Whether you are walking up above the cloud line, ski-touring, or backpacking – camping in winter can be a wonderful experience with the right gear.
When camping outside in the winter, the last thing you want to be is cold and wet. So invest in a winter tent with a stove jack to give you a warm and dry place to lay your head.
This guide will provide information on selecting the best backpacking tent with a stove jack.
- OneTigris Smokey HUT Ultralight Hot Tent
- Preself 3 Person Lightweight Tipi Tent
- OneTigris Wild Haven Ultralight Backpacking Hot Tent
- OneTigris Iron Wall Stove Tent with Inner Mesh
- PlayDo 4-Season Waterproof Cotton Canvas Bell Tent
Can you use a stove in a tent? What is hot tenting?
You can use a stove in your tent, known as ‘hot tenting.’ And believe me – from personal experience, a good stove can keep you nice and warm! But you can’t put a stove in any tent. You will need a canvas or poly-cotton tent with an opening for the hot flue pipe (the chimney).
What are the benefits of having a winter tent with a stove jack?
Stay warm in winter
A shelter is a lifesaver in the rain, snow, hail, and strong winds. And if you can have a warm stove in your tent, then even better.
You can survive the long nights of winter outdoors. A modern four-season mountain tent might be tolerable in sub-zero temperatures. But, when it comes to being outdoors for an extended period in winter, nothing will beat a tent with a stove.
A lightweight canvas tent with a wood stove can create a comfortable atmosphere. You can achieve a temperature of 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keeping your body warm will save calories that you would otherwise be used to keep warm.
You also have a comfortable space to cook, eat, and relax. It’s horrible not to be comfortable while winter camping!
—> If you are looking for a stove, too, you can find our review of the best tent stoves here.
Keep clothes and items dry in your winter tent with a stove
A heated tent has a lot of benefits. You can regularly keep your clothing and footwear dry and moisture-free, meaning your dress will perform up to its most significant potential. No worries about freezing from damp clothing while hiking during the day.
The warm space will also allow you to air your sleeping bag daily. Moisture in your clothing and sleeping kit will reduce their performance and frigid temperatures.
—> You might also want an electric tent heater to stay warm. Find our reviews of electric tent heaters here.
Cook food on the stove.
Your stove will give you a place to cook. It is a more efficient way to cook than an open fire outside. You will burn much less fuel, and this means gathering less firewood.
What to look for when buying the best winter backpacking tent with a stove hole?
The best type of fabric
Cotton and poly-cotton
Since you will be using a stove in your tent, you should look for a tent with cotton or poly-cotton fabric because cotton is breathable.
In comparison to synthetic tent fabrics, cotton insulates very well. It doesn’t get hot on a warm day or cold when it’s chilly outside. Cotton is breathable and absorbs water, meaning you are less likely to have issues with condensation. These fabrics last a long time and are more resistant to UV rays.
Remember that cotton tents can also be heavy, requiring effort. You will also need to weather these tents before using them, leaving them out in the rain (or under a hose) so the canvas expands and fills holes. Without doing this, your new tent could leak.
Nylon and polyester
Most tents have artificial fabrics like polyester and nylon. For family tents, polyester is very common. However, for lightweight backpacking tents, nylon is often used.
Nylon and polyester are affordable tent fabrics that are lighter and quick to dry out. But, compared to cotton, they are not good insulators, meaning they can get boiling when it is warm and chilly when it’s cold. The material is also not very breathable so condensation can build up.
These fabrics are often covered with coatings to increase water and UV resistance. The quality of the layer will vary depending on the manufacturer.
Season rating of your winter tent with stove jack
Is a 4 season tent necessary for winter camping? A good winter tent with a stove jack should be a four-season tent. It would be best to look for this rating in your new tent. This rating makes it more challenging than three-season tents. They are appropriate for spring, summer, and autumn. A four-season tent can withstand the worst conditions.
–> If you are camping in more severe conditions, you might enjoy our reviews of extreme weather tents here.
–> Also, find reviews of the best-insulated tents here.
The shape of your winter tent with a stove
It’s also essential to look for a tent with a rigid exoskeleton. If you are camping in winter, a dome shape will help shake off snow dumps. In the best-case scenario, you have a small leak, but the worst instance can cause a cave-in. The dome or tipi shape is ideal for allowing the snow to fall off.
Ventilation of your hot tent
A good winter tent needs to be breathable to help prevent condensation from building up. Imagine waking up to snow falling on you, formed from your breath that has condensed and frozen overnight. Look for openings, vents, and fabric to help ventilate the tent well.
Space in your hot tent
The space in your hot tent is a significant factor when winter camping. Winter activities tend to involve more gear. So a decent area to store your pack is essential. In addition, if you are watching a stove, you will need more space for the setup.
OneTigris Smokey HUT Ultralight Hot Tent
The OneTigris Smokey HUT Tent is a double backpacking tent with enough space for two people and a top opening for burning a stove and hot flue pipe (the ‘chimney). It is made with 20D silicon-coated nylon fabric. The tent also has waterproof zippers, seams, and a 3000mm waterproof rating to keep you dry.
This tent offers a quick setup in the cold. It also has good ventilation with two windows for airflow and one zippered side entrance. It is ideal for backpacking as it only ways 2.6 lbs and is a super light double shelter.
Pros
- 4 season tent
- Waterproof rating 3000mm
- Teepee-shaped tent with silicon-coated nylon fabric
- 10.4ft (D) *5.2ft (H)/ 3.2m *1.6m
- Capacity for two people and a burning stove and hot flue pipe
- Vents for good airflow
- Chimney opening for the hot flue pipe
Cons
- Setup may take longer than advertised
- Light material is less durable
>> Check Price on Amazon <<
Preself 3 Person Lightweight Tipi Tent
The Preself Tipi Tent is a three-person tent with two big air vents, a stovepipe, and a double door, an excellent option for family or group camping.
The tent is made of anti-tear 210T patterned polyester (known to perform better than nylon). It has a waterproof rating of PU2000mm and can resist strong wind and rain.
The tent is also ultralight and compact, with 3.4 lbs. The package is small enough to bind to your backpack. It also has a quick setup in 10 minutes. The tent has 15 pegs, eight ropes, one storage bag, an accessories bag, and a pole. Unfortunately, there is no stovepipe included.
Pros
- 4 season tipi tent
- Enough space for three people
- Can resist strong wind and rain
- The waterproof rating is PU2000mm
- Anti-tear polyester fabric
- Ultralight and compact (3.4 lbs)
- Quick setup
Cons
- No stovepipe included
>> Check Price on Amazon <<
OneTigris Wild Haven Ultralight Backpacking Hot Tent
The OneTigris Wild Haven Tent is a spacious wood stove tent that sleeps two people. It has two doors and is also highly windproof. The tipi/pyramid shape is lightweight and easy to set up. You only need a single pole without the complicated tent frame. It also has a stovepipe vent to stay warm and cook in the wild.
It has 20D silicon-coated nylon with a bathtub bottom. It is lightweight, durable, and highly versatile. In addition, this tent has snag-free zippers and a waterproof treated base to keep the dew away.
The mesh design keeps insects out and also allows for excellent ventilation. It is tee-pee-shaped and compatible with the Wild Haven Stove Tent. It also offers a quick setup – with your pole and four tent pegs. It is only 2.4 lbs and folds up small. It’s straightforward to carry around.
This tent does not come with a burning stove or hot flue pipe. Purchasing a stove jack is recommended to keep yourself and your campsite site from fire hazards. You should set the tent up with a pole and leave a gap on all sides to allow airflow and prevent dew from forming on the tent walls.
Pros
- Square tent 9.8ft (3m) side *4, 5.2ft (1.6m) height
- Fits two people
- Top opening for a burning stove and hot flue pipe
- Reinforced stress points
- High wind resistance
- Waterproof treated seams
- 2000mm waterproof rating
- 2 YK zippered side entrances
- Two windows at the top for ventilation
- Weights 3.2
Cons
- The product does not come with a burning stove or hot flue pipe
- It May require extra heat-reflecting tape around the chimney flap
>> Check Price on Amazon <<
OneTigris Iron Wall Stove Tent with Inner Mesh
The OneTigris Iron Wall Stove tent has a heptagon shape (7 sides) with a chimney opening and inner mesh. Perfect for the lone adventurer who would like to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy it.
This tent has a classic pyramid shape and is extra lightweight and easy to set up. All you need is a single walking pole without a complicated tent frame.
It offers a solid build with a shape that has high wind resistance. There are reinforced stress points for an extra solid, increased wind resistance. It also has a double-chamber design. There is space to sleep, one with a single mesh inner tent and a front room for a ‘fireplace.’ The top opening for a hot flue pipe and two windows at the top for good airflow.
This tent has a 20D silicon-coated nylon fabric. It is light, durable, and versatile, with a 2000mm waterproof rating and snag-free zippers. It weighs 3.4 lbs and comes with an f.2 ft (1.65m) tent pole, ten tent pegs, and four guy lines.
It’s recommended to purchase a stove jack to prevent fire hazards. Also, keep gaps on all sides of the tent, allowing airflow and preventing condensation from forming on the walls.
Pros
- 20D silicone-coated nylon fabric
- Snag-free YKK zippers
- Lightweight and durable material
- Separated space. There is a single inner mesh tent to keep bugs out and a front chamber for the ‘fireplace.’
- Heptagon shape. Waterproof and high wind resistant.
- Good ventilation. There is a top opening for a hot flue pipe and two windows for good airflow.
Cons
- This product does not come with a burning stove or hot flue pipe
- It does not come with setup instructions
>> Check Price on Amazon <<
PlayDo 4-Season Waterproof Cotton Canvas Bell Tent
The PlayDo Canvas Bell Tent is a glamping tent. It is made from 300gsm cotton fabric with a waterproof treatment. It is heavy-duty to withstand wind, rain, and even snowy conditions.
It is a 4 season tent with a 5-inch diameter wood-burning stove vent located on the top instead of the sidewall. The hole can be covered by durable straps when it’s not needed anymore.
The tent’s fabric has been waterproof treated and has taped stitch seams to keep moisture out. It is also breathable with top air vents and zippable windows, complete with nets. You can roll the tent’s walls, allowing a cool breeze to flow through in the summer.
The PlayDo tent offers a significant amount of space as it is a large teepee tent. It could fit a camping bed and a small table and still have room to move around within the tent—a good option for camping, hunting, hiking, or weekend camping trips.
Pros
- Tough cotton fabric with waterproof treatment
- Withstands wind, rain, and snowy weather
- Breathable with air vents and zippable windows
- 4 season tent
- 5-inch diameter vent for a wood-burning stove
- The stove vent can be covered by straps when not needed
- Spacious. It can fit families and camping furniture.
Cons
- It may require some extra silicon spray
- Could have a better quality zipper
>> Check Price on Amazon <<
What are the dangers of using a stove in a tent?
There are major risk factors inherent in heating a tent with a stove. You have a fire in a metal box, which becomes very hot, and also in a confined space where you live, with dangers of flammable materials.
Risk of burns
There is the danger of severe burns for anyone who comes into contact with the stove with high heat. Even a touch can be enough to injure yourself or burn clothes.
The threat of carbon monoxide poisoning
There is also a danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. The exhaust gases from the stove should go up the chimney. But fumes can sometimes back up and even flow in the opposite direction. For example, they could come out of the vents at the front of the stove and enter the tent’s interior, which can sometimes happen if a strong wind blows towards the chimney’s output.
Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. A wood-burning stove will also produce a good amount of smoke. So if a fire burns overnight, you should always have someone on duty to watch it. They can detect smoke as soon as it enters the tent.
You can find more carbon monoxide safety information here.
Risk of fire
Finally, there is a real risk of a tent fire. Avoid this by making sure the chimney pipe does not get too hot. Also, the design of your tent has protection or isolation the tent from the hot stove chimney, which might be a panel or flame-proof material or even a physical structure like a fireguard or grill material. Some vents also have spark arresters in the end. You can also check that the tent material has a treatment to make it flame-retardant.
How do you safely heat a hot tent with a stove?
Here are some fire precautions you can take when using a stove in your tent:
– Protect around the stove with a flame retardant mat if hot embers escape. Many manufacturers recommend that you roll back the tent’s groundsheet. Then, place the stove directly on the ground.
– Have a spark arrester on the top of the flue to prevent hot sparks from landing on the tent.
– Keep combustible items away from the stove to stop them from getting too hot.
– Keep water at hand in case you need to extinguish a fire.
– Keep little hands away from the hot stove surface and yourself.
How to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your tent?
Most fumes should be directly out of the tent up the flue. Consider taking the following precautions to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning:
– Keep your tent well-ventilated, making sure the design of your tent allows for airflow. You need to have a continuous supply of fresh air.
– Don’t leave your stove on through the night. Some campers may do this without any problems, but it’s safer not to.
My recommendation
The winter tent with the stove jack you choose will depend on your camping conditions—also the number of people and space you require.
If I had to go with my favorite of the tents reviewed, I would go with the OneTigris Smokey HUT Ultralight Hot Tent. The quality material from 20D silicone-coated nylon fabric is lightweight, durable, and versatile. Also, the waterproof rating of 3000 will help keep you dry in winter.
A tent with a stove has good ventilation to keep the air moving. There are two windows at the top and also a zippered side entrance. I also like how it is ultralight. If you are going backpacking, then this is easy to put in a backpack and carry.
Having a stove in your tent is possible, keeping you warm and comfortable. However, be sure to use the necessary precautions to warm yourself safely.
