When you go camping, one of the things you have to worry about is how to stay warm in a tent without electricity.
It can be difficult to keep warm in a tent in cold weather, so we’re going to share some tips and tricks in today’s guide.
Staying Warm In A Tent Without Electricity
One of the most important things to consider when camping in cold weather is how you’ll stay warm in your tent.
If you don’t have a way to generate heat, it can be difficult to keep your tent warm enough to sleep comfortably, and nothing’s worse than freezing all night in your tent.
Read on for 25 great ways on how to heat up a tent without electricity.
Get A Warm Sleeping Bag
One of the best ways to stay warm in a tent without electricity is to invest in a good sleeping bag.
Sleeping bags are designed to keep you warm even in cold weather, so they’re a great option for camping trips.
Make sure to choose a sleeping bag that’s rated for cold weather and has a good warmth-to-weight ratio.
Layer Up For Cold Weather Camping
Another way to stay warm in a tent without electricity is to dress in layers. Wearing multiple layers of clothing will trap heat and help you stay warm even when it’s cold outside.
Be sure to wear breathable fabrics like wool or synthetic materials so you don’t overheat while you’re inside your tent.
Sweating will make you colder, so don’t overdo it.
Mylar Blankets Can Work Wonders
Mylar blankets are a great way to trap heat and stay warm in a tent without electricity.
Mylar blankets are made of a reflective material that helps to reflect body heat, making them an ideal option for camping in cold weather.
You can find mylar blankets at most sporting goods stores or online.
Bring A Hot Water Bottle To Bed
Another great way keep warm while camping is to bring a hot water bottle to bed with you.
Hot water bottles work by holding heat for long periods of time, so they’re perfect for keeping you warm all night long.
Just fill up the hot water bottle before you go to bed and tuck it into your sleeping bag to enjoy its warmth throughout the night.
Choose A Good Campsite
Make sure your campsite is protected from wind by trees or brush, ideally on all four sides if possible (or as many sides as you can manage).
This will keep you warmer in your tent in a huge way!
Also, because cold air settles in low-lying areas, be sure to choose a campsite at least 50 feet above the valley floor of the area you’re camping in.
Keep Your Gear Dry
Moisture will make you colder, so be sure that you’re drying your gear out after each use- this especially applies to sleeping bags!
Make sure to hang-dry or air out your camping gear as much as possible throughout the day so you can stay warm overnight.
Change Your Socks Before Bed
You’ll lose precious body heat through your toes, but that rate will be quickened if you’re wearing damp socks from earlier in the day (remember what we said about keeping your gear dry? That applies here as well.).
Use A Sleeping Pad
Try a foam pad, sleeping pad, or even a yoga mat under your sleeping bag to get an extra layer between you and the cold ground.
The ground will sap heat from you while you sleep, so it’s important to separate yourself from it.
You can use leaves or evergreen branches underneath your bag as a sleeping pad alternative.
Keep Your Head Warm
Your head is one of the places you’ll lose the most heat from so make sure to keep it covered while camping in cold weather.
Wear a hat or hood when you’re outside your tent, and consider bringing a sock hat, knit cap, scarf or balaclava to bed with you to keep your head warm at night.
You can also use a mylar blanket as a makeshift sleeping hood if you need to.
Warm Up Before You Tuck In
Try to raise your body temp and get your blood flowing by being active before you get in your sleeping bag – the blood flow will keep you warmer throughout the night.
Stay Hydrated & Use The Bathroom Before Bed
Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, but don’t swig too much right before bed!
Getting out of your tent at night to use the bathroom is going to cost you a lot of body heat, so try to relieve yourself before you turn in.
Read more: our guide to the best camping water containers.
Eat A Big Meal For Dinner
Simply put, more calories means more body heat.
Your digestive system will be doing extra work processing those calories, helping you to stay warmer in your tent without electricity.
Try Hot Stones
Although this is more of a survival tip, a great how to heat a tent without electricity is by using heated rocks.
You can place stones in your campfire to heat them up, and when they’re still warm yet cool enough to handle, you can wrap them up in spare clothing and put them in the bottom of your sleeping bag.
Alternatively, you can dig a trench under your tent with a camping shovel.
Dig the trench beneath where you’ll be sleeping, put the hot rocks in, and cover it back up with dirt.
This is a lot of work, but it is truly a great way to stay warm in your tent with no electricity.
If you do decide to try this, make sure to use stones that are dry as possible- moisture inside the rocks can cause them to explode, which is dangerous.
Bring Along Hand Warmers
Disposable hand warmers are an easy and affordable way to keep warm, and you can use them wherever you want.
Buy a big pack of them and share with your camping group so you can all stay toasty in your tent at night.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using hand warmers.
If you are camping with someone else, consider using a 2-person sleeping bag or zipping both your sleeping bags together so you can share body heat.
This method works wonders and will keep both of you warm while you camp, plus it’s a great way to bond with your significant other.
Drink Warm Liquids
Try hot water, tea, or cocoa while camping, especially before bed.
Drinking warm liquids is an easy hack that’ll help raise your body temperature and will keep you much warmer overnight in your tent versus grabbing a can of soda from the cooler.
Use A Sleeping Bag Liner
Sleeping bag liners are affordable and easy to use, and can add up to an extra 25 degrees of warmth to your sleeping bag setup!
Ventilate Your Tent
Although it can be tempting to seal everything up when you’re camping in cold weather, this can work against you in the long run.
The warm air inside your tent reacting with the cold outside air can actually make your tent damp and muggy, which will then make you colder.
Keep Your Tent Small
Think of heating your tent without electricity the same way you would about heating your home.
The bigger the space, the harder it is to heat!
Don’t go camping in a 10-person tent if it’s just you and one other person, because your body heat will never be enough to warm things up in there.
Store Your Gear In Your Tent
This goes with our above point that more space is harder to heat.
By storing your gear inside your tent, it’ll reduce the amount of square footage you need to warm up and keep warm, making it easier to stay toasty in your tent.
If you’ve got too much gear to keep inside your tent, consider using a tent vestibule that’ll keep your gear close while also providing some wind-blocking benefits.
Consider An Insulated Tent
If you go camping in cold weather often, insulated tents are awesome.
Why? Because they already have a layer of insulation built into them which will help keep heat in your tent while still allowing for plenty of ventilation.
Many insulated tents can also be used year-round, so you’re not investing in a one-trick pony.
Use The Campfire To Your Advantage
You never want to place your tent too close to a campfire, but you should place it close enough that the heat will provide additional warmth to you.
Check out our guide on how to keep a fire going all night for some helpful tips.
DON’T Use An Air Mattress
Although they’re comfortable, air mattresses are no good for staying warm in your tent without electricity.
Air mattresses match the ambient air temperature, so if it’s cold outside, you’ll find yourself sleeping on a big pad of cold air – no good!
Use A Ground Tarp
If possible, use a ground tarp or ground cloth underneath your tent.
This will provide an extra (thin) layer of insulation between your tent floor and the cold ground.
They’re cheap and easy to use, plus they’ll keep the bottom of your tent clean for when it’s time to pack everything up.
Heat Your Tent With A Candle
You can effectively heat your tent without electricity by using a candle, but be sure to never sleep with a lit candle in your tent!
You can light a tea candle and put it in a ceramic or other fireproof container, or you can try out a candle lantern that has everything safely contained.
Note: if you’re going to use this method you MUST use caution and do it safely.
How To Keep Warm In A Tent Without Electricity – Conclusion
As you can see, there are many simple and affordable ways to heat a tent without electricity, and you can combine as many as you wish so you can stay warm and comfortable on your next cold-weather camping trip.
Which options did you use to keep your tent warm without electricity, and how did they work for you? Let us know in the comments below.
Be sure to check out our other helpful camping guides while you’re here:
- The best camping string lights
- How to lock a tent
- What is a tent vestibule?
- How to make a DIY camping bed
- The best campfire cooking kit options
- How long does wood take to dry after rain?
- How long does Jetboil fuel last?
- The best heated camping chairs
- Our guide to cowboy camping