I got this email from Backcountry the same time I was at an REI class on winter camping.
Two things from the REI presentation I noted for myself that aren't described here:
One is the REI person flat out stated it isn't necessary to go out and buy a ton of new gear. That's in contrast to Backcountry saying you'll want a four season tent. I think I'll try winter camping in my three season tent some time, hopefully soon (but how is it already February?). I definitely do need a new sleeping bag and will add a closed foam pad under my inflatable pad.
The other is water purification which Backcountry doesn't address at all. REI said some filters will fail entirely if they freeze once (the expanding ice damages the membrane) and that UV, tablets, or just boiling water is generally better. I'll need to get a real stove as I either use solid fuel (Esbit) or no stove at all in the summer.
REI also presented on using a pulk (gear sled). I don't think that will be as necessary for me, but I'll have to keep it on the consideration list. It probably makes more sense in bigger groups where one pulk can carry heavy gear and fuel for all with the burden shared. I've seen pulks in the Adirondacks.
I'm still a little uncertain about clothes. I'm fine when active, but I worry I'll freeze once I stop to set up camp.
ButterflyEffect, do you have experience or interest in winter camping?
The best option for clothes is layers. Something the water and wind won’t get though, so goretex is best. You don’t need anything to heavy either if you buy good stuff. After doing the first pitch ice climbing myself and the first guy were sitting on an ice ledge waiting for the third guy to climb up. First guys outer layer was covered in a layer of ice with the last patch melting in the car that was 45 minutes away so the ice probably lasted about 2 hours if not longer. They weren’t even bulky thick outer layers. I probably had more bulk from my regular ski jacket and less warmth. His pants where also less bulky and I’ll bet his legs were just as warm. You just need good layers so that you won’t sweat while your active but you have something to throw on for that little bit extra warmth. A pretty thin insulated jacket is basically what they had and it was pretty valuable for the weight it added on the pack which I doubt felt like much. Depending on the weather you’ll be experiencing you might need a thick parka but that depends on how cold you expect it to get. Nose hair freezing ?
I think I could see nose hair freezing cold when stationary. I think I keep going for some magic bullet, but the answer is a more mundane "bring extra layers and add them if you get cold." I have just a generic multi purpose activity winter jacket I've used hiking. I've looked at the nicer jackets, the insulating layers and shells. For the cost, I'm never convinced I'm missing out. I probably paid less than $200, and the nice shells and warm layers seem to be $500 each.
If your feet are cold, put on a hat...I've found good headwear, base layers, and a hard/soft shell jacket (got a good Mammut one for ~$100 on clearance) are what works. And gaiters. Always have gaiters.
You should be able to get a nice goretex shell for like $300 max. I find my ski jacket to be pretty good for most things but I definitely would have been more comfortable in those fancy layers. Which brings me to another things, gloves or mitts. I have what would be considered great gloves but you have to be way to careful about not getting the inside wet. Not sure how much the mitts I wear now are because they were a gift but they’re definitely expensive and there’s a huge improvement. Marmot has some good stuff.
That makes a lot of sense with the filters, those should have both an upper and lower operational range. Tents seem to have conflicting information depending on where you look...but I'm planning on snow camping for the first time at the end of the month, using a three season tent. I have a great sleeping pad and warm enough bag, so I think it will work. Surprised you haven't tried this yet!
I consider myself pretty new even to summer camping! I was in Boy Scouts, but we car camped. It's such a different world when I have to carry everything. At least bear canisters aren't required in the winter. What the REI presenter said is winter tents make sense in high winds or places you might get a lot of snow on you as the poles are much stronger. If there were high winds forecast, I'd probably re-plan my trip to not camp. I have an REI coupon for 23% off an REI branded item. Their warmest bag is rated to 10 F as a lower limit. I'm thinking about getting that. I have a sleeping bag liner I've never used that should add more warmth, too. My summer bag is rated like 40 degrees, and I'm comfortable in that down to 40, but I think I'd be cold in anything much lower.