Camping heaters are heaters used to warm the camping space specifically inside the tent when camping. A decent camping heater can make your winter camping experience 10x better and more enjoyable. They are small, portable, and quite efficient for small places.
Some camping heaters can even work as cooling fans or electric water heaters. So you can use them during both winter and summer.
So, let’s see how you can find the best camping heater and what are the options in the recent market.
- Things To Consider With Camping Heaters
- Best Electric Camping Heaters For 2023
- Transforming Traditional Electric Heater Into Smart Heater
Things To Consider With Camping Heaters
There are a couple of things to consider when shopping for camping heaters. Let’s see what they are so you don’t have to search hundreds of products for the perfect one.
Capacity
The first thing to take into consideration is the size of your camping space. According to that, you can choose the capacity of the electric heater. Usually, all electric heaters have their capacities specified as in how big of a space they can warm up without any problem.
Keeping a memory tab on the camping space can help a lot in minimizing your options. Also knowing the power or capacity is important to avoid unwanted situations like overheating or underheating the space.
Power Source
There are basically three types of camping heaters; propane or gas-powered, electric-powered, and wood-fuel-powered.
Wood-powered heaters are pretty old models and most people don't use them nowadays.
Gas-powered heaters come with a propane gas tank. You will need to refill them when the gas runs out.
And finally, the most recent models are usually electrically powered and also most popular amongst campers. These days almost all campsites have electric outlets so using an electric heater is much more convenient than the other options.
Also, electric heaters usually come with more versatile options and they are easy to operate as well.
Size And Portability
Size and portability are two very important factors when it comes to camping heaters. Since you will be carrying them with you most of the time, they need to be sufficiently small and portable. At the same time, you need to make sure that they are efficient enough to warm up the space.
Camping spots that include hiking and walking require a heater that you can easily carry around without getting exhausted. On the other hand, if you usually drive to the spots then getting a slightly bigger one, suitable for a medium-sized tent is the better option.
Design
Designs include a few things such as the shape, how much space it occupies, buttons or dials, hooks to hang them, etc. Once you have an idea of what you want, it's easier to find an appropriate model.
Durability
Camping includes a wide range of weather situations like rain, snow, dew, wind, etc. Being exposed to these weather conditions requires a camping heater with at least good enough durability.
Take into consideration that the heater will be subjected to some wear and tear due to dirt, water, and other elements. Also, it's a very common occurrence for them to be knocked over by wind or something else.
So choosing a durable enough heater to withstand these situations is important.
Best Electric Camping Heaters For 2023
Here’s our pick of some of the best electric camping heaters for 2023.
GiveBest
Our first pick is the 1500W/750W electric space heater from GiveBest. It’s a small portable heater perfect for a tent up to 200 square feet. The heater has two heat settings plus you can use it as a fan too during summer.
The coolest thing about the heater is you can preset a temperature level and it will either turn off or on by itself when the temperature crosses over or falls below it. And it has tip-over protection to prevent any accident when accidentally knocked over by anything.
Besides, the heater operates very quietly so it won’t hamper your sleep as well. For quick and fast efficient heating, GiveBest is one of the best options.
What We Like
- Lightweight
- Eco-friendly and energy efficient
- Has thermostat control
- Makes little to no noise
- Durable
- Features a tip-over switch
- Fast heating in seconds
What We Don't Like
- Overheats when left unattended for a long time
- No oscillation
- Only two heat levels.
Dreo
The next one on the list is the Dreo portable electric camping heater. It is one of the smallest camping heaters on the market with a heating capacity as good as many bigger models.
The heater is perfect for a 200 square feet tent space. It’s lightweight so it's easy to carry around. The heating modes include three different heat settings; high, medium, and low. Apart from that it also has an eco mode for energy saving and fan only mode for warmer weather.
Dreo heaters come with a remote control so you can turn it on/off from a nearby area.
Some of the other impressive features of this portable heater are wide angle oscillation for even heat distribution throughout the whole space, smooth and quiet operation, Shield 360 ° Protection to prevent overheating, tip-over protection, etc.
What We Like
- Exceptionally quiet
- 70° angle oscillation
- Multiple heating modes
- Tip-over and overheat protection
- Eco mode for energy saving
- Affordable
- Easy to carry around
What We Don’t Like
- Some users have claimed that the tip-over feature doesn't work properly.
Andily
The last pick is the extremely portable 500W mini electric heater from Andily. If you are into hiking and looking for a small and more budget-friendly option, this one is perfect for that.
This mini electric heater can warm up a small tent. You can even put it beside your pillow or anywhere close to you. The heater comes with overheat protection so it will automatically turn off when the components get too hot.
Despite the small size, the heater comes with quite a few impressive features like indicator lights to show it’s plugged in, a very quiet fan, convenient 1 button control, etc.
What We Like
- Overheat protection
- Small and very easy to carry around
- Quiet, no noise operation
- Power indicator light
- Easy to operate
What We Don't Like
- Not suitable for larger spaces
- Manual control
Transforming Traditional Electric Heater Into Smart Heater
The appeal of smart electric heaters for camping is steadily increasing and you might want one too. But if you already own a traditional electric heater, there is no need to go buy a brand-new one. Instead, you can easily transform it into a smart electric heater with a simple smart plug.
Smart plugs are usually small and they are great for turning any electric appliances into smart ones. On top of that, they let you control the heater remotely from wherever you want. And you can even arrange schedules to turn them off after a specific time.
Products like EVVR Energy Monitoring Smart Plug & Relay let you monitor how much energy the heater is using. Plus it provides thermal and overload protection which is very important when using heaters with outdoor outlets. Now you can be warm and safe even when camping.
Some of the other smart plugs suitable to use with camping heaters are Leviton mini smart plug, Kasa TP-link smart plug, etc.
Conclusion
Camping in the winter night doesn’t have to be shivering cold anymore. With a small portable heater, you can sleep in a warm embrace and enjoy a nice dream even in the mountains.
We hope this article has helped you with the smaller details that need to be considered when shopping for camping heaters. For more smart camping ideas, reach out to us!
