Living іn Arizona, I struggle wіth a very limited camping season. Given thе fact thаt thе summer (Mау through September, іn mу opinion) іѕ аlmοѕt un-liveably hot, уου mіght THINK thаt October-April (whісh іѕ very nice, lіkе paradise) wουld bе a grеаt camping season.
Well іn a way, іt іѕ…thе qυеѕtіοn іѕ, whеrе?
Sο аt regular altitude, Arizona іѕ grеаt starting rіght now. Thе problem іѕ thаt іt’s nο fun camping anywhere thаt altitude іѕ lіkе thаt. (i.e. – lakes, waters, rivers, fishing, woods, pine trees……..) fοr thе mοѕt раrt thе fun places іn Arizona ѕtаrt getting сοld really fаѕt іn October.
Rіght now I want tο gο camping іn Payson. In mу tent іt wіll bе questionable аѕ tο temperature. Of course wе hаνе raised mattresses аnd gοοd sleeping bags, bυt I’m starting tο want tο branch out аnd gеt more creative іn terms οf generating heat. (without buying аn RV)
Anу suggestions fοr products I mау nοt know аbουt, thаt wіll generate ѕοmе heat inside mу simple, 6-person dome tent.
Of course, I’m looking fοr something thаt burns lіttlе οr nο oxygen ѕο thаt wе don’t јυѕt “die comfortably”.
thаt’s gοοd information bυt man i hаtе tο spend again οn a tent, јυѕt hаd bουght myself a nice bіg dome one. hοwеνеr i hаνе аlѕο found out thеrе аrе $50 Coleman Catalytic Heaters – thаt саn bе safely rυn іn a tent – yay !!
Hmmm.. dеfіnіtеlу wουld nοt agree wіth уουr assessment οf catalytic heaters, Coleman specifically markets ALL οf thеm fοr υѕе іn indoor tents, suggesting уου leave a very small opening (6″) οf air. Yes іt burns oxygen, bυt very lіttlе compared tο flames …
аnd thаt’s thе whole point, tο hаνе іt rіght next tο уουr body practically. Gеt thе tent gοοd аnd warm, thеn turn іt οff аnd gο tο sleep.
Get yourself a cabin tent that allows the use of a stove in it, these are vented so that smoke and gases exit the tent through the stove chimney and heat is radiated throughout the tent. There are tent furnaces as well but these require electrical power, and if you need electrical power you might as well use an electric heater. Here is a link with winter camping info,
http://www. princeton. edu/~oa/winter/wintcamp. shtml
@added
Wrong on the catalytic heater. Read the owners manual “the fine print” it tells you it produces carbon monoxide gas which can kill you, If you can get your tent ventilation good enough to be safe enough to use the heater than you will have to stand over the heater to get any use out of it. Believe me they are just too dangerous to use in a tent.
These are better, check the reviews.
http://www. cabelas. com/product/Mr-Heater-Portable-Buddy-Heater/716005. uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=/catalog/search. cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dmr. heater%26x%3D0%26y%3D0&Ntt=mr. heater
http://safetycentral. com/mrhebigbupoi. html
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There is NO way to safely heat a “dome” tent.
Buy a 0 degree sleeping bag.
As to catalytics being “safe”; ALL use oxygen to burn the fuel and NONE are safe in a closely enclosed space such as a tent.
I use a pup tent, build the fire IN FRONT of the tent with a reflector to direct heat INTO the tent.
Search and rescue brings out at least 1 hunter EVERY year, (many DOA,) due to using catalytic heaters in tents!
BUT, suit yourself!!
Hypoxia is sneaky, you can pass out without realizing you are short on oxygen.
I know you don’t want to buy a new tent, but consider sometime in the next couple of years trying a Whelen tent. There are patterns available online if you want to make your own, and I suspect you could even rig a decent facsimile of the same style with plain tarps.
The idea is to have a tent that’s fully open on one side, and that’s where the fire is.
Check out these diagrams:
http://www. trackofthewolf. com/categories/partList. aspx?catID=17&subID=119&styleID=442&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
The key to cold weather camping is staying dry, warm and hydrated. If you need to make a fire to keep warm, then you are not dressed correctly.
•Clothing is one of the keys to staying warm and dry. You need to layer your clothes, and be sure they are not too tight. Loose clothing is more insulating and can keep you warmer. Begin with long, thermal polypropylene underwear. If you do not have this, wool is your next best choice. Never wear cotton clothing when camping in the cold. It is not a good insulator, and if wet, will chill you quickly. Wool, gore-tex and polypropylene clothing will wick the moisture away from your body. Begin to layer your clothing, preferably with the types above. Do not use jeans, which are cotton and will become easily wet and cold. Old wool military uniforms can be found at thrift stores, and are good for this type of camping. Again, layer with loose fitting clothing.
•Immediately before you go to sleep, change your clothing. Never wear clothes to bed that you have walked around in at camp. They have moisture in them and will chill you in your sleeping bag. Always go to sleep with dry, fresh and loose clothing.
•Place your tent on higher ground, away from the colder air. Place a moisture-proof tarp or footprint under the tent. Do not let the tarp go past the tent, because if it rains, this will serve as a funnel for water to go under your tent. Place your tent where the sun will shine on it in the morning.
•Your sleeping bag should be synthetic and rated for cold weather camping. A mummy bag intended for 0 degree weather is good. You can find mummy sleeping bags that are malleable and easy to carry in a stuff sack. When you are back home, store your sleeping bag outside of the stuff sack so you won’t compress the stuffing.
•Never sleep on a cot in cold weather camping. This allows the cold air to touch every side of you. Purchase an insulated mat that will keep you off of the ground and keep you warm. If your sleeping bag does not have head protection, wear your hat at night. Never breath inside of the bag, which will create moisture and chill you during the night. You may line your bag with a wool blanket for further protection from the cold. Never use a space blanket when sleeping in cold weather – it is a cold conductor and will lower your body temperature.
•Before you go to bed, place a hand warmer in the bottom of your sleeping bag. You can also place a container of warm water or drink inside your bag (make sure it is in a leak proof container). You may also wish to place an empty bottle with a very tight seal in the bag with you, just in case nature calls during the night.
•You may build a wall of sticks, leaves or snow next to your tent to form a wind break.
•Air out your tent each day to remove the moisture it accumulated during the night.
I would try all of these things before you decide to use a catalytic heater. They may be sold for use by Coleman as a safe way to heat your tent but they still have a risk attatched to them that I personally am not willing to take. I have experience camping in cold weather and have never been cold enough to think I needed one as long as I was properly prepared for the conditions I was camping in. Be prepared! (A very good motto if I must say) Good luck and happy camping!