Emergency kit for cold climates

In the cold, staying warm comes before everything else, and your gear behaves differently.

What changes

• Lithium batteries: alkalines lose capacity in the cold.
• A sleeping bag per person and wool blankets.
• Hat and gloves in every go-bag.
• A carbon monoxide alarm if you heat with anything that burns.
• A flask to keep water from freezing and save fuel.
• Keep water filters from freezing: a frozen hollow-fibre filter can be damaged.

Last reviewed: October 2026.