SureFire Tactics To Warm Your Tent Without Electricity!

Heating, or Warming a camping tent can be a quite simple process, and definitely a worth while one as well. But it can also be complex, But long lasting! Depending on the method to which you choose. We will be going over all the different options a Camper such as yourself can take Into account, as well as the important safety precautions that need to be considered as well! Anyway, On we go!

As I was in the process of doing some In-depth research on this topic. I came to realize that not many people are writing about how to keep a tent warm, or how to heat a tent in general. They all are suggesting ways for you to stay warm inside your Sleeping bag, or sleep system…

And Well, Frankly I believe these are two completely different topics that should be covered separately.

In this article, we will be talking about the options you have when it comes to heating the interior of your tent, as well as the options you have when it comes to insulating your tent so it will retaining heat for a lengthy period of time.

So Yes, we are going to focus on Heating, and insulating the interior of your tent. But do be warned some of the ideas below may require some effort in order to implement. But it will be well worth the work if done correctly!

However, If you’d like to learn How to sleep warm when camping, or just some simple hacks to keep yourself warmer as you sleep? Go ahead and checkout This aricle Titled: “20 Easy Ideas To Stay Warm As You Sleep (Camping In Comfort!)“. But do be sure to come back. Ill Also Like to the article at the bottom of this page, so you can check it out once your finished here if you’d like.

Anyway Let’s begin! when it comes to heating the interior of a camping tent you will need to think about insulating factors, as well as heat-producing gadgets and equipment that can be used inside the tent Safely! First, you need to create a barrier between the interior of the tent and the exterior. This is where insulating your tent comes into play. Second, you need a way to heat the interior of the tent. Such as a “indoor safe” Catalytic Heater, or even just simply “Human body heat”. . But do keep in mind, Ventilation is very Important especially when using catalytic heaters, or Open flame to produce heat.

First I’d like to hit on the topic of Insulating your tent and the impact it can have on heat retention inside the tent. For example:

If you had ever spent your time as a child building huts using blankets, and whatever you could find nearby to hold the blankets up such as chairs, couches, ladders, the TV stand…

You may have noticed a temperature increase when you would go inside the hut. Especially if you were using thick blankets or multiple blankets layered on top of one another.

The reason it felt so warm inside the hut was because of the blankets acting as an insulator between the air temp inside the hut, and the air temp outside.

As a second example:

Just simply covering up with a blanket at night while you sleep. Obviously, the thicker the blanket is, or the more blankets you are using. The greater the insulating barrier is, and the warmer it will stay for you under the blanket, Right?

Well Basically, the idea here is to do that exact same thing, but by using the shell of your tent. And well, given the fact that tents are so thin they offer nearly no insulating factors to begin with…

Though This does depends slightly on the tent that you were using. Typically polyester and nylon tents are quite thin and offer no insulating factors really at all. However, canvas tents, while quite a bit heavier, they are quite thicker and offer a greater amount of insulation. Hence better heat retention inside the tent. And a little closer to that comfort level you are looking for.

So if you are using a canvas tent you are already ahead of the Curve and at least have some insulating factors at work for you.

But if you’re using a polyester or nylon tent you are likely in the same boat as many. Given the fact that polyester and nylon are both so thin and lightweight, it makes these two materials a great option for anyone who is doing any hiking or trekking into camp Because they are so light weight.

However, the down side to using Polyester or Nylon material is the fact that they don’t retain heat as well as a canvas tent would.

But either material you are using will be okay! The material you are using for a tent will only be the starting Factor, below are some tactics and ideas that you can use to thicken up and create more of a barrier between the inside of your tent and the cold air outside.

Top Ideas For Heating & Insulating A Tent

Below is a quick list of all the coming Topics to be covered below. Continue on, or quickly skip to the topics that interest you most.

Insulating Your Tent

• Evaluate Your Tent
• Get A Canvas Tent
• Get A 4 Season Tent
• Place A Tarp Under Your Tent
• Place A Tarp Over Portions Of Your Tent
• Place A Mylar Blanket Over Portions Of Your Tent
• Tape A Mylar Blanket Inside Your Tent
• Use The Elements Around

Heating Your Tent

• Use A Catalytic Or Propane Heater
• Use Covered Candle/s
• Custom DIY Flower Pot Heater
• Use A Wood Burning Tent Stove
• Simply Body Heat
• Use Chemical Heat Packets

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Insulating Your Tent

When it comes to insulating, or heat proofing a tent you can go simple, buy just covering your tent with a tarp, and use the vegetation around. Or you can go as far as to purchase a new tent.

Remember above I talked about the differences between canvas tents, and Nylon or polyester tents. Well, that is probably the first thing I’d recommend. At least if you are planning to camp in a tent during the colder months of the year often. I’d definitely consider upgrading your tent set up. Check out This post: “Are Canvas Tents Really Worth The Money???” to help you decide if a canvas tent is a viable option for you?

Or you Could definitely give a 4 season tent a try? A 4 season tent is likely to be quite a bit cheaper than canvas, but it is made to be used during the colder months of the year! So it could definitely be a step up from your current tent, if your current tent is only a 3 Season, or summer tent.

But do keep in mind (If you decide to go searching for a 4 season tent) Most of the tents out there that you’d see at places like Walmart are typically Summer tents, or possibly 3 Season tents. 3 Season meaning they are good for Spring, Summer, & Fall. But if you want a tent that will do you good for the winter season? Do make sure it clearly states “4 Season” on the side of the box.

Now that’s not to say your current 3 season tent can’t be made as efficient, or better then a 4 season tent. But do remember, the tent you plan to use will be the base of this whole insulating idea. The more insulated the tent comes from the factory, the easier your life will be when it comes to staying warm in your tent, and the simpler your setup will likely be.

However, if you have no interest in Purchasing a new tent. Whether that be you just don’t want to buy a new one, or your bank account won’t allow. I totally understand, and well, the whole reason for writing this article is to basically upgrade your current tent at low or no cost at all. I simply bring up the idea of a new tent, as this could likely be the best option for you if you are in need of a new tent setup.

Anyway, Onward We Go!

Evaluate Your Tent

After a tent has had a few years of average use, it begins to lose its stamina so to say. Older tents typically start to get holes in them, wear thin, and just overall start to lose their shape after a while. Now I don’t bring this up suggesting “No matter what you need a new tent”… I am simply saying evaluate your current tent, and decide whether or not you think a new tent would be a good idea?

Now, For example: if you have had this tent for 2 – 5 years or more, but haven’t used it much at all? Well, odds are that tent will still do you fine. As long as the tent has no holes, or tares.

But do be sure to set up the tent, and give it a good look over before you head out for camp. Better you find a hole or tare now rather than when you get to camp.

However, If you do find a small hole or tare. But you think the overall tent is fine. I’m sure you’d likely be fine patching the hole and using the tent. As long as you’ve used your intuition and feel that the tent will suffice.

The Reasoning as to why you don’t want to use a tent with holes or tares is because they can allow wind to blow through, which can result in loss of warmth.

But do keep in mind, you are likely planning on living in this tent for the next few days, Week, or possibly more.

And well, if you go camping often why not set yourself up with a good shelter setup? I mean, I know from personal experience: A miserable night sleep can result in a miserable camping trip…

Just make sure your tent is up to par with the climate you are enduring off into.

Get A Canvas tent

Canvas Ah yeah! If you have ever spent a night in a canvas tent you likely will be able to relate! Canvas is much thicker than regular tent materials such as Nylon or Polyester. So thick it acts as a noise dampener between you and the ambient noises outside. Its as if you have a large, thick blanket over you. And well, given its thickness, it acts as a great insulator!

If you have a canvas tent, or your looking to pick one up? I’d definitely recommend it!

Now the only downside to these tents is, they are very heavy… But they have good reason to be. If they were lightweight like Polyester or Nylon tents then they wouldn’t have the insulating ability either. I currently have a Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow 6-Man Canvas Tent and it’s great to sleep in!

I feel much cozier in that then I do my regular tent. But the thing is, is most the camping I do is better suited toward using my cheaper Nylon tent. But when I get the opportunity to take the Canvas tent You can bet your bottom dollar I’ll be taking it!

You can find this Canvas Tent on Amazon If you’d like to check it out. Though I do believe I actually picked mine up at Cabelas. But either way its the same tent.

Get a 4 season Tent

Now 4 Season tents I don’t believe are quite as comparable as a canvas tent is to a summer tent or 3 season tent. However, I have heard good things about them, and well, they are priced fairly close to your typically 3 season, or summer tent. Which is definitely a plus!

Now, I Honestly haven’t used a 4 season tent before. Because I just haven’t needed a new tent in a while. The current one I have is a 3 season, and that seems to suffice for what I need. However, given that prices between the two seem to be so close. I think I’ll Pick me up one next time I’m in the market for a new tent.

But given that I’ve never owned one I can’t really recommend a specific 4 season tent to you. But just quickly looking up 4 season tents It looks like Amazon Sales them. So I mean if you’re in the market for one you could definitely start looking there.

Place A Tarp Under your tent

This is where we start to get into the hacks of keeping your tent warm.

By placing a tarp under your tent you will be creating another barrier between yourself and the cold ground. However, If you have a large enough tarp you could then fold it over, providing you with a double layered tarp. As well, by placing a tarp under your tent you also create a water barrier between your tent and the potentially wet ground below.

And well, the drier you are able to stay when in a cold environment, The better off you are, as well as the safer you are.

Place A Tarp Over Portions Of Your Tent

This idea will likely help you retain some heat as well as keep the wind from blowing through your tent. But you do need to set things up so the wind wont be able to blow the tarp away. As this will then expose you to the cold wind.

Ideally if you can stake the tarp down, that will probably work best but if you don’t have stakes. You could simply tuck the tarp under portions of your tent. But do be sure to leave breather holes so that fresh air can flow through your tent.

The idea here is to prevent strong gusts of wind from blowing through your tent, as well trying to retain some of the heat. The best way I have heard of to accomplish this is by placing the tarp over 3/4ths of your tent, and leaving the door side completely open. This will basically be creating a cave out of the tarp.

now if you decide to use a catalytic heater or something alike, you must make sure you have adequate ventilation, as well as the proper gear required in order for you to stay as safe as possible.

I Can’t Stress this enough: Make sure that you take the proper precautions to keep yourself, and others safe.

Place A Mylar Blanket Over Portions Of Your Tent

Emergency Blankets, otherwise known as Mylar Blankets, or Thermal Blanket is a great option when it comes to heat retention, and it is very lightweight. So if your a backpacker, or thru-hiker this is a great option for you. As well as for others.

Simply put, The Idea here is to do as the title says. Place a mylar blanket over portions of your tent, Some say 3/4ths like above with the tarp. Its basically the same idea as with the tarp. However, the biggest difference here is the job of the layer.

Mylar blankets, otherwise known as emergency blankets are known to reflect heat back to the object or person that is giving off heat. So here we are looking for heat reflection. However, there are a few problems you could run into with this idea.

First, these Mylar blankets are very light weight which would make it easy for the wind to blow away. Second, with the Mylar blanket on the outside of your tent it wont really be able to do its job well, unless the roof of your tent is a screen.

Because of this I think the next idea will probably work better for those who don’t have a stargazing roof. But that’s not to say this won’t work at all if you don’t have a stargazing roof. As it likely will still work, just not as well.

Tape Portions of A Mylar Blanket Inside Your Tent

This idea I think will work well for most, as this places the Mylar blanket directly above you where it can best do its job. Now, probably the best way you can go about implementing this idea is by cutting pieces of the Mylar blanket to fit with the contours of your tent roof. But by leaving the windows / vents un-covered and free from any obstructions. As proper ventilation is a must!

Some say to use Duck Tape to hold the portions of Mylar blanket up. However, this could later result in tape residue all over the interior of the tent. For this reason if you are using a tent that is not your own I strongly recommend you ask permission from the owner of the tent before implementing really any of these ideas.

However, If the tent is yours obviously it is up to you whether or not you want to give this idea a try. Maybe you could come up with a better adhesive to stick the Mylar blanket pieces on? If you do, Be sure to leave a comment below stating what you used!

Use The Elements around

One of the great things about nature is it often times will provide you with natural resources! Such as Leaves, Long Grass, and Snow… All of these can be used to create a barrier around the base of your tent.

One large problem many have when it comes to keeping the interior of a tent warm is the air flow that can come through around the base of the tent, as well as the cold ground below.

By simply stuffing some leaves, long grass, or snow around the outer edges of the base of your tent you will create a sort of tub like feature so that the cool wind cant breeze through and under the lower portion of your tent.

However, I wouldn’t recommend throwing leaves all over your tent given that it can get a little messy, and lack of air flow can become a problem. But pushing leaves, and other natural materials around the base of your tent can help with conserving heat inside your tent. And will act as a wind barrier if it Happens to get a bit windy.

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Heating Your Tent

When it comes to heating your tent you must take the proper precautions before doing so.

You must have proper ventilation throughout your tent before even thinking about using a heat source. Because they can give off dangerous fumes that could put you and those who are with you inside the tent in danger.

Ideally if you are going to be using a heat source such as a catalytic heater or candles you should have a CO2 O2 or CO sensor. Carbon monoxide can definitely be a threat to you if proper precautions are not taken.

I hope I haven’t scared you to bad at this point? All should be okay, As long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions of the heater you are using, and you are using the proper heat system. As well as proper ventilation tactics.

However, deviate to follow them and it could easily become very dangerous when using propane heaters, and/or using candle heat. But in any situation, you should always make sure you have adequate ventilation in place.

Catalytic Or Propane Heater

Catalytic heaters are basically just heaters that run off of propane or natural gas. They are great because they produce what is said to be completely flameless heat from start up to shut down.

Catalytic heaters come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. Obviously, it’s best to choose which heater you get based on how you plan to use it. For example: if you plan to use it in a tent which im assuming you are. Then be sure to get one based on your tent size, as well as its compatibility with tent use. As some Propane heaters are not recommended to be used inside of tents.

Propane heaters are a great way to produce a lot of heat, in a short period of time, and best of all without electricity given that they run off of propane or natural gas. One downside to them though is they are fairly large for the most part. large meaning, about the size of say, your average camping stove.

But overall they work well and they do what they are meant to do “Provide heat”!.

If you’d like, “Here” is a link to the one I like to use listed on Amazon.com. But they do come in many different sizes. If that one is to big, be sure to check out the smaller ones.

But before using any sort of heater or open flame to heat your tent It is vitally important you educate yourself on proper procedures when using any sort of heat source alike. As well, you must make sure the heater you are using is intended for indoor use. Always follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer, and never run the heater when you are not consciously present. (This means, do not run it when sleeping, or your not presently there with the heater.)

Using indoor heaters can be dangerous if proper precautions are not taken. If you intend to use any sort of heat source to heat the interior of your tent, make sure to educate yourself on how to do so safely!

Continue on to the next page for the best methods to heat your tent! I’ll see ya over there.