Camping in tents is great! Camping in cold tents is not so great. Many times a heat source is overlooked by campers while sleeping. People tend to think a campfire will keep them warm and overlook the fact they are sleeping in tents and can’t have a campfire nearby. We will address the issues and solutions with cold tents and the need for heaters.
When Do You Use a Tent Heater?
Oftentimes, I have camped in a tent and wished I had a heater, and it wasn’t even winter or fall. It was just an abnormally cool spring or summer night. Be certain to check the weather forecasts for temperature and humidity rather than just rainy weather if you are camping outside of the cooler seasons. Humidity, of course, plays a vital role in comfort. Higher humidity percentages can largely impact the comfort level when camping. Keep this in mind when checking the forecasts. I prefer, with any temps below 65 degrees F, to have a heat source of some type to keep comfortable. The temp range and humidity levels related to your comfort of course vary among each person, so a trial-and-error run may be best suited to determine your criteria for the need for a heat source inside the tent.
Tent Safety
A safe bet would be the overwhelming majority of Americans have heard that space heaters can cause fires. When you add the close quarters of the interior of a tent you can assume that risk increases drastically. Keeping a sensible level of awareness can keep you safe. Although there can be risks, campers can use propane heaters inside their tents. There are a few major safety tips to follow, and all should be well when using a propane heater.
Safety Tips
One major issue is Carbon Monoxide accumulation inside the tent. Most tents have some form of ventilation. A lot of tent designs allow for ventilation at the top of the tent, because Carbon Monoxide is just a bit lighter than air this is a perfect area to ventilate. Another tip to avoid dangerous levels of Carbon Monoxide is to keep a sensor hanging at the top of your tent. These simple sensors can prevent major issues related to Carbon Monoxide. As mentioned earlier, another large concern is the risk of fires. Many space heaters available now have built-in safety features like guards around the heating source and tip-over protection, and safety thermostats the turn off the heater after a short while to ensure the unit doesn’t overheat. Paired with sensible use, these built-in safety features reduce the risk of fires drastically but ensure you aren’t using the heater too close to anything flammable like a sleeping bag, clothes, plastic materials. A few feet of separation should be fine in most cases but always check for surface temperatures of the closest items near the heater to ensure they won’t get too hot.
Carbon monoxide poisoning – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
Signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include:
- Dull headache
- Weakness and/or Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion
- Blurred Vision
- Loss of consciousness
Safety Tips When using Propane Heaters inside Tents:
- Remove items from near the heater
- Place heater on level surface
- Keep tent ventilated
- Use Carbon Monoxide sensors
- Avoid prolonged heater use
- Ensure has safety features such as tip-over protection
- Ensure heater has thermal protection safety feature
Which Heater Should You Choose for Your Tent?
With the advent of the internet, we have no shortage of selection when comes to most items. Propane heaters are no exception. Amazon alone has an enormous selection, not to mention all the other companies selling camping gear online. When camping I have stuck with a simple but dependable great heater, Mr. Heater brand Buddy and Big Buddy. These heaters do a great job of keeping me and my tent warm. The heaters are compatible with the simple 1lb propane bottles that are readily available at many stores and online. Mr. Heater Buddy heaters are designed for camping. These have the needed safety features and I have yet to have a problem with either the Buddy or Big Buddy. I normally will carry the Big Buddy with me on most camping trips because I normally use my large tent because rarely do I camp alone. I have a 10-man tent and while two heaters could be used, one suits our family just fine, while camping. Read on the specs and decide which is better suited for your needs.
Other Options
There are of course several other options related to propane heaters to warm your tent. I have had limited exposure and only use a few others and can say I still would stick with Mr. Heater Buddy and Big Buddy heaters to use inside your tent. There are a few there are more multi-purpose style heaters that do have benefits but may be less reliable. The Campy Gear Chubby heater is a decent option for smaller tents and lightweight camping. It’s a bit smaller and can possibly help with less gear needed if you choose to cook on it as well. The issue with this heater is the lightweight parts used on the heater. While it uses a good design the quality of the unit is just lacking but can provide heat when needed. Special care should be taken when transporting, loading, and packing out to a campsite. Hundreds of other options exist, and a simple search online will produce a plethora of propane heating options.
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