Safely heating a tent is critical if you’re planning on camping in colder climates. The last thing you want is to be chilly inside your tent. But how do you keep a tent warm without worrying about a fire? Here are some tips and tricks for safely heating your tent when camping.
Heat a Tent With an Indoor Propane or Kerosene Heater
One of the safest camping tent heaters is a propane heater. There are several different types of propane heaters, with some made for use right inside your tent or in an RV. If you plan to use a propane or kerosene-fueled camping heater, be sure it is for indoor use and is the right size for your tent, and that it’s placed correctly.
How to Fill a Portable Heater
Most propane tent heaters just use the 1 lb. propane camping cylinders, which are widely available and affordable. Kerosene heaters use kerosene fuel.
Fuels for camping heaters or equipment are NOT interchangeable. Always use only the fuel that your equipment requires.
How Long Can a Propane or Kerosene Heater Heat a Tent?
At full power, most portable propane heaters will run 3-4 hours. If you conserve fuel and run on low, you can usually make it through a full, 8-hour night. Propane heaters are very widely available and can safely heat your tent.
Safetly Heat a Tent With a Generator and Electric Heater
If camping in a colder climate, you’ll need to bring your generator with you. You can use this for charging phones and powering other devices too. If you want to keep your tent warm and toasty all night, a generator with a portable electric heater.
The benefit to using a generator is that you can feel safe that the power source is outside the tent, so no worries about fumes. The electric heater should also have emergency shut-off switches in case of an issue that compromises the safe operation of the heater.
Check the wattage of your heater and make sure your generator can handle it, especially if you are running anything else off of that generator at the same time.
Where to Safely Put a Heater In Your Tent
For camping, you don’t want it too close to your body or anything else that could catch on fire while camping in colder climates. If you decide to use a camping propane heater, the best place for it is in your vestibule if you have one.
This will keep your tent warmer while not getting in the way of your living or sleeping area. If you don’t have a vestibule, place it as far away from the door of your tent as possible.
Safety Features of Tent Heaters
Propane or kerosene camping heaters can give off carbon monoxide, so your heater should have an automatic shut-off feature for safety. The power will cut off if the heater gets knocked over or detects low oxygen levels in the tent. You might also consider purchasing a small, handheld detector for peace of mind while sleeping.
Insulate Your Tent for Warmth
In addition to having a heater, there are things you can do to make your tent retain warmth – and hold off the cold – better.
Add Insulation
Tents are designed to be breathable, but it’s possible for condensation to build up. You can prevent this by adding insulation.
Get a Camping Pad
Purchase a camping pad, which can be as thin as one inch. This will provide insulation from the ground and keep you warm all night long.
Add a Blanket on Top of the Camping Pad
If you have an extra blanket, simply lay it down over the camping pad to add even more insulation from the coldness and dampness of the ground beneath the tent.
Get a Tent with an Overhang
The next time you purchase camping equipment, make sure your tent has some sort of overhang. This additional fabric provides protection against wind and rain – and can keep it warmer and drier inside your tent.
Add Heating Packs to Your Sleeping Bag
If you have camping heating packs, simply slip them inside your sleeping bag. This will provide an additional boost of heat where you need it.
Layer up When You Sleep
Layer up when camping and sleeping in a tent. Wear several layers of thermal underwear, including long johns and thick socks, to keep yourself warm. The great thing about layers is that you can remove one if you start to feel hot.
Camp in the Right Location
Look for camping spots that are well protected from wind, and choose camping spots with lots of natural insulation
The Way to Safely Heat a Tent While Camping
Step one is taking the measures above to ensure you are proofing the space against warmth escaping and cold sneaking in. And then, in terms of the safest heater for a tent, electric camping heaters are the best way to go if you have a generator.
There are definitely plenty of safe gas tent heaters, too. Just make sure to choose the right size for your tent and ensure you are following proper safety precautions.