How to Make a Tent Warmer?
To make a tent warmer, you first have to block all openings that might let cold air in and to stop warm air from escaping. Camping in the cold can be tough at times, but not impossible. You can make your tent warmer by using different methods, namely the hot water bottle heater. Below will be a list of tips tom make your tent feel more like home.
How to Make a Tent Warmer?
- Use Hot Water Bottles as Heaters - A hot water bottle is an excellent way of warming up your feet or hands quickly before going outside for some fresh air or just checking out the surroundings. Simply fill up a clean empty bottle with boiling water and place it in your sleeping bag or at the end of your boots.
- Use Battery Powered Radiators with Timers - Some battery powered radiators are equipped with timers, so you can set them to turn on when you are asleep. This way, they will be effective only while you sleep and won’t keep running all night long consuming batteries. Another benefit is that they come in small sizes which makes it possible for you to carry them anywhere you go camping.
- Fill Hot Water Bottles - If you want to avoid the risk of having your electric devices run out of batteries, then why not heat up some water and fill up a couple of hot water bottles? Place them strategically around the tent so that they will be able to release their warmth inside.
- Use a tarp on top of your tent - A tarp will provide additional protection against the wind and rain. You can secure this with ropes so that it does not fly away in high winds. It will also help with insulating your tent which will also keep the inside of your tent warm.
- Use A Fire Pit - The best way to keep a tent warm is by building a fire pit right inside it. This way, the warmth from the fire will circulate nicely inside your tent allowing you to sleep comfortably. Just ensure that there is enough space for you and other people in your group as well as things like clothes and other personal belongings as they pose danger when they come into contact with flames. try to keep the pit in the center and do not allow it to have tall flames. A fire pit only needs to have coal or large pieces of wood burning. You can place large rock inside your fire pit to retain the heat. Even when the fire goes out, the rocks will still retain the heat for a long time.
- Get Disposable Heat Bags - Disposable heat bags are designed to give off heat when you squeeze them. They are not dangerous and can be used in tents. As an alternative, you can get disposable hand-warmers that generate heat by chemical reaction without flames.
- Keep bedding simple - When setting up your bedding, try to minimize the number of fabrics you use. Fatigue and stress will make it difficult for you to think clearly during a camping trip, so keep your bedding simple by reducing the number of fabric layers on your sleeping bag or blanket.
- Keep things dry - In order to protect against humidity, it is advisable to store all your equipment in waterproof bags before packing them together inside an airtight container. This is even more important if you are camping in cold weather where moisture can lead to frostbite in extreme cases. Ziploc bags will come in handy when you are packing your container.
- Choose a good camping spot - When choosing a place to camp, try to choose a location that does not have a lot of wind. Look for a spot that is well hidden and away from any strong winds. Also if you can find a location near a river, lake or sea then it will help insulate the tent by trapping the heat in.
- Use stones and rocks to help with insulation - If you have available stones and rocks around your campsite, try stacking them inside the entrance of your tent as they will provide extra insulation. This also helps to trap heat so you should be able to feel at least slightly warmer inside your tent.
- Find natural shelter such as trees or large rocks - As mentioned above, trees and large rocks are ideal for helping keep your surroundings warm but they are also helpful when it comes to wind protection too. Wind will have a hard time penetrating through large rocks or trees so you should have an easier time keeping warm.
- Purchase a good Carpet - A carpet is an essential item to have when it comes to keeping your tent warm. It will provide insulation from the cold hard ground which you sleep on and also help insulate from cold air that can pass through the bottom of your tent as well as keep you warmer inside your sleeping bag, so it's purchasing a good quality one.
- Use Canvas Tent or Poly-Cotton Tent - The type of tent you choose to purchase will usually decide how hard it is to keep the inside warm. A Canvas or Poly-Cotton tent will be easier to keep warm due to the types of materials used in their construction. They are good for winter or cold weather camping. A double walled tent could also be the best option for you. If you go in for two separate rooms, then one room can act as a warm room while other can act as a cooler one.
Tips to stay warm in your tent
You can do many different things to stay warm in your tent. Below is a list of things you can do to keep yourself warm in your tent.
- Use a Down Sleeping Bag -Down bags do not compress or lose their loft easily and they are highly insulated, so if you want warmth without bulk try a down bag. You should be able to find a lightweight down bag no heavier than 2 pounds for use. Remember, down sleeping bags are not as warm as synthetic ones are. However, they are still insulating and provide great warmth service without the extra bulk. Down tents are one of the best ways that you can keep your body heat inside of your tent instead of letting it escape through the cold outdoor air during the night.
- Purchase Several Thick Blankets - In addition to using sleeping bags for camping, always have extra blankets just to make sure you stay warm while sleeping. Heat escapes from your body and if you get cold, there is nothing worse than trying to gain warmth after losing it. Keep yourself extra warm by using multiple blankets or perhaps even a thick sleeping bag with another blanket on top of that. If it gets really cold, consider purchasing a hooded sweatshirt along with hand and feet warmers for some added heat.
- Wear Good Underwear - Most of us camp in summer, but if you are headed into the colder seasons, be sure to wear good underwear. Even if it's hot outside, temperatures can quickly drop at night. You should also bring warm socks and thermal tops. If your feet are cold, they will feel like ice-cubes all night so pay attention to this advice! Don't Venture Outside Unprotected.
- Use Electric Blankets - An electric blanket costs more than a radiator but it is ideal if warmth is your primary concern. They also come in different types that will allow you to choose between one that allows air circulation under them or not. You simply place it on your mattress and turn it on. If you are camping, you can simply plug the blanket to a portable generator outside the tent.
- Keep bedding simple - When setting up your bedding, try to minimize the number of fabrics you use. Fatigue and stress will make it difficult for you to think clearly during a camping trip, so keep your bedding simple by reducing the number of fabric layers on your sleeping bag or blanket.
- Don’t go overboard with the heat - Too much heat will cause your tent to dry up too quickly. Moisture is bad for cotton-based fabrics especially if it is humid or wet outside even if there is no immediate danger of rain. So keep the little woodstove at a manageable level so that you don’t have to worry about things catching fire while you are sleeping soundly inside your warm tent.
- Use warm sheets - A sheet is one of the best inventions that you can use in your tent to keep warm. All you need is a sheet, elastic bands and clothespins for this DIY project. Now take one end of your cotton sheets with all four corners in hand and twist it till it rolls up like a cotton spring. Do not roll tightly so that there are large spaces in between each turn or twist. Once done, secure it with an elastic band to hold it together before hanging on either side of your tent using clothes pins making sure that the cord falls within the width of the tent (not outside). You can also place another piece of cotton cloth or sheet on top but make sure that it does not fall outside the tent.
- Choose pillow type wisely - Purchase several camping pillows made out of thick materials so that they do not compress easily when packed away in their stuff sacks. Many camping pillows now come with thick insulation on them which will help to trap body heat within them much better than regular pillows would be able to do.
- Keep your clothes on - Instead of taking off your clothes at night, try to keep them on inside of your sleeping bag so that you can trap the heat in closer to your body than it already is. If there is room enough, try stuffing some extra pieces of clothing into loosely zipped areas within your bag.
- Make sure that all vents/openings are closed - This will ensure that the airflow is restricted as much as possible. The lack of ventilation will also make sure that any condensation gathered on the inner walls during the night time hours evaporates slowly which will prevent it from dripping onto your face or onto your belongings.
How cold is too cold for camping?
Any cold weather that goes below 50 degrees is considered freezing in most places. If the temperature goes below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or zero degrees Celsius, it can be dangerous to camp in that weather for a long period of time without any proper precautions taken. The precautions you take will decide how comfortable and safe you are during this cold weather. Your main aim is to get your living area as warm as possible.
What to wear when camping in winter?
The first thing you need when camping in winter is warm clothes. Do not wear so many clothes that you do not have enough room to move, but dress warmly. You also need to take care of the type of clothing that you will be wearing depending on the weather condition.
Conclusion
Making a tent warmer is not an easy task. There are certain things you need to know in order to keep your tent warm enough for you and your family to enjoy the camping trip, even in cold weather. You need to maintain a balance between heating and ventilation, in order to prevent the tent from becoming stuffy and hot while at the same time keeping it warm enough for you and your family members.
If it is sunny and cold, wear light colored clothing for maximum exposure to sunlight; alternatively if it's cold and wet, wear dark color clothing to retain heat. Also, always dress in layers so that you can remove a layer of clothing when the weather becomes warm or vice versa.