{"id":2811,"date":"2018-08-17T06:04:57","date_gmt":"2018-08-17T11:04:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skilledadventures.com\/?p=2811"},"modified":"2022-05-09T07:11:41","modified_gmt":"2022-05-09T12:11:41","slug":"how-to-heat-a-tent-without-electricity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/how-to-heat-a-tent-without-electricity\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Ways to Heat a Tent and Keep Warm Without Electricity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Camping in a tent can be an exhilarating experience! However, if you\u2019re new to the whole tent camping world, you may need some pointers, especially when it comes to keeping your tent warm, even when there is no electricity. This may not be a problem for most campers, since the majority of campgrounds have electrical outlets, even for tents. However, if you\u2019re the type who likes to travel the roads less traveled, then you\u2019re going to need to pay attention.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it\u2019s all said and done, the best way to heat a tent without electricity is with a portable propane gas heater specifically designed for camping. They are\u00a0super compact and can heat a tent for up to 7 hours on one canister of gas.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A gas heater isn\u2019t the only way to keep your tent warm when there\u2019s no electricity to be found. We\u2019ve compiled a list of tips that we\u2019ve learned from others through the years as well as tips from some of the nation’s top outdoorsmen.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking for the best tent heater, I tested over 7 and found the safest, warmest, and most cost effective. Check out my article here to learn more.<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\"how<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How to Heat a Tent Without Electricity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Buy a Portable Gas Heater<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Radiant Heater<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One option would be to get yourself a radiant heater such as the Mr. Heater Portable<\/a> <\/a>Buddy.<\/a> (Amazon) The Mr. Heater Buddy line of heaters comes in a variety of different sizes, but I like the 4,000-9,000 BTU model. This is more than enough to heat your tent, even on the coldest of nights. However there is one drawback to using a portable gas heater like a Mr. Heater Portable Buddy…. you have to bring enough propane.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"heat<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

While this may not be a problem if you\u2019re driving directly to your campsite, it might be a problem if you plan on hiking several miles off the beaten path to your camping destination. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A small 1lb gas canister will only last about 4-6 hours if you run it on low. This means that you have to haul several canisters with you just to heat your tent for one night. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A word of caution when using any type of heater that uses gas. All gas heaters can produce some amounts of carbon monoxide.<\/a> While neither one of these units will likely produce enough to be a danger to you and your family, it is up to you to read the product instructions and use them accordingly.<\/span> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, I don’t recommend using a tent heater while sleeping. Check out our article about the safety concerns of tent heaters in our article, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Keep Your Tent Well Insulated<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Using gas heaters isn\u2019t the only way to heat a tent! A tent that is properly insulated can virtually heat itself when you take the camper’s body heat into account.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the best ways that I\u2019ve found to keep my tent insulated on those cold nights, is to line the floor with either a piece of all-weather carpet that you can find at Home Depot, or better yet, purchase a tent mat that\u2019s made for cold weather camping. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drymate makes a good tent carpet. While it\u2019s a little pricey compared to your standard all-weather carpet, it does a much better job in my opinion.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another way to add even more insulation to your tent and at the same time keeps you off the cold ground is a foam sleeping mat. Not only will you get a better night\u2019s sleep, but you\u2019ll also stay warm. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I talk in-depth about ideas to keep your tent floor insulated in our article, here<\/a>. Make sure and check it out if you want a more in-depth discussion about how to keep your tent warm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Hot Water Bottles<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A good way to add a little extra warmth to your tent is by placing a couple of hot water bottles in your sleeping bag. The added heat will keep you warm and snug, especially when you first go to bed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind though that this is a short-term solution and will not heat you or your tent for an extended period of time. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I really don\u2019t have a specific brand that I recommend. Just make sure that it\u2019s of good quality! The last thing that you want is for it to burst while you\u2019re sleeping and drench you with water.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I don\u2019t recommend a particular brand, I do recommend that you buy the ones that come with a fleece cover.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Set Up Your Tent in a Good Spot<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Setting up your tent can also play a vital role in how warm it will be. This is something that a lot of tent campers, especially newbies overlook.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If possible, you never want to pitch your tent on a hill, mountainside, or any other area that sits above the surrounding area that you\u2019ll be camping in. You want to have something to break the wind and positioning your tent on higher ground invites the cold wind gusts to hammer your tent with cold air.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also want to avoid setting up camp in an open field, as this could have the same consequences as pitching your tent on the side of a mountain – nothing to block the wind.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best place to set up your tent is in an area that is surrounded by trees, while at the same time avoiding placing it directly under a tree, as this may help to block the wind, but will also block the sun during the day. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, always check for “widowmakers”, or large branches that overhang your tent, directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Heat Some Stones<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another clever way to add a little extra heat to your tent when there\u2019s no electricity to be found is to heat some stones in your campfire and place them in your tent.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some campers like to place the heated stones in the ground next to their tents, I use a different method. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I like to bring along an aluminum baking pan and place it in the corner of my tent with the stones in it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they\u2019re available, river rock stones work the best! I like to use stones that are 1-2 pounds. I\u2019ve found that when they are this size, they heat faster and are also much easier to carry from the fire to the tent. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be careful with this method! My dad tried putting a hot rock in his sleeping bag when he was a kid, only to wake up the next morning with a sleeping bag with a gigantic hole in it that the rock had melted through. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Dress for The Occasion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Insulating your tent starts with you! If you don\u2019t dress for the cold weather, then none of the other tips in this article are going to help that much.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no need to pile on every piece of clothing you have, it\u2019s a good idea to wear warm clothing including undergarments such as thermal underwear, better known as long johns.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking for some tips about finding good thermals, check out our article, here.<\/a> (You might be getting the wrong kind to keep you warm)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although it’s a myth that over 10% of your body heat escapes through your head, it’s absolutely true that a hat or a beanie will keep you much more comfortable.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although cold feet don’t radically change your core body temperature, they sure can keep you miserable. Wear dry socks to bed.<\/strong> Look for socks that are made from wool<\/span> or other insulative materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it\u2019s really cold, you may even want to wear your gloves to bed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Invest in a Good Quality Sleeping Bag<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re just gonna be camping in chilly temperatures, then any sleeping bag, along with the previously mentioned tips should keep you plenty warm for the night. However, if you plan on camping in extremely cold temperatures, (temperatures below 30) then you\u2019re going to need a sleeping bag specifically designed for this type of camping.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When shopping for a cold-weather sleeping bag, you\u2019ll want to choose one that is best rated for the temperatures that you\u2019ll be camping in. Sadly, these ratings are not very accurate! They tend to be anywhere from 10-15 deg off. So if the sleeping bag that you\u2019re thinking about getting has a rating of 20-25 deg, then you\u2019ll want to opt for one in the 10-15 deg class.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Buy The Right Tent<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As with the sleeping bag, you\u2019ll want to make sure that your tent is up for the challenges of cold weather camping, especially when there\u2019s no electricity that will help save the day.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most tents are either a 3-season<\/span> or 4-season tent. The 4 season tent is designed for camping in all conditions, including cold weather. However, your standard 4 season tent that you can buy<\/a> at Walmart may not be enough, especially if you plan on camping in really cold weather.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 4-season tent isn’t necessarily warmer, although some of them feature warmth-retention designs. 4-season really means that they are more fit for harsh weather.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re wanting the best of the best, then I recommend that you check into an Arctic Oven. This tent is specifically designed for extreme cold weather camping. However, it is pricey though! In fact, it was much too pricey for my budget. They range in price from several hundred dollars to over two grand. They\u2019re also heavy, so if you plan on trekking long distances to your campsite, then this may not be the tent for you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another option is the ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3-Person Tent (see it on Amazon<\/a> or at REI<\/a>). It\u2019s more in line with most people’s price points and gets the job done. It\u2019s not as roomy, or warm as the Arctic Oven tent, but weighs much less, making it manageable for hiking and it also costs much less.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t limit yourself to campsites that have electricity! As you can see from this article, there are numerous ways to heat your tent when there is no electricity to be found.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re new to camping in cold weather, all of this may be a little overwhelming. \u201cWear this, don\u2019t wear that! Do this, don\u2019t do that!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, once you get a few cold nights under your belt you\u2019ll get the hang of it and figure out what works best for you. Maybe you\u2019ll even come up with a few tips of your own on how to heat a tent without electricity.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Camping in a tent can be an exhilarating experience! However, if you\u2019re new to the whole tent camping world, you may need some pointers, especially when it comes to keeping<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1554,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":24,"label":"Camping"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/cold-tent-1024x768.jpg",640,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Peter","author_link":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/author\/outsidedecider\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":24,"name":"Camping","slug":"camping","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":24,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":132,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0","cat_ID":24,"category_count":132,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Camping","category_nicename":"camping","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2811"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2811"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2811\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10916,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2811\/revisions\/10916"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}