The problem with camping is that you can get pretty cold at night. However, you can’t just use any old heater to stay warm while winter camping. The best tent heaters for camping are safe and efficient and keep you warm in cold weather.
When you take a portable heater on your camping trip, you can extend the camping season without relying on just your sleeping bag to stay warm at night. There are two main types of camping heaters. Ones that use combustion, such as gas heaters and a wood stoves, and electric tent heaters that you need to plug in.
Which one you choose will depend on your personal preferences and circumstances. Therefore, we have put together a list of the best heaters for camping. We will tell you about each one while providing pros and cons so you can decide the best tent heater for you.
Best Tent Heaters for Camping
- Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Heater
- Campy Gear Chubby 2 in 1
- Honeywell HHF360V
- Isiler 1500W Portable Indoor Space Heater
- Mr. Heater Little Buddy MH4B
1. Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Heater
We are big fans of Mr. Heater products as they make some of the best heaters for camping and other outdoor activities. This product is a compact, portable space heater that can emit enough heat warm up to 225 square feet. This is more than enough to make a large camping tent nice and toasty.
It is also powerful enough to keep your bedroom warm in an emergency, as it is suitable for indoor use. Another great thing about this portable propane heater is that it has high and low heat settings to suit the ambient temperature.
Top Pick
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Provides a good amount of heat in high and low settings
- Great safety features
Cons:
- Has a slight propane smell when used indoors
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We like how easy the Mr. Heater Buddy is to set up. All you need to do is connect it to the propane tank and use the piezo igniter to get good heat output. It is also incredibly quiet while running; the only noise it makes is a crackle when the fuel source begins to run out.
This heater is designed for indoor and outdoor use, so you don’t need to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning. It also has built-in safety features, such as auto shut-off if the heater is knocked over.
2. Campy Gear Chubby 2 in 1
The Campy Gear Chubby 2 in 1 is one of the best camping heaters, thanks to its innovative design. It burns butane, isobutane, or propane via canisters mounted in its base. But you can also connect it to a 1lb propane tank with a hose.
This Campy Gear heater measured 8.3 inches high and 7.3 inches in diameter. But it packs down to just 5.1 inches when you need to store it. It is also incredibly light at just 2 lbs. But don’t let this fool you, as it kicks out up to 9,000 BTUs when you want to warm up or cook. You can also set it up to cook and heat simultaneously so you don’t get cold while making dinner.
Most Versatile
Pros:
- Compact
- Versatile
- Innovative design for heating and cooking
- Emits heat in 360°, so everyone can stay warm
Cons:
- Not suitable for indoor use
- Doesn’t have any safety features
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This heater is not the best choice if you want to hate your tent as it is designed for outdoor use only.
3. Honeywell HHF360V
The Honeywell HHF360V is one of the best electric heaters for camping. It has no frills, but it is ideal for heating small spaces, such as tents, as long as you have somewhere to plug it in. It’s straightforward to use as it features two buttons and an adjustable thermostat. What makes it one of the best camping heaters is its carry handle and small size.
Best Fit
Pros:
- A great option for heating small tents
- Safer than having an open flame
- Easy to use and move around
- Efficient
Cons:
- Not great for heating a large space
- You need to find a power source
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For safety, Honeywell has fitted this heater with a tip-over switch. This cuts the power if the heater gets knocked over. But it also switches off if it overheats or is lifted. It heats the area around it; however, it may not be suitable for very large tents on cold nights, as it only heats up a small area.
4. Isiler 1500W Portable Indoor Space Heater
This Isiler 1500W indoor heater works very well for tents. It is known to be incredibly reliable, excellent value for money, and safe. Its 1500 W heating element can heat up 108 square feet of space in no time. The adjustable thermostat dial lets you control the temperature between 41 and 95°F.
Best Fit
Pros:
- Lightweight, portable tent heater
- Easy to use and adjust the temperature
- Compact design
- Good power output for its size
- Safe option
Cons:
- You need a source of electricity
- You can’t use it with extension cables
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Isiler has made this heater as safe as possible by using fire retardant materials and overheating detection. It also cuts the power if it gets knocked over. This, along with its lightweight, makes it one of the best heaters for tents as long as you can plug it in somewhere.
5. Mr. Heater Little Buddy MH4B
The Mr. Heater Little Buddy MH4B is deceptively powerful, considering its small size. You can use this as a propane tent heater, thanks to the disposable 1lb propane cylinder in the base. It kicks out up to 3,800 BTUs which is sufficient to make 95 ft.² nice and cozy for up to 5.6 hours. This ability to heat a large area is helped by the heater’s shape. Its head is angled at 45°, which ensures your tent is filled with heat more efficiently, making it one of the best ways to stay warm with a compact solution.
Best Fit
Pros:
- A good option for well-ventilated tents
- It can heat spaces of up to 95 ft.²
- Can run for a long time
Cons:
- It isn’t the most durable product from Mr. Heater
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We like how easy the MH4B is to use as it features a simple on-off switch. Still, it is also safe as it is fitted with an oxygen depletion sensor and tip-over protection. It is important to remember that when using a heater of this type in an enclosed space, the area needs to be well-ventilated. Plus, it’s from Mr. Heater. Love that guy!
Wrapping Up The Best Heaters For Camping
These are among the very best tent heaters for camping that make the most sense financially. You can expect good build quality, a surprising amount of heat, and ease of use from any of them.
But before you buy, you need to consider a few things. For example, if you want to use a gas-powered heater inside your tent, you need to make sure your tent is well-ventilated. On the other hand, you should have no problem using one outside. Electric heaters are great as long as you can plug them in somewhere. This means you may need a generator or other source of power.
Our top pick is the Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Heater. We like its exceptional output, ease of use, and safety features. However, if you like the idea of an electric heater, we recommend the Honeywell HHF 360 V. This is also simple to use and safe while providing 360° heat.
Tom Fortune
Tom is an outdoor enthusiast and writer based in the French Alps. Most days, you can find Tom shredding the slopes on a snowboard or splitboard, exploring the mountains on a hike, or hitting the trails on a mountain bike.
