The human body is like any other warm-bloodied organism, vulnerable to temperature changes. It needs a certain warmth or coolness for the organs to be able to operate well and for the body to survive. In warmer tropical countries that are very close to the equator, men search for a little colder.  In the northern hemisphere where there are months when nights are longer, people search for additional warmth.

In the ancient times, it was the bonfire or animal skin. In the modern times, it is air conditioning or air conditioning units. These devices are installed in houses and are either powered by natural gas, by electricity or by firewood – as in the terms of the heaters. These machines could be expensive and use a lot of electricity, but without them, humans could die.

This useful equipment has even been installed in the more mobile vehicles or mobile homes. This equipment allows humans to go on with their daily activities unperturbed by temperature, the weather and the elements. With the world going faster than ever before, men could not allow weather to dictate on their productivity and life in general.

While air cooling machines deliver great services to people, for many years it has also ironically contributed to the warming of the planet. Most of the cooling agents in these machines, called refrigerants or freons used a gaseous compound called chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), which freeze as liquid at low temperature and high pressure, and revert to gas to cool the surrounding air when released to regular atmospheric pressure.

However, this chemical is destructive to the ozone layer, the thick gas that protects the earth from the heat and ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ozone is basically heavy oxygen or O3 in comparison to the O2 of regular breathing oxygen. When CFC is released into the air, they break the chain of the ozone and chip off one of the oxygen atoms, forcing the O2 to go back to earth and taking away another layer of ozone.

In 2007, close to 200 countries signed the Montreal Protocol, promising to eliminate CFCs as refrigerants and replace it with non-destructive, although slightly expensive alternatives.

Non-destructive air conditioning machines are just one step. There is recent technology that makes these machines consume less power, thus saving on fuel that produces electricity. There is also a recent discovery by a German company that will utilize the power of the sun to produce cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter.

With concern from countries and consumers and the fast production of technology, the ironic life-saving yet environmentally-destroying predicament of the air conditioning machine could be on its last days. Finally, man can now live and work comfortably, thanks to the air conditioning machine, and without the guilt.

Basically, there are three essential things that one must remember to stay warm in the outdoors: clothes – made from materials that would warm the body; shelter – where to stay during the night; fire – will serve as a heat that warms you outside the shelter.

The most overlooked and ignored part in a camping-in-the-wild trip is the plan for the right clothing to wear or bring. The idea here is the concept of layering; the basic technique for all mountaineering and outdoor enthusiasts out there.

Layering technique is very basic and simple – even someone who is not into outdoors can understand. This is simplified as following the system of wearing different layer of clothes. The three general categories are:

1. Base Layer: This is the layer closest to the skin. Its task is to maintain a dry and comfortable microclimate within the skin. Commonly used as base layers are those clothes that provide wicking capability. Wicking by definition refers to the technical fabrics that absorb all the moisture and sweat from the skin and then spread it out over to the surface of the base layer where it will be evaporated thru the other outer layers.

Simplest example of this can also be cotton-type or jersey-type clothes. There are also available thermal body shirts, pants, underwear, and socks in the market.

2. Insulation Layer: This is the next layer after the base layer. Commonly used insulation layers are sweatshirts, sweaters, or any woolen-type layers that can reach up to the neck or wrists so that warm air will not escape from the inside.

This layer should trap small pockets of air in the fabric and will in turn, slow down the heat loss. Wool is the best example since it does not absorb sweat and it keeps you warm even if it’s wet. A good fleece jacket can be used for this.

3. Shell Layer: This is the final layer and is the most exposed to the elements. Therefore, it is best for this layer to be water and wind resistant or even water proof. This should provide protection from the rain, water, wind, snow and sleet. This layer also does not allow build-up of condensation in the inner layers. It protects while allowing moisture vapor to pass through.

This 3-layer of clothes is already enough to provide warmth for cold conditions. Nonetheless, if the condition is extreme, one may want to optionally add a fourth layer of insulation. Examples for such are raincoats, downs and polar guards.

Majority of the body’s heat is lost through the head. Wearing a hat or a bonnet can fight this heat loss. Also, to counter cold feet, one should make sure to wear quality socks, designed for hiking or camping. Lastly, one can wear layered gloves just like the primary clothing.

Next to your clothes, another way to provide warmth in the wild is your shelter. One best example of this is the tent you are going to pitch. Your tent should provide warmth and comfort. There are lot tents in the market today that provide this. One important thing to consider is a windbreaker type of tent. Next to the tent, your next protection is the sleeping bag, wherein you can use synthetic types to provide you warmth.

Lastly, your last resort to provide warmth is fire. Whenever you plan to camp into the wild, you must bring fire starters such as matches and lighters. However, if you have mastered techniques on how to build fire in the wilds, then you don’t need those things. Building a fire is necessary only when camping becomes a matter of survival. The fire will provide you enough warmth and protection against the cold and harsh night.

Even the most exciting camping trip can become uncomfortable if you cannot keep yourself warm while enjoying the great outdoors. Keeping warm may even become a matter of survival.