best travel trailers for winter camping

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Travel Consultants and Travel Tips

Best Cold Weather Travel Trailers

January 15, 2021 by Charlotte Phillips

Last updated on December 10th, 2023 at 07:54 am

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What if your RV season didn’t have to end? What if instead of storing your travel trailer you became one of the brave few who kept on trucking through rain, sleet, and SNOW!

With the right setup, it’s entirely possible.

Not only does RV’ing through the winter allow you to see the world from an entirely different perspective, but it also means lower prices at campgrounds, and in some cases, you’ll have the campground all to yourself. Of course, that’s not for everyone and winter camping isn’t easy. But if you’re one of the brave few who wants to keep the adventure going, I’m going to review my 8 favorite travel trailers for winter and cold weather camping.

Why Travel Trailers?

You’ve got a lot of options when it comes to winter RV’ing but for my money travel trailers are one of the best ways to go. While driving anything in winter conditions is going to be difficult, the big benefit that you have with a travel trailer is the freedom to unhitch and hit the road. While this luxury is always nice, it’s absolutely awesome during the winter.

The last thing you want to do in bad conditions and drag your entire house to the store for a supply run. With a travel trailer, you don’t have to.

Travel trailers can also be just as hardy and warm as any other RV class so there’s no reason not to take advantage of the freedom they offer.

Do I Need An Arctic Package?

You’ve probably seen an RV labeled as being 4-seasons ready or being fully equipped with the arctic package. Unfortunately, there is no standard for what an arctic package  has  to include- which makes things confusing. It also means that one manufacturer’s version of an arctic package could be very different from what you actually need.

That’s why it’s important to not get distracted by the marketing; instead, you need to make sure you understand the specifics of what’s included in the 4-season or arctic packages. The biggest things to look for are additional insulation as measured by the rigs R-Value along with special warming mechanisms for tanks and fluid lines. Obviously being cold isn’t great but if you’ve got a frozen line in the middle of winter you could up with much bigger problems than being a little chilly.

When it comes to insulation, you should focus on the specific R-Value of the rig but make sure to figure out what it is for each part of the RV. Some manufacturers will really focus on a specific part of the rig and advertise super-high roof R-value, for example, which the rest of the rig could be lacking.

So should you put a lot of weight into whether or not an RV has an arctic package? While it can certainly help, at the end of the day it’s going to come down to the specific additions that have been added and not just the 4-season marketing. After all, there’s a big difference between being 4-season ready in Alaska vs Texas so make sure you know what kind of places you plan to roam before you buy.

1. Keystone Montana

• Beautiful residential-style fixtures including hardwood cabinetry
• 22 different floor plans give you plenty of options to pick the perfect one for you
• Four Seasons Package comes standard and includes 12V heating pads for the tanks and R-21 insulation on the floor.
• Higher price compared to some other travel trailers but it’s well worth it if you’re looking for a winter-ready rig.

It doesn’t get much better than the Keystone Montana when it comes to staying warm and comfortable- no matter what the weather. No need to upgrade to an arctic package here since the Montana comes standard with a long list of winter-ready features including heating pads on holding tanks, heated underbelly, state of the art solar panels, and more.

But it isn’t just talk with the folks at Keystone! While I can’t track down the original post from Keystone, Guaranty explains that Keystone put the Montana to the test by placing the rig inside an extreme weather chamber. They then set the thermostat to a toasty 74-degree Fahrenheit while dropping the exterior temperature all the way to 0 degrees. Even with temperatures well below freezing, the interior of the Montana stayed nice and warm and didn’t drop below 70. Not only is that plenty warm, I’d say that’s a little too warm even!

As if that wasn’t enough, the critical tanks, dump valves, and other fluid lines stayed completely unfrozen and entirely operational. All thanks to the long list of features included  standard  in their Four Seasons Package.

The only real downside to the Keystone Montana would have to be the price but even that is hardly a downside. With an MSRP of $85,094, it may appear to be more expensive than other similar-sized Fifth Wheel and travel trailers but a big part of that is the Four Season upgrades that run standard. Let’s look at the R-Value of the flooring for example. A typical RV might have an R-Value of 10 to 15 while the Keystone Montana comes standard with an R-Value of 21!

If you don’t plan on taking advantage of this by braving the winter cold then this going to be overkill and you’ll end up paying for features you don’t really need. But if you’re planning on staying on the road this off-season in sub-freezing temperatures then the Keystone Montanan is probably worth every penny.

2. Northwood Arctic Fox 22G Travel Trailer

• Extra insulation everywhere on this rig from every compartment door, to the roof and holding tank area.
• Beautiful bathroom, especially when you consider the size of this RV
• Luxury fixtures and features with a surprising amount of headroom
• Budget-friendly with rigs available for less than $40,000.
• The 22 foot 22G may be too small for some folks.

As the name implies, the Arctic Fox is ready for tough winter weather with a super tough trailer and plenty of insulation. But just because it’s purpose-built for winter weather doesn’t mean you have to skip the creature comforts and the Arctic Fox is packed with beautiful residential-style fixtures including a stovetop that I absolutely love. There’s also a supringly spacious dry bath, especially for a 22 footer, that includes a porcelain toilet and a skylight above the shower.

The chassis is built by Northwood Manufacturing and is offroad ready with a powerful steel frame. While most Class C or Class B RVs have a chassis that’s connected to a big name like Ford or Dodge, there can be a lot more variation when it comes to the chassis for travel trailers. That also means it can often be overlooked or taken for granted but if you’re planning on hitting the road this offseason, you need a rig that can handle the bumps and bruises that winter is going to dish out.

I believe that this chassis is ready for winter and the folks at Northwood take things a step further by having every chassis reviewed by an independent 3rd party tester. You can check out some footage of the chassis being built in this video:

When it comes to insulation, the Arctic Fox comes jam-packed with extra insulation on every inch of this rig. Including smaller areas that you might not immediately consider like the 1-inch thick insulated doors to all exterior storage areas. While it might not hit all the R-Values of the Keystone Montana, the Arctic Fox is still very comparable and won’t have any problems staying warm. All the usual features you’d expect in a winter-ready travel trailer are there too like extra insulation for fluid lines and extra heaters for the tanks.

Overall, it’s hard to go wrong with the Arctic Fox and with the folks at Northwood. They’ve got a long history of producing high-quality travel trailers that stand the test of time and with used models available for less than $40,000 at the time of writing, the Arctic Fox is a lot more affordable than some of the other specialized winter rigs.

3. Lance 2295 Travel Trailer (With Fireplace!)

• This is one of the only RV’s you’ll find that includes an actual fireplace! What could be better for enjoying winter weather (and saving on propane)?
• Nice sized oven with a beautiful three-burner stove
• Huge slide out dining area with plenty of room for guests
• Beautiful bedroom with a nightstand- which is another thing you’re not going to see in many other RVs!
• The entertainment center in the middle of the overall layout feels a little clunky to me.

The Lance 2295 travel trailer is one of the more interesting travel trailers out there. Not only does it have a unique layout with but more importantly it has an electric fireplace placed in the center of the RV. While this certainly gives the rig a unique feel and ambiance it’s also practical- especially for winter camping. While you can’t exactly throw in a bunch of wood and call it day (although there are plenty of aftermarket wooden stoves you can add to your RV ) the electric stove can save you from burning out on propane when you’re hooked up at a campsite.

But for me, the style points you get for having a fireplace (electric or not) inside your RV are hard to beat!

In order to get the fireplace centrally located, the overall layout of this rig is a little different. There’s a center pillar that partially separates the bedroom from the rest of the RV and also houses the fireplace and television. You end up with a very separate bedroom and a television that’s in a much more central location than usual. I find that most folks either love this layout or hate it without much in between. You can see it in this video tour here:

Besides the fireplace, one of my other favorite features is the bedroom. It has a beautiful sloping window that will let you see the stars at night from the comfort of your own bed. Of course, you can also drop the blinds and sleep in. Because of the pillar in the center of the rig, the bedroom feels more secluded than a lot of other layouts which is actually something I love. If you’re sharing the travel trailer with another person there’s a better chance they can actually leave the bedroom and move about without waking you up.

Another nice touch in the bedroom is the addition of the nightstand. Most RV’s skip this small but really nice to have feature and the Lance has plenty of room for your nighttime needs complete with a simple recessed light. Of course, you’ll need to secure them when you hit the road.

When it comes to staying warm in the winter, the Lance has some nice features but isn’t going above and beyond like some of the other RVs on this list. It does have double-paned windows which can drastically increase the insulation factor of any space. The Lance also includes block foam insulation which is a little different from traditional insulation but still has comparable R-Values based on the research I could find.

Overall, the Lance 2295 is not only a great travel trailer for winter camper but also one of the more unique rigs on this list. You won’t find many RVs with a fireplace that comes standard and if you’re looking to recreate the cozy feel of your traditional home, the Lance might be the perfect fit. You can find used models for less than $50,000 which makes this a great way to get into the world of winter camping!

4. Forest River Cherokee Arctic Wolf with Extreme Weather Package

• The Extreme Weather Package comes with plenty of great features for winter camping including a 35,000 BTU Furnace and upgraded insulation.
• 9+ flexible floor plans so you can find exactly what you need (including bunk beds for the kids)
• Double slide outs make this rig very spacious with plenty of room for the family
• Auto-leveling system which is especially nice if you’re working in tougher terrain
• This RV  also  has a fireplace which may people will absolutely love
• May be too big for some folks to tow

It’s hard to go wrong with an RV from the folks at Forest River and the Arctic Wolf is no exception. This travel trailer is on the larger side and most folks would consider this a fifth wheel. That means you’ll need a heavier duty truck to tow this but if you’re looking to stay comfortable throughout the winter (and any other kind of weather) then this makes a great choice.

For starters, you’ll also find that most floorplans include a fireplace! There are several floor plans and the location of the fireplace changes in each one so it’s worth looking closely at the available options . My personal favorite is the 321BH Floorplan which you can see here . It features a fireplace placed near the kitchen and entertaining area. As someone who loves to cook, I love the idea of having guests, my kitchen, and  the fireplace all in the same area!

But let’s talk about weather. Forest River offers an extreme weather package that will get you ready not only for winter but any extreme temperature with additional fans and air conditioning units. The package includes a 35,000 BTU furnace, heated and enclosed underbelly, upgraded insulation across the entire rigs, several additional fans, and a ducted A/C unit. There’s also the option to even get a second air conditioning unit that specific to the bedroom. Not only is that more efficient since you don’t have to heat or cool the entire rig while you’re sleeping but it also gives you some extra power in terms of temperature control.

Overall, the Arctic Wolf has a great option for winter camping, especially if you pick up the extreme weather upgrade. But this luxurious travel trailer also comes in at a great price and you’re able to find 2021 models for as low as $32,000. That makes this a great option for getting the entire family started on a winter camping adventure this season!

5. Jayco Eagle 330RSTS

• Available with Jayco’s Climate Shield upgrade for serious winter camping
• Electronic leveling which is typically reserved for only fifth wheels
• The beautiful two-tone interior gives this travel trailer a stylish look
• A spacious bathroom which ceilings that are well above 6 feet tall
• Tested by a third party facility for temperatures well below freezing
• The lighting fixtures are nice but I’d personally always prefer recessed lighting over traditional fixtures
• The modern IKEA-style interior design might not be everyone’s favorite

Jayco is another well-known RV manufacturer and they actually have two RVs on our list of the best Class C’s for winter . Jayco seems to specialize in cold weather rigs and they offer a Climate Shield upgrade that goes above and beyond the traditional arctic package. Available on a handful of Jayco RVs (including the Eagle Travel Trailer) the Climate Shield package includes a double-layer of fiberglass on the front cap to keep the bedroom nice and toasty along with a heated underbelly. You’ll also find PEX plumbing that’s tested for -40 degree Fahrenheit temperatures! Like the Forest River rig, this package also protects against hot weather with heavily tinted windows as well.

Jayco even took things a step further and put all this to the test by subjecting their RVs to 0 degrees Fahrenheit in a climate-controlled facility for 8 hours. Even after 8 hours of bitter cold (and some frost-covered tires) the interior of the rig was nice and comfortable with all plumbing working perfectly.

So there’s not really any doubt that the Jayco Eagle can handle cold temperatures- certainly anything most RVer’s will throw at it. But I also love the interior of this RV! It features a beautiful two-tone, black and white design that makes the entire travel trailer look like an IKEA set piece. For some folks, that might sound like a nightmare but I personally love the design. The bathroom includes a huge shower, massive ceilings, and several other nice touches like plenty of counter space. There’s even a backsplash which is not something you’re going to find in many RVs!While that doesn’t exactly bring a lot of function to the RV, it’s still a nice feature that makes this rig feel more like home.

I’m also a big fan of kitchen islands in any travel trailer and the Eagle has a great kitchen layout. There’s also tons of storage in this RV with enough room to squeeze in a washer and dryer in the bedroom .

You can get a feel for the layout and see if it’s something you like in this video:

Overall,  the Jayco Eagle is a great travel trailer for winter camping with one of the most robust climate protection packages available. While not everyone is going to be a fan of the interior, if you like modern design like me you’ll probably love it. Compared to other RVs on this list, the Jayco Eagle is going to be a bit pricey and you should expect to pay a little over $50,000 for some of the newer models.

6. 2020 Heartland Big Horn 3985 RRD

• Raising electric beds is perfect for finding the best tv viewing angle but it’s also extremely practical when it comes to squeezing in extra storage.
• An absolutely beautiful shower that gives you the feel of a full residential home
• Comes standard with underbelly insulation and closure to keep the essential warm
• R-34 insulation is more than enough for most RV’ers
• More expensive than many others on this list with a roughly $70,000 price tag

Heartland is another manufacturer that’s no stranger to producing the 4-season RV market with several models that are purpose-built for cold weather. As a result, you can find a variety of features on the Big Horn fifth wheel that help it stand out from other rigs. For starters, there’s the massive 42,000 BTU furnace. Considering that most RVs have around a 30,000 BTU furnace this upgrade goes a long way to keeping you warm in the winter.

Then there are things like standard underbelly closure and insulation, the R-11 rating on the walls, and the R-34 insulation on the ceiling, and the always awesome PLEX plumbing. Add it all up and you’ve got a solid winter camping rig.

But I also love the interior of this RV with the most notable features being the bed and the bathroom. First off, the entire bed can be raised with the push of a button while that might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I love the options this gives for additional storage. I also like the idea of being able to sleep a bit higher off the ground to give my knees a break when I have to get out of bed in the middle of the night. The bathroom is beautifully designed and feels like a bathroom you’d expect in a full-size home with a sliding glass door and a proper vanity!

The only downside is that this RV runs a little on the high side compared to the rest of the rigs on this list and you should expect to pay around $70,000 for the Heartland Big Horn.

7. Northwood Nash 18FM Travel Trailer

• Northwood’s 4 season insulation package includes a combination of batt fiberglass and block foam insulation for cold winters
• Residential style cabinetry gives this travel trailer some extra style
• Fully insulated and heated fluid tanks, pipes, and valves
• Murphy bed for extra space
• Not much natural lighting inside this rig and overall the interior is a bit dark

I don’t think any list of the best travel trailers for winter would be complete without a little more from the folks at Northwood ! They’re well known for building durable and winter-ready rigs and the simply named Nash is a great option for folks that want something smaller than the Arctic Fox but don’t want to sacrifice any winter-readiness.

The Nash is part of the “Absolute Northwood” line which means it comes standard with an off-road chassis that’s great for rougher winter weather. You’ll also get a whole lot of extra insulation on the roof, walls, undercarriage, and tank housing. All of which makes this a truly 4-season RV.

You can check out all the insulation upgrades included in the Absolute Northwood package in this video:

In addition to the usual winter features, the Nash includes a Murphy bed which gives this rig a bit more space but some folks aren’t going to exactly love it. When it comes to smaller travel trailers, something has to give when it comes to space and while the murphy bed is a great addition it’s going to be hard to ever match the comfort of a traditional bed or the memory foam options that we’re seeing in a lot of RVs these days.

The biggest downside to this RV is the interior lighting. You can tell if you watch the walk-through in the video above that the interior is a bit dark and it’s clear that windows aren’t a priority. Part of that comes with the territory when you have a smaller rig that includes a slide-out but I’d still love to see some more windows on this travel trailer. After all, there’s nothing more beautiful than a snow-covered landscape.

The Northwood Nash is also budget-friendly with an MSRP of less than $40,000.

Honorable Mention: Ice Castle All Seasons Travel Trailer

• With a name like “Ice Castle” you know that it’s winter-ready
• Spray foam insulation covering every nook and cranny including plenty of insulation in the underbelly
• Power lift bed that can be lowered or raised with a flip of a switch
• A unique “second-floor” style lounge area that can be converted to an additional sleeping area
• Okay, that much cedar might be everyone’s style and it can get a bit overwhelming
• It’s made for ice fishing so it’s definitely not for everyone

While the Ice Castle is actually purpose-built for folks that love ice fishing, I didn’t think that this list would be complete with a travel trailer like this one! Considering that they named this travel trailer the “Ice Castle” you know that they take 4 seasons’ capability seriously and it shows in the heavy duty insulation you’ll find throughout this RV. They’ve paid extra attention to the underbelly of this RV which makes a lot of sense when you consider that it’s intended to be parked on a sheet of ice!

This travel trailer has a total of 6 holes scattered throughout the main living area that allow you to actually fish while you’re inside the RV. If you’re not planning on ever doing any ice fishing then this is definitely a take or leave it to feature but if some cold weather fishing is on your bucket list then this might be worth a look. You can see the ice fishing holes (and the rest of the travel trailer) here:

Does that mean you  have  to ice fish to consider this rig? Not at all! It’s still a fully functional travel trailer with a dry bathroom and a ton of sleeping space. Still, if you’re spending most of your time at campgrounds or in urban environments the heavy-duty nature of this rig is probably overkill. But if your idea of a good RV adventure is hitting the outdoors and breaking some trail without fearing freezing temperatures than this could be perfect.

One of my favorite features is the bed that can be raised up the ceiling. While this is intended to give you extra space for fishing, you can use it for any kind of extra space or storage. There’s as a unique “second-level” (it’s only a few stairs) that can be converted into additional sleeping areas.

Overall, the Ice Castle is definitely best for the ice fisherman, if you want a no-frills four-season powerhouse then it’s worth a look.

Closing Thoughts

Winter camping can be a lot of fun…if you’re warm! You could go with any of the RVs on this list and stay plenty warm all winter all while getting the flexibility of a travel trailer. But let me know down below if there’s a travel trailer I should have included on this list or which on is your favorite!

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The Best Extreme Cold Weather RVs To Buy In 2022

by Chris Coleman

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Winter camping offers magnificent snowy landscape, but not every RV is meant for days out in such icy temperatures.

If you’d like to take your RV out during very harsh winters, you’ll need to invest in what’s commonly named an “arctic package”, which upgrades the existing insulation and provides additional heating.

Otherwise, if you live in or frequently travel in such weather, investing in the best extreme cold weather RV will give you a peace of mind.

There are certain models of RVs designed and built with extreme winter in mind. These are the vehicles that can brave below-freezing temperatures, icy winds, and even heavy snowing.

Whether you live in bitterly cold weather year-round or you want to enjoy unique winter camping experiences, these best extreme cold weather RVs will keep you warm and toasty. 

We have browsed that market and consulted reviews by professionals and full-time RVers to handpick the best extreme cold weather RV with a wide selection of functional features. Each will be accompanied by highlighting features as well as pros and cons.

That said, a helpful advice from many seasoned RVers is it’s a good idea to first rent an RV to see for yourself if it meets your needs. If you like it, you can buy it afterward.

Arctic Wolf by Forest River 

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The Arctic Wolf by Forest River has consistently been rated among the absolute best  extreme cold weather RV models by professionals and full-time RVers alike. The manufacturer, Forest River, is a name known for excellent quality, customer service and warranty. 

The Arctic Wolf is a worthwhile investment for the avid winter driver, thanks to the expansive and inclusive cold-beating features that are available. Arctic Wolf offers either an Extreme Weather Package or the Arctic Package for harsh winter excursions. 

Regardless of how cold the weather may be on your trip, you can rest easy knowing that the Arctic Wolf will keep you warm, comfortable and very well insulated, particularly with the upgrades in the Extreme Weather option, according to many seasoned winter travelers.

It is available with six floor plans to cater for the different requirements and budget of nearly every camper, so if quality and comfort are your priorities, there is definitely an Arctic Wolf for you. 

The largest models top out at a huge 10,000 pounds, equating to a hitch load of approximately 1,400 pounds. This weight is down to its generous proportions which max out at 35 feet in length and 11 feet in height. That said, for the less avid drivers, probably the only downside of this marvelous vehicle is the challenging parking, turning, and other maneuvers on long road trips.

Arctic Package

• Solar wiring
• Windows for the upper bunk
• Outside shower and outside TV bracket capabilities
• A kitchen faucet that pulls out
• Entry doors with friction hinges
• Home entertainment system
• Dinette drawers
• Top-level bunk windows
• Dinette draws, and the kitchen faucet can be pulled out

Extreme Weather Package

• Arctic insulation fitted throughout
• Ducted air-conditioner
• Featured fast cool fan
• Upper decking with insulation
• Powerful ceiling fan
• Underfloor heating
• High gloss wall construction
• A powerful furnace capable of outputting 35,000 BTUs in a matter of seconds

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Together with the Arctic Wolf, Keystone Montana is another favourite that often comes up in discussions on the best extreme cold weather RV. This fifth wheel Keystone Montana, as well as other Montana models, all come with the four seasons living package to keep you toasty warm and cozy on winter trips. 

Harsh winter means excessive wear and tear on your RV both externally and internally, painful maintenance and loss of comfort, however the Keystone Montana will keep all of these problems at bay with excellent cold-beating features. 

First off, insulation is top-notch. The all-season package includes an enclosed, insulated underbelly as well as 12V electric tank heating devices to prevent freezing damage to your RV. The main floor is kept warm with R-21 insulation while the slide-out floors are protected from cold temperatures by R-5 insulating material. The walls are shielded by a double layer of R-11 insulation, and the roof provides radiant technology R-38 protection for maintaining adequate heat inside your RV. 

In addition, the centralized heated external water and convenience center provides the luxury of an outside shower, water heater bypass, and low-point drains that are enclosed to ensure optimum functionality.

This top-rated RV also offers a dual thermostat and remote sensor and a second duct design air conditioner that is a frame and wire construction. Its foam core straight line heat duct system measures 3 by 14 inches, and this model is equipped with an auto-ignition 35,000 BTU furnace. Additional features of the Keystone Montana RV include in-floor water lines, dump valves, and holding tanks that are enclosed and of course insulated, a well-vented attic system, and a powerful free-flow air conditioning at 15K BTUs.

In case you are willing to pay to get some extras, the Montana also offers models with elite design features such as fireplaces and an expansive walk-in closet for storing your bulky winter clothing and gears. 

In short, with its optimal quality insulation, the Keystone Montana offers the ultimate comfort and convenience for the icy winter months, and it is essentially a solid year-round vehicle. The only con that one can find with this first class winter RV is its price tag. 

This advanced fifth wheel trailer is in the higher price range, selling for $48,000 – $49,000 at most dealerships, however any owner would swear by its value for money.

• 15,000 BTU free-flow air conditioning
• Dual thermostat with a remote sensor with the second A/C
• Insulated holding tanks and dump valves
• Heated, enclosed and insulated underbelly
• Electric tank heaters
• Heated exterior convenience center
• Heated low point drains for city water
• Water lines in floors
• 35,000 BTU auto-ignition furnace
• Heat duct system with foam core
• Electric fireplace embedded
• Fiberglass sidewalls with a double insulated layer (Equivalent to R-11)
• Insulated main floor (Equivalent to R-21)
• Insulated slide-out floors (Equivalent to R-15)
• Radiant technology insulated roof (Equivalent to R-38)

Another solid extreme cold weather RV by the renowned Forest River. Their Rockwood Windjammer 3008W is a travel trailer, which is a much cheaper alternative to full-blown RVs, thus this model is ideal for beginners and budget travelers. 

Despite its relative affordability, the Windjammer, as the name implies, is a fantastic option for camping in the harsh icy months with solid insulation and other features. No matter how freezing it is outside, you and your companions will be comfortably toasty inside.

A huge plus is this trailer is not exactly small, boasting an 897-pound hitch load and it can accommodate a maximum of five beds, so each member of your whole family will enjoy maximum comfort.

In addition to the spacious sleeping quarters, it can hold a generous 45-gallon black water tank, a 75-gallon gray water tank, and a commendable 45-gallon freshwater tank.

Additionally, the Windjammer offers a host of other features such as a wardrobe, linen closet, kitchen space with microwave, gas cooker hook-up and an awning to keep the sun or snow off. To top it all off, the master suite features a clever table that folds away and a large double bed.

Although it’s not much to look at, don’t let it dishearten you. The Windjammer is often included in lists of the best extreme cold weather RV for a good reason: what it lacks in the looks department, it more than makes up for in the functionality department. 

The only downside is it’s a heavy trailer to haul around compared to most other camp trailers. Given its size and weight, it might take a while to get used to driving it around.

The features that make this trailer a good fit for winter excursions:

• Holding tanks that are heated and controlled electronically
• The whole trailer is insulated
• Main bedroom area contains a heated mattress
• Upgrades for thermo-pane windows
• Upgrades for fireplace
• Ventilation fan and vent cover
• Floor-ducted furnace
• Two sliders to separate the living quarters
• Reasonably sized wardrobe in the master bedroom
• A foldable table in the master room
• The master bedroom can fit a bed which measures 60×10
• Linen closet
• Oven with microwave hookups, and a gas grill connector
• 44-inch dinette space
• Outdoor Awning

Northwood is a well-known brand for RVs made for cold weather , and very few arctic campers are held in such high regard as the Arctic Fox all seasons RV. The Arctic Fox guarantees a warm and comfortable winter camping and it also offers a ton of additional features, which means not just comfort but luxury on the road. 

That said, like everything else that borders the line of luxury, you’re going to have to pay for the privilege. The latest models from 2017 onwards will cost at least $56,000, and previous models don’t tend to depreciate a lot in value, which in itself is a testament to their quality and durability.

• Fully insulated through with four-seasons foam insulation, providing exceptional insulation properties
• Built into the bedroom are USB charging ports, as well as a well-proportioned mattress and carpeting throughout
• A fully function bathtub with a skylight and foldable shower screen
• A foot-operated toilet
• Powerful extractor fans in the bedrooms
• Inbuilt skylights and a sizable fridge as well as ample storage space
• A fully equipped kitchen including a microwave
• A booth eating area and L shaped sofa with comfortable pillows
• A digitally monitored and controlled thermostat for perfect heating
• Inbuilt smoke, carbon monoxide, and LPG detectors
• A foldaway 19-inch widescreen TV with Bluetooth connectivity and CD/DVD player
• Clever storage options.

Additional extras are also available, including solar panels, rearview cameras, holding tank heat pads, generators, bathroom and kitchen fan vents, thermal pane windows and an aluminum main awning.

Whereas the Lance brand is not as well known as Forest River or Jayco, they are specialized in all seasons RV models. Manufactured specifically for all-season driving, including winter and warmer weather, the Four Season Travel Trailer by Lance proves that you need not spend a fortune to get one of the best extreme cold weather RV. 

Notable features include easily removable hatch covers that can be added or removed in a matter of seconds depending on the weather. The insulated covers are designed to keep the outdoor weather conditions from encroaching into the indoors of your RV.

Instead of the more traditional wood, this Lance model uses thermoplastic, a natural insulator which is adept at keeping the heat in and the cold out. This insulation won’t rot or is not prone to hosting mildew or mold, unlike wood tends to do. This material will also provide a certain amount of soundproofing, making your trip even more enjoyable. 

An extra cold-beating feature is an impressive ducted warming system. Clever engineering and design mean that the heating is equally directed across the whole interior of the RV, ensuring every room is warmed to the same level.

Lastly, the windows are dual pane and tinted, which provides an additional level of insulation and soundproofing. With such superstar insulation, you can rest assured that winter is kept outside of your toasty mobile home.

• 11 different floor plans available
• Block foam insulation throughout
• Ducted heat is routed into individually insulated holding tanks to keep them, the valves and PEX lines warm.
• Water heater bypass & winterizing valves make draining the system for winter storage a breeze.
• Insulated hatch covers add an additional layer of insulation to vents and skylights.
• Radius acrylic tinted thermopane euro window
• Aluminum-framed floor, ceiling, and sidewalls
• Decorative pull cabinet hardware
• Lite-ply cabinet construction

In addition to Lance, Heartland is another brand known for its all season RVs. Heartland puts an astounding level of craftsmanship and detail into all their all seasons RV products. 

Heartland’s all season RVs are not only functional in terms of guarding against icy cold weather, but also offer luxury aesthetics and great attention to details. Among them, the Bighorn is often regarded as one of the best extreme cold weather RV models. 

It has 11 floor plans to choose from, so you are likely to get one that meets your requirements and budget. There are different Bighorn sizes available, with the largest weighing 14,000lb, with a hitch weight of about 3,000lb, and measuring nearly 45 ft. in length.

Bighorn by Heartland introduced the industry to innovations such as the Universal Docking Center, 88 Degree Turning Radius front cap designs, laminated floors and sidewalls, drop frame Texas Size basement storage and hydraulic landing gear. Bighorn combines all of these industry firsts with the most luxurious interiors producing one of the most sought after luxury fifth wheels available today. 

The craftsmanship and durability is expressed throughout this fifth wheel. The bathroom features water lines Plumb-PLEX, while the fiberglass walls, dark tinted windows and laminated flooring make the camper trailer look sleek. The bedroom has a built-in closet, king-size bed with memory foam mattress, ceiling lights in the bedroom, extra storage shelves, a headboard and a pull-out storage drawer.

The majority of the floor plans offered with the Bighorn range, generally have the following winter comforts:

• The entire RV is fully insulated: R-38 flooring in the main living area, R-11 walls, R-14 flooring on the upper deck , R-34 roofing
• Heated, insulated underbelly
• Insulated air conditioning duct system in the roof
• The below-floor has its own heating system: single piece heating duct
• The roof has an internal air conditioning duct unit
• A high-quality furnace functions at a 42,000 BTU level
• A water system from the Plumb-Plex range so it’s just like your bathroom in your home
• Sleek interior and exterior design and layout
• Plenty of storage space
• A king-sized bed with a comfortable mattress made from memory foam.

The Redhawk 26XD by Jayco has a warmth and beauty not often seen in RVs, especially with the newer models. This trailer has been gaining a lot of popularity for the last couple of years, first making an impression with its huge space and beautiful design, then winning the hearts of seasoned campers with its host of functional features for withstanding winter. 

We do warn you though, that you will need quite some money to enjoy this solid beauty, but if you do, the Redhawk might be the best extreme cold weather RV that you can buy.

These models come with five different floor plans to choose from. All of these are built on a Ford chassis and include a spacious master bedroom with a queen-sized bed, a 13ft. awning, an 8 cubic-ft. refrigerator and linen closets.

Importantly, you will also be able to stay warm during winter in this gorgeous RV with a 15,000-BTU ducted air conditioner with heat pump, a 31,000-BTU furnace with wall thermostat with auto-ignition, a 6-gallon water heater,  solid bead-foam insulation for the roof, floor and all walls and well insulated doors and windows. 

There is no need to worry about space, as it is very spacious. As it can sleep eight passengers, you can hit the road whenever you want with family or friends.

The following are the standard features for this all seasons RV:

• 15,000-BTU ducted air conditioner with heat pump
• 31,000-BTU furnace with wall thermostat with auto-ignition
• Bead-foam insulation (R-15 max roof, R-9 max floor, R-5 max walls)
• Vacuum-bonded, laminated roof, floor and sidewalls
• Aluminum running boards
• Fiberglass, radius-cornered entrance door with screen door
• 6 gallon gas/electric DSI auto-ignition water heater
• Full bathroom
• Fully fitted kitchen, including countertops, upper shelves, large sink and microwaves
• Queen sized bed master bedroom
• Roomy, built-in linen cabinets and other closets.
• The living area comes with a 2-seater sofa and has a lot of space

With a hefty price tag of around $100,000 for a new one, you may have to settle for an old model, which will not necessarily have all these luxury features.

You may also like:

• How To Heat An RV Without Electricity: 5 Inexpensive Methods
• The Complete Guide on How To Winterize An RV

Extreme Cold-Weather RVs: FAQs & Tips

Cold weather packages, also referred to as arctic or polar packages, are a great upgrade to your RV when you are storing it during cold weather or wish to travel occasionally in extreme cold weather. Some of the upgrades include:

• Extra floor and roof insulation
• Double or the triple-paned windows
• Heating pads for freshwater and the wastewater tanks
• Enclosed underbellies
• Temperature guarantees
• Heated storage bays

The key to keeping your RV warm in the harsh winter is effective insulation , that is preventing cold air outside from leaking in and trapping the heat inside the RV. The two areas to focus most of your energy on if you want to improve insulation are windows and vents. 

Below are pro tips on how to keep your RV warmer in icy conditions:

1. Maximizing natural sunlight

Simply positioning your RV so that the largest windows point to the south and west to maximize your RV’s exposure to direct sunlight definitely will warm your RV up. It is one useful tip on how to heat an RV that many new RVers do not know or underestimate.

2. Fixing air leaks

Before trying to do anything to more effectively trap warm air inside your RV, you must make sure cold air cannot leak in from all the nooks and crannies first. Tiny air leaks from the rubber gaskets around your exterior windows, doors and vents are often overlooked, however keeping them in good shape will ensure cold air is not leaking into your interior. 

3. Reflective insulation

Relectix is a reflective insulation accessory consisting of an aluminum foil, which covers all your windows to rebound most of the heat that travels to them. Thus the existing heat will be trapped or condensed inside your RV while only a small amount will escape, thereby more effectively maintaining the ideal temperature. 

Simply attach these rolls to cover the whole area of each window. Also, if your RV comes with a shower skylight, don’t forget to insulate it too.

4. Hatch vent insulator

An RV’s hatch vents, roof and wall vents are also often overlooked and can let cold air in, thus all of them need to be covered. It is best to equip them with extra protection by adding another layer of Styrofoam right below the covers. 

The Styrofoam must be cut to fit precisely. Secure it in place with tape or another adhesive. The second option is to get a vent insulator. A vent insulator is a large piece of insulated foam that may or may not come with a reflective surface. 

5. Solar Heating

This green energy source will save you money in the long term, all the while being environmentally friendly. You can now buy solar panels from many sources. A panel typically costs between $500 and $300, depending on the durability, efficiency and size of the panel. The bigger the panel, the more green energy it can produce to heat your RV without electricity. 

Your RV might suffer substantial damage while in storage during the icy cold winter months, unless you own or rent a heated storage for it. Otherwise, if your budget doesn’t permit you to rent a storage unit, purchasing an RV cover is a great option to protect your RV in cold weather. Renting an RV storage unit is a more effective option but also the most costly.

 RV covers prevent ice buildup and snow accumulation on the exterior of your rig, thus minimizing damage to its surface and also keeping meltwater from seeping into the seams and panels. Below are a few steps that you need to take to safely store your rig under an RV cover during winter:

• Ensure that you drain out all your water systems.
• Clean and let dry the interior and exterior of the RV before covering.
• Remove the batteries and store in a secure place.
• Inflate the RV tires and it is best to cover them thoroughly with RV tire covers to avoid damage and maximize their lifespan, as RV tires alone are expensive.
• Double-check that the cover shelters all sides completely and snugly to avoid the cover billowing against your RV in the wind.
• Check the snow that accumulates on your roof regularly and remove it if required.

About Chris Coleman

Chris Coleman is an interesting travel blogger and outdoor photographer with a great sense of humor. He owns an RV Accessories shop in New York City so he has the knowledge necessary to provide thorough reviews and give advice on how to choose the right products for RV travel. He puts all that RV knowledge and experience to good use in his sharing posts. Besides product buying guides/reviews, Chris also writes informative articles, how-to articles and RV camping guides in his own interesting viewpoint. Chris’s blog is one of the most reliable information sources for RV campers no matter if you're an expert or a determined beginner.

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I’m constantly surprised to never hear about Outdoors RV, who only produce Four Season RV’s. Is there a problem with them?

I would be helpful if you expanded your Cold Weather/Four Season review to 20 or 30,…listed in order of best quality. Even that doesn’t guarantee an Outdoors RV mention,…but it would suggest that it isn’t in your top 20 or 30.

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The 8 Best Extreme Cold Weather RVs for Winter Camping

• Last Updated: March 6, 2024
• 27 minutes read

Full-timers, hunters, people who love to camp in winter or in the mountains, and tradesmen who work year-round on remote job sites often need an winterized RV that can handle extreme low temperatures.

If this sounds like you might be wondering what are some of the best RVs for extreme cold weather camping?

Right off the bat the 2020 Heartland Bighorn BH 3985 RRD and the 2020 Ice Castle Stub RV America II have a reputation for being able to take good care of you when the mercury starts to dip to astonishing lows. Though it isn’t just the make and model of RV that make the difference when it comes to camping in extreme cold conditions.

To truly make sure that you can stay warm, and comfortable in your RV during extremely cold weather , we are going to have to take a closer look at the things you can do to retain heat in your camper trailer.

This includes taking safety measures for you as well as the things you can do to prevent your RV from being damaged by cold weather. 

Once we have those things factored in we can take a closer look at the highly insulated camper trailer RVs that can stand up well to extreme cold and those that can take it to the next level with just a few minor modifications. 

What Defines An Extreme Cold Weather RV?

A lot of extreme cold weather RVs are referred to as “ Four Season RV ” or a “True Four Season RV.” They have superior insulation, and other special features that make them more capable of withstanding temperatures down to 32-degrees or colder. This might be things like insulation on the waterline, or superior R-factor insulation in the walls or ceiling.

The cold weather travel trailer manufacturers usually backs it up with some sort of guarantee that it will handle temperatures all the way down to 32 or maybe even zero degrees Fahrenheit. 

Though for some, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to looking for an RV that can handle extreme cold.

In some parts of the upper Midwestern United States, the northeast, and parts of Canada there are ice fisherman who buys RVs that were specifically engineered to spends days if not weeks out on frigid ice sheets with holes in the floor.

They pull up fish after fish all within the comfort of their toasty warm RV. There are even those who will take a normal RV meant for simple summer living and modify it to handle the extreme cold of a northern winter. 

So, if we are going to find the best extreme cold weather RVs or those that can be modified, we are going to have to take a look at some of the nuts and bolts features they rely on to keep people warm when the mercury proverbially plummets off a cliff.

This also includes defining just how much cold protection you need in your RV to keep everyone comfortable and prevent the RV from being permanently damaged. 

Do I Need A Four Season RV That Can Handle Extreme Cold?

Most people go RVing in the summer, spring, or early fall where even a cool night can be combated with a basic RV furnace or secondary propane heater like a sunflower heater.

If you aren’t going to be tangling with temperatures below 32-degrees Fahrenheit, then chances are you won’t need to prioritize some of the features that go into an RV that is built for extreme cold conditions. 

Though people with the following interests might strongly consider investing in an RV that was engineered with cold-weather features or one that can be easily modified to handle extreme cold.

• Mountain Campers: If you live or like to camp at altitude, then chances are you know all too well how cold it can get at night, even after a warm day. Not only can this extreme cold swing make it uncomfortable in the RV, but it can also cause water lines to freeze and potentially rupture.
• Ice Fisherman: There is an entire subset of people and RV enthusiasts who will spend days on end living on the ice sheets of frozen lakes catching fish. The cold temperatures, wind, and snow these RVs endure calls for the highest of R-factor insulation numbers as well as robust heaters and other cold-weather features.
• H unters: People who hunt late in the fall and into the winter often face temperatures that dip below 32-degrees Fahrenheit. This is especially true for hunters who live or hunt in the mountains and need an RV base camp that can support them when they aren’t in the field.
• F ull Timers: Some people choose to live in their RV through mall four seasons. For them, this is a great alternative to having a mortgage and having to take care of yard work. Though full-timers who will be traveling or camping long-term in northern states need an RV that will handle extreme cold weather.
• D esert Campers: Just hearing the word “Desert” conjures up images of heat shimmering off bleak sand on scorching hot afternoons. Though in truth the desert can get extremely cold at night. Especially in the winter, or if you happen to be camping in your RV in the high desert in the spring or fall.

Key Factors That Improve An RV’s Ability To Withstand Extreme Cold

There are a few key factors to consider when shopping for an RV that can withstand extreme cold weather.

Sometimes they are engineered into the RV itself or they are the sort of thing you can upgrade yourself or via a dealership’s “Cold Weather Upgrade Package.”

1: Insulation For An Extreme Cold RV

Insulation is a key factor when it comes to an RV that can withstand extreme cold below 32-degrees.

This is usually expressed as an R-Value. The higher the R-Value the better the insulation is at holding in the heat.

Though, it’s also worth bearing in mind that where that insulation is installed is just as important as its inherent R-Value. 

The ceiling and walls are the most common places where you will find high R-Value in an RV that can withstand cold weather.

Though the floor and things like the storage tanks or water lines can also be a major factor when camping in your RV at temperatures that are below 32-degrees.

Something as simple as a little ice forming in a water line can cause it to rupture, which not only robs you of water but can also cause severe damage to the plumbing and other parts of the RV. 

If you will be frequently camping in your RV at below-freezing temperatures, then you will want to prioritize one that has insulation in the floor and other underbelly components .

If you will only occasionally camp in your RV in places where temperatures might dip near freezing for an hour or two in the deepest cold of the night, then you might be able to stave off the cold with skirting, underbelly heating, or installing retail-grade pipe insulation sleeves on the water lines. 

2: Dual Pane Thermal Rated Windows

The windows are another area where RVs are prone to heat loss. Even an RV with high R-Value insulation installed in the walls, ceiling, and floor can still lose a lot of precious heat through conduction with single-pane windows. 

If you are going to be staying in extreme cold temperatures with your RV and you don’t want to overtax your furnace, then you should prioritize an RV that has double pane windows or some type of other thermal rated glass.

This is especially true for ice fishermen and full-timers who travel in the northern states during the winter. 

If you are just planning to use your RV for camping in mildly cold weather of the fall, for something like a weekend camping trip, and the forecast is calling for an extreme cold snap, you might be able to temporarily duplicate dual pane windows.

This could be as simple as covering them with clear plastic window insulation as you find in winter home window kits. 

3: A Heated & Enclosed Underbelly

As I alluded to earlier, the underbelly of an RV is one of the most vulnerable places on an RV that is called upon to endure extreme cold weather.

The underbelly does serve a wide range of purposes, though arguably the most important for an extreme cold weather RV is its ability to protect the water storage tanks and the water lines from freezing. 

Right off the bat, an RV with an enclosed underbelly with insulation will go a long way toward not only keeping the RV’s interior floor from getting cold, but it also helps to prevent water tanks and water lines from freezing.

This is great if you are going to be staying at temperatures between 20 to 32-degrees Fahrenheit for a night or two. 

If you are going to be staying in cold temperatures below 32 degrees or even below 0 degrees for a day or more, then you really should prioritize an RV with an enclosed and insulated underbelly with a heating system included.

This is usually a small electric resistor system that gently warms water storage tanks and water lines to prevent freezing as well as dangerous ruptures. 

3: Pex Water Lines

Water starts to expand as it transitions from 39 degrees down to the freezing point at 32 degrees.

When it hits 32 the rate of expansion as it transitions into ice can apply excess force on the water lines and connections.

Since water is incompressible, this force has the potential to rupture the water lines causing major damage to not only the RV plumbing but other nearby components that are exposed to water when the ruptured lines are thawed later. 

Pex piping is a relatively new innovation. This is a special type of water line material that expands a little bit to accommodate the expansion of water into ice.

They might be a great upgrade to an RV with an exposed underbelly or part of an extreme cold RV that needs a little added insurance factored into an already enclosed and insulated underbelly.

Also check our article about How to keep RV pipes from freezing while camping .

4: The RV’s Furnace

The propane furnace in the RV is by far the most important element of an RV that needs to withstand extreme cold weather.

The BTU rating or British Thermal Units is the standard measure for how much heat a furnace can put out in an hour.

For most mid-size RVs like a 20+ foot travel trailer or a fifth-wheel trailer, you want to see a propane furnace that is rated to produce at least 30,000 BTUs per hour.

The larger the RV the higher you want the BTU rating to be. Some larger RVs will sport up to 40,000 or even 45,000 BTU per hour propane furnaces.

You also want to see a higher BTU rating in an RV that might have a lower R-Value insulation. 

5: The Distribution Of Heat Ducts From An RV Furnace

The number of heat ducts in an RV is a lesser-appreciated feature in RVs that can withstand extreme cold weather.

An RV with a small number of ducts tends to have hot and cold spots. Over time the cold spots in an RV, especially those near the floor can lead to progressive heat loss that overtaxes the RV’s built-in propane furnace. 

If you fall in love with an RV that has a small number of heat ducts, or you’ve noticed problems with hot and cold spots in your RV on cool fall evenings, you might be able to temporarily improve heat distribution by installing one or two small 12-volt fans.

Try to position them up high near a heat duct. Set the fan on low and point it toward the cold spots on the floor.

This will help circulate the air in the RV during cold weather without creating a heat depriving draft.

8 Best Extreme Cold Weather RVs

There are some traditional RVs that have been upgraded with superior R-Value insulation, high BTU per hour propane furnaces and other key features to help them handle extreme cold better than the standard showroom models.

At the same time, some specialty manufacturers offer extreme cold RV capable models that have all the bells and whistles to handle deep drops in the mercury.

Throughout our reviews, we tried to keep an eye out for both, as well as included models that appeal to specific niche needs.

These extreme cold weather RVs will keep you warm and toasty during your wintertime camping adventure:

• 2020 Ice Castle Stub RV America II Fish House Trailer
• 2019 Northwood Arctic Fox Classic 22G Travel Trailer
• Glacier 17 RV Explorer Toy Hauler 
• 2020 Jayco Redhawk 26XD Class C Motorhome
• 2020 Heartland Bighorn BH 3985 RRD Fifth Wheel Trailer
• Forest River Rockwood Windjammer 3008W Travel Trailer
• 2020 Keystone Raptor 351 Fifth Wheel Toy Hauler
• 2020 Forest River Cherokee Arctic Wolf 287BH 5th Wheel With Arctic Package

1. 2020 Ice Castle Stub RV America II Fish House Trailer

• Ice Castle Stub RV America II
• 30,000 BTU Propane Furnace
• Maxx Air Distribution Vents
• Sleeps up to 3 people
• Spray foam insulation
• Thermal Windows
• Fiberglass siding
• Hydraulic lift system
• A Full bathroom with a toilet

Ice Castle is one of the leading manufacturers of RVs that are built to withstand extreme cold weather. 

Primarily meant to cater to the needs of ice fisherman who brave frozen lakes in the far north, you can trust that it has everything you need to keep you warm and comfortable even when the outside temperatures dip into the negative double digits. 

It is insulated with closed cell spray foam for superior insulation. The 30,000 BTU furnace might sound a little small for severe cold, but the interior does indeed stay toasty warm even in strong windchills warnings.

This is also thanks to Ice Castle’s proprietary Maxx Air Distribution Vents, as well as the spray foam and fiberglass siding. 

It’s understandable to think that this extreme cold capable travel trailer is a one-trick pony meant only to cater to ice fisherman.

After all there are six holes cut into the floor for fishing lines and a hydraulic system that lowers down until the belly is literally sitting on the ice.

However, the suspension and other characteristics also mean you can use it like a typical, albeit heavy travel trailer during the summer.

The superior insulation and Maxx Air distribution system even help maximize the built-in air conditioning system when temperatures climb high.

2. 2019 Northwood Arctic Fox Classic 22G Travel Trailer

• Dry Weight of 5,254 lbs.
• Payload Capacity of 2,246 lbs.
• GVWR of 7,500 lbs.
• Hitch Weight of 665 lbs.
• 25,000 BTU Propane Furnace
• Air Ducting System
• 13,500 BTU Air Conditioner
• R-18 Rated Insulation (High-Density Block)
• Fiberglass Side Walls
• Enclosed Underbelly
• Thermal Pane Windows
• Fresh Water Tank Capacity of 46.0 gallons
• Total Gray Water Tank Capacity of 42.0 gallons
• Total Black Water Tank Capacity of 35.0 gallons
• Heated Water Storage Tanks
• Sleeps up to 4 people

The 2019 Northwood Arctic Fox Classic with the 22G floorplan is one of the best travel trailer for extreme cold weather. 

This camper trailer model literally ticks every box you want to see in not only a “Four Season” RV, but it has all the features you want to really take the bitter chill on without worry.

It’s well-insulated, it has thermal pane windows, the underbelly is enclosed as well as heated. 

Some people might look at the 25,500 BTU per hour propane furnace and feel like it’s a little underpowered compared to some of the competitors who offer 30,000 or even 40,000 BTU per hour furnaces.

Though the superior insulation in the 2019 Northwood Arctic Fox Classic 22G and the impressive heat distribution of the air ducting system really make this travel trailer very thermally efficient.

3. Glacier 17 RV Explorer Toy Hauler 

• GVWR of 5,500 lbs.
• Payload Capacity of 1,084
• Power Ceiling Vents
• R-16 Rated Insulation
• Fresh Water Tank Capacity of 20.0 gallons
• Total Gray Water Tank Capacity of 22.0 gallons
• Total Black Water Tank Capacity of 12.0 gallons
• Sleeps up to 5 people

The Glacier 17 RV Explorer Toy Hauler is another versatile extreme cold weather RV. 

The entire body of the Glacier 17 RV Explorer Toy Hauler is insulated in thick blocks of R-16 rated insulation.

It has thermal pane windows and the 30,000 BTU forced air propane furnace diverts hot air through a series of ceiling-mounted power vents with fans installed into them.

This keeps hot air from pooling at the ceiling to help keep the floor toasty warm. 

The Glacier 17 RV Explorer Toy Hauler is a travel trailer that was originally designed to be a portable ice fishing house.

Though it’s just as well suited to be a summertime travel trailer. Especially when you consider that it can also serve as a toy hauler with a payload capacity of 1,084-pounds.

4. 2020 Jayco Redhawk 26XD Class C Motorhome

• GVWR of 14,000 lbs.
• A Towing Capacity of 7,500 lbs.
• Air Conditioner 15,000 BTU
• Fresh Water Tank Capacity of 42.0 gallons
• Total Gray Water Tank Capacity of 31.0 gallons
• Total Black Water Tank Capacity of 32.0 gallons
• Enclosed & Heated Underbelly
• Sleeps up to 7 people

The 2020 Jayco Redhawk 26XD is a Class C motorhome that was engineered to handle cold weather. 

It has R-15 insulation in the roof, R-9 floor, and R-5 walls. This helps make the most out of the toasty 30,000 BTU forced air propane furnace. 

Though the thing that really helps this motorhome withstand extreme cold is the enclosed underbelly with a heated storage tank.

This is great insurance against potential freeze-ups in the plumbing system when the temperatures dip below 32-degrees Fahrenheit. It also helps buffer the R-9 Floor insulation. 

As an RV Class C motorhome, you will appreciate the layout. The power-retractable slide out in the rear really helps maximize the space in the queen-sized master suite.

The midship kitchen and living area use a spacious open concept. The kitchen is complete with a stove, range, refrigerator, and microwave.

There’s even a complete bathroom in the rear with a toilet, shower, and sink. 

All these things make the 2020 Jayco Redhawk 26XD for a small family that likes to travel in the winter. It’s also suitable for full-timers who love to live life on the move.

5. 2020 Heartland Bighorn BH 3985 RRD Fifth Wheel Trailer

• Dry Weight of 14,079 lbs.
• Payload Capacity of 2,373 lbs.
• GVWR of 16,500 lbs.
• Hitch Weight of 2,945 lbs.
• 42,000 BTU Propane Furnace
• Heat Ducting System
• Freeze Proof Insulation
• Pex Water Pipes
• Fresh Water Tank Capacity of 65.0 gallons
• Total Gray Water Tank Capacity of 90.0 gallons
• Total Black Water Tank Capacity of 45.0 gallons
• Sleeps up to 6 people

The 2020 Heartland Bighorn BH 3985 RRD was designed with mountain campers and people who need to stay in the cold in mind. 

This 5th wheel trailer has freeze proof insulation installed throughout, as well as a very warm 40,000 BTU forced air propane furnace that is distributed evenly via a thoughtfully engineered heat ducting system. 

Though this isn’t the full extent of this RV’s cold weather endurance. It also has an enclosed underbelly with expandable pex water lines.

The entire system is also supported by large fresh, gray, and black water storage tanks. This higher volume of water also reduced the freezing risk for times when you might need to stay for multiple days. 

With a dry weight of 14,079-pounds, a gross vehicle weight rating of 16,500-pounds, and a hitch weight of 2,945-pounds, this robust fifth-wheel trailer is the sort of thing you take with you and leave in place for multiple days if not weeks at a time.

It’s a great option for keeping in a four-season RV park for year-round camping or for using as a base camp on long fall hunting trips.

6. Forest River Rockwood Windjammer 3008W Travel Trailer

• Dry Weight of 7,482 lbs.
• Payload Capacity of 1,415 lbs.
• Hitch Weight of 897 lbs.
• Fresh Water Tank Capacity of 45.0 gallons
• Total Gray Water Tank Capacity of 75.0 gallons
• 13,000 BTU Air Conditioner
• 30,000 BTU Forced Air Propane Furnace

The Rockwood lineup is one of Forest Rivers most popular with sportsman who need a home base travel trailer for fall hunting and fishing trips.

Not only is the 30,0000 BTU propane forced air furnace nice and toasty, but the hot air it produces is ducted through the floor.

This helps to keep the floor warm and maximizes the insulation value offered by the R-7 in the walls, R-12 in the floor, and R-14 in the roof.

The interior of the Forest River – Rockwood Windjammer 3008W is also very spacious. This is thanks in part to a pair of power-retractable slideout sections. 

The one in the rear produces a queen size master suite that is privately separated from the rest of the travel trailer by the pass-thru bathroom. 

Then there’s another power retractable slide out section in the front-midship that produces a spacious living room with couch, and dinette that convert into sleeping space.

There’s even a pair of Lazy Boy recliners as well as a counter top breakfast nook with seating for two that looks into the spacious kitchen in the front nose of the Forest River – Rockwood Windjammer 3008W.

All these comfort features, sleeping space and the impressive heating system makes the Forest River – Rockwood Windjammer 3008W one of the best extreme cold weather RVs for families.

Just make sure you have a three-quarter ton pickup truck to pull the 7,482-pound dry weight of this 34-foot long travel trailer.

7. 2020 Keystone Raptor 351 Fifth Wheel Toy Hauler

• Dry Weight of 13,546 lbs.
• Hitch Weight of 3,020 lbs.
• GVWR of 17,000 lbs.
• Fresh Water Tank Capacity of 106.0 gallons
• Total Gray Water Tank Capacity of 82.0 gallons
• Total Black Water Tank Capacity of 44.0 gallons
• 30,000 BTU Air Conditioner
• 35,000 BTU Forced Air Propane Furnace
• Max Flo Zone Air Controller System

Keystone is one of the most well-trusted fifth wheel trailer manufacturers in the RV market, with models to suit just about any interest, especially in their broad line up of fifth wheel trailers.

You see this shine through in the all-weather engineering of the 2020 Keystone – Raptor 351, which can also serve as a more than capable toy hauler. 

The weather proofing system of this all weather fifth wheel toy hauler includes tightly sealing doors and thermal pane windows, as well as a heated and enclosed underbelly.

The water storage tanks are also enormous, which further reduces the risk of freeze ups in severe cold conditions, while also providing you with enough storage to camp for days off the grid. 

The 35,000 BTU per hour rated forced air propane furnace is more than toasty on it’s own.

Though the heat it produces is then shunted through Keystone’s Max Flo Air System for equal distribution.

This same system also works to maximize the air conditioner’s efficiency in the summer.

8. 2020 Forest River Cherokee Arctic Wolf 287BH 5th Wheel With Arctic Package

• Dry Weight of 8,368 lbs.
• Payload Capacity of 3,157 lbs.
• Hitch Weight of 1,325 lbs.
• GVWR of 11,525lbs.
• Fresh Water Tank Capacity of 49.0 gallons
• Total Gray Water Tank Capacity of 70.0 gallons
• Ducted Air Circulation System

The Cherokee Artic Wolf line by Forest River is one of the most popular 5th wheel make and model pairings for extreme cold weather camping.

With an enclosed and heated underbelly you have little risk of a freeze up occurring in your plumbing system, even when the temperatures start to drop into the single digits or below.

The 35,000 BTU furnace that comes with the “Arctic Package” is also ducted into a special circulation system that evenly distributes heat to keep the floor as warm as the ceiling. 

Though with all this cold fortification, the 2020 Forest River – Cherokee Arctic Wolf 287BH is stil not sort on comfort or luxury. 

There is a true master suite in the front with a queen size bed. It’s separated from the rest of the RV’s interior by a step up hallway and bathroom for superior privacy.

The mid-ship slide out section houses a sofa and a large size dinette that also convert into sleeping space. There’s even double stacked bunk beds in the rear of the fifth-wheel trailer.

When you take into account all the cold weather fortifications from the Arctic package and all the sleeping space, the 2020 Forest River – Cherokee Arctic Wolf 287BH, is one of the best extreme cold weather 5th wheel trailers for a family that loves four season traveling. It’s also a great option to set up as a winter hunting base camp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i insulate the underbelly of my rv myself.

Depending on the RV and your mechanical skills, you could insulate the underbelly of your RV yourself to help it withstand extreme cold.

This might consist of installing insulated panels or applying closed-cell spray foam insulation.

Just make sure that you aren’t accidentally covering up wires, access panels, or other components that you might need to access again later on. 

What Is Skirting And Does It Help Insulate An RV In Extreme Cold Weather?

Skirting is generally a series of panels or sheets that are deployed around the lower exterior of an RV.

When complete, they help hold in the heat near the RV’s floor, water pipes, and water storage tanks.

They can buy you around 10-degrees of protection. Especially if they are properly insulated with an R-value rated insulation or some type of spray foam insulation.  https://www.youtube.com/embed/GW8QXms6VMU?rel=0&modestbranding=1&controls=1&showinfo=1&fs=1&wmode=transparent

Skirting also helps prevent wind from robbing the underbelly of an RV of precious heat. This can be a major factor for people who camp in their RV in the mountains or out on the ice. 

Even an RV with an enclosed, insulated and heated underbelly will benefit from additional skirting.

You just have to come up with an efficient strategy for hauling it with you from Point A to Point B. The skirting also needs to completely surround the underbelly of the RV.

Even a modest air leak can lead to significant heat loss when the wind blows hard on a cold day.

Just a few decades ago, only a handful of RVs was truly set up to handle the extreme cold.

Today the demand for cold enduring RVs has continued to meet the needs of full-timers, winter campers, fall hunters, and ice fishing enthusiasts.

The RVs on this list represent the proverbial tip of the iceberg when it comes to the best extreme cold weather RVs. 

If you want a comfortable base camp for a long fall hunting trip or four-season travel at RV parks, then the 2020 Heartland Bighorn BH 3985 RRD Fifth Wheel Trailer is likely the best extreme cold RV for you.

It has a powerfully warm furnace, an enclosed underbelly with large water storage tanks, and expanding pex pipes to keep you supported for weeks at a time. 

If you are an ice fisherman who wants to live on the frozen lake for long weekends of high-end angling then the 2020 Ice Castle Stub RV America II is one of the best extreme cold weather RVs.

It has the insulation and heating system needed to keep you warm and even sits down on the ice to get you inches from the holes. 

Whatever your priorities are, it’s clear that there are a lot of great extreme cold weather RVs on the market.

The ones on this list represent some of the best places to start to meet travel and niche interests when the mercury starts to dip.

About Author / Aaron Richardson

Aaron Richardson is an expert RVer and the co-founder of RVing Know How. Aaron, along with his wife Evelyn, has been living and traveling in their Keystone Fuzion RV since 2017. Their adventures span across the country and beyond, including memorable RVing experiences in Mexico. Aaron's passion for the outdoors and RVing shines through in his writings, where he shares a blend of travel stories, practical tips, and insights to enhance the RV lifestyle.

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Are propane catalytic heaters safe to use inside an rv.

Hi! I’m curious why the outdoors mfg RV or lance trailers are not on this list? Did you review and rule them out? Thanks for this info, it is super helpful!!

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The Best Cold Weather Travel Trailers to Survive Winter

Last Updated on December 9, 2023 by Jess

If you plan on using your RV in the winter, don’t just trust any old travel trailer.

We’ve found some of the best cold-weather travel trailers to keep you cozy all season long.

Surviving winter in an RV can be a challenge, but there are a few things you can look for when buying to set yourself up for success.

We want you to not only survive the winter in your RV, but we want you to do well. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Can you live in a motorhome in the winter?

Yes, you can live in a camper in the winter, and many people do. However, your comfort depends largely on the model and what cold weather features the manufacturer offers.

Most manufacturers design their RVs for recreational purposes, that is, for the peak season when most RV owners camp. This means that most RVs are designed for the summer and fall months.

However, if you are looking for an RV that is also suitable for the winter months, we have something for you. First, let’s take a look at a few important features to look for when shopping.

What to look for in a cold weather travel trailer

When buying a cold-weather travel trailer , it’s important to pay attention to a few things. The features listed below will help you stay warm and cozy all winter long.

Insulation value

Various “R-values” are used for insulation in mobile homes. The higher the R-value, the better insulated your RV is.

A typical RV sidewall has an insulation value between R-5 and R-7, but if you plan to live in it during the winter, don’t just use a typical RV.

A motorhome with a four-season classification has increased insulation. Typically, the side walls have an R-9 rating, the underbody has an R-11 rating, and the roof and front wall have an R-40 rating. You’ll appreciate having more insulation between you and freezing temperatures!

It is important to note that these insulation ratings are not the same as the insulation in your home. Many RV manufacturers layer their insulation values, which is a tricky way to increase the R-value.

For example, an RV might have a layer of Reflectix with an R-5 value in the underbody, then a layer of insulation with an R-10 value, and then another layer of Reflectix. This is touted as the R-20 value of the underbody, but it is actually three separate layers of insulation.

Two-pane thermal insulation window

The next feature you should look for is double-paned windows. The windows of a mobile home can let in a tremendous amount of cold air from the outside.

Manufacturers who want to build a weatherproof RV use double-glazed thermal windows. These are heavier and more expensive, but they provide excellent insulation for the vehicle.

Many RV owners like double-paned windows because they prevent condensation. The inside of your RV’s windows will sweat if the inside temperature is warmer than the outside temperature.

Fortunately, with double-paned windows, you don’t have to worry about condensation forming on the inside of your windows.

Pro Tip: Double-pane windows are great, but they can fog up. Here’s how to fix your fogged RV windows if you have them!

Heating system

If you live in your RV in the winter, you obviously need a heat source. Many RVs have a propane furnace that pumps heat through vents throughout the RV.

Some RVs also have electric fireplaces in the living room or bedroom. However, these use a lot of electricity, so they are not ideal if you are staying outdoors or paying for electricity at a long-term campground.

Finally, you can supplement your heat source with a portable heater. We recommend reading about the best propane heaters for RVs that will keep you warm if you decide to go that route.

Heated Underbody Panel

The best cold weather motorhomes have a heated underbody. This means that the RV’s heating system has a vent or two that blows warm air from the furnace into the underbody. This protects sensitive water pipes, plumbing, and other parts that should not be exposed to the cold.

While this does not keep the temperature as warm as the living space, it can often keep it above freezing to avoid potential damage.

If you have an RV with a heated underfloor, you should run your furnace regularly. If the furnace is not running, warm air will not be pumped into your underfloor.

Many RV owners make the mistake of running their electric fireplaces or heaters so often that the furnace does not come on regularly. If warm air is not pumped into your underfloor, water pipes and other components can freeze.

Learn more: Do you like discovering great products? Here’s some cold-weather camping gear you’ll really love!

Heated holding tanks

When your RV’s holding tanks freeze, you have no way to empty them. Motorhomes built for cold weather are always equipped with heated holding tanks.

Manufacturers wrap the tanks with some sort of electric heating blanket that RVers can turn on with the push of a button. The blankets warm the tanks enough to prevent the liquids inside from freezing.

Many of these heaters shut off as soon as conditions change and they are no longer needed.

The best cold weather travel trailers for winter camping

Now that you know what to look for in a cold-weather travel trailer , let’s take a look at some of the best on the market.

Lance 2285 travel trailer

MSRP: $74,073 Length: 27 feet 5 inches GVWR: 8,000 lbs. Cold weather features: The Lance 2285 Travel Trailer is equipped with the Lance all-weather package. This includes a ducted heater with vents in the enclosed underbody to protect your RV’s sensitive components.

Lance also has an easy-to-use water heater bypass that makes it easy to winterize your RV. It comes with insulated hatch covers that limit the loss of warm air through the roof vent.

About: The Lance 2285 is equipped with a 45-gallon freshwater tank, two 40-gallon gray tanks, and a 40-gallon black tank. This gives you plenty of room to store water and waste while braving the elements.

With a cargo capacity of 2,225 pounds, you’ll have plenty of room for just about anything you want to take with you.

The trailer has a large floor area and multiple doors for guests to come and go. Just because you live in a trailer in the winter doesn’t mean you can’t invite your friends and family.

Arctic Fox North Fork 29RK

MSRP: $88,900 Length: 32 feet 3 inches GVWR: 10,400 pounds Cold weather features: The Arctic Fox North Fork 29RK is built for four seasons. You’ll appreciate the fully enclosed holding tank area that circulates warm air around the tanks to keep them from freezing.

Plus, the drain valves are enclosed in the heated compartment to prevent potential damage from freezing temperatures.

About: The 29RK is a quality vehicle from a reputable manufacturer of four-season RVs. The 58-gallon freshwater tanks, 35-gallon gray water tanks, and 35-gallon black water tanks are all insulated with thermal heating pads.

So you can be sure your tanks are protected from the elements with the push of a button. In addition, Northwood has a reputation for providing the highest quality RV frames in the industry that can take a beating.

Please note: Arctic Fox offers a wide variety of motorhomes! Therefore, we have created an Arctic Fox motorhome buying guide to help you choose the right motorhome for your needs!

Northwood Nash 24B

MSRP: $46,391 Length: 28 feet 8 inches GVWR: 9,200 pounds Cold weather features: Another of the best cold weather travel trailers to get through the winter is the Northwood Nash 24B. It has all the winter camping features a family could need to stay comfortable.

The insulated and heated holding tanks keep your tanks and underbody warm in freezing temperatures. Northwood uses high-quality batten and reflective foil insulation in its construction to strengthen the insulation of its units.

About: The Nash 24B travel trailer is great for families. It features double bunks with privacy curtains.

The fiberglass exterior and high-density block foam insulation create a barrier between you and Old Man Winter. You can easily keep your rig warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Jayco Eagle 330RSTS

MSRP: $75,218 Length: 40 feet 1 inch GVWR: 11,995 pounds Cold weather equipment: The Eagle has a fully enclosed and heated underbody. It also has double-sided radiant insulation in the roof, floor and front cap.

Combine that with the double-layer fiberglass insulation in the ceiling and floor, and you have a well-insulated, winterized vehicle.

About: If you’re tired of boring interiors from RV manufacturers, the 330RSTS is a vehicle you should consider. It has a fresh, bright white interior that looks like it came from a farmhouse.

The fresh colors give the interior a very homey look. However, if you prefer traditional colors, Jayco still offers that option. The Eagle series is one of the longest-running and most successful motorhomes on the market.

Bigfoot travel trailer B25

MSRP: $71,425 Length: 25 feet 6 inches GVWR: 7,500 pounds Cold weather features: Bigfoot Travel Trailers all have a two-piece fiberglass exterior. High-density insulation and thermal windows make the Bigfoot B25 one of the best-performing and most comfortable cold-weather travel trailers.

About: Bigfoot makes an RV that stands up to the elements to keep you comfortable.

Simple things like a porcelain toilet, innerspring mattress, and luxurious fabrics for the furniture will make you forget you’re in an RV.

Heartland Sundance Ultra-Lite 262RB

MSRP: $50,177 Length: 30 feet 10 inches GVWR: 7,780 pounds Cold weather equipment: With 2-inch furnace ducts blowing warm air into the enclosed and insulated subfloor, you won’t have to worry about frozen water pipes or your delicate plumbing.

Heartland uses Azdel laminated sidewalls to create an extra barrier between the inside of your RV and cold winter conditions. Stay warm and cozy in this cold-weather camper.

About: One of the first things you’ll notice when you enter the home is the massive ceilings. The vaulted ceilings provide plenty of headroom for even the largest of campers.

Turn on the electric fireplace and take a seat at the dining nook while you watch the snow fall outside. The queen-size bed has an upgraded mattress to give you a restful night’s sleep. However, many people love the lack of carpet.

Pro Tip: Heartland offers some of our most popular RV floorplans. To learn more about this brand and what it offers, please read Who makes Heartland RV?

Additional tips for cold-weather camping

Taking the time to prepare your RV for winter will help you weather the cold weather.

Before the temperatures drop, you should purchase a heated water hose. This will ensure that your water hose does not freeze and that you still have water in your RV when the temperature drops below freezing.

We also recommend installing RV skirts to prevent the cold wind from blowing under your vehicle.

You can have your own skirting made from insulation board for a few hundred dollars, or buy custom-made for a few thousand dollars. You can find pre-made options that fall between these prices.

Again, the key to surviving winter is the work you do before the temperatures drop. You don’t want to wait for snow to plan how to protect yourself and your RV from the cold.

If you do the work in advance, you can be sitting in your warm RV when the cooler temperatures finally arrive.

Take on the cold weather in one of these travel trailers

You won’t have to shiver through the winter with a travel trailer. These travel trailers can withstand even the coldest winter temperatures.

The most important features when looking for the best cold-weather RV are insulation, heating, and safety.

Take the time to prepare your RV for the elements, and you’ll have no trouble staying warm all winter long.

Depending on how much you enjoy spending time outdoors, you might fall in love with winter camping.

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9 Best Insulated Travel Trailers For Extreme Cold Weather

You can fight nature without being prepared. Same wise, you can’t enjoy extreme camping with an insulated travel trailer,

Camping in freezing weather requires a different type of checklist. Of course, picking a travel trailer with the best insulation is one of the priorities. There are many cold-weather travel trailer manufactures in the market, but which one should a new buyer consider?

Below are the best insulated travel trailers that can help you enjoy camping without worrying about the outside temperature.

Table of Contents

List of 9 Best Insulated Travel Trailers For Cold Weather

Northwood snow river travel trailer.

• This camper is one of the best-insulated travel trailers for all-weather; it offers high-density block foam insulation.
• There are two-floor plans to choose from; it offers features like exterior shower, power awning, outside speakers, and a kitchen grill.
• An exclusive diamond bumper wrap and residential wear floor covering make it one of the most durable options.
• Capable of towing more than 6.000 lbs GVWR.
• The floor plans do not differ a lot; snow river 266RDS is more spacious and weighs slightly more than the counterpart.

Lance 4 Travel Trailer

• Wintertime journeys are comfy with insulated hatch covers which can snap off or on depending on the weather. The covers prevent cold from invading the RV keeping the passengers warm and comfortable and making it one of the best-insulated travel trailers for all four seasons.
• Azdel Insulation replaces wood and prevents mildew, mould and rot that develops in the wood when exposed to wet and wintry conditions. This thermoplastic composite insulation also soundproofs the vehicle.
• A ducted heating system helps keep the whole space equally warm; it has hold tanks so that heated air can flow across the entire camper.
• It is equipped with dual pane insulated windows that also have soundproofing features.
• This vehicle has a water heater bypass for wintry conditions.
• No such drawbacks of this trailer. Although, the manufacturer can offer 4 Seasons package for toy trailers and truck campers .

Livin Lite Camplite Travel Trailer

• All Camplite models are made up of aluminium from top to bottom, and no wood is used even in the interior, making it durable and lightweight at the same time.
• This RV uses a thicker gauge of aluminium tubing to provide superior strength and lightweight towing ordeal; it saves your money in fuel and on the tow vehicle.
• It uses quality construction materials like six-sided block foam insulation, Azdel sidewalls Alpha Superflex, and laminated flooring to withstand all seasons.
• It offers various floor plans to choose from, like, bunkhouse, expandable, rear bathroom model.
• It also offers elegant exterior; there are many colour options to choose from, including silver, red and blue.
• If you have a family of three, including a child, it is perfect for you. For big families, it’s a big no.

Forest River Rockwood Windjammer Travel Trailer

• This travel camper features two entry doors and two slide outs. While entering from the rear entrance, there are two swivel rockers along the wall to relax during the journey.
• This vehicle offers space-saving furniture options like a 44″ dinette and a 67″ hide-a-bed-sofa, you can even swap the sofa with the theatre setting and the dinette with a standout table and four chairs.
• It comes fitted with a Serta queen bed and optional television set.
• This camper follows the v-nose design, making it ideal for people who want every possible space to be used and suitable for aerodynamics.
• The large size gives itself ample space for a 75-gallon grey water tank, 45-gallon freshwater tank, and a black water tank.
• The master bedroom has two slide wardrobes, a collapsible table which can space a bed that measures 60×10 and heated mattress.
• This camper is best for winters. With heated matters, you will get floor ducted furnace, upgraded fireplace, thermo-pane windows, electric-controlled heated holding tanks and insulation in the whole trailer.
• The bathroom is on the front side of this model.
• This camper is heavy, with 7482-pound ship weight and 897-pound hitch weight, you need a little experience to manoeuvre it flawlessly.
• It is quite lengthy so that it will require an ample parking space.

Jayco Redhawk 26XD

• This camper has the best entertainment features, from exterior/interior speakers to television set, it has everything.
• It has propane gas tank for the barbeque and is positioned in the rear part of the vehicle so that you need to worry about smoke going up in the RV.
• It offers 7500 towing capacity.
• This camper comes with electronic stairs; they come out as soon as the doors are open. An ideal feature for families with kids and elders.
• This RV offers seatbelts in all seating position for a safe road journey.
• It has all the essential kitchen amenities such as double sink, convection microwave, three burner cooktops, oven, a standard refrigerator.
• It comes with a walk around queen bed so that you don’t need to curl up in the corner; the bedroom has reading lights, a window for fresh and a big washroom with separate dry and wet areas.
• It can only store 42.5 gallons of freshwater water.
• It does not offer power-adjustable seats.

Keystone Raptor

• The MaxFlo zone-controlled air conditioners run at 15000 BTU’s that makes it a standout from all other cold-weather RVs.
• Raptor allows you to choose from eight different floor plans. You will get the same rooms as the master bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, handy storage, but everything is arranged differently.
• The master bedroom has mirror doors, full-size closet, shades, and vinyl flooring.
• It is equipped with 30,000 BTU’s air conditioning and 35,000 BTU’s heater, making it ideal for summer and winter trips.
• It offers both interior/exterior speakers and surrounds sound.
• The kitchen is located in the centre of the camper to offer a comfortable cooking ordeal.
• There are no cons. It is one of the best picks for extreme cold weather RV.

Heartland LM Arlington

• LM Arlington comes with optional Yeti Extreme cold weather package, which prevents extreme weathers and makes it one of the best winterized RVs in the market.
• The travel trailer comes fitted with a power-tilted bed and bedroom reading lights.
• It also has a lockable safe to keep all the costly things and cash secured.
• It also offers a stainless steel oven, high-rise coffee maker and a backlit tile backsplash.
• The core package will also include USB ports, 1000 watt inverter with surge protectors and an 80amp converter.
• A multiplex lighting system and soft tables come with this RV
• You can add extra features such as a 40-inch exterior television set, slide room awnings, dishwasher, a bathroom fan and Alumni-guard awnings.
• The Yeti Extreme cold weather package is not included in the core package, and you need to pay extra for that.
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Northwood Arctic Fox

• Northwood arctic fox offers four seasons construction and is ideal for every season.
• It has excellent heating and air conditioning facilities to keep the temperature of the interiors bearable.
• This camper provider best in class kitchen equipment such as six cubic foot two-way refrigerator, 22″ oven, microwave, pull out pantry, sliding storage space and more.
• It has hardwood hamper doors, and sliding battery rack for easy storage.
• It offers 59gallons fresh wastewater storage for off-road trails and camping.
• Rieco-Titan electric jacks, exterior speakers, Diamond plate knee wall, makes this camper an ideal choice.
• This 2021 model has an internal height of 6’7″ that makes it a big no for tall figures.

Keystone Montana

• It is a wise choice if you love going on off-trail hunting. It provides massive water storage. You can store 66 gallons of freshwater, 88 gallons of greywater and 49 gallons of black water.
• It is ideal for all seasons, as it is equipped with all necessities like 30,000 BTU air conditioning, 9000 BTU oven, a three burner cooktop and more.
• It has a unique heating system to keep you warm during extended winter breaks.
• This camper is spacious and has a full sliding master bedroom door and a large bathroom.
• Keystone Montana is not fuel-efficient.
• It is enormous and has dimensions of 35 feet and 8 feet, that means you will need a prominent parking place to park this RV.
• The travel trailer is equipped with everything and is a great choice, but their site does not work in some provinces, making it inaccessible to many people.
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Why You Need Best Insulated Travel Trailers?

For the one’s who share their one on one with wanderlust, travelling is like passion to them. However, it’s not always the hotels that give you the comfort of staying indoors and enjoying the serene beauty of the spot. Sometimes, it is the destination and the journey that gives you the desired taste of travelling.

Further, travelling is the essence of living and should always be done in the best possible manner, ranging from a cosy stay, serene beauty to enjoying all the local flavours you taste in a particular area. Otherwise, your trip/journey really won’t have much effect on the overall value that it should add.

Things well said, when you don’t experience all the aspects of your travel, you don’t really enjoy, it’s just time wasted. Having your time wasted in public travels is not something that anybody would prefer, right?

This is where things take a turn for better with travel trailers that give you the travelling experience you desire.

Travel trailers have been the go-to hotel rooms for a vast number of travellers, ever since time immemorial; therefore, them being able to pass the test of extreme weather is a must. Today, having proper knowledge when selecting the extreme cold weather RVs is a must.

Now, we know that most of you won’t agree with this or might have second thoughts. Relax, I got you covered.

Is it really important for my travel trailer to be insulated for extreme weathers?

First, Yes, it is extremely essential to have a winterized RV as it is the essence of your travel. Mind that not always you’ll go to destinations that have similar weather or temperature throughout the year. Further, if you visit a certain destination all the time, are you even travelling?

Therefore, whenever you make a purchase for your next on the go vehicle, make sure that you go through the list of these winterized RVs.

What Is The Importance Of Insulation In Travel Trailer Or Camper Van?

In simple terms, a winterized RV provides proper atmosphere inside your RV. In summer, it maintains the low temperature inside of an RV. Whereas, it gives the required insulation to tackle extreme conditions outside. Listed below are some of the most apparent reasons that should be put into perspective to pick your next insulated trailer:

Helps you withstand hot and cold temperatures rapidly

Insulation is a necessary aspect inside your travel trailer, especially when you decide to move to either of the two extreme temperatures (shiver-striking weathers or warm & melting temperatures). When you decide to buy a travel trailer with proper insulation, you prevent yourself and your fellow occupants from getting affected by the weather changes. Insulation cuts off the contact between the temperature outside and aims to maintain a seamless temperature inside. Promoting the required inner atmosphere.

Having an insulated trailer adds to the efficiency

Yes, this might come out as a surprise to many new owners of a travel trailer, but it’s true. When you make the right move and plan your next travel with winterized RV , you save yourself on the costs of travelling as well, interesting right?

Insulation cuts of all the overall energy that is utilized by the trailer while you are travelling besides maintaining a seamless temperature inside, no matter what the temperature is outside. To understand this concept, let’s understand the working of a standard heater or a cooler. A heater or a cooler’s function is to draw electric current from the battery and the fuel inside a vehicle to convert into the corresponding gas.

This way, they tend to maintain preferred temperatures inside the cabin. When your cabin is insulated, it cuts off the temperature outside and creates a vacuum, thereby containing the temperature inside. This way, you save your resources spent behind maintaining temperatures in a pocket-friendly manner.

Insulated trailers are water and fire efficient

Let’s face it, accidents can happen at any point in time while you are travelling. While your vehicle might be laden with features to help you overcome the damage, there’s not much you can do in case of accidental fire. However, this is not the case with trailers that are developed with insulating materials.

No, they aren’t fireproof but better at minimising damage.

Travel trailers make the use of foam board insulation, making them a reliable mode of transport under extreme cases as these boards are water and fire-resistant. This way, these boards really save you from the troubles of your walls, facing condensation when you are off to travelling in humid conditions. Further, the insulation provided over these vehicles counts for a reliable safety shield, keeping the occupants away from extreme temperature conditions.

Now that you have finally understood the importance of opting for the best insulated travel trailer for hot weather & cold weather alike, we know what you might be thinking next.

If you are already tempted to buy one, we suggest that you understand the checklist that you should be looking after when you are off to buy your new travel trailer. Understanding the suggested points help you get through the basics of buying your next travel trailer:

As mentioned above, insulation is the key to your ride, and one of the must check inside your travel trailers. The trick here is to check the insulation level inside your trailer as it is the only factor that determines the ability to withstand extreme temperatures. The type of insulations presents inside your travel trailer are responsible for the effective working of your vehicle.

There are different forms of insulation present inside a trailer, some of the most common being the listed three:

• Spun fibreglass

When you go to select your travel trailer, make sure that you measure the R-Value. The higher the R-value of the tour trailer is, the better insulation it will provide you with. So far, fibreglass is the best to keep constant temperatures.

Floor Plans

Your floor plan defines your layout of the travel trailer. Every trailer has a different format of floor plan. Therefore, you should always be aware of the floor plan inside your trailer as it represents the space and functionality inside.

Remember, the more varieties of floor plan your trailer has, the higher the functionality that it has to offer.

The piping inside your travel trailer plays a significant role in keeping up with the level of insulation inside the trailer. The water and septic pipes that are present inside the trailer add to its value as well.

We suggest you lookout for a trailer with PVC pipes as it allows you to enable multifunctionality. Insulated pipes prevent water from reaching its freezing point, thereby, saving you from the unnecessary pit stops in your journey.

Your travel trailer showcases your lifestyle. These best insulated travel trailers have not one but many significant advantages to add to your overall experiences while you are travelling. The more you understand the benefits of opting for an insulated travel trailer, the better it is for your overall experience of discovering new places on wheels.

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Written by Shailesh Thakran

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Best RV And Travel Trailers For Winter And Cold Weather

Do you want your camping adventures to become year-round events? Are you looking for a travel trailer that will be able to keep you warm when the cold weather sets in?

If so, you’re in luck. There are a number of RVs and travel trailers available that are specifically designed for winter campers. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at five of the highest-rated ones to determine whether or not they’re worth your money.

2020 Jayco Redhawk 26XD

2021 forest river cherokee arctic wolf 251mk, 2020 keystone montana 3781rl, 2020 heartland bighorn 3995fk, 2018 jayco 327ckts eagle.

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RVs and Travel Trailers for Winter: What To Look For

4 season RVing differs from traditional summer RVing in many respects. If you’ve never experienced it before, you might not understand which features translate well to colder climates. Here are the ones you should pay closest attention to when making a decision.

For this type of camping, you’ll need a rig that’s properly insulated. Look for the highest R-value available if you’ll be using the RV in colder climates. For campers, the R-value should be around a 10 for the walls and a 20 for the ceiling. Often, the company will advertise an “arctic package” or something similar. This means that extra insolation can be included for an additional price.

There are three different types of insolation for RVs and travel trailers: spray foam, foam board, and fiberglass.

Spray foam uses a combination of chemicals to create a compound that will harden once the foam has been applied. Because it can expand to cover hard-to-reach corners, it’s an efficient option for the lower portion of the RV, where the floor and water tanks are located. Most manufacturers will restrict its use to these areas.

Foam board is a more popular choice, one that’s present in many RV models. It’s made up of panels that are built into the walls and ceiling. Because it’s water-resistant and flame-retardant, it can help to extend the life of the camper by reducing the risk of damage due to condensation.

Fiberglass used to be more popular, but time has not been kind to this method. Although it’s cheap and easy to install, it’s also prone to water damage. That makes it more susceptible to mold, which spells death for the panels–once they’re moldy, you’ll have to replace them immediately.

As a final note, pay attention to the windows—where they’re located and how many there are. Features like skylights might seem appealing in the summer, but when the weather turns, they’re just another way that heat can escape. The best 4 season RVs will windows that can be well-sealed to keep the living space warm when the wind is howling outside.

This is something you wouldn’t pay a great deal of attention to if you planned to store your RV during the cooler months. For year-round camping, however, you’ll want to make sure the furnace cranks at l east 30,000 BTUs.

The plumbing system should be equipped with a special heating feature to keep the pipes from freezing. You should also plan on adding RV antifreeze to the system by pouring it down the shower drain and flushing it down the toilet. For obvious reasons, this trick won’t work for the freshwater tank. If the water tanks don’t have a heating function, you’ll need to pack your drinking water separately.

Because ice and snow can damage the slide-out mechanisms, it’s a good idea to steer clear of them when possible. Using them in the winter also allows more cold air to seep in. If the trailer does have slide-outs, look for the ones that have awnings attached. These will help to prevent snow and ice damage.

While we hate to address the elephant in the room, it must be said: RVs and travel trailers that are designed for cold weather camping don’t come cheaply. You can expect to spend more on a 4-season travel trailer than you would for a 3-season unit. However, keep in mind that winter campers will give you a greater return on your investment in the long run.

5 Tips For Camping In Colder Weather

There are a few other precautions you can take when you’re braving the elements in your RV. Here are some of the hacks we’ve learned over the years:

• Park with the front or the rear of the trailer facing the wind, rather than broadside.

2. Try to find a parking spot that has some type of wind barrier in front, like a building or a row of trees.

3. When you’re at a campground, use the bathhouse as much as possible to cut down on the amount of gray water you generate. You’ll also conserve power this way.

4. Clean the exterior vents well before setting out.

5. Also, make sure the batteries are fully charged and all the tanks are full.

Pack plenty of warm clothing and blankets, just in case the power fails.

Best RVs and Travel Trailers for Winter and Cold Weather: Product Review Guide

A class C motorhome with splendid ambiance, the Redhawk 26XD is custom-made for chilly nights. Measuring just under 29 feet in length, it’s small enough for novices to handle yet roomy enough to offer the ultimate in camping luxury.

A queen-sized bed in the rear is supplemented by a sturdy bunk in the cabover and a pull-out sofa with plump cushions. What with the wardrobe in the bedroom and the storage space available beneath the dinette benches, you’ll have plenty of room for all your gear.

The bathroom is small but serviceable, with a stall shower in addition to the sink and toilet. A three-burner stove, refrigerator, and double sink make up the kitchen facilities.

With foam board insulation and a 31,000 BTU furnace, you’ll stay nice and warm in the Redhawk 26XD. Thanks to the patio awning, you should be able to get good use out of it during the summer months as well. The unit comes with a hefty price tag, but if you’re enthusiastic about year-round camping, it’s a bargain.

Manufactures Website

The Cherokee Arctic Wolf 251MK is one of the most luxurious models in our roundup. With its comfortable theater seats, high ceilings, and electric fireplace, it’s more than just a place to sleep–it’s a true home away from home.

A queen-sized bed dominates the sleeping area, which also includes a sizable wardrobe. The bathroom sits adjacent to the bedroom and features a stall shower, sink, and toilet. The door to the bathroom is configured so that it’s just as accessible from the living area as it is from the bedroom. A three-burner stove, farm-style sink, refrigerator, and microwave round out the kitchen facilities.

Be aware that the Arctic Wolf 251MK sleeps just four people, so it’s not suitable for larger families. Couples or families with just one or two children, meanwhile, will be pampered and cozy in this model.

Outdoor enthusiasts who love to cook will gravitate toward this luxury fifth wheel. The kitchen includes an 18-cubic foot refrigerator and a separate island for prep, in addition to a giant pantry. A convection microwave and three-burner cooking range round out the options. With a kitchen like this, you might feel as if you’ve never left home.

The perks don’t end there. The Montana 3781RL features an electric fireplace, a bathroom with dual sinks and a large stall shower, and a sleeping area with a queen-sized bed. The sofa can be converted into a bed also, and the free-standing dinette is the perfect place to gather in the evenings. When you invest in the Four Season Living package, you’ll get insulated in-floor water lines, dual attic vents, and heated and insulated holding tanks and dump valves.

Despite its size, this fifth wheel has a sleeping capacity of just four people. If you happen to have four people who like to spread out, however, they’re in for a treat.

The Heartland Bighorn 3995FK is outfitted with a furnace that cranks out a whopping 40,000 BTUs, which should be enough to keep you toasty even on the coldest January nights. While it lacks the frills of some models listed here, the layout is impressively designed and quite spacious for a fifth wheel camper trailer.

You may never want to get out of the huge, plush king-sized bed, situated in a rear sleeping area that also includes a roomy wardrobe. The bathroom is easily accessible from the sleeping area, with an oversized shower and a floor that sits level so there’s no danger of tripping over the threshold.

The kitchen offers an 18-cubic foot refrigerator and a three-burner cooking range with a built-in oven in addition to the microwave. Best of all, the walls have an R-value of 11, while the floor and ceiling are rated at a cozy 38.

This unit sleeps up to six people, but we think that’s pushing it–five would probably be our limit if given the choice. There’s plenty of room for everyone to gather, though, and the durable construction and powerful furnace make this an excellent choice for roughing it in chilly climates.

Jayco stocks many quality units, and this one is especially well suited for wintry expeditions. The 2018 model ranks so high on the cozy scale, you’ll want to become a full-timer–that is, if you aren’t already.

The bathroom in the Eagle model is larger than you might expect from a fifth wheel trailer, with a linen closet, sink, shower, and toilet. The kitchen facilities are impressive, too, with a hutch and oversized 21-cubic foot refrigerator.

The bedroom sports not only a queen-sized bed, but a walk-in closet and washer-dryer combo. Reclining chairs and a plush sofa round out the comfortable living area.

If you’re hoping to take the 327CKTS out year-round, you should invest in a cold-weather package with a tankless water heater and double-pane windows. Once the rig is equipped with all these goodies, you’ll be ready for any type of weather they can dish out.

In Conclusion

All of the campers listed above are quality 4 season models, designed to keep you warm when the icy weather sets in. Which one you choose depends on your budget, the the size of your party, and the amenities you prefer. Using the guidelines we’ve mentioned should help point you in the right direction.

Best of luck, and happy camping!

Check out our article on: How To Keep RV Pipes From Freezing While Camping

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10 Essential Tips for Winter RV Camping

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Winter RV road trips are more popular than ever this year as people look for creative vacations that don’t involve the still-inflated prices of airplanes or hotels .

For some travelers, a winter RV road trip might mean driving to grandma’s house for the holidays but sleeping in your RV rather than a bedroom there. For others, it’s an opportunity to stay away from people and ditch the Christmas tree in favor of living trees.

But while renting an RV for a road trip may seem like a good idea, spending winter in an RV presents its own challenges. Here are 10 things to know before RVing in the winter snow and ice.

Advice for winter in an RV

1. decide whether your rv needs to be winterized — and learn what that actually means.

You’ll probably see the phrase “winterizing your RV” when planning a road trip someplace chilly. Your task is to figure out if your RV has already been winterized, and whether it needs to be.

Winterizing your RV means you’ve taken steps such as:

Emptying water tanks.

Draining the water heater and water lines.

Disabling plumbing in order to prevent the pipes (which run along the undercarriage of the RV) from bursting or being destroyed.

If you’re traveling someplace where temperatures are going to get below freezing, you’ll need to winterize your RV. It’s a process you can do yourself, though your local RV company may also be willing to do it for you.

“If you’re traveling in a cold weather state, chances are the vehicle you’re renting will be winterized before you take it out on the road,” says Jennifer Young, co-founder of RV rental site Outdoorsy.

But winterizing your RV is not always a must-do, especially if temperatures at your cold destination won’t actually get below freezing. If a vehicle has been winterized, you won’t be able to use the sink or bathroom inside the RV as usual (unless you take extra steps like using antifreeze).

2. Get the right heater

If your campsite is hooked up to electricity, then an electric heater is your best bet to save money. But if you’re camping somewhere without an electric hookup, avoid using the onboard heat systems. That’s because most onboard heating systems use propane, which JP Smith, full-time RV traveler and founder of the Ultimate RV Checklist app, warns will last only a couple of days.

A small, portable propane heater "will do the same job and only ‘sips’ propane compared to guzzling it,” he says. “It’s also plenty for the smaller spaces of RVs.”

As far as the RV’s built-in furnace, keep it clean by using compressed air or a soft brush to remove debris. Otherwise, obstructions may prevent air from flowing properly.

3. Insulate your RV properly

With the right insulation, you may not need to worry about a separate heater at all. Good insulation might also mean not needing to wear a heavy jacket indoors or using a sleeping bag every night despite spending winter in an RV. Some options include:

Don’t forget the slide outs: If your RV has slide outs (a cut-out portion of your RV that increases the living space available), RV blogger Ashley Mann recommends placing a foam board of insulation underneath each of your RV slides to reduce drafts. “Just don’t forget to remove the foam before pulling in your slides,” she warns.

Consider an RV skirt: It’s exactly what it sounds like — a skirt, often made of vinyl, that wraps around your RV. By creating a barrier of insulated air, the skirt is designed to keep the RV warmer inside. In turn, that helps prevent pipes from freezing, while allowing you to burn less propane (thus saving energy and money). RV skirts generally can cost as low as $150, but can cost thousands of dollars, depending on factors like quality and whether you need custom sizing.

Don’t have an RV skirt? “In a pinch, you can also pack snow around the battery bays,” advises travel blogger Taryn Shorr. “It’s a shockingly efficient natural insulator.”

4. Prepare your pipes and tanks so they don't freeze

It’s not just you who needs to stay warm: Your RV’s pipes need protection from the freezing cold too. Water leftover in pipes and hoses can turn to ice and expand, which can cause them to crack or burst.

Travel blogger Bettina Staerkle learned it the hard way during a winter trip through Alberta, Canada. The hot water tank froze and burst, flooding the inside of her RV.

If you’re traveling in an RV on only a few cold nights per year, Staerkle said an easy method to prevent pipes from freezing is to keep a faucet slowly running through the night, allowing the water to constantly move through the pipes. Moving water requires a lower temperature to freeze than sitting water.

Another easy alternative is to purchase heat tape, which you wrap around your RV water hose. Plug the tape into a power source, and the tape will remain heated as long as it is plugged in, keeping the hose warm.

5. Check your tires

If your RV doesn’t have snow tires and you’re planning to drive through icy road conditions, make sure you have a set of snow chains. In fact, driving with snow chains during adverse weather conditions is a requirement on some roads.

But depending on where your RV came from, you might not even be able to drive on those roads. Many big RV rental companies, such as Cruise America, explicitly prohibit renters from using chains on their motorhomes, as they can cause damage.

6. Pack the right gear

While you want to avoid overpacking, sometimes winter in an RV can call for a few extra items. Consider packing:

Vent insulator pillows: A $10 to $40 pillow that you insert into openings like roof vents to keep warm air in and cold air out. “When we first started RVing, we didn't realize just how much heat was escaping from our living room through the vents,” says travel blogger Laura Peters. “These cheap pillows saved us hundreds of dollars on heating throughout the winter and we highly recommend them to any first-timers.”

Apps to check the weather and road conditions: Apps like Weather Hi-Def Radar include snowfall and wind speed maps, which might be particularly helpful when driving an RV in the winter.

Gear to keep you warm: Pack electric blankets, hand warmer packets and waterproof, windproof clothing.

Slippers: You probably don’t want to be walking around your RV in dirty or snowy shoes; slippers can protect your feet from cold floors.

A snow shovel and ice scraper: You might need to dig out your RV and scrape ice from your windows when it’s time to drive.

Extra emergency items: Whether it’s additional driving equipment like chains or camping goods like canned food, make an exception to the "don’t overpack" rule when it’s in the name of emergency supplies.

Toiletries: When your lodging is an RV, you can't just call the front desk to bring you more shampoo. Make a list of toiletries you regularly use, and don't forget to pack them. With camping, consider plastic-free versions of your toiletries. And even if it's snowing out, don't forget items like sunscreen. In frigid conditions, chapstick is essential too. Organic lip balms like Eco Lips provides the best of both worlds.

7. Keep cold air from coming in the windows

You might not get to wake up to a winter wonderland, but keeping the shades closed when its snowy will keep you warmer.

“It sounds counterintuitive, but the extra layer creates an air gap from the window and keeps some of the cold away from entering the main coach,” says Jerome Braga, who has been traveling in his RV, even spending winter in an RV, since 2015.

As far as the windows themselves, make sure they’re properly insulated.

“Insulating the windows with a plastic film that shrinks when you heat it makes a big difference in reducing heat loss,” says Ashley Mann, who runs the RV Inspiration blog.

8. Check the campground schedule

If you like to drive without an itinerary and stop whenever you feel like it, you’ll still need to do some advance planning. Many campgrounds close in winter, so verify potential campsite locations are open before you hit the road.

But even if a campground looks officially closed online, it doesn’t hurt to call.

“Many campgrounds and RV parks that close in winter will accept campers on a day-by-day basis,” says Damian Tysdal of the Safe Travels podcast. “They don’t want to be ‘officially’ open, but are often around and are willing to have campers.”

9. Drive carefully

Driving an RV in winter requires the same common sense you need to drive an RV any other day: Slow down and avoid being on the road when it's dark.

But winter brings new variables: Motorhomes typically have rear-wheel drive (as opposed to front-wheel drive in most passenger vehicles), so the brakes will handle differently on slippery roads than what you’re used to. With RVs, it’s even more important that you ease on the brakes, and leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle ahead.

And when driving in snowy conditions, put your headlights on the low beam setting. “The brighter your lights are, the harder it will be for you to see through the snow and keep your eyes on the road,” Young warns.

10. Head south

When all else fails, set your GPS to go south. At least that’s the advice of full-time RV traveler Michelle Fishburne.

“Just the thought of road ice and an RV causes me to flinch and brings back scary images of when my father tried to control the slide of our car as ice got the better of us. We camped in a parking lot because it was too dangerous to continue driving,” she says. “I'll skip the stress and the potential for standing in the frigid, snowy air as I call for help.”

Fishburne drives throughout the U.S., but her winter route will take her from Raleigh, North Carolina, through Texas and Arizona, and will eventually end up in San Diego, California.

“If you aren't accustomed to driving on ice and snow in your car, don't even think about trying it in a motorhome,” she says.

Winter travel trailer camping, recapped

A winter RV road trip can be a grand adventure, and a refreshing way to travel in nature without having to get on an airplane or ending up in a busy hotel lobby. Pack your own food to make on the stovetop and marshmallows to roast over the fire, and you won’t even have to enter a restaurant.

Driving an RV in winter presents its own set of unique challenges: You’ll need to make sure your RV is set to handle winter conditions, and you'll have to track down additional winter gear and take extra precautions when driving and camping that a warmer destination wouldn't necessarily require.

If all else fails, you can always take your RV out this winter, but head south for a warm-weather getaway.

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12 Best Ways to Insulate a Travel Trailer for Winter

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After hearing many campfire stories about living in a travel trailer during winter, you decide it’s time to give it a try. From what you remember, a camping friend of yours used the same model you have, and they boasted that this RV is best for winter camping.

You’re packed up and ready to go for that ultimate winter RV adventure. You have your winter clothing, skis, and other essentials. You also equipped yourself with all of the ice fishing gear the blog post and sales rep recommended (even though part of you thinks she took you “for a ride” when you think about the sales receipt).

As a test, the night before you leave, you spend the night in your travel trailer at home to see how it handles the Detroit Metro Area’s temperatures in late January. By 2 a.m., with the RV heater at full tilt, three blankets, and thermal underwear, you’re ready to go back into your warm house to suffer the “I told you so” from your partner.

You contact your friend and tell them about your experience. They inform you they have the all-season upgrades and used other DIY (do it yourself) techniques to stay comfortable in the cold conditions. 

To avoid these mistakes, we’ll show you the 12 best ways to insulate a travel trailer for winter and other tips. These easy modifications will work for any RV, whether it has an all-weather package or not.

Do I Need to Add Extra Insulation to RVs and Travel Trailers?

RV manufacturers do their best, but motorhomes and travel trailers aren’t airtight. There are many points where air leaks out. Even when the seals and weather stripping are working correctly, RV insulation doesn’t have the same R-value (how well insulation restricts heat from passing through) as permanent built structures like homes or buildings.

Which Travel Trailers Have the Best Insulation?

The average R-value for RVs for the walls is R-7. Ceilings go as high as R-20, and floors are usually R-10. Insulation values at these ratings work well for containing the camping season in North America. American desert summers or the Canadian wilderness winters are too extreme for these R-values.

True all-weather RVs like the Heartland Bighorn 3375 fifth wheel would be better suited for these types of temperatures. The walls have a value of R-11, ceilings R-40, and floors R-38. Other winterization features make this coach ideal for winter.

RELATED READING

For more info about the best insulated travel trailers check out one of our articles below! – What’s Included in an RV Arctic Package? – 11 Best Extreme Cold Weather Campers

12 DIY Insulating Techniques for Your Travel Trailer

Not everyone is ready to buy an all-season RV, convert their coach, or want to replace their dream travel trailer so they can go winter camping. There are many ways to insulate your camper for the winter. The following insulating techniques will help you keep a camper warm in the winter and keep your wallet padded enough to enjoy the trip.

1. RV Skirting

RV skirting is any type of material that covers the open space between the ground and the sides of your coach. It can be a tarp material or corrugated aluminum. The best RV skirting for winter will keep the weather and (hopefully) small animals from nesting underneath your unit. Using heavy-duty snaps, ground stakes, or other methods will secure the skirting to the RV and the ground.

There is a brand new RV skirt on the market called AirSkirts . It is an amazing skirt system that is reusable, durable, doesn’t require drilling 400 holes in your RV to install snaps, doesn’t require staking or weighing the bottom down and it provides excellent insulation for the underside of your camper! You can learn more by clicking the picture below!

2. Seal the Windows

Windows are your number one source of leaks both in winter and summer. Sealing RV windows should be a top priority for extreme weather. Repairing window caulk with silicone and rubber conditioner for the weather stripping should be on your preventive maintenance list.

Check out our article below about the best window sealants so you can find the best sealant for your particular window: – Best Sealant for RV Windows – Leakproof Your RV!

3. Multi-Pane Windows

A more expensive approach is to replace your RV windows with thermal pane windows. These windows are dual pane with argon gas in between the glass. This harmless gas is an excellent insulator that prevents heat energy from flowing through the windows. You can buy them tinted or transparent. Companies can manufacture the windows custom to your RV’s measurements.

4. Window Coverings

Thermal pane windows range from $200-$500 each. More manageable alternatives are window coverings. There are different materials you can use to cover your windows that are just as effective. To insulate a camper trailer window, you can use: 

• Radiant foil sheeting
• Rigid foam board – Polyiso or XPS
• Plastic film
• Small area rugs

If you choose to cover your windows with a rigid foam board, there are two versions we recommend. Polyisocyanurate (polyiso) has a radiant film backing that insulates heat transfer and ultraviolet radiation. Extruded Polystyrene is more moisture-resistant than Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), so it will withstand condensation better. Check out our other recommendations .

When you attach these materials to your window, double stick tape, velcro, or 3M Command Hooks won’t ruin your walls. If you are going to use permanent attachments like screw-in hooks, screws, or nails, make sure you use a stud finder, and it’s going into wood. Newer RVs use aluminum framing around the windows to support the weight. 

For a deep dive into the best window coverings to keep your RV warm (or cool in the summer) check out our article called: – RV Window Insulation Tips for Summer and Winter

5. Shanty Airlocks

Some have solved the wind/mudroom issue by creating airlock-type structures outside their RV door. They use plywood to create a tunnel passage that extends the entryway. Foam weather stripping forms a seal against the RV and the shelter. It serves as a place to take of muddy boots and blocks the wind from coming through the door.

If you attempt this, do your research. Winter winds or the weight of snow and ice can collapse these structures, so build them well. You also want to make sure that wherever you’re set up, the property owners or campground allows it.

6. Gift Wrapping Your Door

Plastic sheeting is a great way to add a layer of protection around your door. A single sheet can create that extra thickness you need that stops the draft. Using a secure but easily removable tape to secure it works well. Double-stick tape is a reliable alternative too.

If the sheeting isn’t enough, using foam stripping around the edges will be that last line of defense that stops the invading cold. It comes in rolls and has an adhesive side to it. Make sure you stick it to the inside door frame and give it an hour or two to secure before you use the door.

7. Roof Vent Lids and Covers

According to the laws of thermodynamics, heat rises. If your roof vents aren’t sufficiently secured, your heat is going to find its way out through these openings. RV roof vent leaking can be shored up both externally and internally.

Roof vents tend to chip and crack with age. Constant exposure to weather conditions makes the plastic brittle. These roof vent lids are easily replaceable for under $20. The hardest part of replacing the vent lid is making sure it’s the correct size, so make sure you measure correctly.

Adding a vent cover that fits over the lid will further prevent air and water leaks. These triangular shaped components are designed to let the air out, not in when the lid is open. The caulking around them creates an additional seal around the vent area.

8. Vent Insulation Pads

Vent Insulation pads (also called pillows) fit into the interior of your ceiling vent. Better versions have a radiant foil side that faces the exterior. The stuffing inside the pad creates a thick barrier that prevents cold air from seeping in from the roof. A fast-food order from your favorite delivery service will pay for the pads for both of your vents.

9. Insulation Under the Mattress

In some travel trailers, there is a storage compartment under the bed and that compartment is not heated! So you have cold air right below your mattress.

If you’ve ever camped on a cold night with an innerspring mattress, you know those metal coils can magnify low temperatures. Other beds, like memory foam, have insulating properties that retain heat. If you’re not ready to make the switch, or you need something else to make use of your travel trailer in the winter nights, here are some great tips.

Adding an insulation layer under your mattress is a quick and easy way to block cold air from your storage bays or other places seeping into your bed. You can use radiant foil , rigid foam, or any other thick material.

10. Heated Mattress Pad

You can also purchase an RV mattress heating pad that goes under your mattress. It will keep you much warmer on those cold winter nights.

11. Sealing Up Slideouts

When fully extended, your slideouts have rubber weather stripping that creates a seal against the frame of the RV. To minimize air leaks, use an RV slideout conditioner on the stripping to keep the rubber pliable, so it forms the best barrier.

Adding door snake draft stoppers around the slideout edges gives you another layer of insulation. Door snakes are typically placed at the bottom of exterior doors to prevent cold air from coming through residential homes. Using them around your slideout will do the same thing. 

12. Insulating Your Storage Bays

All-season RVs have insulated storage bay doors and route heat through the storage bay basement. It creates a thick layer of warmth under your floor that makes heating more efficient and keeps your gear from freezing.

If you don’t have this feature, there are steps you can take to compensate. You can use XPS or EPS foam board to insulate your bay doors, subfloor, and storage walls. Many travel trailers have electrical outlets inside a bay for outdoor needs. Hooking up a small space heater can keep your storage area warm enough to keep things from freezing.

Make sure you place the space heater on a fireproof platform, don’t turn it up too high, and check on it often. The last thing you need is your RV catching fire. 

We wrote an entire article about RV skirting to help you find the best skirting DIY or commercial skirting for your RV. – RV Skirting for Winter – DIY or Brand Name?

Winter Camping Tips

Many of these insulating techniques will make your winter camping adventure a great experience. There are other things you can do to make your trip a successful one. Here are some best practices to avoid any problems.

• Before the cold weather hits, make sure your caulking and weather stripping are in the best condition possible. Recaulk with silicone and replace weather stripping if necessary.
• Winterize your plumbing, freshwater, and grey holding tank with anti-freeze RV liquid to prevent any damage. Here’s why winterizing your RV is so important
• Close up your A/C ducting vents to minimize unnecessary heating space.
• Use a tarp to cover the engine section of your motorhome. Doing this will prevent snow and ice from damaging essential components similar to putting sheets over furniture to protect the item from dust.
• Dump your black tank only when it’s full. You want to minimize the chance of the contents freezing up. Frozen pipes and holding tanks can be prevented when you know what to avoid.
• Use wooden blocks to prop up your stabilizer jacks and RV tires. Due to its insulation properties, wood won’t conduct the cold temperature into the coach.
• Use five-gallon jugs for your water inside your RV.  
• Protect your connected water hose with heat tape to prevent freezing damage. Just remember that most hoses are 25 feet long so be sure to buy the correct size for the length of your hose. If your hoses have frozen up, here’s how to safely get the water flowing again.

Electric Heaters and Other Appliances

Built-in RV furnaces produce a significant amount of heat to keep you comfortable. The average BTU an RV furnace puts out is 30,000. This measurement isn’t arbitrary. RV manufacturers have determined that it takes 1,000 BTUs to heat a linear foot in an RV. 

An RV furnace will run on propane for three hours on one gallon of propane if it continuously heats your coach. Therefore a 20-gallon propane tank will give you 60 hours. The good thing is all RVs with thermostats have temperature sensors with an auto-shutoff function.

In the winter, propane is more valuable than ever. It also runs your cooktop, water heater (if you’re using it), and refrigerator. Your RV furnace, while efficient, will drain your tanks within a week.

How to Heat a Camper Without Propane

 Using electric space heaters is a great alternative to heating your RV while winter camping. Their power demands are low, so your solar system, solar generator, or other power sources can keep them running for a long time.

If you decide to use a space heater in an RV, ceramic or infrared space heaters are the best choices. They’re portable, directional, and very affordable. Make sure you keep the ceramic heater in a safe place away from loose things that are sensitive to heat and don’t leave it unattended. Learn about more heating alternatives .

Running a dehumidifier in an RV is another technique to heat your travel trailer. Removing the moisture from the air speeds up the heating process. Drier air heats up (or cools down) faster than moist air. These devices are also energy efficient and cost-friendly.

For some great ideas to heat your travel trailer and keep warm while camping in cold weather check out our article below! – 10 Creative Ways to Heat a Camper and Stay Warm While Camping in Cold Winter Weather

Insulating Your Travel Trailer Keeps You Cool in Hot Weather Too!

We’ve focused our tips on winter conditions. Many of them translate for the summer heat. If you re-read the tips above, the key points focus on preventing your interior temperature from leaking outside and vice versa. So you can reduce your heating and cooling costs all year round!

It all boils down to sealing up weak points, keeping up with your preventive maintenance, and finding energy-efficient ways to keep the interior comfortable. College students that live in the residence halls aren’t the only audience for portable fans. Those living the RV lifestyle depend on them to keep the air circulating to reduce the strain on their A/C systems.

We hope you’re enjoying your RV adventures comfortably and can’t wait to see you down the road.

2 thoughts on “12 Best Ways to Insulate a Travel Trailer for Winter”

I have been having condensation freezing under insulation between wall of slideouts and insulation.

Any suggestions?

Hey Dom. i am no expert. but it sounds like you have a draft somewhere that is causing the condensation. as i am sure you know warm air and cold air are mixing. your rv probably has batting insulation as well that condensation lasts longer with due to water absorbing into it. check for any cracks in sealant/rubber to ensure there are no holes. may be time to re insulate with foam board. my trailer was full of this problem due to leaks. its all fixed now

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Best Cold Weather 5th Wheel Trailer for Winter - Trailer Valet

What Is The Best Winter Camping Travel Trailer?

Travel trailers could be a marvelous home away from home, but some versions don’t stand up to cold weather. For those who want to travel during the cold months, and much more for those living around them all year round, a solid winter trailer is important.

In many ways, Northwood’s Arctic Fox line-up provides the ideal trailer for the cold weather. The superb quality, durability, and winter amenities of these trailers are consistently good. The floors and sizes are different, so they can fit everybody’s winter lifestyle.

Obviously, there are other brands that offer winter RVs, and each customer has their own demands for the greatest cold trailer. But with most of the metrics, the Northwood Arctic Fox can’t go wrong.

Table of Contents

Arctic Fox RVs

In the realm of winter trailers, the Arctic Fox line of goods has always placed high. Northwood offers numerous sizes and layouts, each with additional opportunities to enhance and replace features.

There are 2 sub-classes (North Fork and Nash) under the Arctic Fox family brand and 15 separate floors.

Any Arctic Fox track would be a wonderful winter alternative, but the 28F floor layout that is part of the North Fork subclass is one of my personal favorite designs.

Northwood Arctic Fox

• Gross Vehicle Weight:  11,000 lbs.
• Fresh Water Capacity:  58 gallons
• Net Carrying Capacity:  2698 lbs.

This camper features a nice inside design with 2 slide-outs, leather, and warm wood accents. You might camp in the cold, but it doesn’t imply that in a tight place you have to cuddle for warmth! The slides give a large appearance and feel to this trailer.

The toilet, living room and dormitory sections are also clearly split, offering an enjoyable space separation. The slideshow and bedroom area are all taped to provide some extra comfort (and to keep your feet toasty).

The Arctic Fox has it all when it comes to winter facilities! All walls and ceilings have several thermal saving layers and high insulating density block foam. The tanks for water support are also heated in order to prevent damage or freezes.

This type comes with a 30,000 BTU oven that works with excellent isolation to heat your trailer efficiently. This option works for most of your heating needs, but an optional fireplace addition is also available.

This floor concept provides a decent mix between storage, dormitories, and the dining room.

The following video presents a detailed overview of the 28F floor plan. It also emphasizes numerous of the winter equipment and appliances that this model standard offers.

An RV journalist says when he writes an overview of an Arctic Fox trailer:

“NORTHWOOD’S DESIGNERS AND TEAM THAT ASSEMBLE THE ARCTIC FOX 25Y SHOULD TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN WHAT THEY HAVE PRODUCED. AS WITH MOST OF THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE, THERE’S A COST FOR THE ADDED LEVEL OF BUILD QUALITY, BUT THE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCES OF THE 25Y MORE THAN JUSTIFY THE EXPENSE.” Bruce W. Smith – Automotive and RV journalist

Additional cold-weather travel trailers

Finding the ideal trailer for cold weather is a very personalized procedure. It depends on how many people you travel with, where you go and how much space you require. As such, for anyone, there’s no perfect trailer!

However, below are two great possibilities. Each was highly rated for winter, and each trailer was great quality and comfy.

• Gross Vehicle Weight:  7,000 lbs.
• Fresh Water Capacity:  45 gallons
• Net Carrying Capacity:  2160 lbs.

This travel trailer is a little smaller than the Arctic Fox, but it still manages to fit all of your home comforts into an insulated and winter-safe environment. The Lance 2295 also includes a powerful 25,000 BTU furnace that can easily endure freezing weather. For an extra fee, a fireplace can be installed.

This trailer has ducted heat systems as well as block foam insulation integrated into all of the walls. The water systems are also heated and insulated to prevent damage or freezing.

The Lance 2295, with its smart use of space and home-like conveniences, might easily be dubbed the best cold-weather travel trailer.

Bigfoot 25B25RQ

• Gross Vehicle Weight:  7,500 lbs.
• Net Carrying Capacity:  2637 lbs.

When it comes to cold weather endurance, the Bigfoot travel trailers are among the best in the industry. Each travel trailer has a 30,000 BTU furnace to keep you warm even in the worst winters.

Bigfoot trailers come in a variety of sizes and configurations, but the 25B25RQ is one of the largest and most luxurious. It boasts a neat, well-organized floor design with a huge bedroom in the back.

Thermal windows and heated holding tanks are also included with Bigfoot campers to keep the entire system insulated. Bigfoot is a popular brand among its customers due to its mix of comfortable design and cold-weather durability.

Jayco Eagle 330RSTS

• Gross Vehicle Weight:  11,995 lbs.
• Fresh Water Capacity:  75 gallons
• Net Carrying Capacity:  1395 lbs.

In the world of RVs, trailers from Jayco have long been highly ranked. They are spacious, comfortable, and equipped to the highest standards. The 330RSTS is one of the world’s greatest winter trailers.

Protected from all types of weather situations by Climate ShieldTM technology. The construction features a closed and heated floor, a 35,000 BTU fireplace, an integrated fireplace, and a double layer of insulation for fiber glass.

The water heater and storage tanks, like the previous alternatives, are winterized and protected from freezing. Three toboggan runs maximize floor space, and the walls are also furnished with cabinets.

You have several options to choose from when choosing an RV in the winter season. Motorhomes, trailers, and fifth wheels are some of the most popular types.

Many are ideal for use in winter. In many circumstances, however, the best model for the job is travel trailers.

Travel trailers are generally the ideal choice for winter trips, since the towing vehicle may be readily detached. Whoever has driven in snow and ice can agree that the park is not a walk. You can make driving more terrifying if you twist the weight of a hefty trailer everywhere you go.

If you travel on hazardous roads or merely go to the grocery store quickly in winter, you don’t want to take your entire trailer with you! This is not an option for integrated living environments like motorhomes.

Best Winter Camping Travel Trailer

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4-Season, Off-Road, Off-Grid Camper Trailer: 2024 Imperial Outdoors XploreRV X195 Review

Overlanding in the dead of winter, surrounded by snow and rarely seeing the thermometer climb into double digits , probably seems counterintuitive to the majority of RVers who tend to seek out much warmer climes. But, if you're one of those adventuresome types who enjoys everything Mother Nature has to offer and embraces four-season off-grid outings, winter camping is both exciting and invigorating - if you have the right RV.

That's where an Imperial Outdoors XploreRV X195 travel trailer comes into play. This 26-foot RV is one of the best couples' overlanding-type trailers built for off-grid use and extreme weather conditions, winter and summer. 

In short: The 2024 Imperial Outdoors XploreRV X195 has a hefty price tag and requires a big vehicle to tow it. It’s also a premium all-weather camper trailer that offers up impressive comfort. It excels at extended off-road and off-grid travel because of its state-of-the-art suspension and robust solar and battery systems.

2024 Imperial Outdoors XploreRV X195

• Length  26'1"
• Weight (Empty)  5,500 lbs.
• GVWR (Loaded)  9,920 lbs.
• Suspension  Independent w/air
• Fresh water  60 gals.
• Gray water  60 gals.
• Sleeps  3
• MSRP  $143,000
• Highest R-values in RVs (R18.75 walls/roof, R15 floor)
• 21" of ground clearance to skid plates
• Air-adjustable independent suspension (±5")
• Heated enclosed underbelly
• Dry flush toilet
• Heavy-duty chassis w/articulating hitch
• Composite side, roof, and floor
• 60-gallon fresh/gray water tanks
• Big price tag puts it in the Premium category
• GVWR requires full-size pickup/SUV for towing

Bruce Smith

2024 Imperial Outdoors XploreRV X195 Review

The tandem-axle X195 is the product of Imperial Outdoors, owned by Nelson Industries . This Wisconsin-based company has built up a stellar reputation over decades of building custom ice-fishing houses. That expertise transferred nicely into the design and manufacturing of this rugged camp trailer - and its smaller single-axle, 21-foot twin, the XploreRV X145.

See my review of the XploreRV X145 .

XploreRV X195: Extreme Temps Rated

The X195 trailer’s body utilizes a one-piece composite roof, sides, and a floor that are nearly 3 inches thick, and that encase block foam built to withstand the rigors of extreme weather (120 to -40 degrees F). The walls and roof have an R18.75 value, while the floor is rated at R15. This design is the best insulation and heating system I've ever seen in a camp trailer of this size, a testament to its icehouse DNA. 

"We spent a lot of time designing this camper from what we learned in building high-end fish houses," says Steve Geary, Marketing Manager for Imperial Outdoors/Nelson Industries. "The block-insulated walls of our coach are almost three inches thick, so they really add to the ability to retain heat in the winter and cool in the summer.

My wife and I were amazed at how well this design kept the subfreezing temps at bay during one of our midwinter outings where the outside temps never got above 20 degrees.

The 14,300-BTU Truma Combi Eco Plus , which is both a furnace and tankless water heater, never struggled to keep the interior a cozy 72 degrees. It also made the shower water instantly hot, even when the outdoor temps hovered in the lower teens. It's an amazing piece of equipment, and so quiet you forget it's even turned on.

Windows Matter

"The one-piece composite floor and roof construction with lightweight acrylic thermopane windows (with nitrogen gas charge and built-in shades) also contribute to insulating against extreme weather conditions by reducing the opportunity for both heat and cold transfer," says Geary.

The thick window shades on the living area windows act as another level of insulation from the heat/cold of the outside, and the separate window screens let fresh air flow during warm weather without letting in pesky bugs. 

Another nice touch are the window locks in the living area that can be opened in varying degrees to cut down on the heater and A/C use. Each window has four locking latches that can be set to just crack the window open for a breath of air seeping by the seals to prevent condensation you'd get in the winter. Or, the latches can be rotated to allow the windows to open from one-third to full.

Bigger Is Better, in This Case

The 26-foot X195 is roomy and a much more comfortable setup for a couple or a family with one or two youngsters than its single-axle near-twin. The interior measures just over 19 feet long; it’s 6.5 feet wide with a ceiling height of 6 feet, 3 inches. The interior is built of composite materials and the upper cabinets have high-end latches, hinges, and support struts for the lid.

That extra 5 feet more of interior floor length than the X145 allows the use of a larger dinette/sofa to sleep a third person, and placing the full-size RV bed in front in a north-to-south orientation makes for easier access.

Across from the dinette is the galley. While the smaller X145 had a little fridge and single-burner cooktop, the X195 is much better equipped for multiday stays with a stacked 6.9-cubic-foot freezer/fridge and a dual-burner cooktop. It also has a slightly larger counter for improved prep space. 

Camper Trailer Bathroom Done Right

The bathroom in the XploreRV X195 is identical to that found in the smaller X145. It's bright and roomy for a trailer of this size. The shower easily accommodates 6-footers and has a sliding glass door to separate it from the rest of the bathroom. The sink is deep and the vanity is spacious.

When you check the specs, there's no black-water tank. That's because the XploreRV campers use the Laveo Dry Flush waterless toilet system, which is popular in the marine industry. It's a really sweet setup. We spent nearly 5 days camping off-grid and came to love the Laveo toilet for its simplicity and efficiency.

After a half-dozen or so uses of the toilet, sprinkling a little gelling agent after each deposit, the "flush" button is hit. The inside of the toilet spins around, sucks, and seals the waste that's been deposited in the shiny mylar bag, and then pulls the sealed waste downward leaving another clean, new silver bag from the replaceable cartridge in its place ready for use. Check out the process in this video .

Simple. No muss. No smell. And, no need for a black tank or an RV dump station. It's a really neat and sanitary setup for off-grid camping that negates the need for a black water tank.

Xplore X195 Trailer Offers Abundant Storage

One aspect that makes one expedition/overlanding trailer a step or two better than another is storage space - or lack thereof. The XploreRV X195 has a lot of storage in upper storage cabinets, big drawers beneath the counter, and a pull-out storage area for cookware beneath the induction cooktop. 

More interior storage is located underneath the seats at the dinette. They are large enough to keep extra bedding, backpacks , clothing, or other bulky items out of sight but within easy access. 

Outside there's an abundance of cargo brackets, grid panels, utility boxes, and accessories to bring along everything from a Hi-Lift jack and Jerry cans to mountain bikes and kayaks.

Abundant Off-Grid Electrical Power

One of the many features of the XploreRV X195 that I liked was the camper's healthy 12V GoPower solar and Expion360 LifeP04 lithium-ion battery system.

The demo model reviewed was outfitted with the optional Stage 3 three-battery (1,080aH) package and Stage 3 (1,240W) solar roof panel kit. It also had the 2,000W inverter with a monitoring panel. Upgrading the XploreRV's standard solar panel/lithium batteries to higher levels is recommended for anyone planning extended off-grid camping trips and who doesn’t want to power up a gas-powered generator. 

My wife and I spent 5 days camping off-the-grid relying only on the solar battery system under several days of overcast skies. We used the cooktop multiple times each day, kept the interior and exterior LED lights on late into the night, ran the furnace and water pump, and were still left with more than 40% power when we headed back into civilization.

Independent-Axle With Air Suspension

When it comes to towing, the XploreRV X195 (and little brother X145) sits atop a powder-coated, heavy-duty boxed-steel frame.

The trailer is also fitted with a Cruisemaster ATX Off-Road Independent Air Suspension imported from Australia. The adjustable air suspension allows up to ±5 inches of adjustment per side. At full lift, it provides 21 inches of clearance between the ground and the steel skid plates.

The skids protect the 60-gallon fresh water and gray water tanks mounted in the enclosed and heated underbelly. The plumbing and wiring of the X195 is routed well above the frame, as well. This gives those critical parts excellent protection from damage that can be caused by encounters with rocks and other large obstructions.

Also of interest to those camping way off the grid, the X195 rides on 33-inch mud-terrain tires with heavy-duty disc brakes.

XploreRV X195: A Smooth Tow

In addition to everything else under the X195 body, the frame is fitted with a Cruisemaster DO45 Plus articulating hitch that allows the trailer to swivel, pivot, and rotate separately from the tow vehicle. Most newcomers to off-road/expedition-style camping rarely consider the importance of the hitch. A standard ball-mount receiver hitch transmits a lot of jerking motion into the cab. 

The DO45 Plus hitch design greatly reduces trailer movement into the tow vehicle because it swivels and rotates with the trailer's movement, softening the tow. A DO45 Plus hitch also provides a stronger, more secure hitching system than the traditional ball-mount. 

We towed the 5,500-pound (unloaded weight) X195 behind a 2022 Ford F-250 Super Duty 4×4 over more than 50 miles of rutted, single-track, sometimes rocky snow-covered backroads in Oregon's high desert. Never once did the trailer have an adverse affect on our ride quality or comfort.

Imperial Outdoors XploreRV X195 Review: Final Thoughts

Imperial Outdoors XploreRV X195 is a stoutly built, top-tier towable. It should hold up well through decades of challenging, overlanding/expedition-style four-season use, delivering a comfortable camping experience regardless of the season or location. 

The downside for the average outdoor enthusiast is the XploreRV X195 is also in the rarified air in cost of top-tier expedition-style towables, with a starting price of $143,000. Its price is surpassed only by the line of Australian-made tandem-axle Bruder expedition trailers. But even those don't compare when it comes to keeping the occupants comfy when temps go to the extremes of summer and winter.

Find your local Imperial Outdoors dealer and dive into the specs of the XploreRV X195 camper trailer even further.

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The post 4-Season, Off-Road, Off-Grid Camper Trailer: 2024 Imperial Outdoors XploreRV X195 Review appeared first on GearJunkie .

The 10 Best Camper Trailers of 2023

From solo travelers to couples, families, and groups, here are the most reliable, enjoyable camper trailers for road trips and overland adventures.

Touring the country is a magnificent and popular adventure. Using a camper trailer is an economical way of getting around for long and short journeys. It can be less expensive than hotels, requires less maintenance and upkeep than a motorhome, and the tow vehicle can be used for trail and around-the-city duties.

Well-constructed trailers allow us to venture through and settle in closer to nature, away from everyday distractions. Setups with solar panels, battery power, water tanks, and propane help us go even further off-grid and stay untethered longer.

After testing a wide variety of camper trailers, our team narrowed it down to the top 10 designs that suit a wide variety of trip goals and needs. If you have questions about camper trailers, check out the buyer’s guide and FAQ at the end of this article. Otherwise, hop to a category that interests you or scroll through our picks:

• Best Overall
• Best Runner-Up
• Best Budget
• Best for Off-Road Travel

Best of the Rest

The best camper trailers of 2023, best overall camper trailer: taxa outdoors tigermoth.

Hauling a camper trailer with conventional comforts is a balancing act when the places you adventure to are among the toughest to reach. Fortunately for exploratory travelers , the TigerMoth Overland ($27,900), made by Taxa Outdoors, is cozy, functional, and a haul-anywhere trailer without being high-maintenance, heavy, or difficult to maneuver.

One of our favorite features is that the sleeping area converts into a dining area, workspace, or group hangout. The swing-up side door creates great airflow when you’re sitting at the kitchen table and expands the space while providing protection from the elements. 

We also dig the axleless suspension and 1.5 feet of ground clearance. For families, the ceiling is outfitted for a rooftop tent. Read all the nitty-gritty details in our full review of the Taxa Outdoors TigerMoth Camper Trailer .

• Dry weight: 1,458 lbs.
• Max capacity (GVWR): 2,400 lbs.
• Exterior length: 12 ft., 9 in.
• Exterior height: 7 ft.
• Exterior width: 6 ft., 7 in.
• Price : $27,900
• Convertible, adaptive space
• A fair amount of storage room
• Solid, functional window and bug shades
• The bed padding isn’t plush or innately comfortable
• It lacks an outdoor shower and sink
• The awning isn’t durable

Check Price at Taxa Outdoors

Best Runner-Up: Winnebago Micro Minnie 2306BHS

Winnebago’s Micro Minnie model ($24,977) is a luxurious choice for family or group trips to haul behind an SUV or half-ton truck . The layout includes an easy-to-use Murphy bed with a regular queen-size mattress and windows for cross-ventilation.

Beneath, the pass-through storage has an insulated door, which is clutch with the bed directly above. The dinette has a push-down table that converts into another bed.

The kitchen is complete with a microwave, refrigerator, and three-burner cooktop. The deep barn sink can be capped off with a cutting board that sits flush with the counter. Another flip-up bunk bed creates additional storage for bulky equipment like bikes. And the bathroom features tons of storage space for linens and headroom in the shower.

• Dry weight: 4,500 lbs.
• Max capacity (GVWR): 7,000 lbs.
• Exterior length: 25 ft., 5 in.
• Exterior height: 10 ft., 5 in. (with A/C)
• Exterior width: 7 ft.
• Price: $24,977 (well below the MSRP of $40,971)
• 44 cu. ft. of exterior storage
• Power awning with LED lights to easily enjoy outdoor space
• 15-inch lift and off-road tires
• LED exterior lights
• Only 7 feet wide
• Lightweight but still heavier to haul compared to ultralight trailers for smaller groups

Check Price at Travel Camp

Best Budget Camper Trailer: Colorado Teardrops Canyonland

The Colorado Teardrops Canyonland trailer ($26,500) is a popular choice among crossover and SUV drivers. The cabin and galley are built with maple wood, which creates a warm light, and the bottom of the trailer is protected by a steel powder-coated plate. The queen-size bed platform converts into a table and bench, which is a wonderful option for road trips that exceed a week.

The streamlined underfloor storage is a great spot for bedding or other slim items. We tested the Canyonland model with the overhead skylight and loved the nighttime view of the stars. The electric fan and screened windows offered great air circulation when needed.

From an à la carte menu, you can add more features like solar panels and cargo racks for an extra cost. Check out our full review of the Colorado Teardrops Canyonland trailer .

• Dry weight: 1,150 lbs.
• Max capacity (GVWR): 2,200 lbs.
• Exterior length: 8.5 ft.
• Exterior height: 3.8 ft.
• Exterior width: 5 ft.
• Price: $26,500
• Welded, aircraft-grade, structural aluminum frames for rigidity and a long lifespan
• Comparatively low price point
• A multitude of options are available, such as a skylight window, battery and solar power panels, roof rack, and more
• Interior cabinetry lacks a way to secure items from moving while in transit
• The kitchen galley door blocks weather from above but not sideways elements like wind
• We wish the trailer included blinds for the side windows and skylight

Check Price at Colorado Teardrops

Best for Off-Road Travel: Vorsheer XOC Extreme Overland Camper

We really appreciate the 1.9-foot ground clearance, off-road tires, articulating hitch, and Timbren axle-free independent suspension of the Vorsheer XOC Extreme Overland Camper ($49,995). Just in case you get stuck, there’s a heavy-duty D-ring to drag the trailer out with a winch.

The frame features additional weld strength, including extra gussets that provide torque resistance for extreme off-road travel. The outside compartment has pass-through storage, a utility box, and a power box that includes two batteries, a power transfer case, and a prewired 140-watt solar panel . There’s also a water heater and outdoor shower.

The cook station features a pantry, drawers, a two-burner stove, a deep sink, and cabinets. There’s also a slideout refrigerator with an optional freezer compartment. A pop-down work table extends from the back of the spare tire, and the bike rack hookup doesn’t interfere with accessing the galley.

Its optional bonus storage holds two extra 5-gallon jerry cans. And the optional rooftop tent (for an additional $3,000) can sleep three kiddos or two adults.

• Dry weight : 2,600 lbs.
• Max capacity (GVWR): 3,600 lbs.
• Exterior length: 15 ft.
• Exterior width: 7.4 ft.
• Price: $49,995
• Birchwood cabinetry
• Interior LED lights
• Removable step for entry
• Wind-resistant, 180-degree awning
• Lacks interior daytime lounge space
• Doesn’t have built-in floor space to remove shoes inside
• Expensive construction

Check Price at Vorsheer

Off Grid Trailers Expedition 2.0

This off-road trailer ($31,500) is comfortable, functional, and durable for boondocking in rugged environments. The high-density, queen-size memory foam mattress is welcomed after a long day outdoors.

The exterior storage bins are powder-coated for durability, and they have lockable compression latches that block dust. The water tank boasts a 31-gallon capacity. It has 23 cubic feet of interior storage and 13 cubic feet of storage in the rear cabinet.

We appreciate the 55L fridge-freezer that pulls out. The dropdown dual-burner stove and deep sink are smart, streamlined designs. The sink has a cover to convert into a prep counter.

It’s also a luxury to have hot water on demand and an outdoor showerhead to rinse off the grime.

Note: You can opt for upgrades that swap out the standard bed for a convertible bed-to-couch or add a rooftop tent .

• Dry weight: 1,700 lbs.
• Max capacity (GVWR): 3,500 lbs.
• Exterior length: 13.8 ft.
• Exterior height: 6.6 ft.
• Price: $31,500
• Timbren axleless suspension and all-terrain tires are dependable for off-road travel
• The trailer is built with aluminum and a powder-coated steel frame for durability
• 23 Zero Peregrine 270 Awning provides 270 degrees of outdoor protection
• Rooftop storage bin for firewood or other items
• 1.75 ft. of ground clearance
• The pantry is located on the back, while the kitchen is on the side

Black Series HQ19

The Black Series HQ19 ($59,995) is one of the only full-size tow-behind trailers we’ve tested that truly can handle off-road adventures, plus there’s a bunch of space for gear. We loved the Polyblock hitch, which has 360-degree articulation, and the suspension.

Overall, the build is luxuriously comfortable. It features a queen-size bed and loads of storage for skis, ski boots , bike pumps, packs, camp chairs, a battery generator, and more.

Our cross-country travel was cozy thanks to the oven, washing machine, fridge, freezer, outdoor kitchen, dinette, oversize windows, robust solar system, full-size stall shower, and hot water. Check out our full review of the Black Series HQ19 .

• Dry weight: 6,122 lbs.
• Max capacity (GVWR): 10,000 lbs.
• Exterior length: 26 ft.
• Exterior height: 10 ft.
• Exterior width: 7.5 ft.
• Price: $59,995
• Tows smoothly on-highway and off-road with excellent suspension
• Tons of storage space
• Includes a washing machine
• Lacks USB plugs inside
• The fridge is propane or plug-in only versus solar- or battery-powered

Forest River Explore R-Pod RP-193

The R-Pod RP-193 travel trailer ($37,433) is a great match for family trips. The queen-size Murphy bed is easy to convert into a daytime sofa, plus a pair of twin bunk beds. Another sofa provides seating for five.

The indoor kitchen features a large pantry, a two-burner stove, and a deep sink with a cover. There’s an outdoor griddle, too, to help keep odors outside. Altogether, the trailer has a good layout for getting good shuteye, recovering from a day outside, or hunkering down from harsh weather.

• Dry weight: 3,654 lbs.
• Max capacity (GVWR): Unavailable
• Exterior length: 22 ft., 11 in.
• Exterior height: 9 ft., 10 in.
• Exterior width: 8 ft.
• Price: $37,433
• Plenty of space for perishables in the 6 cu. ft. refrigerator
• A 10-foot awning provides nice sun and rain protection
• Storage cubbies in the bathroom are a bit tight

Timberleaf Classic Off-Road Teardrop Trailer

To reach remote trailheads with this Timberleaf Classic Teardrop Trailer ($23,900), we’re drawn to the off-road package with the Timbren Axleless suspension and 4-inch lift for a 1.5-foot clearance. The setup also boasts all-terrain tires, an articulating hitch, and jeep-style fenders with corner steps.

Considering aesthetics, the design is top-notch. It features fine woodworking throughout the exterior kitchen galley and the interior storage cubbies around the queen-size bed. This is a great choice for single travelers or couples.

• Dry weight: 1,500 lbs.
• Exterior length: 14 ft.
• Exterior height: 6 ft.
• Exterior width: 83-85 in.
• Price: $23,900
• Large skylight in cabin
• Well-crafted kitchen cabinets with various storage options
• Seven 12V LED lights total
• Condensation builds inside the trailer overnight (so we keep rags handy)
• No floor indoor space for the dog’s bed
• Not much cargo space for gear

nüCamp RV Tab S Teardrop Camper

This classic teardrop design is suitable for weekend adventures or longer road trips. The nüCamp RV Tab S Teardrop camper ($31,523) features a galley kitchen, wet bath, and dinette that converts into a comfortable sleep space that can be split or full.

From the windows to the appliances and cabinetry, this camper is well-built and super easy to tow behind a medium-size SUV or pickup truck. We also appreciated the off-road tires and easy-to-clean floor.

• Dry weight: 1,946 lbs.
• Max capacity (GVWR): 2,900 lbs.
• Exterior length: 15 ft., 3 in.
• Exterior height: 7 ft., 8 in.
• Exterior width: 6 ft., 8 in.
• Price: $31,523
• Optional hot water system and central A/C
• Two-burner glass-top stove
• Storage doors stay closed while on the go
• The wet bath is a little tight
• Not ideal for taller folks above 5’10”

Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB

After testing the Flying Cloud 23FB on a turkey hunting trip, we found it was a great size for two friends or partners on a road trip. The Flying Cloud ($85,300) features an indoor shower, bathroom, kitchen, and dining table. Every component on this Airstream felt sturdy, from the door latches to the light switches.

The digital thermostat and furnace were super responsive, and the stereo was solid. The build also managed temperature swings, keeping us cool in the day’s heat and warm at night. Read our full review of the Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB .

• Dry weight: 4,806 lbs. (with gas and batteries)
• Max capacity (GVWR): 6,000 lbs.
• Exterior length: 23 ft., 9 in.
• Exterior height: 9 ft., 9 in. (with A/C)
• Price: $85,300
• Queen-size bed with a pillow-top memory foam mattress
• Optional rooftop solar package
• Heavy-duty deadbolt on front door
• Microwave in kitchen
• Windows can be challenging to open
• Space feels a bit tight with three adults

Check Price at Airstream

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Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Camper Trailer

The dry weight of the camper trailers listed in our guide ranges from 1,458 to 6,122 pounds. That weight typically excludes water, gas, batteries, or additional accessories like rooftop tents and racks. Pay attention to the dry weight of the camper so you can determine if the build is within the payload of your vehicle.

The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is the maximum total weight the trailer can safely weigh. The GVWR includes the dry weight, also known as the curb weight, plus the weight of people, accessories, supplies, and all your outdoor gear.

The GVWR of these trailer picks ranges from 2,200 to 10,000 pounds. You’ll need the GVWR so that you can calculate how much equipment you can safely haul in the trailer on the road, as well as how many people can sleep inside.

Clearance & Tires

If you plan on driving through rugged terrain that would require 4WD, you should invest in a trailer with generous ground clearance and off-road tires , and consider an articulating hitch to prevent toppling over on uneven terrain. Sturdier tires can also provide better traction on slick roads with snow or rain.

The ground clearance of the off-road models on our list range from 1.5 to 1.9 feet on the Timberleaf Classic Teardrop Trailer , Vorsheer XOC Extreme Overland Camper , Off Grid Trailers Expedition 2.0 , and Taxa Outdoors TigerMoth Overland .

When we take a close look at tires, the TigerMoth Overland is outfitted with the 225/75R16 ( Cooper Tires Discoverer AT3 LT ), offering a tread guard against rocks and gravel, extreme durability, and solid grip on wet roads or trails.

By comparison, the Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB has Goodyear Endurance ST225/75R15 Tires, which are great for towing stability and a high load capacity but are not ideal for rough terrain.

Sleep Space

At a minimum, our favorite compact travel trailers offer space for two people to sleep. A portion of these designs include cabins with a nonconvertible queen-size bed. Other trailer designs have options for a couch-to-bed conversion, like the TigerMoth Overland or Off Grid Trailers Expedition 2.0 , or a structure that supports a rooftop tent.

The larger travel trailers on our list feature a range of comfortable overnight options. The designs range from daytime couches and fold-down Murphy beds to bunk beds to dinettes that transform into a bed. If you’re a taller or wider person, pay attention to the specific bed size.

For instance, the Winnebago Micro Minnie 2306BHS has a full queen-size mattress, whereas some trailers will have a narrower queen-size mattress. The Winnebago Micro Minnie 2306BHS also has a bunk bed that can fold up, so more space is available for storage when the bed isn’t needed.

Also, not all mattresses are created equal. The pad in the TigerMoth Overland is firm with no cushion or give. However, the Off Grid Trailers Expedition 2.0 features a high-density memory foam mattress, and the Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB has a pillow-top memory foam mattress.

A handful of the tidiest travel trailers have indoor space that’s solely dedicated to a queen-size bed and cubbies. Other tight trailers have beds that convert into a daytime couch or even have a table that can be easily installed. We like that even when the couch is pulled down into a bed in the TigerMoth Overland , there’s still a space to pull our shoes on and off.

Many trailers include an awning, which becomes a gem when you consider how much more space everyone will have to lounge out of the sun and rain at camp. Larger travel trailers typically have indoor sofas and dining tables that often convert into a bed.

Pricier, larger travel trailers have indoor kitchens with a range of features. Inside, you’ll often find a microwave, refrigerator, freezer, oven, sink, two- or three-burner stove, cabinets, countertop space, and dining table.

More compact, less expensive travel trailers have outdoor kitchens, and there’s a variety of unique designs. A galley organizes the kitchen area on the back of the rig, like on the Timberleaf Classic Off-Road Teardrop Trailer .

Other designs have pull-out drawers or fold-down units with the pantry, stove, sink, or countertop like the Off Grid Trailers Expedition 2.0 or the Taxa Outdoors TigerMoth Camper Trailer .

The spacious travel trailers on our list have indoor bathrooms with a toilet and standup shower. Tinier travel trailers don’t have an indoor bathroom, but a handful have an outdoor shower head with warm water hookups like the Off Grid Trailers Expedition 2.0 and Vorsheer XOC Extreme Overland Camper .

If your camper trailer doesn’t have an indoor bathroom and you’re posted up in a remote place, be sure to research that location’s human waste and Leave No Trace requirements — whether that means digging a cathole or using a WAG bag.

Interior Storage

Interior storage space is great for organizing apparel, cosmetics, electronics, and other comforts. Inside, travel trailers often feature storage space like shelves and cubbies, but not all offer a latch system to hold items in place while driving around.

There can also be storage space beneath the mattress. The Taxa Outdoors TigerMoth Camper Trailer had an aluminum interior frame, which extended onto the doors, with numerous holes to clip carabiners, hang dish towels, or slide in hangers to dry gear like our dense wetsuits .

Larger travel trailers usually have ample storage space, including cubbies beneath sofas, cabinets in the bathroom and kitchen, and even hanging closets.

Exterior Storage

Outside, tidy travel trailers can also have a toolbox, tongue box, or racks for storing gear and equipment. Large travel trailers also often have storage compartments facing outward, which sometimes include pass-through storage space.

Doors & Windows

We really appreciate it when the doors and windows are built to last in a travel trailer. One of the most unique door configurations is on the Taxa Outdoors TigerMoth Camper Trailer . There’s a back door that swings open and a second door that opens upward like the gullwing doors on the DMC DeLorean in “Back to the Future.” Nearly the entire wall serves as a sturdy canopy.

Windows are great for allowing ample light and can help a space feel bigger, but shades are equally important for privacy and to block out the light of the full moon or campground lamp. Slide-down shades can black out the inside of the trailer, and bug screens can enable airflow regardless of bug activity. It’s also nice to have windows that can be locked when they’re cracked.

Electric, Solar, Gas, and Water

You’ll need to closely consider how much energy and resources you’ll need between trips to a gas station, store, or an overnight stay with shore power.

Even if you don’t plan to charge your laptop or watch television — an option in larger travel trailers — it’s nice to have battery power. The battery can run indoor and outdoor LED lights around the kitchen and doors, as well as the roof exhaust fan — and it can charge up phones. Many travel trailers feature a prewired solar inlet to get an energy boost off solar panels, too.

Each trailer will have a specific capacity for gas and water carry. For instance, the Off Grid Trailers Expedition 2.0 water tank boasts a 31-gallon capacity. The Vorsheer XOC Extreme Overland Camper has upgrade options for a 30-gallon water tank and bonus storage that holds two extra 5-gallon jerry cans. The Taxa Outdoors TigerMoth Camper Trailer holds one 5-gallon jerry can.

In contrast, larger travel trailers have a greater water capacity, in great part to manage the bathroom. The Black Series HQ19 comes with a 50-gallon water tank for supply, a 26-gallon gray water tank for collection (for all used water except from the toilet), and a 26-gallon black water tank for all toilet waste.

Often trailers include an indoor smoke detector, fire extinguisher, and carbon monoxide detector.

How much weight can you tow?

Check your vehicle’s door jamb or owner’s manual for the payload, max towing, and tongue weight rating. Be sure not to exceed those caps with what’s hauled in the trailer and in the vehicle.

What camper trailer features allow off-road capability?

If you intend to off-road with your trailer, be sure to pick one with durable, all-terrain tires that can handle paved, gravel, dirt, and rocky surfaces. Look for a steel frame, ample clearance, axleless suspension, burly fenders, and articulating hitch.

How long do camper trailers last?

Most camper trailers will last between 10 and 15 years. However, numerous factors determine the lifespan of a camper trailer, and the most unpredictable is the human element. Outside elements that affect the lifespan of a camper trailer include the original design, build quality, usage, and storage when not traveling.

Assuming it is a quality-built trailer, is stored properly when not in service, and received regular maintenance, it’s normal to see camper trailers in use after 15 years from when it was bought brand new.

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Based among the awe-inspiring peaks of Crested Butte, Colorado, Morgan Tilton is a Senior Editor for GearJunkie honing the SnowSports Buyer’s Guides alongside warmer coverage. More broadly, she’s an adventure journalist specializing in outdoor industry news and adventure travel stories, which she’s produced for more than a decade and more than 80 publications to date. A recipient of 14 North American Travel Journalists Association awards, when she’s not recovering from high alpine or jungle expeditions she’s usually trail running, mountain biking, or splitboarding in Southwest Colorado, where she grew up and lives today. From resort to backcountry and human-powered to motorized travel, she loves sliding across snow.

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Scott Gilbertson Gear Team

The Best Sleeping Bags for Every Adventure

John Muir famously set off for the mountains with “some bread and tea in a pair of blankets with some sugar and a tin cup.” I admire his ultralight spirit and disdain for comfort on the trail, but I'd be willing to bet that if Muir were around today, he'd bring a good down sleeping bag with him, if for no other reason than they're lighter than old blankets. The tea is essential though, I can't argue with that.

Whether you're following Muir into the backcountry, are planning the perfect family camping trip, or are trekking the Camino de Santiago, there's a sleeping bag for that. No matter how you travel, where you're headed, or how much comfort you seek, after years of testing, we've found the best sleeping bags for everyone.

Adrienne So, Martin Cizmar, and Matt Jancer contributed to this guide.

Be sure to read through our other outdoor guides, including the Best Sleeping Pads , Best Tents , Best Camp Stoves, and our Camp Cooking guide.

• Best for Backpackers : Mountain Hardware Bishop Pass 15
• Best for Car Campers: REI Siesta Hooded 20
• Best All-in-One Sleep System: Zenbivy Bed
• Best Ultralight: Sea to Summit Spark 15
• Best for Side Sleepers: Therm-a-Rest Questar 20
• Best for Warm Weather: Marmot NanoWave 45
• Best For Spring and Fall Trips : Magma 15 Sleeping Bag
• Best Expedition Bag : Rab Expedition 1000
• Best Quilt : Therm-a-rest Vesper 32
• Best for Kids : REI Kindercone
• Best Synthetic Bag : Marmot Ultra Elite 20

How to Pick the Perfect Sleeping Bag

How we tested.

• What All The Terms Mean

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The Best Sleeping Bag for Backpackers

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

Mountain Hardware's Bishop Pass 15 offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio while also managing to pack down small and not be too expensive. It isn't perfect, but it strikes the best compromise for most backpackers, being warm enough for the shoulder seasons and light enough (2 pounds and 5.4 ounces) that you won't mind it even when you barely need it in the summer. I have slept in this bag for more than two weeks, with nighttime temps ranging from 28 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and, yes, it was too much in the heat as a sleeping bag. But on those warmer nights, I unzipped it and covered myself like a warm blanket. For everything else, I slept very well. It's a versatile bag.

The Bishop Pass 15 uses 650-fill-power down wrapped in a 20-denier water-resistant ripstop nylon shell. (Note: You'll often see 20-denier written as 20D; see below for more on what those terms mean .) One of the great things about this bag is the draft collar and face gasket feature, which does a great job of keeping your head warm. With the drawcord cinched down, you can conserve even more body heat. This is one of the few bags I've tested where I didn't feel the need for a hat. The insulation does a good job of staying where it should; I didn't find any bad cold spots in this bag.

My only gripe about this bag is that it's tight—there's not much room for anything but me. That makes it efficient and keeps you warmer, but this is not a good option if you're looking for something roomy (see the Therm-a-Rest Questar below). I also don't love the zipper. The pull glows in the dark, which is great, and the zipper doesn't snag much, but in my experience, it also doesn't pull as easily as others. Still, those are minor gripes about a bag that gets the rest right.

• Temp rating: 15°F / -9°C
• Comfort rating: 26°F / -3°C
• Fill: 650 Fill-Power Down

The Best Sleeping Bag for Car Campers

Photograph: REI

Car-camping sleeping bags aren’t a place to spend lots of money. Should your best efforts to cocoon warmth around you fail, there is, after all, a car to retreat to. That's why we love the REI Siesta Hooded 20—it's plenty warm and affordable. It's also not a mummy bag, because you're not climbing Denali; why cramp yourself if you don't have to? The Siesta's rectangular cut makes for a much roomier, more comfortable bag. The Siesta is made of recycled polyester throughout, with a polyester filling. Despite that, the lining on this bag is noticeably softer than many others in this guide.

The Siesta's 20-degree rating makes it enough for three-season trips, and unlike most rectangular bags, the Siesta has a hood, which helps on those cold nights. What makes this such a versatile bag, though, is the double zipper system. There's a full-length zipper, which means you can turn it into a quilt on warmer nights, and there's also a second partial-length zipper on the other side so you can have more airflow when you want it. (You can also now zip two Siestas together, which wasn't possible with earlier versions.)

• Temp rating: 20°F / -6°C

Best All-in-One Sleep System

Photograph: Zenbivy

The Zenbivy Bed 25 ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) is hands down the most comfortable backcountry sleeping experience I've ever had. It wouldn't be my top pick for extreme situations, but so long as your expected temperatures fit in Zenbivy's range, it doesn't get more comfortable than this. The Zenbivy isn't just a sleeping bag though. It's a sheet, hood, and quilt-style bag that can be combined in various ways depending on what you want.

The top sheet that covers the sleeping pad is made of 50-denier polyester pongee, which is wonderfully soft and feels like your bed at home . The sheet has the hood portion of the sleeping bag attached to it. Then you lay the top quilt (made of 20D nylon) over that. This is the coolest, loosest way to use the system, perfect for those warm nights. This is how I did most of my testing since I sleep rather warm. Should the temperature drop, you can zip the quilt foot box up into a mummy bag configuration and zip the upper sides to the bottom sheet. I did this on a couple of cooler nights in the Keweenaw Peninsula when it got quite frigid.

Boone Ashworth

Carlton Reid

Reece Rogers

What I didn’t like as much is the sleeping pad that comes with the full Zenbivy Bed. It’s plenty comfortable, but it’s also heavy. I used it for a few car camping trips, but if you’re primarily interested in backpacking, skip it and find something lighter in our sleeping pad guide . I tested the 25F bag, but there's also a 10F version if you want something warmer.

If you're done with mummy bags and aren't planning extreme mountaineering trips, the Zenbivy is worth considering; it is the best night's sleep I've ever had in the backcountry.

• Temp rating : 25°F / -4°C
• Comfort rating: 35°F / 2°C
• Fill : 700 Fill-Power Hydrophobic Down

Best Ultralight Sleeping Bag

The Sea to Summit Spark 18 is my favorite ultralight sleeping bag. Sure, most ultralight enthusiasts use a quilt, but aside from the Zenbivy, I haven't found a quilt I like. The Spark weighs a mere 1 pound 9.7 ounces, the lightest bag in this guide. It also has the smallest pack size of any bag I've tested in this temperature range. With the included compression sack, this thing is truly tiny. It's got most of the benefits of a quilt and none of the negatives (like getting a bit uncomfortable on chilly fall nights), making it a good option for thru-hikers or anyone wanting to save ounces.

I should say that the Sea to Summit Spark series bags were recently updated from the version I tested last year. The temperature rating has been bumped down 3 degrees, but the main difference addressed the one thing I dislike about the version I tested: The thin inner liner has been modestly upgraded to 10D nylon. The outer shell uses a PFC-free DWR coating on 10D nylon. It's still thin, and I suggest you baby this one, but even my thinner version has held up just fine. We've been testing Spark bags since 2018, when our tester took one to Comic-Con , and haven't had any durability issues.

The down fill is also PFC-free and made of 850+ hydrophobic down. The zippers are on the small side, but they slide well and rarely if ever snag on the bag. I've slept in this bag down to 30 degrees, and honestly, even that night I woke up hot. But this is more a testament to how hot I sleep than bag performance (which is good). Like the bishop pass, this is a tight-fitting bag. It's plenty comfy, but you need to love the mummy shape.

While I have tested the 18-degree model (replaced by the new 15F), there is a whole range of Spark's: 45F, 30F, 15F, and 0F. At $549, the Spark 15 is not cheap, but high-end, ultralight gear typically comes with a hefty price tag. If you have extra cash, the Spark Pro line is worth considering as well. I haven't tested it yet, but the full-length zipper that allows the bag to become more like a quilt is interesting.

• Temp rating : 15°F / -9°C
• Comfort rating: 29°F / -2°C
• Fill : 850 Fill-Power Goose Down

Best for Active/Side Sleepers

I once made the mistake of calling a sleeping bag a “mummy bag” in front of my then 8-year-old who exclaimed, “What? Who would want to be a mummy?” Good question, kid. The answer is no one. The “mummy” design is all about warmth, not comfort. But let's face it—most of us are not sleeping in situations where our survival is at stake. Therm-a-Rest has addressed this with what it calls W.A.R.M. fit, which stands for “with additional room for multiple” positions. Indeed, this bag is very roomy for a mummy design. I was able to draw my legs up when side-sleeping and spread out considerably more than with most of the other bags in this guide. If you toss and turn through the nights, and don't want a quilt-style bag, this would be my top pick.

The Questar uses a 20D Polyester DWR-coated outer shell fabric, which does a great job of helping the bag stay dry even when your feet press up against the walls of the too-small tent you're testing . The inside is nylon taffeta. This bag comes with Therm-a-Rest's SynergyLink Connectors, which you can use to secure the sleeping bag to the pad underneath. This, combined with the slightly wider cut, makes this one of the more comfortable bags I've used.

Weighing 2 pounds, 3 ounces, it isn't the lightest bag at this temperature rating, but it is one of the warmest. Therm-a-Rest comfort-rates this bag to 32 degrees, but I used it several nights in Michigan's Porcupine Mountains in temps down to 25 and found it plenty warm. The Questar series is also available in 32-degree and 0-degree versions. We have not tested either, but if you're looking to save some weight and know you won't be in extreme cold, the 32-degree model is worthwhile.

• Temp rating : 20°F / -6°C
• Comfort rating: 32°F / 0°C
• Fill : 650 Fill-Power Nikwax Hydrophobic Down

Best Warm-Weather Sleeping Bag

Photograph: Backcountry

Rated at 55 degrees, this is a warm-weather bag suitable for summers and not much else. It did a fine job keeping me warm on stormy Hawaiian nights camped on the beach, but I wouldn’t take it anywhere during the shoulder seasons. The synthetic insulation shrugged off the humid rainforest air and never became laden with moisture during the six days of beach camping I subjected it to. What blew my mind, though, was how teeny-tiny it packed down. Compressing it to a scant 2.75 liters, the 29-ounce bag wasn’t much bigger than my pair of water bottles. For under $100, that’s fantastic.

I’m used to dealing with dainty zippers on ultralight bags chosen for being small and lightweight. The zipper on the Nanowave 55 was comparatively normal-sized, worked smoothly, and never jammed or caught on the fabric. They worked like butter. Even if it somehow had, I wouldn’t have worried much about ripping the fabric, as it’s tougher and more robust than the expensive lightweight bags in vogue. You won’t have to baby this sleeping bag much. For the money, this is an excellent choice for anybody looking for a summer bag: casual car camper, festival-goer, or lightweight hiker. — Matt Jancer

Editor's note: the Nanowave 55 our tester used is discontinued. The Nanowave 45 featured is the same bag, but with slightly more insulation to give it a lower temp rating.

• Temp rating : 45°F / 7°C
• Comfort rating: 45°F / 7°C
• Fill : Synthetic

Best for Spring and Fall Trips

REI Co-Op's Magma 15 is a no-nonsense down sleeping bag. It doesn't have a lot of frills, it just gets the job done. It's the bag I most often grab for fall and early spring trips where cold weather may arrive unannounced. It has an excellent draft collar that’s very good at keeping out the chill.

The outside is a 15-denier nylon ripstop ( Bluesign approved , with a non-fluorinated DWR coating to keep moisture at bay). Baffles are variably spaced and not stitched through, which helps the fill stay put and minimizes cold spots. I also really like the Magma hood, which is warm and stays on your head throughout the night. There's a nice interior stash pocket I use to keep my headlamp handy.

The Magma series comes in a bewildering array of sizes and shapes—there are nine sizes to choose from, ranging from Short Narrow, which weighs 2 pounds, to Long Wide, which is nearly 3 pounds. One of my favorite features of this bag is the anti-snag zipper, which genuinely doesn't snag, because there's a woven barrier that keeps the down baffle away from the zipper. The zipper is also full-length, extending from the bottom of the foot box to the collar. REI also makes a 30-degree version of the Magma . I have not tested it, but if you only plan to go out in the summer months, that would be my suggestion.

• Comfort rating: 21°F / -6°C
• Fill: 850 Fill-Power Down

An Expedition-Worthy Bag

Photograph: Rab

Rab is an English brand, well regarded by European outdoor enthusiasts long before it came to the US. The Expedition 1000 is a -22 degree bag weighing a mere 3 pounds and 6 ounces, which is light for a bag of this warmth. Its 1,000 grams of 850-fill-power hydrophobic goose down gave me no issues retaining body moisture after sleeping in it for a week on Alaska’s Kahiltna Glacier. Even during a couple of whiteout blizzards where I had to dig my tent out of the snow in the morning, I slept like a baby, warm and cozy thanks to a well-designed neck baffle that kept warm air from escaping around my noggin.

The zippered interior stuff sack was large enough to keep a battery bank, contact lenses, lighter, and hand sanitizer handy throughout the night, and at 5'10", there was plenty of extra space inside the bag to keep my water bottles, boot liners, and yesterday’s damp socks to dry out. One thing I didn’t like was the main body zipper. Lightweight sleeping bags are susceptible to being caught in zipper teeth and tearing. Compared to Marmot’s flawless zippers, the Rab’s gave me some trouble, even though I habitually operated them as if I were handling a newborn. The problem is the fabric surrounding the zipper, which would get sucked into the teeth. It jammed badly enough one night that I thought I would have to sleep another three days with a bag stuck open. Lucky for me, someone had a Leatherman we used to fix it, but that shouldn’t have happened.

Unlike some competing bags, such as the Marmot Col, there are no zippered arm holes to let you stay snug in your bag while hanging out or doing basic tasks in your tent. I didn’t miss it on my weeklong climbing trip, but for longer expeditions where you might spend a whole day in your tent, it’d be nice to have arm holes. If you need an even warmer bag, there's the Expedition 1200 rated at -32 degrees and the Expedition 1400 rated at -40 degrees . — Matt Jancer

• Temp rating: -22°F / -30°C

A Quilt for Warmer Trips

Photograph: Amazon

Quilts are preferred by gram-counting backpackers because they dispense with the unhelpful half of a sleeping shell. The bottom side of a down sleeping bag gets mashed down anyway, meaning there's no lofted insulation for added warmth. The quilt market has no shortage of cottage quiltmakers serving ultralighters and hammockers—I bought a solid one off Etsy last year. Therm-a-Rest's top-of-the-line Vesper, though, has everything you could ask for in a lightweight quilt. The 32-degree version weighs less than a pound, and ratcheting down the included comprehension sack will get it to roughly the size of a Nalgene bottle.

Thanks to 900-fill down insulation, it was more than toasty enough for nights in the low 40s in the Canadian Rockies. The down is hydrophobic, though I didn't douse it for testing. The 32-degree Vesper is cut more generously than the 20-degree version and comfortably covers my larger body frame. This is the bag I would take on any backpacking trip—if you're pushing below this temperature, you'll want to build a system with layers.

• Temp rating : 32°F / 0°C
• Fill : 900 Fill-Power Hydrophobic Down

A warmer alternative : If you want to save a little cash on a Therm-a-Rest quilt and push the temp rating down well below freezing, consider the Therm-a-Rest Corus ($310) . This quilt uses less expensive 650-fill-power down (more on fill power here ), which drops the price by $100 while adding 20 degrees of comfort rating and just 10 ounces of weight, keeping the quilt well below 2 pounds. The Corus has a 20D nylon shell rather than the 10D found on the Vesper, which adds both weight and durability. I only pushed it into the low 40s in my testing but found I had to stick a foot out or I baked under it. I suspect the 20-degree rating might be on the conservative side. — Martin Cizmar

Kid-Friendly Sleeping Bags

Kids' sleeping bags are cut smaller so your little ones don't have to heat up a huge, adult-size sleeping bag to stay warm. While that's 100 percent true, let's be honest, a lot of the appeal of kid-size sleeping bags is the lower price. The REI Kindercone bag fills both needs, being cut to a smaller size and relatively cheap. I would take the temperature rating with a grain of salt though. There is no comfort rating, but if there were, my guess would be around 35 degrees.

The Kindercone makes a great car camping bag, and you can backpack with it, but it's awkward. I spent four nights in the Pisgauh Wilderness lugging this thing around for my son. It's heavy (3 pounds and 3 ounces) and huge. Our hiking distances weren't that long, so after one day of it hogging half my pack, I took to just carrying the Kindercone in my hand. As I said, it's best for car camping. For backpacking, I'd consider something that compresses a bit smaller, like the REI Co-Op Zephyr 25 ($149) .

While the Kindercone is a fine bag, once my kids hit about 4 feet, I put them in adult bags. I did so for two reasons. First, the temperatures we've camped in have mostly been warm enough that staying warm wasn't a concern—summers in the mountains and the Northwoods of Michigan. It's never cold enough that I'm worried about them in a 20-degree adult bag. The second reason is that sleeping bags last a long time and are a significant investment. I wanted something that would last them through their teens, however tall they might be. (Properly cared-for sleeping bags should last decades. I recently retired the North Face Blue Kazoo bag my parents bought me in 1992.) So do you need a to buy kids' bag? For younger kids, I would say yes; for older kids, probably not.

• Temp rating: -25°F / 4°C
• Fill: Polyester fibers

Our Favorite Synthetic Sleeping Bags

This was one of the first sleeping bags stuffed with synthetic insulation that could come close to goose down in terms of packability and weight. Even though synthetic insulation is improving every year, it’s traditionally bulkier than an equivalently warm amount of goose down. For me as an ultralight hiker and climber, the Ultra Elite 20 was a godsend. The bag is rated to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and I’ve used it everywhere from Washington’s Cascade Mountains to Vermont’s forests to Texas’ high desert. It’s a workhorse sleeping bag, good for most trips taken outside of summer.

I greatly prefer synthetic insulation to goose down in a bag of this temperature rating. Near and above the freezing point—called “wet cold”—liquid water and melting ice are more of a danger to puffy insulation than very cold temperatures, where ice stays ice. Insulation also sucks up moisture from humid air like a sponge, reducing its effectiveness at keeping you warm. Synthetic insulation dries out much more quickly than goose down, and I’ve been on plenty of trips where my Ultra Elite 20 stayed dry and crisp as my buddies’ down bags grew perpetually damp and a touch soggy after three nights.

There’s a zippered interior pocket for keeping small items handy during the night, and Marmot’s zipper design is excellent. I’ve treated it with the care while zipping and unzipping that any lightweight bag demands, but I’ve never had a bad jam, and the fabric isn’t prone to catching on the teeth. At a shade under 2 pounds and only 6.7 liters compressed, it’s a regular in my pack for long-distance backpacking trips and casual car camping trips alike. Unfortunately, Marmot appears to have discontinued this bag; there are still some at retailers, but they likely won't last. — Matt Jancer

• Temp rating: -20°F / -7°C
• Comfort rating: 32.9°F / 0.5°C
• Fill: Synthetic

Photograph: Nemo

Nemo's Forte 20 is a 20-degree synthetic-fill sleeping bag. It's best used as a summer bag, possibly a three-season bag, depending on where you live. While it has 20 in the name and is technically rated to 20 degrees (see below for more on what that means), the comfort rating is 30 degrees. In my testing, this feels more like where you'd want to stay temperature-wise with this bag.

The outer shell uses a 30-denier recycled polyester ripstop with an inside liner made from 20-denier recycled polyester taffeta. It does a good job of holding back the moisture that often forms inside a tent, which I discovered after one very soggy night of testing. The fill is what Nemo calls Zerofiber insulation, which is made from 100 percent postconsumer recycled content fibers. The Zerofiber packs down remarkably small—this is the most compact synthetic-fill bag I've tested in this temp range—and retains its ability to trap warmth even when wet.

What I like most about this bag, and nearly all of Nemo's sleeping bags, is the wider cut through the torso area down to the knees. Like the Therm-a-Rest Questar above, this bag is almost a hybrid of a mummy bag and your father's good old 1970s square sleeping bag. Which is to say, this bag is roomy. The downside is that there's more dead space your body has to heat, but as someone who sleeps warm anyway, I'll take the extra room.

• Comfort rating: 30°F / -1.1°C

A sleeping bag is typically one of the most expensive pieces of camping gear you'll buy. If none of our picks strike your fancy, here are some general guidelines.

Are you car camping? Thru-hiking the PCT? Headed out overnight in the August heat? Plotting a winter ski traverse of the Karakoram Himalaya? Which sleeping bag is right for you depends on how you're going to use it, especially the temperatures you plan to camp or backpack in, and how you sleep—hot, cold, in between.

Unfortunately, there isn't an ideal sleeping bag that works in all climates. If you encounter a wide range of conditions in your camping, I would consider two bags. Get one nice down bag for colder conditions and a cheaper, lightweight synthetic-fill bag for summer use.

As with most things in the outdoor world, you're going to pay more for lightweight materials, so if you don't need them because, for example, you're just car camping, don't pay extra for an ultralight bag. Maybe don't even pay for a down bag. Synthetic bags are generally the best budget sleeping options for those camping in the heat.

By the same token, if you're primarily a summer hiker, doing the Appalachian Trail in sections, you don't need a 0-degree bag. Identify your use and then look for a sleeping bag that suits you best. Also, take the temperature rating with a grain of salt. Everyone sleeps differently. I almost always sleep warm, which means I don't need a 0-degree bag in anything but the harshest situation. My colleague Adrienne So is roughly the opposite and uses a 0-degree bag in 40-degree weather. Neither one of us is “right,” we've just learned to shop around how we sleep.

There are two types of insulation used in today's sleeping bags, down feathers and synthetic fibers. Down comes primarily from geese and ducks . Synthetics range from nylon to polyester. The insulation works by creating pockets of air, either through the structure of a feather or the structure of a synthetic fiber. These pockets of air then trap your body heat, keeping it close, and you warm. The more loft there is—the more air pockets there are—the warmer you will be and the lower the sleeping bag's temperature rating will be.

In most situations, a down sleeping bag is the superior choice. It's warmer for the weight, packs smaller, and is lighter. Where down fails is when it gets wet. Wet down is generally useless—all those air pockets that trap heat are gone. Synthetics on the other hand retain more warmth when wet. No one wants to sleep in a wet sleeping bag, but if you think that's a possibility, synthetic is the way to go.

In recent years down has been challenged with what's marketed as hydrophobic or “dry down,” which is treated with water-repellent coatings that cause the feathers to repel water. In our experience testing, these bags do better than regular down when wet, and in many cases, they're as good as synthetics. The trade-off is that when dry, they don't have quite the loft of regular down. If you're worried about water and want to stick with down, hydrophobic down is the best choice.

There is also the ethical question of down. Most down is a byproduct of the food industry. The Responsible Down Standard tries to ensure that down is ethically sourced, but PETA has shown that it's far from perfect. We leave that judgment call to you, but before you rush off to buy a synthetic, remember that it involves plenty of hazardous chemicals and questionable factory working conditions.

After the type of insulation, it's worth considering these factors.

• Temperature rating:  Choose a sleeping bag rated a little bit lower than the lowest temperature you expect to encounter. If you're a three-season backpacker in the southern US, the lowest you're likely to hit is around freezing, so I'd suggest a 20-degree bag. If you sleep cold, you might go down more to 10 degrees.
• Fill power : This means how much insulation is in the bag. The higher the fill-power number the warmer the bag will be. See our fill power explainer for more information.
• Weight:  If your backpacking weight is important, you want to stay as light as you can while still staying warm. Make sure to compare bags with the same temperature rating and ideally the same fill power—otherwise, you're making an apples-to-oranges comparison.
• Design and features: Remember to consider the extras. Do you want a full-length zipper? Do you want a full hood? Or a way to strap your bag to your pad? How about stash pockets? Sleeping bags can have quite a bit of functionality beyond keeping you toasty.
• Your overall sleep setup : How effective your sleeping bag is, and how warm you stay, also depends on factors like your sleeping pad and which tent you're using. See our Best Sleeping Pads and Best Tents guides for more advice on which suits you best.
• Women’s sleeping bags : Our female testers have generally found very little difference between sleeping bags for men and those for women. Many manufacturers no longer make separate bags for women, but if that's something you want to look into, we suggest Sea to Summit, which makes a range of women's sleeping bags .

All our testing was done in the field in tents. Collectively our testers have more than 11 decades of experience in the wilderness. To test these bags, we hiked Alaskan peaks, Texas deserts, Hawaiian beaches, Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula, and a range of other locations and conditions across the country. It's a rough life, but someone has to do it. This is not to say it's all fun and games—just ask my kids who've had to lie still many a morning while I zapped around their sleeping bags with an infrared thermometer looking for cold spots.

With a mix of body types and sleeping habits, we've been able to test which bags will keep even the coldest sleepers warm and which won't make those of us who sleep hot wake up sweating. Our picks are based on first-hand experience testing in the field on real trips (alas, we don't get paid to tromp around the wilderness). We take into account the warmth, how packable a bag is, how much it weighs, and how well it stands up to life on the trail or in the trunk.

What All the Terms Mean

Probably the most common question about sleeping bags is, “What temperature-rating sleeping bag should I get?” That's a good question, answered above, but it begs another question: What do those temperature ratings mean? There are often two ratings associated with temperature: temperature rating and comfort rating.

Temperature rating is done using standardized tests overseen by the International Standards Organization (ISO), the same group that oversees things like programming languages and electrical standards. If you're in Europe, you might also see EN (European Norm) temp ratings. These are close enough to ISO ratings that you can compare them. ISO temperature ratings are done in a lab using standardized equipment under more or less ideal conditions. They also use base layers on the dummy. In the end, ISO temps are a means of comparison, but they don't mean that you will be warm at whatever temperature rating is given.

Comfort rating is more subjective. This is the temperature at which someone who sleeps cold will still feel comfortable. So if you tend to sleep cold, the comfort rating is the one to pay attention to. Incidentally, this is the rating given to most women's sleeping bags, because according to the industry, the average woman will feel colder than the average man in a bag with the same temp rating.

Beyond knowing what the terms mean, also know this: Ratings are not precise. Our advice for those heading into snowy conditions where warmth is critical is to buy a bag rated 10 to 15 degrees colder than the coldest temps you expect to encounter.

There are more types of nylon out there than anyone can keep track of, which is where the denier rating system comes from. Denier is a measure used in fabrics that is based on the linear density of a fabric. The linear density is calculated by measuring how heavy the material is (in grams) for a length of 9,000 meters. Glad we cleared that up.

Wait what? 9,000 meters of what now? It turns out there are forms of fabric so thin it helps to have that much material to get a reliable weight out of them. The important takeaway is that denier means fabric weight. The higher the number, the thicker the fabric. Fun word nerd trivia: The word denier comes from the Latin word “Denarius,” which was a Roman coin.

In the case of sleeping bags, denier ratings for the nylon used typically run in the 10D to 40D range, though I have tested a few with single-digit-denier nylon. Also, watch out for all sorts of trademarked names for fabric. These have nothing to do with how thick or durable they are, they're just marketing. In my experience, testing over two dozen sleeping bags, 10D fabric is fine for a sleeping bag so long as you don't abuse it.

We covered what hydrophobic down is above, but there are a couple of other acronyms you'll see thrown around. The main two are DWR and PFC-free. DWR stands for “durable water repellent.” This waterproofness is commonly achieved through the use of a perfluorinated compound, better known to most of us as PFC. PFC-free means the waterproof coating on the down (or sometimes the nylon as well) doesn't contain any PFCs. Alternatives include wax, silicon, and sometimes plant-based sealants. Because waterproofness isn't as critical in sleeping bags (compared to a rain jacket ), there's usually no difference between PFC-free sleeping bags and those that aren't. We try to recommend only PFC-free sleeping bags.

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6 Best Camping Chairs of 2024

Sit back and relax in one of these comfy chairs on your next outdoor adventure.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Best Overall

Yeti trailhead camp chair.

GCI Outdoor Legz Up Lounger

Best for Tall People

Big agnes big six armchair.

Best Lightweight

Helinox chair zero highback.

Best Two-Seater

Kelty low loveseat.

Best for Features

Picnic time portable folding backpack director's chair.

The experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute have tested everything from camping tents to beach chairs . When it comes to tracking down the best camping chairs, our pros assessed the top contenders on the market and tested five popular folding camping chairs, evaluating each chair’s comfort, ease of use, portability and durability.

Whether you’re looking for a place to sit while taking in a beautiful view or a portable seat to take tailgating or to an outdoor concert or a fireworks display, one of the camping chairs below could be a great fit for your next outdoor adventure.

The Yeti brand is well regarded for making high-quality gear for the outdoors, and it shows here. The company’s Trailhead Camp Chair is extremely comfortable. It also folds easily and fits into a small carry bag that you can sling over your shoulder or wear as a backpack.

This heavy-duty camping chair can hold up to 500 pounds , especially impressive because it only weighs a little over 13 pounds. The seat, which features a built-in cupholder, is made from an easy-to-clean mesh fabric (you can simply hose it down with water and let it air dry) and UV-ray resistant additives to help mitigate fading from sun exposure, according to the brand.

Conveniently, the arms are taped with instructions for how to set up and fold the chair. Also, the product boasts a generous five-year warranty. However, it’s the most expensive camping chair we tested.

Weight: 13.3 lbs | Weight capacity: 500 lbs | Dimensions: 29.9"D x 25.1"W x 36.3"H | Seat height: 16.75" | Features: 1 cupholder | Carry bag: Yes

This chair from GCI Outdoors is like a La-Z-Boy for the outdoors. Its zero-gravity construction allows you to sit upright, lay back with your legs up or recline to a weightless position, where your legs are elevated above your heart. It comes equipped with a comfortable head pillow that’s perfect for napping. The chair's nylon mesh material is durable, easy to clean, and provides good airflow — a nice feature on hot days.

That said, this chair does not come with a carry bag, making it harder to haul than the others on this list; that may explain why the company’s product page says it's popular for picnics, rather than camping. The chair also weighs about 26 pounds, which is heavier than most.

Weight: 25.9 lbs | Weight capacity: 300 lbs | Dimensions: 35"D x 30.3"W x 43.1"H | Seat height: 20.7" | Features: 1 combination beverage and phone holder | Carry bag: No

This camping chair is very comfortable, making it good for not only camping trips, but also extended seating times, such as when you're at the beach or your kid’s soccer game. It has ample height and width for taller or larger body types , though smaller testers also found it comfortable. At just over 4 pounds, it's also pretty lightweight.

The aluminum pole frame assembles quickly and feels very sturdy and stable, including on uneven ground. Despite its outsize comfort and convenience, the Big Six still folds to a fairly compact pack size of 5" x 6" x 22."

This camping chair, however, is on the pricier side.

Weight: 4.2 lbs | Weight capacity: 300 lbs | Dimensions: 24"D x 26"W x 40"H | Seat height: 20" | Features: 2 cupholders | Carry bag: Yes

If you’re looking for a camping chair that’s easy to transport, look no further than the Helinox Chair Zero Highback. This chair weighs just 1.5 pounds when packed into its compact carry bag , making it perfect for a hiking trip. It also has a modern look and mesh paneling for breathability and ventilation.

But there are a couple caveats. Most notably, the chair needs to be assembled when taken out of the carry bag and disassembled to fit back inside the bag — although assembly and disassembly took us less than two minutes. It was also the least comfortable of the camping chairs we tested, yet it's still comfortable enough for one to two hours of use at a time. (Note: The chair doesn't include a cupholder, but you can purchase one separately for $15 .)

Weight: 1.44 lbs | Weight capacity: 265 lbs | Dimensions: 21.5"D x 19.5"W x 32"H | Seat height: 6.5" | Features: None | Carry bag: Yes

This padded loveseat from Kelty is a great option for couples who like to camp or attend outdoor concerts. Our tester found it to be equally comfortable sitting on his own or along with his wife. It offers a large 42 inches of seating space , features a durable steel frame and each seat has its own insulated, size-adjustable beverage holder.

A unique feature: The product’s carry wrap doubles as a padded dog mat, giving your pooch a comfortable place to rest too.

As the name implies, the loveseat sits just 13.5 inches off the ground, which may not suit everyone's taste. It’s also heavier to transport than most single-seat camping chairs, and the weight capacity tops out at 400 lbs. Because the seats are padded, they’re less breathable on a hot day.

Weight: 15.38 lbs | Weight capacity: 400 lbs | Dimensions: 23"D x 46"W x 31.5"H | Seat height: 13.5" | Features: 2 cupholders | Carry bag: Yes (rolled tote)

Here's a chair that comes with some extra-convenient bells and whistles including an insulated cup holder, an armrest caddy with several storage pockets and a small fold-out side table . In online reviews, many customers praised its lightweight design, wide seat and cool pattern options, such as a red-and-black buffalo plaid. A few Amazon reviewers also said the chair folds up easily.

Some customers, however, reported issues. In one review on the company’s website, a customer reported that “the laminate began to buckle on the side table, either from the heat or rain,” but they said the company provided a replacement for free. Furthermore, several reviewers on Amazon said the chair was bulky and, as a result, difficult to carry.

Weight: 12 lbs | Weight capacity: 300 lbs | Dimensions: 19.5"D x 13.5"W x 32"H | Seat height: 17" | Features: 1 insulated cup holder, 1 armrest caddy with storage pockets and 1 small fold-out side table | Carry bag: No

How we choose the best camping chairs

To select the best camping chairs, we tested five of the most popular products on the market from brands with high reliability and customer satisfaction ratings. We assessed each chair’s comfort, ease of use (how easy it was to assemble and disassemble) and durability (a general assessment of the construction quality, fabric and other materials). We also factored in online reviews of other popular camping chairs.

We tested how portable each camping chair was based on its weight, its folded dimensions, whether it comes with a carry bag (Yeti, Kelty and Helinox pictured) and how easy each one was to carry.

What to look for when shopping for the best camping chair

There are several important factors to consider when you go shopping:

✔️ Price: You can go with a cheap supermarket knockoff, starting at around $20, but we found it pays to shell out a bit more money in exchange for higher quality construction, extra features and durability. Well-established brands offer reliable, higher-end camping chairs that run between about $150 and $400.

✔️ Comfort: This factor can come down to personal preference, but some camping chairs are undoubtedly more comfortable — and offer better stability — than others. Materials can also vary. A mesh seat, for example, is more breathable than a padded seat. The material of the framing can also affect the chair's durability, with steel frames considered more durable than aluminum.

✔️ Weight capacity and seat width: If you have a heavier or wider frame, it’s important to look at weight capacity and seat width to ensure you’ll be fit comfortably in the chair.

✔️ Seat height. This is especially important to consider if you are tall or short. Also, a lower seat height can make it more difficult for those with mobility issues to sit down and get up.

✔️ Portability: Camp chairs typically fold up or collapse to make them easier to transport. It may be a good idea to consider the folded dimensions if you will be short on space in your car's trunk. Look at how much a chair weighs so that if you have to carry it a far distance, say, hiking from the car to the campsite, that it'll be manageable for you. Some also come with a carrying case with a handle, shoulder strap or backpack straps, which will also make the chair easier to tote around. (Some chairs require disassembly to fit into their carrying case.)

✔️ Features: Usually a camping chair will come with at least one cupholder — sometimes, it'll even be insulated so you'll always have a cold drink. For even more comfort and convenience, you may want to look for extras like storage pockets, a pillow, armrests or a fold-out side table.

✔️ Warranty: Most camping chairs come with a warranty from one to five years, depending on the model and manufacturer.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Daniel Bortz is a freelance writer who has written about home improvement for more than a decade, including testing-based product reviews across every major category, from outdoor power tools to smart home technology. His work has been published by the New York Times, Washington Post, Consumer Reports, Newsweek, Money magazine and other outlets. He personally tested the camping chairs in his backyard in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

For this article, Bortz worked closely with Dan DiClerico , director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab. DiClerico has tested and written about travel equipment for more than 20 years. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping, his expertise appeared in Consumer Reports and This Old House. He tested the Big Agnes camping chair at the Good Housekeeping Institute's headquarters.

Daniel Bortz (he/him) is a freelance writer in Arlington, Va who has written about home improvement for more a decade, including product reviews across every major category, from appliances to smart home technology, as well as articles on real estate, personal finance, and more. His work has been published by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Consumer Reports, Newsweek, Money magazine, among others. He’s also a licensed real estate agent who watches way too much HGTV. 

Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute . A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.

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