Hey there campers and welcome to my post where I will share my three best camping tent stoves to warm you up this year. Tent stoves are ideal for cold weather camping in keeping the tent warm at night. They are usually portable, lightweight and wood or gas fired with a stove-pipe that reached through the tent roof to keep the smoke at bay.
So for those of you looking to purchase yourself a good portable winter camping tent stove, let’s check out some of the options I have come up with below…
My three recommended camping tent stoves
I will review these in more detail below, but if you just want to get moving without all the carry-on, my recommended products are listed here for your convenience:
What are tent stoves?
Tent stoves are effectively heaters that are used to keep you and your tent warm during winter camping expeditions. They are crafted carefully to provide efficient heat output whilst maintaining safety within a tent. Their makeup generally includes a firebox where the wood or charcoal burns, a chimney/flue pipe that releases smoke outside the tent and extras such as racks or shelves for drying clothes. Some can even be cooked on as well.
Tent compatibility
As you start to think about your tent stove purchase, you will need to ensure that your tent is compatible. Firstly, and even though stoves are built for safety, accidents can happen so you will need to make sure that you tent is made from nonflammable materials. Secondly, it will need an insulated vent at the top or side for the flue or chimney so that smoke can be released from the tent.
What Should You Be Looking For?
In addition to tent compatibility, below are some of the main factors you should take into account as you shop for a good camping tent stove:
- Types of tent stove
- Flue pipe
- Fuel
- Door
- Stand
- Additions
Types of tent stove
As with most gear for camping, tent stoves come in different kinds based on the materials used to manufacture them. These are as follows:
- Heavy steel tent stove – Stoves made from steel are heavy, durable, and dependable. They can warm even the extravagantly spacious tents. However, of course they are quite heavy weighing anywhere from 20 to nearly 100 pounds. This makes them incompatible with backpackers and hikers.
- Lightweight stoves – Lightweight stoves strike a reasonable balance between durability and weight. These are made from aluminum, titanium, or stainless steel however are not as strong as steel varieties. They are much lighter (between 10 and 40 pounds) and as a result, are ideal for casual campers who are not camping in freezing temperatures.
- Backpacking stoves – These are ideal for anyone concerned about packing weight because they weigh less than 10 pounds. Unfortunately, they cannot heat anything larger than a small hiking tent.
Flue pipe
This feature describes the stove’s chimney for venting smoke, ash, and unburned material from the firebox. Almost all tent stove flue pipes are made up of a series of nesting cylinders. Tent stoves should never be used inside a tent unless they are connected to a flue pipe.
Fuel
As above, tent stoves are either wood fired or use gas such as propane to provide warmth. Wood can be quite heavy (if it is not available around the campsite) however if you resort to using propane-fueled stoves, you will need to take into account the canister or tanks you should bring with you as well.
Door
This feature describes the sealable access to the product’s firebox when adding fuel and removing ash. High-quality stoves are known for having tight-fitting doors and sealed gaskets and rely on air intake vents and controls to regulate oxygen delivery. On the other hand, ultralight or low-cost stoves may rely on loose door seals to introduce oxygen.
For safety however, all tent stoves should have a secure door to reduce the risk of coals etc. falling into the tent.
Stand
This refers to legs or a frame that raises the firebox above ground level. Stands should be sturdy and dependable to prevent the stove from tipping over while in use. Your tent stove must be high enough to keep it from melting the floor of a tent while in use.
Additions
Other potential additions include:
- Spark arrestor – This feature limits the expulsion of flammable debris from the flue pipe. Spark arrestors are usually located at the top of the flue pipe and are equipped with mesh. The mesh’s holes are large enough to allow smoke to escape but small enough to prevent burning chunks of wood, ash, or embers from leaving the firebox.
- Fire grate – The fire grate describes the metal grate or bars that suspend wood fuel above the firebox floor to increase the airflow under the fire. Aside from this, fire grates allow ash to fall to the bottom of the stove for easy cleaning.
- Air intake adjuster – As the name implies, an air intake adjuster changes the amount of fresh air delivered to the fire through the air intake. Oxygen directly affects the burn rate of fire; an oxygen-deprived fire burns slowly, while an oxygen-rich fire burns faster.
- Viewing window – This feature helps you see what is going on inside of the tent stove. You can monitor the fire inside the furnace through a viewing window, also providing light inside the tent.
- Drying rack – A drying rack is an attachment that provides a surface to hold cooking vessels or gear near the flue or firebox to supply heat at a lower temperature.
FAQ
What tents can I put a stove in?
Even though stoves are built for safety, accidents can happen so you will need to make sure that you tent is made from nonflammable materials. Secondly, it will need an insulated vent at the top or side for the flue or chimney so that smoke can be released from the tent.
My three recommendations broken down
So based on the information above and my own experience, I recommend the following options:
1. Guide Gear Outdoor Wood Stove
This first option is a robustly constructed wood-burning stove made of galvanized steel for superb durability. The firebox withstands intense heat aided by cast iron hinge doors all in a compact design to reduce the space taken up within your tent. See its specifications below:
- Brand: Guide Gear
- Fuel: Wood
- Material: Galvanized steel for firebox; cast iron for the door
- Weight: 42.4 pounds
- Dimensions: 20 x 11 x 13 inches
Other inclusions it has:
- Detachable legs
- Ash rake
- Fire poker
- Adjustable air vent
Why have I chosen it?
I chose this one for its sturdy design meaning it will last with a good size and weight leading to good portability – albeit a little more heavy than some others. Moreover, because the product produces remarkable heat, the top platform is suitable for heating coffee pots etc. as well.
2. WINNERWELL Nomad Medium Tent Stove
My second recommendation is made of rust proof stainless steel – Which is great for those camping at the beach. With foldable legs and racks, it is extremely portable and its highly dense construction will retain heat as well. See its specifications below:
- Brand: Winnerwell
- Fuel: Wood
- Material: Stainless steel
- Weight: 20 pounds
- Dimensions: 18.03 x 14.09 x 11.34 inches
Other inclusions it has:
- Five chimney pipes
- Spark arrestor
- Ash scraper
- Wire grate
- Pipe damper
- Side shelves
Why have I chosen it?
This tent stove ideal for heating purposes inside family camping tents with an exceptional heating capacity that you can use for heating up food or drying wet clothes as well. Aside from the fact that it weighs 20 pounds, the pipes fit inside the 800 cubic inch firebox while the legs and racks can be folded, with the latter functioning as comfortable carrying handles.
3. Camp Chef Alpine Heavy Duty Cylinder Stove
My final tent stove is a top-tier camping stove crafted from heavy-duty materials and capable of heating, cooking and drying clothes. It also includes a damper, internal log grate, spark arrestor, accessory shelves, and five-piece nesting pipes. All of which are neatly stored inside the stove for easy transportation. See its specifications below:
- Brand: Camp Chef
- Fuel: Wood
- Material: Heavy-duty steel
- Weight: 74 pounds
- Dimensions: 24 x 20 x 22.5 inches
Other inclusions it has:
- Drying racks
- Adjustable legs
- Spark arrestor
- Fire grate
- Five chimney pipes
- Chimney damper
Why have I chosen it?
The product’s adjustable legs enable it to stand on uneven surfaces, common in any campgrounds. The door is large enough for you to burn considerably lengthy logs (approx. 22-inch long), resulting in prolonged combustion and the damper helps to contain the heat and quickly release it so that the stove would not overheat. Its spacious topmost part also functions as a large cooktop where you can place your saucepans and kettles.
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Conclusion
There you have it, my three best camping tent stoves to warm you up this year. I would be pleased to know how this article helped you, and as usual, please let me know of your experiences with them.
Also, please do not hesitate to comment below if you have any questions, concerns, corrections, or would like me to check anything else out for you.
Until next time
Have fun
Paul
