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Things to Consider When Buying a Tent Stove for Your Wall Tent
Wall tents are designed to be 4-season tents. Often, that means getting out with your wall tent to brave the cold or snowing conditions if you’re out hunting or on an ice fishing expedition. To fully enjoy time in the outdoors, stay cozy and sleep in warmth, having the ability to install a stove can be crucial. One of the wonderful things about camping in a wall tent is that it allows you to use a tent stove. Tent stoves are a great multi-use tool to have while camping and are nearly essential to heat up your space in colder months. Tent stoves, much like the wall tents you plan to install them in, are generally available in a variety of sizes. Wall tents from White Duck Outdoors, for example, come in six sizes and the tent stove you invest in should be suitable for the size you opt for. Most stoves are wood-burning and are made of steel or titanium, the thickness of which determines the durability and weight of the stove. There are several things to check for before purchasing a tent stove. It’s important to first make sure that your tent has a stove jack. This is the hole through which the stove’s chimney goes and the smoke is released, making it an essential component for any winter tent. While it may be possible to add a stove jack to a wall tent if yours doesn’t already have one, many wall tents come with built-in stove jacks for added convenience. All White Duck Outdoors wall tents come with a built-in stove jack that’s made from a heat-resistant silicone-coated material to prevent the canvas from burning or catching on fire. The stove jacks have 5-inch and 6-inch cut-out shapes, so it’s easier to accommodate your stove, regardless of the size of the pipe. When the wall tent stove isn’t in use, there’s a canvas flap on the outside of the tent to seal the stove jack and maintain warmth inside the wall tent. Beyond ensuring that your wall tent is ready and compatible with a tent stove, the size of your wall tent as well as how you plan to use your wall tent and stove will help determine which type of stove is best suited for your individual needs.
Types of Tent Stoves
Tent stoves have evolved over time, leaving us with several different types to choose from to suit every need. From heavy steel that will withstand the test of time to thin titanium made for backpackers, stoves are made to fit any wall tent. There are four main types of tent stoves:- Steel stoves
- Lightweight stoves
- Collapsible stoves
- Backpacker stoves
1. Steel Stoves
Steel stoves are made from heavy rolled steel that makes them sturdy and reliable. They don’t warp with heat like lighter models might, so they remain sealed and can hold heat for a long time, keeping you warm through the coldest nights. They usually come with a flat surface that serves as a stove-top for heating water or even cooking. One risk with drying your clothes or gear inside the tent, though, is that this can cause condensation on the wall tent fabric on the inside – so it’s worth exploring the option of drying damp clothing outside the tent, or in your canvas porch. While steel stoves are capable of heating even the largest wall tents, they also weigh anywhere from 20 to 70 pounds and are not ideal for carrying far distances.
2. Lightweight Stoves
The purpose of a lightweight stove is to be packed more easily. Made from one or no more than two layers of galvanized metal, they may not be as sturdy as traditional steel stoves, but they provide greater mobility for times you want to camp a bit down the path. Lightweight stoves generally weigh between 12 to 35 pounds, which makes them light enough to carry, yet not necessarily ideal for backpacking trips.3. Collapsible Stoves
Collapsible stoves are similar to lightweight stoves as they are made from the same thin galvanized metal and therefore weigh approximately the same. The main difference is that, in addition to being light enough to easily carry, collapsible stoves take the ease of transportation as well as storage one step further by folding up and becoming smaller. Different types of collapsible stoves will fold up to different degrees. While the body of some stoves may collapse completely, other stoves will just have legs that fold in. Solid frames tend to be more durable, but a smaller size may be what allows you to carry or to stow your stove when not in use. Deciding which stove is preferable entirely comes down to how you plan on using it.
4. Backpacker Stoves
Made from titanium or steel, but generally weighing under 10 lbs, backpacker stoves are made to offer the luxury of a canvas wall tent with stove jack even to those who like to camp off the beaten path. Despite being fairly easy to pack and carry, backpacker stoves may not be the ideal choice for wall tents. Owing to their small size, they are only capable of heating a small space that will only hold the heat for a couple of hours. Also, most backpackers don’t pack wall tents with them, and while they could heat the space in a smaller tent, a stove jack would still be necessary.Must-Have Features of a Tent Wood Stove
- Spark arrestor
- Pipe damper
- Warming tray
- Chimney
- Wood grate
