good to choose a sleeping bag according to the degree of coldness or to the budget situation. However, consider also the size and heaviness of the sleeping bag. Because some popular sleeping bags, on one hand, are soft and comfortable, but on the other hand, have the disadvantage of being bulky and heavy sometimes. Considering all these details, UrbanCamper Sleeping Bag Downyfeather is a good choice, as it's both soft and lightweight. 

Hot packs

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It is good to always have hot packs in your car for emergency purposes. When purchasing a hot pack, consider its maximum heating temperature and the duration it can keep the temperature. Hot packs in Korea have all sorts of types depending on what part of the body they are used for. It is recommended to have different types prepared for the camping. Also, if you don't have a heating mat, you can sleep inside your sleeping bag with the hot packs all over your body.

Image courtesy of Booking

Those were basic camping supplies, that would help beginners to enjoy the romantic atmosphere of winter camping. But if you are still not sure that you can endure a night in a tent (or a car) in winter or if you are just a fan of comfortable relaxation, you can always try glamping. With glamping you don’t have to set a tent yourself, it’s already warm there and it usually has warm water supply. But at the same time, you will be able to feel the atmosphere of camping. This option is also extremely popular in Korea these days.