Hot tent camping can truly elevate your winter overlanding experience by combining the thrill of adventure with the warmth and comfort of a heated tent. I’ve tried to cast a wide net with this article to make it useful for everyone—from those seasoned in winter camping to those just getting started.
If you’re a veteran camper, you might come across a few points where you think, “Duh, no kidding.” But I assure you, these were too important to leave out for the newer folks. So, here are five essential tips to ensure a successful hot tent camping trip, whether you’re just learning or refining your process.
Table of Contents
- Choose the Right Hot Tent and Stove Setup
- Optimize Your Tent Insulation
- Safety First: Stove and Fire Management
- Maintain a Comfortable Sleep System
- Prepare for Efficient Wood Management
- Bonus: Level Up Your Cold Weather Camping with a Diesel Heater
Choose the Right Hot Tent and Stove Setup
The RBM Outdoors Hexagon tent is the ultimate cold-weather camping tent.
When it comes to hot tent camping, especially for those with experience, having the right hot tent and stove setup can make or break your comfort. While standard winter tents can provide some level of protection from the elements, hot tents with built-in stove compatibility offer an unparalleled level of warmth and coziness, extending your winter camping possibilities.
After years of winter camping and testing various gear, there are a few hot tents that have become staples in my kit, and for good reason.
The RBM Outdoors Hexagon Tent is, without a doubt, my go-to tent for extreme cold. Its dual-wall construction, with an inner and outer layer, creates an insulating buffer that makes this tent exceptionally warm.
As I disuss in my video above, from a thermal standpoint, I’ve found this to be the best cold-weather tent I’ve tested. The space between the two layers traps warm air, offering a noticeable improvement in heat retention compared to other tents. Additionally, it’s a hub-style tent, which means it can be set up in just two minutes—perfect for when you’re racing against the cold or dwindling daylight.
Another favorite from RBM Outdoors is the UP-5 dome tent, which is designed similarly to the Hexagon but in a dome configuration. This tent is spacious and offers the same superb insulation capabilities, but as I discuss in my UP-5 dome tent review, it has the added benefit of a sturdy dome shape that handles snow load and wind exceptionally well.
Need a big tent? The Sonmez Outdoors Maxia 480 sleeps up to 14 people!
When it comes to Sonmez Outdoors, both the Maxia 480 and London 360 are solid options. While they may not match the RBM tents in thermal efficiency, their heavy-duty outer fabric still helps to retain heat in colder conditions. These tents are built tough and can take the abuse that comes with harsh winter weather.
Keep Reading: Sönmez London 360 Discover Inflatable Tent Review
The Sonmez Outdoors London 360 is an inflatable hot tent option for smaller groups.
The tent is only half of the equation, though; the stove you pair with it is equally critical. Now, there are a zillion stoves to choose from. Personally, I use the RBM Outdoors Medium Stove, and it has never let me down. It’s more than sufficient to heat any of the tents I’ve mentioned, even in sub-zero temperatures. The medium stove’s size strikes a balance between power and portability, making it easy to pack and set up.
For those new to hot tenting or upgrading their gear, not all tents are created equal. It’s important to ensure that your tent is specifically designed for use with a stove. Many standard tents can be modified to fit a stove, but purpose-built hot tents made from fire-resistant materials like canvas or treated fabrics provide the best experience. These materials are designed to handle the heat from the stove without posing a fire risk, and they generally offer better insulation and durability for winter conditions.
When selecting your tent, size and ventilation are also critical factors. Larger tents offer more space, but they also require a more powerful stove to heat the entire area. Smaller tents require less fuel and stove power, but may limit your gear storage or movement inside the tent. Proper ventilation is essential, as the use of a wood-burning stove inside a tent can produce carbon monoxide. Make sure your hot tent has dedicated vents, preferably with adjustable flaps, to allow for adequate airflow while maintaining warmth.
A key feature of any hot tent setup is the stove itself. Make sure that your stove is efficient for the tent’s size and that it comes with a spark arrestor, which prevents hot embers from flying out of the chimney and potentially causing a fire hazard. It’s also essential to ensure that the stove’s chimney exits through a stove jack made from fireproof material. The chimney should rise at least a meter above the tent to allow the smoke to properly escape.
Optimize Your Tent Insulation
The RBM Outdoors Hexagon tent comes with a high-quality ground mat to help block cold from seeping up from the ground into the tent.
When you’re camping in extreme cold, proper tent insulation becomes your best defense against frigid temperatures. Keeping the warmth inside your tent while blocking the cold from penetrating through the ground and walls requires a multi-layered approach. Insulation isn’t just about staying warm—it also helps regulate the temperature inside your tent, making the environment more comfortable and minimizing condensation.
One of the most important aspects of tent insulation is protecting yourself from the cold seeping up from the ground. Anyone who has camped in the winter knows that heat rises, which means the ground can quickly sap warmth from your body unless properly insulated.
If you’ve watched any of my videos, you’ll hear me echo this sentiment repeatedly: invest in quality ground mats. These mats, if available from your tent’s manufacturer, are one of the best ways to shield yourself from cold ground temperatures. Not only do they protect your tent floor from wear and tear, but they also serve to insulate the interior, keeping your bare feet warm and dry. Ground mats from RBM Outdoors are some of the thickest and most durable I’ve encountered, and their extra insulation is a game-changer for winter camping.
In my own setup, I always lay down a carpet inside my tent. Don’t judge… This serves as a secondary layer of insulation and adds a homey touch to the interior, making it much more comfortable to move around without boots on. A simple, heavy-duty outdoor carpet does wonders for trapping heat, especially if you’re camping for an extended period and spending a lot of time inside the tent. Check out my hot tent setup with the Sonmez London 360 in my video above.
For tents with plastic windows or sunroofs, it can be tempting to leave them uncovered to enjoy the view of the night sky. However, during the coldest months, those plastic surfaces become heat sinks, allowing warmth to escape and cold air to seep in. In my experience, covering these windows with insulated curtains or even thermal blankets will significantly improve your tent’s heat retention. While it may sacrifice a bit of stargazing, the added warmth is worth it, especially during freezing nights.
Insulating a tent isn’t limited to high-tech materials. Sometimes, simple layering can have a massive impact. In addition to using insulated ground mats and carpets, layering thick foam pads beneath your sleeping area helps to insulate further. These pads don’t just provide comfort—they also block out cold air rising from the ground, ensuring a better night’s sleep. Look for foam pads with a high R-value, which measures their ability to resist heat flow.
The RBM Outdoors Hexagon tent has double-wall construction for added insulation.
Another simple yet effective trick is to create an air gap by adding extra fabric or insulation between your inner and outer tent walls. This is why I love the RBM Outdoors Hexagon Tent so much—the tent’s double-wall construction creates a natural insulating barrier that traps heat between the layers, effectively minimizing heat loss and keeping the interior warm.
A crucial part of tent insulation is your sleeping system. When it comes to staying warm, your sleeping pad’s R-value is as important as the tent insulation itself. An R-value of 5 or more is recommended for winter camping, and combining this with insulated sleeping bags will make sure you are warm and comfortable throughout the night.
To maximize the benefits of these systems, it’s essential to consider airflow as well. While you want to trap heat, proper ventilation is necessary to reduce condensation. This is where modern hot tents with adjustable ventilation flaps come in handy—they allow fresh air to circulate without losing too much heat, preventing moisture buildup inside the tent.
Keep Reading: Best Ground Tents of 2024
Safety First: Stove and Fire Management
It’s imperative to have a stove mat under your stove to protect the tent from the stove’s heat.
I don’t mean to be Captain Obvious here, but when it comes to using a stove inside your tent, safety is your number one priority. While these points may seem like common sense, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include them in this article. Whether you’re a seasoned overlander or newer to winter camping, managing fire inside a confined space requires strict attention to detail.
First and foremost, always have a fire extinguisher on hand. Even if you’re confident in your stove setup and fire-handling abilities, having this essential piece of safety gear nearby is non-negotiable. Make sure it’s compact enough to carry in your kit but still powerful enough to handle small stove-related emergencies.
Another critical step is to use a stove mat beneath your wood-burning stove. A stove mat helps protect the floor of your tent from the intense heat radiating from the stove. It also prevents embers from igniting any flammable materials that may be on the ground. Many stove mats are made from fire-resistant materials like fiberglass or silicone-coated fabrics, which can handle extremely high temperatures.
Ensure the stove pipe in your hot tent is clear of soot and creosote.
Now, let’s talk about one of the less glamorous, but equally vital tasks: checking your stove pipes regularly for creosote buildup. If you’ve been using your stove over multiple nights, soot and creosote can accumulate in the stove pipe, which can lead to dangerous fumes or even a chimney fire.
After each burn session, checking the pipes and cleaning them out if necessary is a good habit. Keep a small brush or pipe cleaner handy for this purpose. If you don’t have one, often carefully tapping the pipe with a stick or rock will do the trick. Just be careful of where/how hard you hit it so as not to damage the pipe.
In my experience, another aspect of stove safety that often gets overlooked is securing your stove pipe during windy conditions. If you’ve ever camped in the winter, you know that heavy winds can sometimes cause the stove pipe to move or shift. To prevent this, make sure the pipe is anchored and secured firmly in place, especially at the point where it exits the tent. Most tents will have a stove jack or sleeve that’s fireproof, but adding guy lines or extra support to the pipe can prevent it from rattling or moving during gusty conditions. This not only reduces the risk of sparks flying into the tent but also keeps the airflow steady, which is essential for efficient burning.
While it may seem obvious, it’s essential to maintain proper ventilation when using a stove inside a tent. Even with a high-quality stove, carbon monoxide can build up if the air isn’t circulating properly. Always leave a vent or window slightly open to allow fresh air to flow in and out, balancing heat retention with safe oxygen levels.
Maintain a Comfortable Sleep System
Let’s be honest: nothing ruins a camping trip faster than a night spent shivering on the cold, hard ground. Maintaining a comfortable sleep system is not just about staying warm—it’s about ensuring you wake up refreshed and ready for the day’s adventure, instead of stiff, cold, and grumpy. So, let’s dive into how you can create a sleep system that feels like home, even in sub-zero temperatures.
As any seasoned winter camper will tell you, sleeping on the ground is like laying on a giant ice block that steals your body heat. This is where using a cot becomes a game-changer…
Personally, I use a cot that gets me about 10 inches off the ground, which puts me right in the middle of the warm air layer inside the tent. Remember: heat rises—so by getting off the ground, you’re sleeping in a warmer zone rather than directly on the freezing earth. But just elevating yourself isn’t enough—you’ve got to make sure you’re well-insulated on top of the cot too.
Here’s where things get a bit technical, but in a good way: when it comes to insulating yourself from the cold, look for gear with a high R-value. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.
I’ve tested dozens of sleeping pads over the years, but my current favorite is the HEST Foamy (see image above). It’s a 3-inch thick foam mattress that not only offers luxury-level comfort but also boasts an R-value of 11.8—that’s some serious heat retention! This mattress ensures that no matter how cold the ground is, I’m cozy and warm throughout the night.
Even with the best cot and mattress, the real key to staying warm lies in your sleeping bag. In my own setup, I rotate between two absolute beasts of warmth: the Outdoor Vitals Stormloft and the Aeronaut Hoverquilt (shown below on the bunk bed I use with my son). Both of these are down sleeping systems that excel in cold-weather camping. They’re not just sleeping bags—they’re cocoon-like sanctuaries of warmth. Down insulation is unbeatable for trapping heat, and with these sleeping systems, you can count on staying toasty even in freezing conditions.
For those who like to take things to the next level (I see you, winter warriors), consider adding a heated blanket or a heated sleeping pad. These add-ons can be especially handy if the weather takes an unexpected turn for the worse, or if you simply want to feel like you’re camping with central heating. I’ll admit, there’s something pretty luxurious about crawling into a pre-warmed bed when it’s freezing outside!
One extra tip: layer your blankets strategically. Having a reflective blanket or even an extra sleeping bag liner can trap heat even more efficiently, turning your sleeping system into an impenetrable fortress of warmth.
Keep Reading: Essential Gear for a Comfortable Night’s Sleep in the Wild
Prepare for Efficient Wood Management
Photo by Caglara via Shutterstock
If you’re serious about winter camping with a hot tent, managing your wood supply is a critical factor that can make or break your experience. The last thing you want is to be freezing in the middle of the night because your fuel source is either burning too fast or isn’t providing enough heat. So let’s break down some tips and tricks for efficient wood management to keep your hot tent warm and cozy through the night.
When it comes to heating your tent, not all firewood is created equal. Hardwoods like oak and maple are your best bet for long-lasting, efficient burns. These woods burn hotter and produce fewer sparks compared to softwoods like pine or fir, which can create more embers and burn out faster. Hardwoods are also denser, which means they take longer to burn, giving you more consistent heat over time.
For my own setup, I like to visit a local firewood seller where I can get half a pickup load for about $20. That amount of hardwood can last me nearly half the winter, which is both cost-effective and convenient. Stocking up in bulk ensures I always have a reliable source of wood, and it saves me the hassle of searching for firewood mid-season when it might be wet or hard to come by.
When it’s cold out, you don’t want to be fumbling around trying to start a fire with wet twigs or paper. That’s why I keep a stash of small twigs for kindling and use a propane torch to get the fire going quickly. A 1lb propane torch is a fantastic tool for lighting fires fast—especially in freezing conditions when traditional fire-starting methods might take longer. Starting with small twigs or even fire-starting cubes will get your hardwood burning more effectively, ensuring a steady supply of heat from the beginning. This quick-start method works well when you’re trying to conserve time and energy after a long day of adventuring.
One thing I’ve learned the hard way is to be cautious with those long-burning fire logs you can find at places like Home Depot or Lowe’s. I tried using them for the first time last year, thinking they’d give me a consistent burn throughout the night. While they do burn longer, they also burn way hotter than natural wood.
One particular night, I used one of these logs inside my RBM Outdoors Hexagon Tent, and while it was 13°F outside, the tent hit a scorching 107°F inside! Needless to say, I had to crack open a few windows and take off layers fast to avoid turning my hot tent into a sauna. If you decide to use these specialty logs, be mindful of the heat output—they can easily overheat a smaller or well-insulated tent.
Another key aspect of wood management is storing your wood supply properly. Even if you’ve selected the right wood, if it gets wet or frozen, it won’t burn efficiently. Inside your tent, designate a dry area to store split logs, ensuring they remain accessible and burn-ready. If you have a smaller tent, you may want to bring a small tarp or firewood rack to keep the wood elevated and dry.
Splitting wood into manageable sizes before your trip is also crucial. This saves you time and effort when you’re out in the cold and ensures you have a variety of wood sizes for different burn stages—from kindling to large logs for sustained heat.
Efficient wood management is essential for a successful hot tent camping experience. Stick to hardwoods for long, even burns, and avoid over-relying on specialty fire logs unless you’re ready for the heat they bring. Properly split and store your wood in advance, and use tools like a propane torch for quick, reliable fire starting. By prepping your wood supply ahead of time and managing it wisely, you’ll keep your tent warm and comfortable, no matter how cold it gets outside.
Bonus: Level Up Your Cold Weather Camping with a Diesel Heater
If you really want to level up your cold weather camping game and make life significantly easier, here’s a trick I use on longer trips: I bring along my Planar 4kw portable diesel heater. This setup is a total game-changer for those who, like me, enjoy comfort without constant maintenance during the night.
Here’s how I use it: during the day, I rely on burning wood in my stove for both heat and cooking. Wood is great, and there’s nothing like that campfire ambiance, but it only lasts for a few hours at best. And let’s be real—who actually enjoys waking up in the middle of the night to load the fire? Not me!
That’s where the diesel heater comes into play. As the fire begins to burn low, instead of getting up to reload the stove, I switch on my diesel heater and set it to low. This baby runs quietly throughout the night, keeping the tent at a comfortable temperature and allowing me to get a full night’s rest without worrying about freezing my toes off at 2 AM.
The beauty of a diesel heater is its efficiency and reliability. On a low setting, the Planar 4kw uses very little fuel but puts out enough heat to keep the tent warm even in sub-zero conditions. Plus, it’s portable, so it’s easy to pack with the rest of my gear, and it doesn’t require much maintenance beyond refueling.
So, the diesel heater is the way to go for those looking to upgrade their winter camping experience and get that perfect blend of comfort and ease. No more middle-of-the-night firewood shuffling, and plenty of cozy sleep. Boom!
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