Camping season is in full swing and if you’re like me, you’re spending every weekend out in the great outdoors.
But even though sleeping under the stars is one of my favorite things to do, there’s one thing that always ruins it: the cold!
Well, I’ve got the perfect solution for you: a battery powered tent heater!
These little gadgets are small enough to fit in your backpack, but they can heat things.
There are a few different types of tent heaters available on the market, so we’ve put together this handy guide to help you choose the right one for you. Stay cozy, friends!
If you are in a hurry, we would recommend the Mr. Heater MH12HB, as it’s lightweight and compact so you can take it with you wherever you go. It’s easy to use – just pop it in your tent, turn it on, and enjoy the warmth!
So don’t let the cold keep you from enjoying nature – get yourself one of these awesome heaters today! Jump To Best Options!
Why Do You Need A Tent Heater?
When the nights start drawing in and the temperature begins to drop, there’s nothing more frustrating than being cooped up inside. But with a tent heater, you can enjoy the great outdoors all winter long!
Heaters are essential for camping in cold weather – they’ll keep you warm and comfortable while you sleep, and they’re perfect for warming up your food or drink too.
Plus, they’re really easy to use – just plug them into your car’s cigarette lighter or pop them into your tent, and you’re good to go!
Camping heaters are especially useful when camping in colder weather. They’ll keep you warm and cozy at night, so you can sleep peacefully without the shivers.
Especially if you have small kids, pets, or camping noobs traveling with you as they are more prone to being affected by the cold weather.
Are Tent Heaters Safe To Use?
Many people are concerned about the safety of using a tent heater. There are some concerns about carbon monoxide poisoning, but there is no evidence to suggest that a tent heater can cause this.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is produced when fuel burns incompletely. Since the gas itself is odorless and colorless, so it is difficult to detect – and it can be deadly. However, tent heaters are specially designed for indoor use and often don’t release carbon monoxide.
Would you like to know more about tent heaters and their safety?
You can read our guide about how these heaters have various security features that make them safe to use inside a camp.
Tent heaters can be a great way to stay warm on a cold night camping, but it’s important to use them safely.
Make sure to follow all manufacturer instructions carefully, and never leave a heater unattended. With proper care and safety precautions, tent heaters can be a great addition to your camping gear
Disclosure: Hikers Needs is reader-supported. Buying through links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission.
Quick answer:
battery operated heater for camping
Check out this quick list of our top 3 favorite Tent Heaters if you’re in a hurry, or continue scrolling to see our full list with in-depth reviews
1-Lasko CD092
2-Mr. Heater MH12HB
3-Dreo Space Heater
Battery Powered Heater For Camping
1-Lasko CD092
Looking for a powerful heater to take on your camping or hiking trips? Look no further than the Lasko CD092!
This heater has 1500 watts of heating power, making it perfect for keeping you warm in cold weather.
It also has an adjustable thermostat, so you can customize the heat output to your needs and weather.
The Lasko CD092 is also portable, meaning you can take it with you wherever you go.
So whether you’re camping in the cold or hiking in the mountains, the Lasko CD092 is the perfect heating partner for upcoming camping trips.
Highlight features
Safety Features: It ensures overheat protection using heat sensors that turn the heater off if temperatures pass a certain threshold. Plus, it has a built-in safety feature that will shut off the heater if it tips over.
Portable: The compact and lightweight design make this unit easy to pack up and take with you on your next camping or hiking trip. Moreover, it comes with a built-in handle that makes it easier to carry around.
Manual Controls: With its easy-to-use manual controls and three heating modes…high heat, low heat, and fan only you can adjust heat accordingly.
Efficient Heating: The 1500 watts of heating power make this unit perfect for small to medium spaces. Plus, the ceramic heat paired convective fans allow the tent to heat up in less than 10 minutes.
Pros:
- 1500 Watts Power
- 3 temperature settings
- Easy-to-use controls
- Cool-touch exterior
- Lightweight
- 3 years product warranty
- Ceramic heating
Cons:
- Only suitable for smaller spaces
Reason to get this: Very Lightweght!
2-Mr. Heater MH12HB
Here we have another alternative to a battery-powered heater, a propane-fueled heater by Mr. heater.
A Mr. Heater MH12HB is the perfect choice for campers and hikers looking for a portable, high-output heater.
This propane-powered heater can quickly raise the temperature of a small enclosed space by up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
It also has an adjustable heat output, so you can customize it to your needs. With its silent electronic ignition, it is quick and easy to start than regular propane heaters.
Highlight features
Long-Running Time: It built-in 1 lb propane tank can run for up to 7 hours. However, it also has a hose and filter that can connect to a 20 lb cylinder thus lasting for up to 140 hours.
Indoor Safe: If your concern is that propane heaters release carbon monoxide then this heater from Mr. heater is an ideal choice for you. It has a carbon sensor that immediately stops the heater if the oxygen drops below the recommended amount.
Multiple Heating Modes: Unlike most propane-powered heaters, it comes with 2 different temperature settings… high and low. In addition to keeping you comfortable, this feature also saves your fuel.
Easy To Carry: With a weight of just nine pounds and an easy-grip handle, this tent heater is ideal for outdoor adventures.
Pros:
- Suitable for an area up to 300 sq. ft
- 2 heat settingsErgonomic grip handle
- Indoor safe
- Durable with its sturdy built and
- Auto turn-off at a low oxygen level
- Budget-Friendly
Cons:
- Weighs 14 pounds but works for extremely cold temperatures
Reason to get this: Best Overall!
3-Dreo Space Heater
This space heater manufactured by Dreo is an efficient and reliable way to keep warm while camping or hiking.
This small, portable heater is perfect for keeping you comfortable in cold temperatures. It plugs into your car’s 12-volt outlet, so you can use it anywhere.
The Dreo Space Heater is also incredibly affordable, making it a great value for your money.
Highlight features
Low noise: It uses a 9-blade fan that produces only 40 dB (decibels) of noise during oscillations, making it extraordinarily quiet. Hello! Quality sleep in mountains.
Overheat Safety: The heater automatically turns off as soon as the temperature exceeds 122°F to avoid fire hazards from overheating.
ECO-Mode: The exclusive Dreo ECO mode adapts its output to the surrounding temperature and keeps the space comfortable at all times.
12H timer: This heater is perfect if you want to keep your heater running while you are sleeping but not all night long. Using its timer, you can choose a time between 1-12 hours when the heater will turn off.
Pros:
- LED Display Control Panel
- Easy to Carry Handle
- Eco Heating Mode
- 4 different heating mode
- portable and lightweight
- Overheat Sensor
- Digital Controls
- 1500 W power
Cons:
- It takes some time to warm up a room/tent
Reason to get this: Best For Value
4-Mr. Heater F215100
If you’re looking for a portable heater that can provide consistent warmth, the Mr.Heater F215100 is a great option.
With its 3800 BTU power, the propane heater is designed to be easy to use and reliable, making it perfect for use in a variety of settings.
With its high heat output and adjustable thermostat, this portable heater can warm up a small space in no time. Plus, its compact design makes it easy to take with you wherever you go.
Highlight features
Portable: Small enough to attach to your backpack, the Mr. Heater Little Buddy is perfect for outdoor hiking adventures.
Built-in Safety Switch: Additionally, it has a built-in tip-over safety switch that automatically shuts off the heater if it is tipped over. This prevents any accidental fires and keeps you and your loved ones safe.
Low-Oxygen Sensors: The heater also features oxygen sensors with an automatic shut-off mechanism that turns it off at low oxygen levels.
A rapid source of heat: It takes less than 15 seconds to heat up at low elevations and is capable of heating up to 7000 feet above sea level.
Pros:
- 3800 BTU propane heater
- CSA certified, so safe to use indoors
- Suitable for an area up to 950 square feet
- Heavy-Duty wire guard
- odor-free heating
- Weighs 5 pounds
- Recommended for outdoor use
Cons:
- Only suitable for use by one person
Reason to get this: very Premium!
5-Honeywell HCE100B
Honeywell HCE100B is a personal heat convection heater that is perfect for campers and hikers.
This innovative and compact heater utilizes natural convection to circulate warm air evenly throughout the entire space, providing ample warmth even in cold environments.
The Honeywell HCE100B is also equipped with an automatic shut-off feature that prevents accidental fires, making it a safe and reliable choice for any camping or hiking trip.
Highlight features
Low Watts Heating: With its ceramic heating technology, this small but highly efficient heater from Honeywell only uses 250 Watts of electric power to heat up.
2 Heat Settings: With two heat settings, it can provide gentle warmth or more intense heat, depending on your needs.
Cool Touch Housing: Its plastic frame stay cool touch even while the heater has been working for hours. So no more burning your fingers by accidentally touching the heater.
360 Tip-over Protection: This means that the heater immediately interrupts the power supply to the heating unit if it tilts more than 45 degrees than the original position, to avoid any fire or possible damage.
Pros:
- 250 Watts Power
- One button temperature control
- Cool-touch plastic frame
- Compact and light
- Ceramic heating
- Overheat safety protection
Cons:
- Not suitable for colder climate
6-Generac 7117 Gp2200I
As you must have noticed that there are no options when it comes to a battery-powered tent heater powerful enough for a large camp or camping in colder temperatures.
In that case, we suggest this generator from Generac as it can provide a maximum output of up to 2200 Watts.
You can use it to power a regular electric heater as well as your camera, phone, laptop, etc. Think of it as a power bank but for the heater.
Highlight features
2200 Watts Power Output: The Generac 7117 Gp2200I is a great addition to any camper or hiker’s toolkit. This powerful and compact generator can provide enough power to keep your devices and appliances running during an extended camping trip or hike.
Portability: It’s also lightweight and portable, making it easy to take with you on the go. Whether you need it for emergency backup power or just for camping convenience, the Generac 7117 Gp2200I is a great option.
Parallel Kit Model: Enables you to connect two inverters for double output power.
Pros:
- 10.75 hours run-time
- Easy to start-up
- Noise Reduction
- 12V DC outlet
- USB Outlet
- Compact and Lightweight
Cons:
- Might be a costly option but provides great value
7-Metkiio Space Heater
A Metkiio Space Heater is a great idea for solo travelers who want something small and lightweight that they can easily carry with them.
With its efficient ceramic technology, it can warm up quickly so you can stay warm even on the coldest nights.
Highlight features
Low noise: The oscillatory convection fan installed in this heater produces almost inaudible noise to ensure a peaceful sleep for you.
Rapid Heating: The heater can raise the temperature of the room up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in just 3 minutes. Just turn it on and get cozy instantly.
Retro Design: Unlike those boring black heaters Metkioo prides itself in creating this chic heater that is as pretty as it’s efficient.
Compact Size: With its 7.7 x 4.4 x 5-inch dimensions and 1.59 pounds weight it can conveniently fit into your backpack and takes much less space in your single-person tent.
Pros:
- 900 Watts Power
- Lightweight
- Stylish Design
- Takes 3 Minutes To Heat Up
- (Perfect For Warm Summer Days Too)
- PTC Ceramic Heating
- Automatic Overheat and tip-off switch
Cons:
- Doesn’t work well in large tents or very temperatures
8-Honeywell HHF370B
Looking for a small, lightweight propane heater to take with you on your next camping or hiking trip? Look no further than the Honeywell HHF370B Heater!
This compact and easy-to-use heater is perfect for heating your tent or campsite, and can even be used as a personal heater to keep you warm on those chilly winter nights.
The Honeywell HHF370B Heater is also safe and easy to operate, making it the perfect choice for anyone looking for a reliable and convenient way to stay warm while outdoors.
Highlight features
Energy Efficient Heat: With its 360 degrees surrounding fan it warms up a larger area with less space. With a regular heater that doesn’t have all-around heating, you need more energy to even warm a room.
2 Heating Modes: Whether you want to use it on chilly and breezy summer nights or during extremely cold winter, its heating modes are suitable for all kinds of temperatures.
Cool-Touch Housing: With this special feature, the body or handle of the heater doesn’t warm up even when in use. You can easily move it around in the house or keep it close while sleeping inside the tent.
Pros:
- All-around heat output
- Easy grab handle
- The power output of 1500 watts
- Cool to touch plastic housing
- 2 temperature control
- Digital LED display
- Indoor Safe
- Weighs only 3 pounds
- 3 years warranty
Cons:
- Low heating mode heats off non-stop but the high heating mode is adjustable
Reason to get this: small & efficient
9-Mr. Heater MH12HB
If you’re looking for a portable heater that can provide consistent warmth, the Mr. Heater MH12HB is a great option.
This heater is designed to be easy to use and reliable, making it perfect for use in a variety of settings.
With its high heat output and adjustable thermostat, the Mr. Heater MH12HB portable heater can warm up a small space in no time.
Plus, its compact design makes it easy to take with you wherever you go.
Highlight features
Multiple Heat Settings: With three heat settings, you can adjust the temperature to suit your needs, and the integrated high-speed fans help circulate the heat evenly throughout the room.
Built-in Safety Switch: Additionally, it has a built-in tip-over safety switch that automatically shuts off the heater if it is tipped over. This prevents any accidental fires and keeps you and your loved ones safe.
High-Velocity Fan: The convection allows the heat to disperse effectively warming the entire space within minutes.
Pros:
- odor-free heating
- Heavy-Duty to withstand the harshness of the wilderness
- Quickly Circulates Heat
- indoor safe
Cons:
- weight makes it a bit heavy to carry around
other Consideration
So these are a few of our favorite recommendations for the best battery-powered tent heater. However, if you want to keep looking, here are a few key factors you may want to consider to pick the best tent heater according to your needs.
Size and weight
If you’re planning on backpacking with your heater, size and weight will be major concerns. Choose a compact model that won’t add too much bulk to your pack.
Since the purpose of buying a tent heater is to use it while camping so you want something that takes minimum space in your backpack and weighs around 3-4 lbs.
HEATING EFFICIENCY
A tent heater should be able to heat a room of up to 150 square feet, which is the size of most 2-person tents. Some tent heaters are designed for larger tents and can even heat an entire 3-person tent.
The best way to determine how efficient a heater is at heating a room is by looking at its BTU (British Thermal Unit) rating. The higher the BTU rating, the more efficient the heater will be at heating your tent.
Most units have between 1000 and 2000 BTUs, but you can find some models with as many as 4000 BTUs.
If you’re going camping in colder weather, you may want to look for a heater with a higher BTU rating so it can keep your tent warm throughout the night.
SAFETY FEATURES
Safety should be your top priority while buying a heater for camps, so while buying a tenant make sure it has these following safety features:
- Automatic Shut-off Switch — This means that the heater will turn off automatically if the temperature rises above a certain limit.
- Oxygen Depletion Sensor — Since some propane heaters release carbon monoxide which can cause oxygen deficiency inside the camp. So an oxygen depletion sensor will switch off the heater if the oxygen level starts dropping.
- Tip-Over Switch — This will also stop the heating off if the heater tips over anytime during the night. This is essential as tipping over can lead to a fire if the heater comes in contact with clothes, a sleeping bag, or the tent.
- Flame Guard— The metal grid in front of the rod or radiator to avoid any sparks or embers from escaping the heater.
BATTERY LIFE
Another important consideration for battery-powered heaters is runtime. Most models will only run for a few hours on a single charge, so you’ll need to plan accordingly if you need extended heat.
Some higher-end models come with multiple batteries that can be swapped out for extended runtime.
Another important factor is the power rating of the heater. You want to find one that has a high wattage so that it heats up quickly and gives off enough heat to keep you warm at night.
Durability
A good tent heater should be able to withstand being dropped or bumped around. It should also be made of sturdy materials that can withstand the roughness of the mountains and forests.
We would suggest going for a heater with a metal frame.
However, most battery-powered heaters come with a plastic frame. But you can still find some very durable ones that can last you for up to 3-5 years.
Moreover, most metal frame heaters will not be as compact and lightweight as their plastic counterpart. So be sure to assess what is more important to you; durability or portability.
Noise Level
Some heaters can be quite noisy, so if you want to enjoy a good night’s sleep or don’t want to invite your wild neighbors, look for a model that runs quietly. To find out how loud a heater could be, you can check the manual for decibels.
Most electric heaters give off that annoying buzzing sound that can disrupt your sleep and believe me, you don’t want that after hiking up all day long.
Value For Money
The best tent heaters are not always the most expensive ones. While you may want to spend a bit more money to get a better quality heater, which is a very reasonable approach but it’s important to remember that some cheaper products can be very good as well.
It’s worth spending a little bit of time comparing different models and prices before making your final decision.
You can browse through various online platforms such as Amazon and use their price compare features to decide which product is providing you more bang for your work.
Temperature Controls
Most tent heaters will have some sort of temperature control so you can adjust the level of heat to your liking.
This is important because you want to be comfortable while you’re camping, and you don’t want the heater to be too hot or too cold.
A heater will multiple temperature settings will also save your battery power and energy on not-so-chilly nights.
Heat Circulation
A good tent heater will also have good heat circulation. This means that the heat will be evenly distributed throughout the tent, so you won’t be stuck in one place.
Moreover, if you are traveling with other people, everyone inside the camp must be cozy and comfortable.
Most electric radiators without fans don’t circulate the heat evenly around, which ensures the heat does not just stay on one part of the tent.
It is important to have a heater with a fan because it can help circulate the air in your tent and provide uniform heating.
Conclusion
Camping is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but sometimes the cold can make it less than enjoyable. This is where battery-powered camping heaters come in handy!
So, if you’re looking for a reliable and efficient way to keep warm on your camping trips this winter, consider investing in one of the best battery-powered camping heaters.
Just make sure you keep an eye on those batteries and bring along some spares just in case!
If you are looking for a heater that is small, easy to carry around with you on your camping trips, then Mr. Heater MH12HB is the perfect option for you.
Don’t let the cold keep you from enjoying all that nature has to offer – invest in one of these tent heaters and stay warm while you sleep under the stars!
For more guides & reviews read my other posts:
- Best Power Inverters for Camping
- Best Portable Radio For Camping
- Camping While Fat and Enjoying it!
- Tent Security: 12 Tips to Stay Safe While Camping
- Best Long Sleeve Hiking Shirts
- Best Leggings For Winter Hiking
About the Author
Hussain is a passionate hiker and traveler that love the outdoor and enjoys what nature has to give, whenever he can he love to write and give tips & honest reviews to help others get out there and just seek more unforgettable experiences.
