Sometimes the coldness keeps us from going outside. You just want to lock yourself up in the comfort of your own home. But why will you miss this moment with your friend and loved one just because it’s cold?
Enjoy it and have fun with your family and keep the cold away using one of the finest camping heaters out there.
This review will give you options and information on how to keep warm while enjoying your favorite pastime. So without further ado, here are the best tent heaters you can use to enjoy your camping nights.
10 Best Tent Heaters for Camping
Make sure to have the best experience while camping comfortably with your tent heater. Allow this article to guide which tent heater you should look for when buying the best one for you.
Number #1: Texsport Portable Outdoor Propane
This is one of the most durable tent heaters out there. It is made of metals like copper and steel, and it has a stainless steel finish.
It uses propane fuel and 16.4 oz or 14.1 oz disposable propane fuel cylinders. This outstanding propane heater may last up to 5 hours at the lowest setting making your camping moment last longer.
Texsport Portable Outdoor Propane offers up to 2,890 BTU/hr. This tent heater has impressive safety features that will keep you and your family safe while enjoying your camping trip.
It has a safety grid in front of the aluminum reflector that will prevent any burning. The safety valve will shut off as well in case of any flame outage. Large paddles are connected in their base for greater stability. It is one of the best camping heaters available out there and will make sure to make your camping continuously warm.
Number #2: Honeywell HCE100B Heat Bud Ceramic Personal Heater
Here is a heat bud ceramic personal heater that can help you fight the cold anytime and anywhere.
It is a very portable heater that you can bring anywhere and add warmth to any space. This heater has 250-watt energy-efficient enough to give you the right amount of heat. The heater uses ceramic technology that offers fast and even heating.
Moreover, it has two heating options for you to choose from, easy button controls to change the settings, a tip-over switch, cool-touch housing, and overheat protection. The portable heater will surely help you fight the cold while staying comfortable in your tent.
It will help you save money and aside from camping it can be used in your home, office, or school, as well.
Number #3: Camco 57341 Olympian Wave-6 Gas Catalytic Heater
If you’re looking for the best heater for an inside tent, you should check out this Camco 57341, which can be mounted on a wall or can be used as a portable unit. This heater is perfect for dry camping and boondocking since it has no electrical drain or battery connection.
You can use it as a secondary heating source, which can be adjusted from 3200 to 6000 BTU/hr. The unit’s wave heater is also operated on low-pressure gas and equipped with safety features such as a shut-off valve to prevent possible non-ignition fuel discharge.
This unit is designed to ensure that it can be used safely while producing enough heat to cover 230 square feet of space. The Camco heater is an efficient device with 99.98% catalytic heating power and provides low-cost heat for your camping time.
Number #4: Mr. Heater MH12B Hunting Buddy Portable Space Heater
The heater offers a 6000 to 12,000 BTU liquid propane heater that is connected to 1 lb. Cylinder. You will not go wrong in choosing this because it can warm up any space up to 300 square feet. It has a swivel regulator that helps you use a remote gas supply after using the disposable cylinders.
You just need to buy an additional single hose and filter for this to happen. To quickly light the unit, you simply need to push and rotate the knob and feel warm and cozy in your tent.
For safety measures, it has an Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS) and accidental tip-over safety shut-off. It will let you enjoy the whole camping season without any fear for your safety.
Number #5: Mr. Heater Little Buddy Indoor Safe Propane Heater
Mr. Heater is one of the latest developments in portable heaters. It can quickly heat any closed space to about 95 square feet. This heater can be used in any place like tents, garages, workshops, cabins, porches, patios, and hunting blinds.
The heater has many safety features that will surely guarantee your safety. It has an automatic low oxygen shut-off pilot system, which will automatically shut off once it detects that the oxygen is deficient.
This heater is very portable, lightweight, and easy to use any time you want to fight off the cold. It has on and off buttons and uses a 1 pound disposable propane cylinder as its fuel. This product can last up to 6 hours of use without recharging. You will not also worry about running out of oxygen because of its ODS system.
Number #6: Honeywell HHF360V 360-Degree Fan Forced Surround Heater
Honeywell is also one of the best heaters for tents. It is portable, smart, and easy to use in making the cold go away. The Honeywell HHF360V 360-Degree Fan provides 360 degrees all-around warmth in any space.
Moreover, you can also use it to supplement home heating needs since this heater is designed to provide warmth without spending too much on electricity.
You will also have no problem controlling the device with its adjustable thermostat, 360-degree tip-over switch, and equipped with an easy grab, cool touch carry handle.
If you’re looking for the best tent heater on the market with efficient, powerful heating, then, this device is what you’re looking for with its 1500W (High)- 750W (Low)power modes.
The device also has no problems with portability as it’s designed to be lightweight and compact for easy transport whenever and wherever you need it. You can use it as a temporary heater in your home, garage, dorms, and especially during camping time.
Number #7: Pro Breeze Space Heater – 1500W Electric Heater
This ceramic heater is developed using ceramic heating elements, which enables users to enjoy faster and more energy-efficient heating technology. With these heaters, users can enjoy heating power of as much as 1500W that can heat individual rooms without increasing their energy bill.
Its ceramic heating technology is coupled with an adjustable thermostat feature that can monitor the surrounding room temperature for optimal heating efficiency.
You will also be amazed at the different safety features of the device, such as the anti-tip-over switch and overheat protection. These features were built to ensure that the device will shut down safely whenever an unsafe situation occurs. Lastly, you will love how portable this heater is with its compact and lightweight design.
Number #8: Camping Emergency Butane Heater
This Camping Butane Heater will help you supplement your heating needs when camping outside. It is powered by a butane gas cartridge and a ceramic burner that produces enough heating power. The unit is also flexible with an external connector for LPG gas sources and can consume 100gm/hr.
What makes it one of the best camping heaters is its portability. The unit has a swivel body that allows flexibility and is built with a compact and lightweight design. It also has an additional pressure-sensing safety shut-off device to prevent any accidents from happening.
Number #9: Comfort Zone CZ707 Compact Utility Heater
This heater is loaded with powerful heating capacity and safety features making it one of the best heaters in the market. You can never go wrong with its adjustable thermostat and two powerful heat settings that provide custom comfort in your room or when camping.
It also boasts stay-cool metal housing equipped with a carry handle that lets you safely and comfortably transport this heater whenever you need it.
The stay-cool metal housing has a carry handle that lets you safely and comfortably transport this portable heater throughout your workspace as needed. You will also be ensured that you can use this device safely since it is equipped with an overheat protection sensor and caution indicator lights to prevent overheating.
An additional safety tip-over switch was also built into this heater that can instantly shut off the device to avoid possible accidents.
Number #10: Honeywell HZ-0360 Surround Heat Heater
Honeywell HZ-0360 is also considered one of the best heaters for tents as it exceeds safe industry standards with its strong heating capacity and safety features. The unit boasts 360-degree surround heat output, which is enough to heat a regular-sized room.
You will also have no problem with its control, as there are only two heat settings plus an additional control for its fan.
Similar to its other predecessors, it’s equipped with an adjustable thermostat and overheat protection, ensuring usage that is secure and without difficulty. The user will also have no problem with its transportation as it comes with a convenient handle to provide sufficient portability.
Things to Be Considered Buying Best Tent Heater
Here are some factors that will surely help you in having the best camping experience.
Fuel Type
There are several choices for tent heaters in the market. Similarly, fuel types can also vary depending on the model and manufacturer.
However, if you’re choosing a heater that is suitable for you, you have to consider factors such as access to electrical outlets and natural gas lines, operating expense, the square footage you need to cover, and the heat radius.
You can also compare the prices of fuel, especially if you’re using the heater for an extended time. Taking the time to consider these things will allow you to choose the right one with a suitable fuel type that works best for you.
Portability
An excellent camping heater should allow its user to carry it whenever and wherever they need to set up a camp. Thus, portability is an essential factor if you’re choosing a tent heater.
Make sure to check if the heater is equipped with carrying handles that have a comfortable grip when you hold it. Take time to look for a heater that is compact and made with a lightweight design.
It is especially vital for camping since you don’t want to carry a lot of heavy things when doing camping activities. Lastly, you also have to consider buying a durable heater that can withstand transportation from time to time.
Fuel Efficiency
An efficient heater allows users to enjoy enough warmth without consuming too much energy. You can check if your heater is equipped with technology that efficiently converts gas or electricity to heat. It’s also more environment-friendly if you look for an efficient heater as it conserves more energy than the traditional one.
Heating Capacity
- Electric Fan Heaters
If you are camping with a large group and using a big tent, then this is the right option for you. It can quickly heat up and circulate heat around it.
- Electric Radiator Heaters
This is good for you if you are using a small tent to camp. It can heat the area around it immediately. However, it may take time for heat to disperse once it turns off.
- Halogen Heaters
Like the electric radiator, it can quickly heat the tent, and it needs some time to cool off.
- Gas Tent Heaters
It is used by many and can add warmth quickly. This type of heater can spread the heat well.
Noise
Heaters may produce small sounds while generating heat. It is just natural and inevitable if you’re using a camping heater. However, make sure that the noise is not too loud that it can disturb you when sleeping in a camp. You can have the noise level checked before buying a heater from the market.
Safety in the Tents
Tent heaters indeed fight off the coldness of the night, but there are also possible dangers it may have. To keep that from happening, people need to be aware of these dangers. Here are some general safety tips on different types of heaters.
For Propane Heaters
- Take away all flammable or sensitive material from the heater
- It should have enough space and ventilation for oxygen to circulate the radiator.
- Make sure to shut off the heater in the tank first.
For Electric Heaters
- Make sure no liquid goes in the heater even if it’s not on.
- Don’t block the air for the heater because it uses the air to warm up the place.
- Unplug the heater once it’s not in use
- Use a heavy-duty wire if needed.
For Chemical Heaters
- Using chemicals might irritate, especially for people with sensitive skin.
- Make sure to keep the pack from any sharp objects. The pack once ruptured, its content will burn and then boil.
Features You Need To Consider While Choosing Tent Heater
If you are addicted to traveling, it is quite tough for you to cancel a trip just for bad weather (extreme cold!!). Camping in extremely bad weather is not possible without taking the necessary steps to fight against the cold. In this case, a good quality tent heater will make your day. But, choosing the best heater for your tent is quite challenging as there are many poor-quality products available in the market.
There are some significant factors that you should consider before making your ultimate buying decision. In this section of this comprehensive guide, I will discuss the features you need to consider while buying a tent heater.
Weight:
The weight of the heater is one of the most important factors that you should consider with utmost care. Now, the tent heater with how much weight you should select depends on its intended purpose. So, first of all, make sure why you need the heater. Is it for camping or backpacking purposes?
If you think that you need a camp heater for camping purposes, you may not need to care about its weight given that you know how to carry it in the camping area. However, if you need it for the backpacking purpose, the weight of a tent heater should not exceed 5-pound. In this case, you may have to use the heater with a gas tank.
On the other hand, if you use an electric heater, it will not require any kind of gas tank, so the weight will be at its minimum level. But, in that case, you will need to have a powerful electricity supply. Sometimes, it becomes a great challenge when you are going on a backpacking trip to a new place.
Power Output:
The next important thing is the power output of the tent heater. It defines the capacity of the heater. In a general sense, if your heater has a higher power output, it will produce a higher level of heat. BTU is the unit to measure the power output of a gas heater.
On the other hand, the power output of an electrical heater is measured by the wattage. If you want to cover a large area of your tent with your heater, you should go for a tent heater with high power output. Many heaters come with a fan to give you more flexibility.
Another important thing is the power output is directly related to the fuel level. Therefore, you should check the power output options with utmost care before buying a tent heater.
Brand:
Yes, you heard it right. The brand is equally important while making your ultimate buying decision. Because there is no doubt that a reputed manufacturer always wants to increase its market share.
So, they will never consider product quality. They will use only professional graded materials while making a tent heater. Therefore, you should always go for a heater that comes under a reputed brand to get premium quality service.
Warranty:
You should always check whether the product comes with any warranty or not. In most cases, a tent heater comes with a warranty for a minimum of 5 years period.
But, the warranty period or warranty level depends on the manufacturer. You should always check all of the warranty conditions with maximum care. If you are unclear of any terms, ask the manufacturer to clarify them.
Safety Features:
A tent heater can turn a happy moment into an adverse situation. In a general sense, heaters are quite dangerous if there are no adequate safety features enabled in them. Below I will discuss the safety features that you should look for in a tent heater before making the ultimate buying decision.
- Tip-Over Switch: It is one of the important safety features of a tent heater. It prevents the start of fire from your heater because of unusual overvoltage or over heaating. When the device tips over, it will automatically switch off your heater to avoid any kind of unexpected accident. You should always check for this important safety feature before buying a tent heater.
- Automatic Cut-Off: Imagine a night in your camp when you sleep without turning off your tent heater. This is a very bad practice because a small accident can destroy your entire life. However, to solve the problem nowadays many heaters come with an automatic cut-off option. In this case, the device will be automatically turned off after some hours of continuous inactivity.
- Overheat Protection: Overheat protection is another important safety feature that you shouldn’t overlook while buying the heater. It’s a sensor and when it senses heat level is over a specific threshold, it will shut down the device instantly to avoid any unexpected situation.
- Oxygen Detection: If you are up to buying a propane tent heater, the oxygen sensor option is a must-have safety feature to detect the level of oxygen. Detecting the oxygen level in the room is important while using a propane tent heater.
If the oxygen level is too low in the room, turn off the device. It will prevent your heater from spreading poisoned carbon monoxide from burning propane.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are Gas Heaters Safe To Use In A Tent?
Answer: In a general sense, gas heaters are not safe to use in a tent. Because, there is a risk that if you use a gas heater in an enclosed area, it could produce carbon monoxide. To ensure maximum safety, every kind of device powered by gas need a good level of ventilation to avoid any unexpected situation.
However, if you need to use a gas heater in the tent, please ensure that your place is properly ventilated. Besides, if your tent heater has proper safety features installed in it, you can use this in your tent. Make sure that it comes with features like a tip-over switch, automatic cut-off and overheat protection, etc.
Why are chemical tent heaters designed for emergency use only?
Answer: Yes, chemical tent heaters are indeed designed for emergency use only. They are not capable of producing enough heat in terms of BTU like other kinds of heaters.
A gas heater or an electrical tent heater is capable of producing enough heater to warm you up. That is why you should use a chemical heater in an emergency only when you are completely out of other options.
How much BTU do I need?
Answer: The complete form of BTU is the “British Thermal Unit” which is a unit to measure energy. You can easily measure how much BTU you need for your tent heater by this simple formula.
The Required BTU= Volume of the tent x Absolute Temperature Difference in Celsius x 0.2394
Let’s understand the formula by demonstrating an example.
Let’s assume your tent has a volume of 800 Cubic foot and the absolute temperature difference is 35 degrees Celsius. If you don’t have any idea about the temperature difference let me clarify.
It’s the difference between the temperature of the outside and your required temperature on the inside.
So, according to the above formula, the required BTU= 800 x 35 x 0.2394 = 6703.2
You can calculate the BTU for your tent heater by this easy method.
How do I calculate how much propane my heater uses?
Answer: To calculate the usage rate of propane of your heater you have to follow these steps.
- First of all, you have to find out the BTU rating of your heater which is commonly known as energy consumption per hour. You can easily find that in the manufacturer’s manual.
- At this step, you must check the energy content of the propane. For instance, from 1 Gal of propane, you’ll get a total of 91502 BTU of energy content.
- Now, you just have to divide the energy content of propane by the BTU rating of the heater. The result is the amount of propane your heater will consume.
How will I store my heater after using it?
Answer: You should store your heater very carefully after using it. First of all, find a dry place and store the heater in that place. It’s a good practice to store the heater in a dry and cool place. If you store the heater in its original carton with plastic foam, it will be a wise decision. Try to cover it with a plastic bag for protecting it from dust.
What Are Chemical Tent Heaters Used For?
Answer: You should use chemical tent heaters for emergency purposes only. Because they are not safe to use. Frequent use of chemical tent heaters will increase the possibility of an accident. However, if you run out of other options, you can use chemical tent heaters.
Will Carbon Monoxide Build Up in The Tent?
Answer: When gas, oil, coal, or similar kinds of fuels don’t burn fully, they may produce carbon monoxide. So, if you use any fuel-burning appliances like stoves, tent heaters, lanterns inside of a tent, they can produce carbon monoxide in the tent. Therefore, you should be careful enough when using these appliances inside of the tent.
Conclusion
Tent heaters are valuable devices needed to bring warmth to your camping activities. However, it would be hard to choose outside heaters now with many options to choose from in the market. Make sure to buy the most suitable and best tent heater one for you using this review.