As the temperature drops, you may be inclined to stay indoors and crank the heat up. For some adventurers, the first sign of snow might mean a camping trip.

You could argue that only the insane would venture out into cold outdoors, and, granted, it isn’t for everyone. We’re not talking about snowboarding or ski runs: Winter camping is real and doable, and while it requires some pre-planning and additional gear, it can be fun and enjoyable. There’s nothing like the crisp air and snowshoeing through quiet surroundings to make you feel really at one with nature.

If you don’t bring along the right gear, however, a winter camping or backpacking trip can go severely awry, even deadly. Naturally, you need to keep well insulated. The limited amount of light means you’ll need to bring along a capable flash, as well as a navigation tool to stay on track. Should the temperature drop unexpectedly or you spend more than a day’s backpacking, you’ll need shelter, not to mention sustenance and drinking water. Unlike the summer months, camping during winter can be highly unpredictable.

But should you heed the call of the wild, here are our picks for cold weather camping.

(Special thanks to our resident camping expert, Annie Bernstein.)

Now that we’ve covered the gear, here are some things to keep in mind before you head out into the cold outdoors. The key is to be prepared.