6 Best Tent Heaters For Toasty Warm Cold Weather Camping – Survival Magazine & News

Here are the best tent heaters for winter camping (based on the size of the tent):

For Small Tents

We’ll look at a few small heater options perfect for small tents.

For small tents, a large heater would be overkill:

Most people have heard that using a heater in a confined space can be very dangerous.

So they’re often overlooked.

But today, there ARE heaters specifically designed for tents.

They’re efficient, portable, and much safer than past portable heaters.

And depending on the model, they can be fueled by propane or butane.

Or even from a battery pack or extension cord for electric heaters…

Note: Tent stoves are also a type of camping heater, but this article will not cover tent stoves.

1. Extra Comfort

First, nothing ruins a fun camping trip more than shivering all night in a frigid tent.

But not anymore!

A portable heater opens a new world of camping comfort in cooler seasons.

2. Expanding Your Camping Season

With a tent heater, you can extend your camping season.

Heck, with the right gear, even extending your camping season to YEAR around!

It takes confidence in your equipment and survival skills to head out into the snow for the night.

There are many benefits; here are a few of the BEST:

Push Button Comfort

These devices are designed to help you stay warm by adding heat.

Even the warmest down jacket doesn’t create any heat on its own.

They only help retain the heat your body loses to the cold air.

This means the only way to warm up is to perform activities that force your body to work out.

This can be hard to do if you’re stuck in a tent for days in bad weather.

By contrast, a portable heater generates heat.

This allows you to warm up beyond what your body could do alone.

They can generate on-demand heat without effort on your part.

Better Safety Features

Modern camping heaters are much safer than your grandparents’ old space heaters.

Many have extensive safety features built into the design, such as:

• Tip-over switches – in case it’s accidentally knocked over
• Overheating protection shuts the heating element off before it reaches dangerous temperatures.
  Propane and butane-fueled ones also frequently include carbon monoxide/dioxide sensors.
• And some include low oxygen sensors to prevent the build-up of exhaust gases in a small space. These sensors shut down the fuel source if dangerous air conditions are present. This is especially important when the tent is closed up tight to keep out the cold.

Extreme Portability

Most are very portable.

They’re made to be lightweight (not backpacking light, but well under 20 lbs).

They’re self-contained and often can be carefully re-positioned even during operation.

“Fuel” Efficient

It won’t do much good if it burns through all the fuel on the first night.

An efficient heater helps conserve energy.

This reduces the fuel or batteries you’ll need to take with you.

While there are a lot of pros, they’re not for every situation.

The extra fuel or batteries needed can often be a major deterrent for longer, unsupported trips.

And, if the conditions aren’t too frigid, you may be able to get by with some better winter camping gear alone.

Side Note: As a side-effect of the low-oxygen switches, some heaters won’t work at high altitudes.

The low oxygen levels found above 6000ft can confuse the sensors.

It may cause them to shut down prematurely, even if there’s no build-up of exhaust gases.

I’ve used my Mr. Buddy Heater at 8160 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park with no issues!

But, typically, anything closer to 9,000 ft. (or higher), you’ll run into issues with keeping it lit.

Of course, you have many options from various brands.

There are many factors to select the right one to meet your needs.

Two Main Types Of Fuel Options

There are two main “fuel” types for portable heaters:

1. Electric
2. Gas

1. Electric

Electric tent heaters have many benefits.

First, they generate absolutely ZERO toxic emissions.

Which equals clean air and less worry about suffocation dangers.

But they’re not always the best option.

In a campground with service hookups, a corded electric model works well.

But for most situations, a battery-powered heater is your only real option.

Unfortunately, the selection of battery-powered heaters is very small.

And their heating capacity is limited.

So they are not the best solution for most.

2. Propane/Butane

Propane tent heaters are far more common than electric ones.

These fuels are cleaner burning than other options, such as white gas or kerosene.

And they tend to have fewer complications when used in an enclosed space.

Also, it’s easy to find fuel in portable canisters.

The energy density of these gases means you can carry and resupply fuel for extended trips.

The Size Of Your Tent Matters A LOT

Next, consider the size of the space you want to heat up.

A 2-person tent will heat up faster than a huge canvas wall tent.

So be sure to choose a heater that matches the space of your tent.

We measure heat output in BTUs (British Thermal Units).

This is the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water by one degree F.

You can use this formula to calculate the heat output needed for your tent:

Measure the space’s dimension to determine cubic feet (Length x Width x Height = Cubic Feet).

Next, subtract the outside temperature from the desired inside temperature.

This is your desired temperature increase.

If you measure temperatures in Fahrenheit, calculate the required BTUs with this formula:

• Cubic Feet x Temperature Increase x .133 = Required BTUs

If you measure temperatures in Celsius, calculate the required BTUs with this formula:

• Cubic Feet x Temperature Increase x .2394 = Required BTUs

Matching Your Heat Output Needs

A typical home furnace might have a BTU output in the 100,000 range.

But a small tent heater only needs to heat a fraction of that space.

A heater rated at 5,000 BTU is usually more than enough for a tent.

You can adjust the proper temperature level if you get a heater with fine-tuned BTU controls.

This provides a wider temperature range and control.

Get A Unit That’s Durable Enough For Extreme Conditions

If you depend on this type of heater for your cold-weather camping setup, you need it to work every time.

That’s why durability is a key factor for such a crucial piece of gear.

Quality materials, clean construction, and attention to detail are good signs.

But be sure to read plenty of reviews before making a purchase.

Also, consider the brand reputation and support before making a final decision.

Along with these durability indicators, buying from a reputable company is best.

This helps ensure your heater is the original designer.

Not a cheap knockoff version, which may cut corners to reduce costs.

Bringing a heater on your next camping trip can be a huge relief.

Instead of canceling a trip – you can enjoy camping even in the bitter cold.

But it also comes with life and death safety considerations.

You MUST understand ALL the safety guidelines and follow them exactly.

Here are some tips:

Electric Heaters Are Safer

Electric heaters have their drawbacks in both their output and heat capacity.

But they outperform gas-fueled heaters in one very important factor: Safety.

Electric heaters DO NOT depend on combustion for heat.

So they don’t create carbon monoxide/dioxide while in use.

Nor do they consume oxygen from the air inside your tent.

This means they don’t need the same ventilation as a gas-fueled heater.

A switch malfunction or incorrect setup won’t result in suffocation and death.

But they can still create a fire if the heating element touches any combustibles.

SO Keep Clear

ALL heaters (electric/gas) get very hot during use, even if they do not create an open flame.

So keep all potentially flammable objects clear of the heater.

Items include tent walls, sleeping bags, spare clothes, and everything else!

Vent Gases

All gas-powered heaters create carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide as byproducts of combustion.

These toxic gases can build up inside the tent and become very dangerous.

All heater instructions will specify exactly how much ventilation is necessary.

You can’t be overly cautious.

A properly ventilated tent is a MUST; allow fresh air into the tent and exhaust gases to escape.

Don’t Fall Asleep

While it’s tempting to fall asleep with the heat on, leaving a heater running while you sleep is too dangerous.

It doesn’t take long for the heater to warm up the tent in the morning.

So be sure to turn it off before you head to bed.

Some people do run their heaters when sleeping.

We DO NOT recommend doing this. The downside risk is not worth it.

But if you choose to ignore our advice, make sure to invest in a separate carbon monoxide detector.

Here’s a video of someone sleeping with a heater running in their tent.

It also “proves” that it’s possible – but again, it’s not worth the risk!

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