The Prepper Insider is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Camping is fun, and it gets even better when you have all the right tools at your side.
Of course, the first step is to get a sturdy tent, but you need to have a tent stove to stay warm. So, you have to buy a nice and reliable stove which you can carry to camping sites with you.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Tent Stove
- OUR TOP PICK: Camp Chef Alpine Heavy Duty Cylinder Stove
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Timberline Stove Package
- BEST TENT WOOD STOVE: Cylinder Stoves - Outfitter Wood Tent Stove
Comparison Chart of the Best Tent Stoves
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  |
| View Latest Price → |
Best Budget Option  |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
What Size of Tent Stove Do I Need?
In order to enjoy comfortable heat throughout your camp, you need the right sized tent stove. Most tents have a size of 160 to 220 square feet, so an average stove works fine with them. For these, the stoves with 10 x 12 to 12 x 14 sizes work best. They cover moderate to large-sized tents quite well too. Other than this, the type of fuel used also affects the size of a tent stove that you need.
What Should I Look For When Buying a Tent Stove?
Buying the right tent stove is a compulsion if you want to have both ease of use and comfort. This is why you have to be careful of the features it comes with. In addition to the product specifications, you have to look for the following aspects too.
Portability
Portability can be a major make or break point when it comes to choosing a tent stove. Since camping is away from home, it involves a certain amount of traveling. So, it should be easy to pack and carry around.
Heat Retention
You have to be mindful of the heat retention capability of a tent stove while buying it too. It determines the amount of wood or coal you need to keep the tent warm. It also affects the time for which you get to stay warm before the fire goes off completely.
Size
The size is another important factor as it affects both portability and placement. The size should be comparable with the size of your tent. It should neither cram your tent nor should it produce lesser heat than required.
Fuel Type
The type of fuel it uses is also important. Wood logs and coal are the most preferred fuel types for such stoves as they are readily available and do not cost much.
Review of the Best Tent Stoves
If you are looking for a reliable tent stove, then your quest ends now. Here is a complete review of some of the best that the market has to offer at present.
Best Overall:
Camp Chef Alpine Heavy Duty Cylinder Stove
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The people who got to use it recently found it very impressive in terms of its construction. They liked how it has adjustable legs, which make positioning easy. They liked it as they could adjust the legs easily to balance on uneven ground as well.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is one of our favorites due to its promising features. It has high transportability as well as a wire spark arrestor. It makes the stove safe as the flames do not come out of the fire compartment. The rain cap on it makes it resistant to water, and it keeps supplying heat even during rainfall.
Who Will Use This Most
This is best suited for the people who are in for thrills and adventures. No matter how rough terrain is, you can balance this stove in your tent. The working of its shelf as a drying rack increases its multi-functional ability further. So, you can use it to dry all the wet clothes and jackets while you are all wrapped up in blankets.
Bottom Line
The final word on this is that it has a heavy-duty construction that satisfies most users with its working. It also has a fire grate, which protects against overheating. It also ensures greater safety as it covers the base of the stove well.
Best for the Money:
Timberline Stove Package
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most recent buyers found this product to be quite economical and cost-effective. They liked its features to price ratio a lot as there is no compromise on the quality. They are also fond of the stove as it uses wood logs, and they are available everywhere.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It makes it to our list because of its budget-friendly price. The stove tent also stands out to us due to the reinforced steel construction, which minimizes the chances of warping. This is a wood-based stove, so heating does not cost much when it comes to getting its fuel.
Who Will Use This Most
This is most useful for the people who prefer to have a cozy aura in their tent. The 5 inches wide nested stove pipe takes out all the excess smoke. It also has a 3-gallon water heater, which supplies you warm water even when away from home.
Bottom Line
All in all, it is a great tent stove that has lesser warping and high safety. It is easy to pack with all of its parts placed inside. So, you should go for this one if you want to make your purchase high on quality and low on price.
Best Tent Wood Stove:
Cylinder Stoves - Outfitter Wood Tent Stove
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This product received quite a bit of mixed responses. They liked the portability of this stove as it has a lightweight and compact frame. However, they had some issues with the paint chipping off. Despite that, they loved their purchase as it did what it was supposed to.
Why it Stands Out to Us
What stands out is its cylindrical design, which covers less floor space. It has dimensions of 28 x 16 x 13 inches, which leave more room for other things inside the tent. It also has a warp-free design that promises a longer life than other such products.
Who Will Use This Most
This is the product for you if you want something which keeps the heat inside for a long while. It can retain heat for up to 10 hours, which makes it great for nighttime use. Its increased portability makes it great for those who love to go on long adventures.
Bottom Line
Summing up, it is a nice option for those who have large tents and need something for consistent heating. The item is quite compact and actively prevents warping. This makes it ideal for those who want a long term investment.
Best Titanium Tent Stove:
Winnerwell Fastfold Titanium Tent Stove
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The people who bought this Winnerwell tent stove lately liked its features. They found its construction quite practical as it has a low weight. It also struck a chord with buyers with its titanium frame material, which has a longer life.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It catches our eye with its moderate size, which goes with both small and large tents. The firebox has a 900 cubic inch compartment, which saves heat for a long duration. It also has a 9-feet long chimney, which has a 3-inch diameter for the exhaust of smoke and burnt gases.
Who Will Use This Most
This is best for the people who want to camp in far off places. It has high portability as well as greater packing ability. The stove is both easy to assemble and disassemble. This makes it quick to pack and even quicker to set up when needed.
Bottom Line
Overall, this is a great option with high heat retention power. It has better construction, which is quite easy to store. The only issue can be its price, but if you can afford it, then it is worth your investment.
Best Military Tent Stove:
Shasta Vent Portable Camping Wood Stove
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
For the most part, recent buyers love it as it offered them a great service. Buyers liked its vent pipes, which are 5, and each one of them has a length of 15 inches. They also love it due to the ease of transportation it offers.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This tent stove distinguishes itself to us with its safety features. Its temperature gloves make using it safer as you get to change the settings by directly touching it. The spark arrestor cap also keeps the flames restricted in the fire compartment.
Who Will Use This Most
This is very useful for people who want to keep things light. It weighs only 25 pounds and has a smart construction. It is also great for those who want to have a highly portable stove. Its case further increases the ease of carrying it.
Bottom Line
To conclude, it is an affordable as well as smart stove which suits the needs of adventure lovers. The top plate is removable and helps in quick heating. So, getting this one will be a wise decision on your part.
6. Guide Gear Outdoor Wood Stove
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers reported a great time using this tent stove. They liked the gas exhaust pipe, which makes it safe for tents. They liked how it removed all the annoying smoke without reducing the heat inside. They loved its heat retention capacity as well, which stays around all night.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It stands out to us with its galvanized steel construction, which is sure to stay around for a long time. It promises high reliability and does not need any frequent repairs. Its dimensions of 20 x 11 x 13 inches also impress us as they make it sleek.
Who Will Use This Most
This is most useful for campers who like to go camping in the extreme wilderness. It is strong enough to deal with harsh weather conditions and provides a consistent supply of heat. It is also useful for them as it has high portability.
Bottom Line
The bottom line on this one is that it is one of the most liked tent stoves in the market. It has all that it takes to be a reliable source of heat. Its exhaust makes it safer. It also ensures a comfortable and breathable environment inside the tent for you.
What Do I Need To Know Before Buying?
The product you buy should be in line with your heat requirements. It should also cover some basic points that we have listed below for you.
Galvanizing
Galvanizing increases the life of a tent stove and makes its construction reliable. But, it also produces some toxic gases. So, the product that you buy should have a low level of galvanizing.
Weight
While buying a tent stove, you need to be careful of the weight as well. The weight should be minimum to make transporting and adjusting it easier for you. You can even disassemble the stove and carry its parts individually rather than holding up or dragging around the whole unit.
Warranty
You have to be considerate of the warranty that a tent stove offers as well. As you have to keep using the stove for years, it should have a longer warranty. So, make sure to go for one that has a trustworthy warranty policy.
Venting
Now, venting is one of the most important aspects of a tent stove. It helps in keeping the air safe to breathe. So, it should remove all the smoke, but it should not mess with the heat.
Guide Gear Outdoor Wood Stove
How to Use Tent Stove
Using your tent stove is not hard at all if you know the right way of doing so. Here are a few simple steps that you have to follow in order to make the most out of your tent stove.
- Assemble your product as per the directions on the manual that it comes with.
- Then lay down three large pieces of wood at the bottom and then place chunks of coal on it.
- If you want to burn wood only, then put layers of thin wood logs over the large ones.
- Then lay a layer of kindling grass over it.
- Now, place another layer of pencil-sized wood on to it.
- Begin by lighting up the thin kindling material, which takes only 5 seconds to catch fire.
- Now shut the door, secure it in place, and enjoy the warmth it spreads.
You can refer to the video here to get a better picture of how to use it.
Conclusion
Wrapping it all up, you need to have a tent stove if you want to enjoy camping. Since most adventure sites are out in the open, it can get unbearably cold at night. So, make sure to get a stove that can work for you without putting you in danger.
People Also Ask
People who love to go camping want to keep things safe as well. This is why they have many queries regarding the use of a tent stove. Considering this, we have answered the most frequently asked questions here for you. So, go through them if you have any confusion too.
Can You Put a Wood Stove in a Tent?
Yes, you can put a wood stove in a tent as long as you take all the necessary cautions. The tents should have a hot flue pipe opening which operates like a chimney. It keeps the inside warm and safe at the same time. Also, you have to make sure that the burning wood logs do not come in direct contact with the tent.
How Do You Keep a Tent Stove Burning All Night?
In order to keep your stove burning all night, you need to position the logs and coal carefully. Place the coal towards the front of the stove and some large logs of wood behind them. This will help in keeping the tent warm all night.
How to Vent a Stove in a Tent?
In order to vent your stove in a tent, you need to use a hot flute pipe. It is a kind of chimney that takes out all of the smoke and leaves good air to breathe. Another way of venting is to lift the door of the tent to let out all the smoke.
Other Tent-Related Buyer Guides
Below are some other reviews related to AR-15s: