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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

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Original poster

What heater for our tent?

19 replies

LilRedWG · 03/08/2008 10:36

Right - the site we are going to has electric hook up but request that electric heaters are not used. What are our alternatives?

OP posts:

Original poster

LilRedWG · 03/08/2008 10:38

Or should we just ignore them and use one?

OP posts:

OhYouBadBadKitten · 03/08/2008 22:25

hot water bottle, woolly hats and bedsocks

seeker · 03/08/2008 22:35

Heater? Tent? Am I missing something? Who has heaters in their tents?

MindingMum · 03/08/2008 22:58

We used an electric fan heater this time but only because I couldn't find my gas one at the last minute

seeker · 03/08/2008 23:04

Seriously? People have heaters in their tents?

We've moved the fire pot into our tipi occasionally - but only in the depths of winter!

PeaMcLean · 03/08/2008 23:07

You have a tipi? How is that not more weird than having a heater in your tent?

Do they not want you to use it due to voltage? You don't want to blow the system. Can't you just wear a coat???

seeker · 03/08/2008 23:08

Tipis are the Next Big Thing in tents - you mark my words!

PeaMcLean · 03/08/2008 23:10

Flibbertyjibbet · 03/08/2008 23:11

If you want electric heaters in your accomodation then camping ain't for you.

Said she who woke up to find snow on the tent some years back while hitching and camping her way around scotland in March.

Do people really expect to use HEATERS in TENTS these days - is that the Glamping thing I keep hearing about?

How absolutely shocking on an environmentally unfriendly level - unless your tent is insulated to the same levels as your house?

PeaMcLean · 03/08/2008 23:22

I don't know if you can get a gas heater but I always get edgy about using gas inside the tent. Bit too paranoid for that.

Original poster

LilRedWG · 04/08/2008 09:23

Wow - I'm not talking having it on 24/7, just to warm up the tent when our DD goes to bed as she can't get to sleep if it's cold.

I'll crawl back in my hole now....

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Heartmum2Jamie · 04/08/2008 10:45

Hmmmm, I have yet to go camping as I am waiting on my EHU so that I can run a hearter if needs be......because I have a 4 year old son with a heart condition, he feels the cold badly. So, does this mean camping is not for us?? I have to admit to being quite shocked at some of the replies on here, what I wouldn't give to be able to just "put a coat on him".

For those of you who have used heaters, what kind would you suggest? I have on oil filled portable rad, but it is very heavy. Should I get a fan heater or gas (I think I would be worried about gas.) Any other HELPFUL suggestions?

flowerfairy · 04/08/2008 11:04

FF pushes head tentaviely out of tent door. We have a gas heater, quite small. think it is a camping gaz one, not sure. It cuts out apparently if knocked over. We used ours for short bursts at night earlier this year. And it did make the tent surprisingly warm.
FF scurries back in tent and snuggles inside sleeping bag.

Original poster

LilRedWG · 04/08/2008 12:42

HeartmumtoJamie - I asked some very helpful camping friends on Facebook and their recommendation was one of these - a CampingGaz Blue Cat. I may well get one and stuff those who don't think I'm a proper camper. I hope it's of some use to you and your son.

OP posts:

Original poster

LilRedWG · 04/08/2008 12:42

Thanks FF.

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MindingMum · 04/08/2008 13:18

Our gas heater is from B&M (12.99), just takes a basic small gas cannister but gives out loads of heat. We just run it for 15 mins while the DC are getting ready for bed and again for 5 mins before we go.

Surfette · 04/08/2008 13:58

We have one of these: www.gooutdoors.co.uk/5039150201291. THey use a single gas canister and seem to work well - kept us warm in a bell tent which is no mean feat given the amount of air to be heated. Obviously you need to make sure you don't put anything that might melt or burn too close to the grill but they don't knock over easily as you can see from the shape.

We also have an electric heater (looks a bit like this one - maybe ours is an earlier version www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4159074/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CHome+and+furniture% 7C10197552/c2/2%7Ccat10197552%7CHeaters+and+coolers%7C10197884/c3/3%7Ccat10197884%7CFan+heaters% 7C10197898.htm) which we got from Argos and use on the occasions we have EHU. It is thermostatically controlled and warms up better then the gas one but obviously if you are not allowed to use electric heaters where you are going, the gas one would be better.

Can't say I have ever felt much shame about using them but I do appreciate you have to be aware of the environmental costs of doing so. In that way, a gas heater is probably better as there is less temptation to leave it on all night as I, at least, wouldn't feel safe doing so.

Heartmum2Jamie · 04/08/2008 15:15

Thanks FF, LilRedWG, MM & Surfette, I appreciate the advice. I will look into each of these idea's. I certainly wouldn't want to run heat all night, but would want something that gave pretty much instant heat so I can warm him quickly if he wakes up cold. I perhaps should have mentioned we would be looking at heating a wynnster eagle 6 tunnel tent if need be.

flowerfairy · 04/08/2008 16:04

Ours is that one that Lilredwig was shown.

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