The Story of How I Fell into the Camping Gear Rabbit Hole at Sound House - Special Edition: Winter Hibernation

2025-12-25

I had my first overnight camping trip and got all excited, thinking, “From now on, I’m going to go camping all the time~♪” But the season shifted from autumn to winter… and now it’s cold! Even in tropical Shikoku, winter is still cold!!

But I still want to go camping! I can’t wait until it gets warmer!!
So, I decided to take on a winter hibernation camping challenge!!!

How to Stay Warm Inside a Tent

For people who don’t camp, winter might seem like the off-season, but for campers, winter is the real deal! It’s peak season for them.
Taking cues from the styles popular in the winter camping community, here are a few ways to stay warm:

If Power Is Available

Use a powered campsite or a portable power supply.
It’s very safe and allows you to use the appliances you normally use at home, making it easy to stay warm.

Electric blankets / Electric carpets: Use inside sleeping bags or under a kotatsu.
Electric heater: Provides instant warmth with the flip of a switch. Power consumption is relatively high.

↓ By the way, Sound House also carries portable power supplies!

Energizer / Energizer Portable Power Station PPS550W1F

With a typical electric blanket (around 40W), you can comfortably use it for an entire night♪

If there is no power

Having an open flame inside a tent is not recommended for safety reasons.
If you choose to do this at your own risk, make sure to properly ventilate your tent to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, and use a carbon monoxide detector.

Kerosene stove: High heating capability. You can also boil water on top.
Cassette gas stove: Easy to use with a cassette gas canister, but it’s difficult to warm the entire tent.
Wood stove: High heating capability. Can be used for cooking on top. Requires lots of preparation and maintenance.

Keeping your sleeping area warm

Even when using heating devices, cold from the ground can make it easy to get chilly, so countermeasures are necessary.

High-insulation mat / cot: Use a thick inflatable mat or cot to block the cold.
Winter sleeping bag: Choose a high-performance winter model, or layer with all-season bags or blankets.
Hot water bottle / hand warmers: Place them at the foot of your sleeping bag for comfort.

LOGOS / LOGOS × Maruka Hot Water Bottle 2.5L (with original cover)

Since it can be heated on a stove or open flame, you don’t need to boil large amounts of water separately! (Always remove the cap when heating on a stove or flame.)

Clothing and other items

Layering: Adjust with three layers (inner, middle, outer).
Cover these 3 main parts: Neck warmers, thick socks, gloves
Warm meals / drinks: Hot pot or soup, for example.

LOGOS / Partitioned Oden Clay Pot (with wooden lid)

LOGOS / Portable Outdoor Atsukan Set

Trying out a wood-burning stove!

As I’ve considered various styles, my preferred setup gradually became clear:

I’m not fond of the cold, so I want to heat the entire tent.
I want to feel the camping vibe with a fire, but since it’s cold outside, I want to enjoy the fire inside the tent.
I’m a bit cautious, so safety is important.

…With these in mind, even though it seems to be a bit of work, I have decided on a wood-burning stove!

[About the safety of wood-burning stoves]

Exhaust gases from combustion are released outdoors through a chimney, so the risk of carbon monoxide filling the tent is lower than with indoor oil stoves.
Because the fuel is wood (solid fuel), there is no risk of fire from fuel leaks or explosions from gas.

*However, since you are handling fire directly, there is a risk of burns or chimney fires depending on how it is installed and used, so extreme caution is required.

You should never risk your life during recreational camping. Before doing this, thoroughly research the operating methods and safety precautions, perform trial runs in your yard, and even test placing it in a tent at a familiar park. After doing all that, I enjoyed a warm and cozy wood-stove on my camping trip!

To truly experience the power of a wood-burning stove, Tokushima even had a rare snowfall!
Even so, I was able to enjoy a toasty and fun camping experience.

Is there an end to the camping obsession?

I got a wood stove, and now my final setup is complete!
I can go camping anytime now!!
Could it be that I’ve finally escaped the “camping gear obsession swamp”?!

…But it turns out there are still plenty of things I want to try, and some of them require the right gear, so it seems I’m far from getting out of the swamp (^–^;;;).
Still, I bought a hammock chair in October and installed a wood burning stove in January. I’m honestly a little scared of my own momentum, lol.

I plan to continue introducing recommended items little by little, so check them out if you’re interested♪