I can’t inform you what number of instances I’ve gone tenting within the winter, and find yourself bringing an entire suitcase of layers simply so I gained’t freeze my butt off. All of that further weight makes the hike to the campsite much more exhausting (as my knees can attest to).
But, is there a greater choice?
Lately, I simply convey a transportable heater with me. Simple! It’s a lot simpler than bringing all these garments.
Now, as to which heater you need to convey? I extremely advocate the Mr. Heater Buddy!
But all the Mr. Heater Buddy heaters are nice for various issues:
Mr. Heater Buddy (In A Nutshell)
Type: Propane | BTUs: 9000 | Weight: 9 lbs | Heats Up To (Sq Ft): 225 | Indoor Safe: Yes | Safety Features: Low Oxygen Shutdown, Overheat Safety Shutdown, Wind Guard
The producers say that it will possibly deal with warming an space of as much as 225 sq. toes. However, I haven’t run into any issues even when making an attempt to heat up a 300 square-foot room. I’m additionally an enormous fan of its security options — they actually give dads like me treasured peace of thoughts.
Pros:
- 9,000 BTU
- Near 100% effectivity
- Comprehensive protection (225+ sq. toes)
- Safety options
- Foldable deal with
Cons:
- Lower thermal output in comparison with Mr. Heater Hunting Buddy and Big Buddy
- Less moveable than Mr. Heater Little Buddy
- Size, value, and energy could also be extreme for lighter purposes
Key Features and Benefits
Safety Features
One of the explanations that Mr. Heater is such a well-known model for newbie and veteran campers is that their merchandise at all times put security first. There are a number of situations wherein these heaters will routinely shut off.
For occasion, all Mr. Heater merchandise flip themselves off in the event that they’re tipped over. This could not appear to be essential expertise, nevertheless it might actually save your butt. Heaters can get knocked over and catch your tent on hearth, so hold this function in thoughts to keep away from presumably deadly conditions.
As a further security measure, the heater will even flip off if it detects low oxygen ranges. Anyone who’s not a fan of suffocating of their sleep will agree that this function dramatically advantages customers.
The last security level is that the heater can acknowledge when the pilot gentle goes out and stop working. Without this, the propane would proceed to construct up inside your tent till you subsequent attempt to gentle the heater—one phrase: increase.
Portability
When you purchase a transportable heater, it’s important to verify it’s, you already know, moveable! You’ll be glad to know that this specific mannequin is available in at an simply manageable 9 kilos. That’s lighter than many Coleman tents.
Weight isn’t the one think about play, although. Other issues ought to be thought-about when gauging the portability of an merchandise — equivalent to deal with high quality. The deal with on this heater is foldable. This is nice for a few causes.
First of all, it’ll make the unit an entire lot simpler to hold. Secondly, storage will likely be utterly stress-free. Once you get again out of your journey and wanna retailer the heater at dwelling, then all it’s important to do is fold the deal with down to reduce the quantity of area it takes up.
Essentially, it’s at all times there while you want it however straightforward to tuck away while you don’t. Sure, one might argue that there are lighter fashions on the market — and that IS true — however the weight isn’t unwieldy, and the ergonomics make carrying it a breeze.
Efficiency
While heaters are sometimes touted for his or her uncooked thermal energy, effectivity is arguably simply as essential within the grand scheme of issues. This particular product from Mr. Heater is simply in need of being 100% environment friendly. If you’re sick of propane-chugging models, then this could possibly be an excellent various for you.
Even on the most 9,000 BTU setting, the heater will solely devour lower than 0.1 gallons of propane per hour. This drops by greater than half should you use the low setting of 4,000 BTU. The effectivity ensures that you simply get a prolonged runtime even at excessive warmth ranges.
You’ll additionally avoid wasting cash on gasoline since every tank will final you longer. Over time, the propane financial savings can offset the upfront value of the heater.
Finance apart, environment friendly heaters can lighten your loadout as effectively. Since an environment friendly unit gained’t expend gasoline as quick as some thirstier options, you gained’t need to convey as many propane tanks. This leaves extra room in your pack for different gear items that you could be wish to embrace in your wilderness loadout.
User Experience
The consumer expertise of this heater is effectively thought out. It’s able to go proper out of the field and usually straightforward to function. There’s no painful setup course of to undergo, not like with another fashions which are much less intuitive.
All it’s important to do is screw a propane tank in, push the pilot down, and watch in awe as Jack Frost flees. Thanks to the 9,000 BTU functionality, you need to be capable of take away your coat inside 5 minutes — or faster should you use the very best setting — of turning it on.
The security sensor that triggers when the unit ideas over can usually activate even with slight actions. You shouldn’t run into any points should you depart the heater be after turning it on, although.
In distinction to some smaller fashions, this moveable heater allows you to regulate its output. This makes it potential to preserve gasoline when the pure temperature rises. Hence, you could have sufficient propane in inventory for sudden dips.
Additional Buddy Heaters From Mr. Heater
Little Buddy
Type: Propane | BTUs: 3800 | Weight: 5 lbs | Heats Up To (Sq Ft): 95 | Indoor Safe: Yes | Safety Features: Low Oxygen Shutdown, Overheat Safety Shutdown, Wind Guard
The Little Buddy is each cheaper and extra moveable than its large brother. But, the tradeoff is that it offers decrease thermal output. Its max sits at solely 3,800 BTU, which is weaker than the minimal 4,000 BTU setting of most Mr. Heater merchandise.
Due to the decrease output, it additionally has a smaller protection space. 95 square-foot vary is what the producer specifies, which is respectable. But you can in all probability go a bit greater if temperatures aren’t too near sub-zero.
Mr. Heater Little Buddy:
- 3,800 BTU (single setting)
- 95 square-foot vary
- 5 lbs
Mr. Heater Buddy:
- 4,000-9,000 BTU (adjustable)
- 225 square-foot vary
- 9 lbs
Best for: Campers in hotter areas or these with smaller tents.
Mr. Heater Hunting Buddy
Type: Propane | BTUs: 12000 | Weight: 14 lbs | Heats Up To (Sq Ft): 300 | Indoor Safe: Yes | Safety Features: Low Oxygen Shutdown, Overheat Safety Shutdown, Wind Guard
The Mr. Heater Buddy unit isn’t sufficient for you? Take the following mannequin on the producer’s product ladder with the Hunting Buddy. It has a 30% greater heating capability with a most output of 12,000 BTU. It additionally has a broader protection space with a manufacturer-specified 300 sq. toes.
Despite offering extra efficiency, the Hunting Buddy weighs in at an equal 9 kilos. The predominant disadvantage is that the value is over 50% greater for a 30% energy improve. That smells like diminishing returns however with the punch this product packs, who cares?
Mr. Heater Hunting Buddy:
- 12,000 BTU (adjustable)
- 300 square-foot vary
- 14 lbs
Mr. Heater Buddy:
- 4,000-9,000 BTU (adjustable)
- 225 square-foot vary
- 9 lbs
Best for: Campers who want output one degree above the common Mr. Heater Buddy. Or hunters who need their heater to match their stand (camo).
Check Price on Sportsman’s Warehouse
BigBuddy
Type: Propane | BTUs: 18000 | Weight: 14.4 lbs | Heats Up To (Sq Ft): 450 | Indoor Safe: Yes | Safety Features: Low Oxygen Shutdown, Overheat Safety Shutdown, Wind Guard
For efficiency junkies (equivalent to myself) who need an absolute beast of a transportable heater, there’s no query that the Big Buddy is on the high of the meals chain. A most thermal output of 18,000 BTU with a protection space of as much as 450 sq. toes is nothing to scoff at.
Of course, all this peak efficiency comes with a tradeoff within the portability division. This behemoth weighs nearly 17 kilos, which is near double of the Mr. Heater Buddy mannequin. When tenting within the chilliest glacial locales, the Big Buddy will hold you good and toasty.
Mr. Heater Big Buddy:
- 18,000 BTU (adjustable)
- 450 square-foot vary
- 14.4 kilos
Mr. Heater Buddy:
- 4,000-9,000 BTU (adjustable)
- 95 square-foot vary
- 9 kilos
Best for: Those traversing the coldest tundras whereas utilizing the most important tents.
Check Price on Sportsman’s Guide
Things to Consider Before Buying a Heater
Warmth could make your tenting journeys much more pleasurable and make it easier to deal with the reminiscences you’re forging with household as a substitute of struggling to outlive. Still, bringing a tent heater with you on journeys isn’t the proper method for everyone.
Suppose you usually camp in the summertime or solely go to hotter areas. In that case, there’s no must shell out the money for a transportable heater. Some hikers additionally wish to journey gentle when masking lengthy distances so, in case your route isn’t too frigid, you might not want one.
Finally, should you often camp at excessive elevation, then you definately’ll wish to discover an alternative supply of heat. That’s as a result of most moveable heaters shut off at sure altitudes.
The Heat Buddy, as an example, will energy down at round 7,000 ft. above sea degree. Here in Colorado, I must keep watch over the place I’m tenting to see if my heater will work.
However, should you love exploring nature within the chilly, then getting a transportable heater can improve the journey expertise. This additionally applies to campers who select websites near their automotive for the reason that added weight gained’t be too noticeable over brief distances.
Be positive to discover a heater that’s straightforward to move (to keep away from straining your again) and inside your price range, so that you don’t break the financial institution. Don’t neglect to account for the load of the propane tank you’ll must gasoline it. Lastly, be certain that it’s highly effective sufficient to beat the icy temperatures of your chosen surroundings.
Our Verdict
As you may see, there’s no cause to lavatory your self down with a pile of parkas when industry-leading moveable heaters can be found from Mr. Heater. It’s protected, reasonably priced, cell, and performs rather well for its dimension.
That mentioned, if Mr. Heater’s Buddy mannequin is simply too sturdy/weak for you, simply purchase one in all its brothers in the next or decrease weight class. Either manner, Mr. Heater will likely be your good friend for all times!