How to heat a tent- safely?
While I am a a hands-on person, that mostly extends to art and sculpture rather than engineering. Therefore, I thought I ought to bring this question to people with a little bit more knowhow in that area. See, with the cold winter months coming on camping is becoming a little more arduous. More to the point, heating a tent safely is a real problem. I don't trust gas powered heaters....but there's not a whole lot of alternatives out there.
So I was wondering if anyone here could think of a way to safely heat a tent for a prolonged period of time. Preferably without gas, electricity, or risk of fire.
So I was wondering if anyone here could think of a way to safely heat a tent for a prolonged period of time. Preferably without gas, electricity, or risk of fire.
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With satisfactory insulation you shouldn't need to heat the tent - that what a good sleeping bag is for.
IF it is a Marquee then forced hot air is probably the best way to go. or IR patio heaters (Electric)
+1 on the 2nd.
My dad wouldn't spring for a Winter type sleeping bag, so I was kind of "stuck out in the cold". But my Scout Master told me to remove all my clothes except underwear, while I am in the sleeping bag, but keep them in there with me and zip it up tight.
This may sound strange, but the next day, while everyone else had sleep IN their clothes, sweated some (and so were damp) during the night, it was a bit cold that night....but the next day I was toasty warm all day :-) Now, I recommend then, getting a GOOD warm winter style sleeping bag, and if you try the little trick I just mentioned, the next day will be VERY pleasant. The rest of the troup were cold all day long.
This is only advisable if you have a decent expectation of privacy however.
Over the years I've probably spent 6 months of nights sleeping in a winter bag, in below freezing conditions. A warm bag is toasty!
The "sleep naked" thing is a myth. A persistent myth, though. One that people swear is true (from my experience, it's not). I can see why it might feel warmer if your clothes are damp, and you're a heavy sleeper (you aren't effected by the sleep cycle drop in body temperature).
Wait until you're below zero (F)--you'll opt for clothes. I've had nights where I wore nearly every stitch of clothing I had--fleece jackets, down coat, two pairs of fleece pants, etc. Wearing sweaty, damp clothes in the bag has one advantage--you might be chilled for an hour or two, but the clothes will dry. A real advantage over a long week of backpacking.
It's also normal, damp clothing or not, to wake up with the outside of your bag soaked. Hence the debate over synthetic vs. down bags...
It worked wonders for me. Everyone else in my troop was cold all day long, and I had a fairly light coat to use and wasn't cold most of the morning that day.
But I wasn't advocating NUDE sleeping, but rather down far enough to keep one from getting all sweated up
If you get too hot, you can also unzip the bag, or use it as a blanket and lay right on the sleeping pad. Or wear the bag up to your arms. Or my favorite--just unzip the bottom, and stick your bare feet out ;-).
I learned to not shed too many clothes. After a ten mile hike with a pack, my metabolism was usually "on high" for several hours, but it would crash in the early morning, and feeling cold at 3 AM was often the result (that, and temps drop overnight). So in would come my feet, and on went the the mummy bag hood...
I won't even mention the best trick to stay warm in the bag...
If your fellow scouts slept well, I'd think their clothes would dry out after a little activity. They'd be pretty cranky at breakfast, though.
Maybe you're just a natural outdoorsman.
Scouts back in my day didn't have (or didn't believe in) sleeping pads. What a huge difference they make--to have insulation between you and the cold ground...
A Baker with the flap open?
I've spent many nights in WPA-era lean-tos. They proliferate in the Adirondacks in upper NY. Not as warm as a small tent, for sure.
Years ago they had fire pits, and you could feel radiant heat from a roaring fire in the lean-to. They kept the pits at least 15 feet from the lean-tos, due to the fire hazard. They weren't much use during the night. Fifteen or twenty years ago the fire pits all disappeared--too much eco damage from firewood scavenging.
It worked for me camping on a glacier.
Investing in a decent bag and roll-mat is far better in the long term, not just safer than a heater, but easier to pack and lighter to carry (you'll be carrying the bag and mat anyway, so the heater is extra weight).
If you're in the tent during the day, wear warm clothes (layers), and the more people in the tent, the warmer it is in there.
They are inexpensive at about 60 for single burner ones to 120 and up for double burner fancy ones. The expensive part is the disposable propane cylinders they run on.
Your next option is to invest in a sleeping bag system. If you plan on doing lots of camping you can get a system that is versatile one that will work in summer and winter months. (like a used military 3 bag system) But even a sleeping bag rated to +32 will be more than adequate for 0 degree weather with a blanket or sleeping bag liner installed.
Sleeping bags are priced on their degree rating as well as thickness/weight. A bigger bag will be cheaper than an ultra thin one but will be heavier.
Like goodheart said sleep in your underwear or cloths that you normally sleep in at home. then change when you wake up so you dont get cold. If you have some pajamas to sleep in you wont be frozen cold when you have to go to the bathroom at 3am. cause you will be when your just in your tighty whities.
Sweat is your worst enemy, you want to be slightly uncomfortably cool, but not warm or youll sweat. Change your socks to prevent trench foot