Stay Warm While Car Camping With This Easy DIY Cold Weather Hack

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For some, going car camping in the cold may sound appealing. In your mind, you're about to have an amazing time while the crisp air strokes your skin as you gaze at the starry sky. But then, nightfalls aren't always as magical as you'd want: Your car could turn into a fridge faster than you'd imagine, even if you already have a hack to keep you warm in a sleeping bag. The problem comes down to the car windows, which are usually thin and barely insulated. As such, it's very easy for the warmth in your car to escape, leaving you shivering in the middle of the night.

To save yourself from this situation, DIY insulated window covers will do the trick. These kinds of covers create a wall between the warm air in your car and the cold air outside. With reflective insulation such as Reflectix Double Pack Insulation or even foam boards, the heat in the car will be less likely to escape through the glass. And another good thing about insulated window covers is their ability to reduce condensation. Normally, moisture can build up in your car when warm air hits cold glass, leaving your car seats damp and uncomfortable by morning. But with window covers in place, that problem becomes less troubling, and you can be confident enough to go for a winter getaway at any of the USA's top attractions, or elsewhere.

Reflectix is one of the most common materials used for DIY car camping window covers. It's lightweight, relatively inexpensive, and can be cut with scissors to fit just about any window. Afterwards, press it in place with the use of Velcro, suction cups, or magnets. You may as well pair your Reflectix with blackout fabric or foam backing, and seal the edges with fabric tape or weatherstripping for better insulation and blocking of light.

If you want the warmth trapped in even better, you can make your insulation covers multilayered by adding some wool, fleece, or blackout fabric from inside. As a bonus, these DIY covers also block light and give some privacy; this can be useful if you want to sleep in, change clothes, or just stay discreet. But don't forget to keep them from getting wet; dry out the panels if they ever get damp.

For more protection against the cold, combine the window covers with proper cold-weather sleep gear. Layered clothing is a good place to start. And you can take things up a notch with sleeping pads that have high R-value and a sleeping bag rated for cold weather. Importantly, don't forget that adequate ventilation is equally needed. To achieve this, you may just crack a window or two a bit. While it may sound like an odd way to keep yourself warm during your car camping trip, it'll help you get some fresh air and reduce condensation without sacrificing too much warmth.