there is also the issue of leaving a fan heater on for ages isn't that great for the environment! i know some people leave them on all night, though maybe not in the summer. what is the point in camping when i presume part of the attraction is the natural environment you are camping in, when you will contribute to global warming and so end up ruining it! wear extra layers, it's never that cold in the summer.
------------- the orchard in may,
rosewall in july
blackberry wood in august
What about the noise ? People in the next tent can probably hear it. Isnt the idea to take the chill off the air in the evening and get into pjs/thermals/football kit/ whatever you sleep in and get into a decent sleeping bag to keep warm?
With good bags, airbed insulation etc, a heater shouldnt be needed all night :)
A variable speed thermostatically controlled fan heater will not stay on all night, it will only come on when the temperature drops below the set point!
As for the noise from the heater, it is no more than the noise coming from the electric cool box or the traffic etc... I find it is less noisy than the dawn chorus!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Indeed, noise from a fan heater is unlikely to disturb other campers...( I know I've done the pace test ! )......on the few occasions we've used the fan heater through the night....its been set low so probably comes on and off less than half a dozen times.
We feel we are already a part of the natural environment at home...we like outdooor pursuits etc....however, we also think that there is little need to rough it in order to appreciate it.
I sit outside my tent and admire the constellations...but if its particularly cold I will retreat in to the tent and resort to the fan heater.....the use of which, be it in a tent or home....can have an impact.
Some people drive two or three cars per family....have central heating....and go through white goods - mobile phones etc ( stuff )...like there's no tomorrow. I don't do any of this...so I feel a few hours over a two week holiday period using my fan heater occasionally is in perspective and justifiable.
I'm not having a go at anyone using a heater , i'm just saying decent kit is a lot more effective and makes camping trips much more versatile eg no ehu pitches.
Likewise, I only use the thermostatically controlled fan heater inside the tent. If I am sitting outside and can feel the chill, I would put a fleece jacket on, and a fleece throw over my legs.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Dave...I know what you're saying. Just horses for courses. I personally couldn;t camp without it. We've tried it both ways. For a few nights without children I'm perfectly prepared to camp without ehu and heater. But for a long haul family holiday we like to be comfortable....or at least we like to have that 'insurance policy' in terms of the unpredictable british weather. Sometimes life can be hard at home and spending two weeks in worse conditions than at home isn't an option for us. We can't afford expensive holidays....so even in that respect camping is a compromise for us...as much as we love it.
I totally appreciate that better pitches can be had without ehu...but for us its just a sacrifice we're prepared to take for the main family holiday.
And I would stress...that for us, we will go for making ourselves warm without it first.and foremost......and if we still feel chilly or damp then we will call for more back up...in the form of tent heating, :)...but we do use it as a last resort and as minimally as we can get away with.....for all the reasons aforementioned.
He's 10 weeks old, thats my concern. my 2 yr old, my hubby and myself are capable of knowing what to do when we are cold but my son cant and i worry.
All i thought was, is it an 'ok' idea to blast tent with heat while i get lo ready for bed then just let it cool naturally while he's/we're asleep? obviously the best thing for cold babies is body contact so if he was cold he'd be in with me with skin contact.
i didnt buy a tent to 'rough it', i want comforts like home, hotel, caravan etc gives. for me its basically i have my home in my car boot. i can take it anywhere and feel like its home x
I've got both, fan & oil rad, but find the oil rad much better, leave it in the sleeping pod set on a low setting at night, keeps the pod warm, also we find when you get up in the morning you don't have that damp feel to the out side of the sleeping bag. Found the fan heater a pain clicking on & off through the night.
louieW whereabouts are you going in the summer? we camped in may last year with a 10 month old, and she was fine in several layers of nightwear and a baby sleeping bag, in mid summer it's much warmer at night than may, so needed less clothes. but if you aren't leaving a heater on all night, what's the point of taking one at all with a baby? i'm sure you'll get him ready for bed early evening when it's warmer, and as long as he's in warm clothes i'm sure he'll be fine. when you check how warm he is at night, check the back of his neck. it doesn't matter if his hands feel cold, they will anyway unless it's hot, but if he feels right at the back of his neck, he'll be fine!
------------- the orchard in may,
rosewall in july
blackberry wood in august
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Heating a tent
