Winter Ready Kit UK: 5 Things to Buy First
The clocks have gone back, and the evenings are dark and cold a lot sooner. If your winter ready kit, UK style, is not sorted yet, you are in good company. A few small buys now make a cold night, or a power cut, much easier to sit through. Here are the five things I would pick up first.
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Quick honest bit. I have slept in the sleeping bag, on the bank, and in a roof tent. I have not tested the power station, the heated seat cushion, the heated shawl, or the hot tent yet. For those four, I am going on the makers' own listings, and I will say so each time. I will update this post when that changes.
The five at a glance
1. A small power station: EcoFlow RIVER 3
Start with power. When the lights go out, or your phone drops to 5%, not much else matters. The RIVER 3 is the compact end of EcoFlow's range. The listing gives 245Wh of capacity and 300W of output, and says it recharges from the wall in about an hour. It is also listed at under 30 dB, so it will not drone away in your living room. That puts it in phones, lamps, and laptop territory, not kettles. I have not run one through a winter myself, so those figures are EcoFlow's.
Best for: anyone who wants a quiet backup at home that also comes camping.
Not sure what size you need? My guide to the best portable power stations for UK camping goes through the options. EcoFlow vs ALLPOWERS compares the two brands I cover most.
2. A heated seat cushion: Preston Thermatech
The cold comes up through a seat, not down from the sky. This Preston cushion has heated elements built in and runs from a USB power bank. Retailer listings quote 15 to 18 hours of heat depending on the setting, but that is based on Preston's own 20000mAh power bank, so yours will differ. The lead is 1m long, which means the power bank can sit in your bag and stay dry. I have not sat on this one yet.
Best for: anglers on a seatbox, and anyone on a folding chair outside the tent on a clear night.
My full first look is here: heated seat cushion for fishing UK.
3. A heated shawl: Traverseon Graphene
If your back and neck go cold before your hands do, this is the one to look at. It zips up the front, has a hood, and leaves your hands free. The page lists three heat levels, a size of 150 by 80 cm, a weight of about 750g, and it is machine washable. It runs from a USB power bank, and the power bank is not included. I have not worn it yet.
Best for: long night sessions, a cold home office, or sitting out at the campsite.
More detail in my heated shawl for camping UK preview.
4. A down sleeping bag: Traverseon Down Mummy
This is the one I have actually slept in. I used it on two overnight carp sessions and a camping weekend in October, with nights down to about 1°C. It comes in five fill weights, from 400g to 1200g. The listing gives comfort references from 20°C down to 0°C across the fills, and a lab extreme limit of minus 13°C. So choose the fill weight for the coldest night you expect, not the average one.
Best for: bivvy and tent sleepers, and anyone whose van gets properly cold.
Read the full best sleeping bag for cold nights UK review.
5. A hot tent: Traverseon stove jack teepee
A hot tent is a bigger step, which is why it comes last. It is a one to three person teepee with a fire-resistant stove jack, so a compatible stove pipe can leave the tent without touching the fabric. The listing gives about 1.8kg, a PU3000mm waterproof shell, two doors and closable vents. I have not pitched it. If you do add a stove, use one made for tents and never leave it burning while you sleep.
Best for: winter campers who want somewhere warm to sit with a brew, not just somewhere to lie down.
My first look at the hot tent has the rest of the spec.
Keep it safe
Please do not run a petrol generator, BBQ, gas stove or heater indoors, in a tent or in a van. They give off carbon monoxide, and you cannot see or smell it. Power stations and power banks are the safe indoor option, because there is no flame and no exhaust. While you are at it, check that your carbon monoxide alarm has a working battery.
For a handy extra, the government's Be Ready checklist is a calm, practical list you can build up one item at a time.
Where to start with your winter ready kit
If you only buy one thing this week, make it the power. A charged phone and a lamp that works take most of the sting out of a dark, cold evening. Then add warmth one piece at a time, and you will be winter ready well before the first hard frost.
Affiliate disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, Life Gear Lab may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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