Have you ever camped out on a hot, summer day? Or worse, you’re quite accustomed to the terrible sweating brought by a humid climate every time you go camping? Well, don’t despair and just let the heat ruin your supposedly good night’s sleep because you can always make unpleasant situations better – Yes, by getting yourself a camping tent air conditioner.
There are a lot of portable air conditioners but not all are suitable for camping
A camping tent air conditioner is a cost-effective solution for camping during the warm parts of the year. It makes a big difference in tent camping when all you want to do is chill at home just to enjoy the cool air of your A/C.
Camping tent air conditioners come in a compact design yet they deliver powerful breeze of cold air. But since they remove both heat and humidity from the interiors of the tent, they consume electricity thus the need for a campsite with a power source.
However, don’t expect the tent air conditioner to be as cold as the one in your house because err,’ it’s not just possible with all the minute pores of the tent.
How To Choose The Right Tent Conditioner For Your Tent
Size
Apparently, the best tent air conditioner is the most compact one that can deliver an excellent cooling capacity.
If the A/C is too big for your tent, the inside will feel cold but damp. Conversely, a small A/C for a family-sized tent will cool only a particular spot and leave the rest of the tent humid.
Tent air conditioners come in three common sizes: 5000 BTU, 6000 BTU, and 8000 BTU.
A 5000 BTU A/C is ideal for a dome-style family tent or a medium-sized tent and is compact and runs quietly. In contrast, a 6000 BTU A/C can cool a large or extra large cabin tent up to approximately a 15′ by 10′, or a 150 square-foot floor plan. Lastly, an 8000 BTU A/C is suitable for an oversized cabin tent or extremely humid days.
Choosing the right A/C size for your tent will ensure your and your family’s comfort and will give justice to your buck.
Window A/C or room A/C?
Usually Window tent conditioners are more compact and are superior to room tent conditioners when it comes to cooling capacity. Window A/Cs are mounted on a tent’s wall, window, or beside the doorway.
On the other hand, room A/Cs sit upright and can be placed anywhere in the tent proximate to the power socket. This particular type of A/C features an exhaust to drive humid air out the window or any opening inside the tent.
They also have a reservoir where condensed water settles. An excellent characteristic of room tent A/Cs is they’re very portable and easier to set up than window A/Cs though they’re bulkier and heavier than the latter.
The Best Camping Tent Air Conditioners For Campers
The compact GoCool Tent Air Conditioner
The compact GoCool Tent Air Conditioner requires a 12V power source before usage. This compact piece comes with rolling casters and a retractable handle for the ultimate portability thus making it suitable to use anywhere inside the tent or an RV. Perfect for those always on the move!
Aside from electricity, this cooler also needs water and ice to run. The unit can hold 4 one gallon jugs, 9 two liter bottles, or 40 lbs of bagged ice that are sufficient enough to cool you for a long night. The unit dehumidifies warm air inside the tent by replacing it with air cooled by the ice. Hence, this fantastic unit cools, dehumidifies, and filters. No coolants or chemicals needed!
Moreover, the unit includes a 6-ft tubing for drainage. What I do with this is I set the A/C near the doorway of the tent and place the pipe outside the doorway so it drains right to the ground.
You can also use this compact unit has two automatic settings – high and low, though you can also set the degree of coolness you want by manually clicking the “cooler” and “warmer” buttons.
Pros
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Easy to transport
- No chemical coolants needed
- Works great – dehumidifies, cools, and filters
- Runs quietly
Cons
- Ice melts pretty fast so make sure you have tons of it for replacement every few hours
- Cools smaller floor areas only
- No directional air discharge option
EdgeStar Ultra Compact Portable Air Conditioner
The EdgeStar Ultra Compact Portable Air Conditioner cools up to a medium-sized tent. It also features a 24-hr programmable timer, a 3-speed fan with directional air discharge louvres, an adjustable digital thermostat control, an extendable hose for drainage, a remote control, wheel casters for rolling, and a window kit if you want to mount it in your tent. This unit also runs on water and electricity.
I must say that I’m impressed with the window kit that comes with the unit. It has a well-constructed and functional design. It’s also fairly easy to install on the lower walls of the tent. Just know the measurements of your tent first before mounting it on your wall.
What I also love about this unit is its high-tech system. The unit beeps and tells you to empty the water reservoir once it’s full. Also, there are three modes in the unit – fan, dehumidification, and cooling which are very functional. Oh, you can also set the timer for each mode to power it off after a specific duration.
Moreover, the carbon filter of the unit filters even the smallest debris and also, foul odor. Not only does the unit cools but it also dehumidifies and filters unpleasant odors.
Pros
- Compact
- Easy to transport
- No chemical coolants needed
- Works great – dehumidifies, cools, and filters
- Has a directional air discharge option
- Very functional and well-built
- Cools even bigger tents
Cons
- Quite heavy and bulky
- Difficult to drain if you don’t use the hose (the outlet is located on the bottom rear of the machine)
- Runs loudly
5000 BTU Frigidaire Tent A/C
The compact 5000 BTU Frigidaire Tent A/C is quite a best seller. It runs quietly, has a high power efficiency rating, and is lightweight too.
The unit has no wheel casters or anything for mobility, but it’s ultra-lightweight so carrying it won’t burden you so much.
It also features a remote control, foam pieces and a plastic frame for mounting it on the window, and three air modes. The air modes – auto, high, and low, produce pretty strong wind forces that will quickly drive warm air out and cool the tent’s interior.
The unit runs on electricity alone, no water or coolants are needed.
Pros
- Compact
- Easy to transport
- Superior cooling capacity
- No chemical coolants needed
- Works great – dehumidifies, cools, and filter
- Has a directional air discharge option
- Cools even medium-sized tents
- Runs quietly
Cons
- Quite heavy and bulky
- No Drainage
- Does not filter air (cools only)
EdgeStar 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
The huge remote-controlled EdgeStar 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is the holy grail of all camping tent air conditioners. The dual-hose air conditioner provides extreme cooling and heating. Wait, did you say “heating”? Yes, it’s a heater too!
The sleek-looking A/C has a black cabinet lining, a stainless steel front, and a digital LCD display to compliment the style of any tent interior. This amazing piece can cool up to 525 sq. ft or a family-sized camping tent. Moreover, the unit has a wide temperature range of 60-77 degrees Fahrenheit so you can also use it as a heater during winter.
The A/C features three modes – fan, dehumidifying, and cooling. It also has an intelligent auto mode to set timers and an automatic restart if ever electricity runs out in the middle. Also, it provides long tubing for drainage as well as a window kit for mounting.
Overall, this one’s a great unit that will surely meet all your expectations and needs.
Pros
- Compact
- Easy to transport
- Superior cooling capacity
- Can also turn into a heater
- No chemical coolants needed
- Works great – dehumidifies, cools, and filters
- Has a directional air discharge option
- Cools even larger tents
- Runs quietly
Avallon 14000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
The also remote-controlled and sleek-looking Avallon 14000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner features an intelligent auto mode, three modes – fan, cooling, and dehumidification, dual hose drainage, wheel casters, and a window kit. Any of the features mentioned sound familiar? Yes, this unit shares a great resemblance to the features of the EdgeStar 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner. This unit can also cool larger tents.
What’s cool about this unit is its invisimist feature which helps evaporate water thus lessening the drainage’s burden and yours too because this way, you don’t have to check and empty the water reservoir.
Pros
- Compact
- Easy to transport
- Superior cooling capacity
- Can also turn into a heater
- No chemical coolants needed
- Works great – dehumidifies, cools, and filters
- Has a directional air discharge option
- Cools even larger tents
Cons
- Quite heavy
- Runs loudly
- Takes a while to cool
The Verdict
A good camping tent air conditioner should have the following features: portable, has a superior cooling capacity for extremely humid weathers, has the three basic air circulation features: dehumidifier, cooler, and filter, and lastly, it should cool even bigger tents for versatility.
All of the things mentioned can be found on the EdgeStar 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner. Another great thing about this awesome unit is it can blow warmer air to heat your tent’s interior during winter camping.
No more napping outside the tent. Get yourself a tent A/C now!
A camping tent air conditioner can really make a big impact in your future camping and backpacking ventures. It will make you feel like going out and explore the great outdoors on weekends you were once spending at home doing nothing. How great is this machine,right? It makes us comfortable like we’re on our cozy rooms at home when we’re actually somewhere google maps can’t even locate.
Hey there! How about you? What tent A/C brands have you tried? Do you have some tips on keeping your tent cool without using a tent air conditioner? Comment your thoughts and tips below!
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I’m Cindy, a free-spirited outdoor enthusiast. Since childhood, Our family frequently goes on weekend camps and my father, who was a skilled hunter, used to teach my siblings and me valuable things about wildlife survival. I made this blog to share my knowledge, experiences, and tips.
