How to heat a tent?

[photofreak]

If you are thinking about a heater, I picked up a really nice one at walmart on a deep discount a few weeks back for my camper. It was the osolating(sp) honeywell. Normally 45 or 50 and got for $25. It also has the ability to set the temp and it will turn on and off. BTW it really cranks the heat

We winter camp (up here in cold brrr cold Canada) and have one of those oscillating heaters... They ROCK!!!! and keep everything warm and toasty....
Bought ours at Wallie Mart too for $25ish.....

 

[DisneyWithMyBoyz]

Don't use an air mattress when it is very cold. We made this mistake the first time we camped with cub scouts. It was 25 degrees and we just couldn't get warm no matter how many clothes or blankets we put on. The air under us was like ice. But my son got a polar bear camping patch!

DITTO THIS!!! It was awful! I had on 7 layers (grabbed my suitcase in the middle of the night and just kept adding layers) and 3 blankets (3 underneath too), plus was curled up next to hubby, and still could not get warm!!

Yet my 3 kids who were sleeping in sleeping bags on a tarp on the floor were toasty warm. The baby was in jammies with a fleece sleeper over it and was in his pack n play and I was worried he was cold so dummy me grabbed him and put him in bed with us. He started whining and wouldn't go back to sleep. Baby and I spent the rest of the night in the van with the heat on!

Thanks for the tips in this thread so we know what to do next time!!

 

[mdoc]

I would put a blanket (or a space blanket or piece of reflectix, reflective side up) under your air mattress/sleeping pad/sleeping bag to minimize the cold coming from underneath/send your body heat back up. I would definitely make use of the Fort's electricity and run a ceramic heater or one of those oil-filled radiator heaters. And if you happen to own an electric blanket, it would be great to have along. Then dress warmly for bed and use an appropriately rated sleeping bag, and you should be toasty warm.

 

[Running_Bell]

This was a very helpful thread I stumbled upon... especially the air mattress info. We had the exact thing happen with our air mattresses and camping one chilly night in NC mountains... it got down to 42 and I could not get warm on our air mattress... no matter what. We have since purchased the foam interlocking gym flooring to go in the bottom of the tent... as well a super heavy duty (10ml) tarp to go under the tent. We hope that helps. I think I will try the heating pad for next time too.

 

[Soladaddy]

Second the warming from the bottom. Make sure a bottom tarp doesn't stick out from the tent walls incase it rains. A foam pad really helps keep it warm. We did have upper 30's last October, but that was first time I've ever seen that. Should be nice weather that time of the year; low around 60, high lows 80s.

 

[krimi]

Last year Nov 27 -29 2009 the low was 48, high in the low 60s. That would be cool in a tent. Kids fought me to wear shorts at Hollywood studios Fri night. It made their snow and light section very realistic!