Camping Heaters

Camping heaters are a great choice for people who’ll be out in the wilderness and don’t have any size or weight requirements. They’ll help you warm up your tent, even on chilly nights. Purchase your heater by the number of BTUs it gives off - the more BTUs listed, the more heat it produces. Fuel sources for heaters include unleaded gasoline, electricity, batteries, propane and camping fuel. For many of these fuels, safety is an extremely important thing to pay attention to. Here’s how to buy and use a heater of your own.

First, decide how you’re going to use the heater. Will it be in a tent, a cabin, or a camper? Will you carry it in the car, or are you likely to need to backpack with it? That will help you decide what size and weight of heater you’ll need. Think about how much you’re going to carry and pick heaters accordingly.

Make sure you choose only heaters with safety features - an oxygen depletion sensor will prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from fueled heaters. You should also look for a safety tip over switch that turns it off if the heater is knocked over. Last, but not least, make sure yours has a device that shuts the heater off if it gets too warm.

Be certain that your shelter is ventilated properly the whole time you’re using the heater, and never leave it unattended or use it overnight. That will keep you from running into a risk of carbon monoxide buildup. Keep the heater at least two feet from anything that heat could damage to avoid fire hazards, including the side of the tent. Place your heater with safety in mind every time. If you can, put it on a bench, cooler, or other stable object that will prevent you from knocking the heater over. Choose only heaters that are stable and won’t tip on their own.

Other features that can help include an ambient temperature sensor and electronic temperature control to help you control the amount of heat produced. A regulator valve will give you more efficient fuel flow in really cold weather or at high altitudes, and multi screen designs help you operate it even in the wind. Remember that older camping heaters may not have regulators to shut them off if oxygen is depleted, so use these heaters with care. Careful shopping and use of a camping heater will help you stay warm, and safe.