If you happen to go out camping during the winter in a snowy forest, the last thing you want to spend the cold night freezing.
When you go to sleep, you’re much more likely to experience hypothermia since your body temperature drops down as well as your heart rate. When you’re living in an area that’s known for its cold, harsh weather, you’ll need to stay warm which is why you need to get the best tent heater that will help you stay warm in the great outdoors during those harsh cold nights.
Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a list containing five of the best tent heaters as well as a comprehensive buyer’s guide in order to help you choose the best tent heater.
Comparison table: Best tent heaters for camping
Last update on 2023-03-25 at 17:48 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Mr. Heater 4K/9K BTU Tent Heater
This is the best tent heater for those who are looking for something that isn’t too expensive. This tent heater has numerous great features that make it safe for the user. For instance, it has dual sensors that measure the quality of the air in the tent. If the quality of the air dips down under nominal levels, then it will be automatically stopped. It will also shut down automatically if the tent falls down.
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This heater also features a hose that is attached to propane tanks which allows it to stay running during the whole night in a 225 square foot tent. With that said, if you’re going to be camping in spots that are over 7,000 feet above sea level, the heater is susceptible to shutting down automatically. This is mainly due to the oxygen regulator triggering the shutdown due to the low oxygen level.
Pros
- Affordable
- Oxygen regulator
- Doesn’t use too much propane
Cons
- Not ideal when camping in high-altitude places (7,000 feet above sea level)
2. Honeywell Surround Heat Tent Heater
This tent heater is great for those who don’t have a simple camping setup like a couple of sleeping bags along with a tent. It features two heat settings you can alter between and a singular fan option. It’s also designed to be portable and easy to handle while also being reliable.
- 360 DEGREE ALL AROUND WARMTH – Use the Honeywell 360 Degree Surround Heater in small to mid-sized rooms for additional comfort. This space heater features an adjustable thermostat as well as 2 heat settings and all-around heat output so you’re always cozy.
- SAFETY MATTERS: This small heater offers multiple safety options including a 360-degree tip over switch, 2x overheat protection, an auto-off timer option and an easy grab, cool touch carry handle.
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This is hands down the best tent heater when it comes to safety features. It has a 360+ spin which will ensure maximum comfort, and with the extended-standing area, you’ll be able to sit around it with a group of friends as you share your stories and spend the night.
Pros
- Extremely safe
- Sturdy base
- Extended stand area
Cons
- Not designed for minimalist campers
3. Mr. Heater F215100 MH4B Little Buddy
This heater is rather similar to the other Mr. Heater we mentioned before on this list. It has a maximum power output of 9,000 BTU/HR which allows it to heat up 95 feet of space with no issue. This makes it the best tent heater for extensive camping trips. With this tent heater, you’ll be able to heat up a huge tent or even a cabin easily.
- Indoor-safe portable propane heater for rooms up to 95 square feet. THIS UNIT IS NOT INTENDED FOR GOLF CART USE OR FOR MOTORIZED VEHICLES.
- Continuous odor-free, 45-degree heating angle. Maximum Elevation (Ft) 7000 Feet. Automatic low oxygen shut-off system (ODS). Perfect solution for heating small enclosed spaces like tents up to 95 square feet
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Additionally, this tent heater comes with solid safety features that will keep you secure. For instance, it will automatically shut down if it’s tipped over. There are also sensors that detect oxygen levels and will shut down the heater if the quality of the air deteriorates below a certain threshold.
Overall, if you need to heat up a cabin or a larger tent, this is one of the best tent heater you can get for the job.
Pros
- Maximum Elevation (Ft) 7000 Feet
- Has solid safety features
Cons
- Can be dangerous in small areas
4. Comfort Zone Personal Heater
This is a compact tent heater with a solid full metal design. The Comfort Zone Personal Heater is meant to ensure maximum comfort during those cold nights. It has a lot of things going for it. It provides all the warmth and comfort you need as well as decent safety features such as indicator lights as well as a safety fuse. This allows you to sleep safe and sound, knowing that you won’t be in any danger.
- ☀️ENERGY EFFICIENT: Reduce your heating bills with this safe and durable electric portable heater. Its compact and powerful 1500 Watt performance provides targeted heating in a garage or workshop.
- ☀️3 POWERFUL SETTINGS: Choose from low and high heat settings on this utility heater and enjoy the convenience of a fan-only setting that eliminates the need for additional appliances.
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Another really great thing about the Comfort Zone Personal Heater is the fact that it makes no noise. All of these features make this one of the best tent heaters out there.
Pros
- Has solid safety features
- Power-efficient
Cons
- Not very potent
5. Tool Use Butane Heater
When it comes to heating up a tent quickly, this might be the best tent heater for the job. Unlike electric heaters, this butane heater will quickly heat up your tent. It’s also very portable. It uses cartridges which saves you the trouble of looking for a big propane gas tank.
- Use standard butane gas cartidge for portability
- Ceramic burner
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With this heater, you’ll be able to quickly warm up the place for a good night’s sleep. As for the power consumption, it clocks in at a 100gm/hr rate which will allow you to keep this heater on through the night with no issue.
Pros
- Heats up tents very quickly
- Portable
- Uses cartridges
Cons
- Not as safe as the other tent heaters
Choosing the Best Tent Heater – Buying Guide
Now that you’ve read our list of the best tent heaters on the market, it’s time to brush up on what you need to look for in order to get the best tent heater for your situation. Since there are countless options and plenty of factors to choose from, you might be overwhelmed. However, we’ll be going through all of the things you need in order to make the best choice.
Important Factors to Consider
There are three main types of heater you’ll be looking at. There are electric, propane and butane heaters. Each one is powered by a different fuel. Propane and butane heaters tend to outlast electric heaters. However, butane heaters need a higher temperate to turn from liquid to gas. This means that propane heaters are more efficient in colder environments. There’s also the fact that propane heaters are also more reliable than both butane and electric ones. With that said, they also burn through their fuel more quickly.
All in all, each heater has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you’re not going to camp in freezing climates, you can go with a butane heater as it will last longer. If you aren’t camping for more than two or three days straight, then you can bring an electric tent heater instead. And if you’re going o be camping in icy conditions, then the best tent heater to get would have to be a propane one.
Tipping Feature
This is one of the few safety features you can find in tent heaters. The concept is rather simple, but it’s extremely useful. Basically, if the heater is tipped over, it will automatically shut down to prevent any fires and harm to the user. This is especially great for people who move and kick a lot during their sleep as they are more likely to kick the tent heater, causing it to tip over.
Noise
Most tent heaters will produce a mild amount of noise. However, some heaters are louder than others. If you’re a light sleeper, then you should go with a tent heater that’s noise-free. Otherwise, if you won’t be too bothered by the noise, then you can prioritize other factors over it such as heating efficiency or safety features to name a few examples. Either way, we highly advise against using earplugs or any other noise-canceling accessories, especially when you’re sleeping in the wild.
Size & Weight
Tent heaters can be bulky and clumsy to carry around. However, there are lighter ones that you can carry around with you more easily. Finding the best tent heater will eventually come down to your specific situation and how much you can carry.
Safety Tips and Tricks
When you’re using a tent heater, you need to make sure that you’re not putting yourself in any danger. Your safety should always be your top priority, and there are some things that you should never do. We’ll be going over what you need to do in order to stay as safe as possible.
Avoid Stands
Even though you might feel tempted to put the tent heater over an object, don’t do that. Unless the tent heater comes with its own stand that’s specifically designed for it, we highly advise against stacking the heater on top of other objects, so it stays higher. This is mainly due to the added risk of the tent heater getting tipped over. There’s also the risk of having whatever object you decided to put the heater above get damaged by the heat.
Placement
The optimal solution might not always be the most practical. While putting the tent heater right in the middle might seem like the best option, it’s not always the case. In fact, the proper placement depends on the layout and overall design of the tent so you should be mindful of that and place the tent heater in a way that will accommodate for the tent’s design.
Avoid Flammables
This should be a no-brainer. However, when we say avoid flammables, we mean EVERYTHING that is highly susceptible to being lit on fire. This includes brushes, dried leaves, and all kinds of dried vegetation. Well, what are you supposed to do? The main thing is to have a certain amount of knowledge of your surroundings. If you know that there is a lot of dried vegetation and brushes, you should camp in another spot. This is mainly to avoid any accidental fires which can be very devastating.
Know the Heater’s Limit
You should always read the tent heater’s manual in order to figure out its maximum heat limit. Knowing this, you’ll be able to properly place the heater in your tent. There are also some heaters that, when put at maximum capacity, will set fire to some objects. All in all, be wary of your heater’s limits and act accordingly.
Setting up the Tent Heater
The first thing you’d be doing when you get a new tent heater is unboxing it. After that, you’ll need to do some assembly work before you are able to use it. Every tent heater should come with a manual that explains the assembly process and where each part should go. Knowing this, you should always read the manual as it provides a lot of useful information.
Setting up the Propane Heater
Once you’re in a tent, you’ll need to set up your heater. In this case, we’ll assume you’ve bought a propane heater. You’ll need to set up the propane tank properly. The process is simple. Every propane heater has a designated space where you can hook up a propane tank. Once you’ve adequately hooked it up, there’s a valve that you need to turn and voilà! You’re good to go.
Setting up the Butane Heater
If you’ve gone ahead and bought a butane heater, then here’s what you need to know. Butane heaters tend to be more compact since you don’t need a butane tank. Instead, you’ll be using cartridges. It’s also worth noting that butane lasts longer than propane. However, in the end, they produce the same level of heat. The setup process is similar to the propane heater. You’ll need to pop the butane cartridge in their designated spot, and there you go! You’re all set.
Heating up the Tent
In order to heat up your tent, you’ll need to use the electric igniter which will start the heater. You should be able to identify when the heater has started to work clearly. If you need to turn off the heat, you need to make sure that there’s no more fuel to fan the heat. In the case of a propane heater, you need to turn the valve off. If you’re using a butane heater, you need to flick the butane output off by pressing the switch or button for butane output. This is a very crucial thing as forgetting to do so will put you at risk and waste whatever fuel you have left.