Best Camping Heaters – Buyer’s Guide and Reviews

Tent, check. Sleeping bags, check. Snacks, check.

If you enjoy camping during the colder times of the year, a camping heater should be the next item on your checklist.

With so many products to consider, picking just one can be a headache. In this review, we bring you some of the best camping heaters to safely camp out in comfort.

Camping Heater Buyer’s Guide

There is no such thing as a camping heater that is the top choice under all conditions.

This quickfire buyer’s guide will provide you with some essential factors to consider when picking the best camping heater for your individual needs.

Price

Although camping heaters aren’t the most expensive items you’ll ever buy, they can vary significantly in price.

Portable heaters typically start at around $20-$30 but can cost upwards of $200+. You should carefully balance the price with your desired features and budget.

More expensive heaters aren’t always the better choice.

Different types of heaters can cost more thanks to the brand or optional features like cooking capabilities.

It’s not always the case that more expensive heaters are the most powerful either.

Size, weight, portability

​​​Portability is one of the leading considerations for any type of camping equipment. The same goes for your heater.

The last thing you want to do is dramatically increase your carry weight while hiking to a camping ground.

You may also need to shift where you need heating, or your entire campsite, at any time.

Size and weight are two of the most important considerations when it comes to portability.

However, features that make carrying easier, such as handles, collapsible parts, and carrying utilities also play a role.

Heating output and efficiency

Different heaters are built to put out heat more or less intensely. This output is typically measured in British Thermal Units (BTU) which is the energy needed to increase the temperature of a pound of water by 1 Fahrenheit.

Portable camping heaters typically operate between 3,000 to 20,000 BTU. The higher the BTU, the faster you can expect it to heat a larger area.

Safety measures

Fire is an ever-present danger when talking about heaters.

To start with, you should look for a heater that’s stable and easy to stand on a variety of surfaces.

Secondly, built-in features like automatic shut-off when low oxygen levels are detected or when the device tips over is highly recommended.

Efficiency and fuel type

​The 5 Best Camping Heaters Reviewed

Campy Gear 2 is an extremely versatile camping heater. Not only can it act as either a heater or stove, but it also allows you to do both at the same time.

You can fit this compact heater with either a 3.8 oz to 8.1 oz (110 or 230g) internal propane canister, or hook it up to an external tank (1 lbs with EN417 attachment).

This little heater puts out a massive 9,000 BTU.

With its unique 360° heating output, you should be able to quickly and evenly heat up your tent.

This heater that weighs around 2lbs has a burn time of around 1.5 hours (with 230g of fuel) and can boil water in approximately 2 minutes 15 seconds.

The Campy Gear is on the pricier side for camping heaters. However, it’s still within reason considering its quality and performance.

It comes in either navy blue or purple, with the latter being more expensive.

The Campy Gear comes with a 1-year warranty.

It’s safe to ​call this model from Mr. Heater a “heavy-duty” camping or indoor heater.

It actually features three different settings: 4,000, 9,000, and even 18,000 BTU to control heating speed and temperature.

At these impressive levels of output, it can heat up a space as large as 450 sq. ft (42 m​²).

As these high levels can be dangerous, it has a built-in low oxygen shut-off system as well as a tip-over safety shut-off to avoid any unfortunate accidents.

This heater used to ship with a fan assembly, which is now sold separately that can boost its range and heating speed.

MH18B comes in both Grey and Red with the former costing considerably more than the latter.

The heater can internally connect to two different 1 lbs cylinders at a time or to an external cylinder of up to 20 lbs. It is already a relatively hefty device at around 16.30 lbs.

Another product by Mr. Heater, but something completely different. The Little Buddy has a unique handheld fan/flashlight appearance.

It’s much smaller and more compact than the MH18B but features the same rugged look and feel.

However, it’s almost half the price of the MH18B but with many of the same safety measures.

The Little Buddy is quite versatile and mobile; it can be used in nearly any setting.

It uses a 1 lb disposable propane cylinder that also acts as the neck.

In the box, you get a foot stand as well as the radiant head from which heat is emitted.

Once assembled, it spans about 11 inches in all directions and weighs around 6 lbs.

Because it points upward at a 45° angle, it does need some headspace to properly ventilate and distribute heat.

However, it’s straightforward to handle and point in the best direction.

As a smaller device, the Little Buddy is most optimal at spaces smaller than 95 sq (8.8 m²). ft.

And it can deliver up to 5.6 hours of continuous burning.

This cot-style camping wood stove by TMS is perfect for those who like a more rugged and old school heating solution.

This is a wood-fired stove that features a pipe vent, air flow regulators, and a secure locking mechanism on the main drum for optimal performance.

While not suitable for indoor or in-tent use, it’s a solid option for an outfitter’s or another open-sided shelter.

The chimney-like pipe vent with up to 4 interlocking pipe sections minimizes the amount of smoke at head height.

It’s also a useful cooker with secondary, side-mounted pipes for cooking potatoes, for example.

The top also features a top grate for BBQ-style grilling that doubles as a carrying handle when not in use.

At 24.58 lbs, it’s definitely one of the heavier heaters on this list, so might not be suitable for long treks.

The individual pieces can also be relatively unwieldy to transport.

That being said, it’s definitely a handy camp-side companion.

The Mr. Heater isn’t much to look at, but it’s another highly effective camping heater and cooker from Mr. Heater.

It’s a steel-built piece of equipment that consists of an outward-facing satellite-like emitter mounted to a simple frame.

And, a 1 lb disposable cylinder can be mounted to the back - or a 20 lbs external cylinder.

Thanks to a built-in regulator, the F242300 can output between 8,000-15,000 BTU.

Despite its bare-to-the-bones appearance, it still features an automatic safety shut-off. It can also heat an impressively large area of up to 375 sq. ft​ (35m²).

At around ​2.85 lbs, it’s just about one of the lightest heater you’ll come across.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there is plenty to consider when choosing the best camping heater to keep you company next time you tackle the great outdoors in winter (or not!). 

Take your time to research the variety of products available and make sure always to make your choice with your camping style in mind.