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Camping Air conditioner

DIY Air Conditioner For Tents: 3 Easy Ways

January 22, 2021 by Canberk Koksal Leave a Comment

I know you didn’t know that the air conditioner was not invented for the sake of comfort, it was invented to control the humidity in a room full of papers that would shrink due to the humidity. Read the full thing here. Little did Willis Haviland knew that his invention would bring such great comfort to mankind, that his invention will make it to camping tents. It’s crazy, right?

Yes, of course, you need an air conditioner in your tent to maintain a proper sleeping atmosphere in your tent. Temperature drops in nature can be pretty harsh, and anyway who doesn’t like a little comfort while they sleep. Here is our article on how to insulate the tent.

I know there are a ton of tent air conditioners available in the market, but don’t you love the satisfaction of DIY items and all the money you saved and maybe some electricity. Who knows?

Imagine coming to a well-cooled tent after a long, tiring, strenuous day of mountain climbing or hiking. You will have to have a sound sleep to restore your energy and reward yourself by relaxing in your tent colled by your portable air conditioner. Who doesn’t want this feeling?

DIY for an air conditioner for camping tents might require some technique and some thinking, but it will give the results.

Let’s get started, shall we?

Table of Contents
  • How To DIY An Air Conditioner For Camping Tents?
    • 1. Carry Your House Window Air Conditioner With You
    • 2. Build Your Own Solar-Powered DIY Air Conditioner
    • 3. Mini Milk Carton Air Conditioner
  • FAQs
  • Conclusion

How To DIY An Air Conditioner For Camping Tents?

DIY Air Conditioner For Tents

Since we are talking about air conditioners, the DIY might be tricky, but not with our easy steps to follow. If you can cool your tent and save money as well, then why not?

1. Carry Your House Window Air Conditioner With You

This method has to be the easiest and probably very effective one. You cannot forget about the convenience of this method.

  • Just bring your small house window air conditioner with you on your camping trip.
  • Keep it on some elevated ground such as a stool or a stand.
  • Plug it into your RV or a generator. Here is how to ground your generator for camping.
  • Place it at the entrance of the tent with the zip open as much as needed to fit it and not leave the zip open wide.
  • Ans there you go the house cooler will do its job of keeping the heat outside and keep your tent cool.

2. Build Your Own Solar-Powered DIY Air Conditioner

Building this only takes you an icebox cooler, a small 10$ fan, and a modest solar panel that can be run on batteries as well. And also try to take the ice with you.

Step 1: Find the right icebox for the air conditioner.

  • You can either use the old one you have and no longer use it. Or you can easily buy a cheap icebox online.
  • Try to find one with a styrofoam lining ice chest and it is easily available for around 2-3$.
  • The basic idea is to prevent heat transfer from the atmosphere.
  • The cooler should be able to prevent the ice from melting and no other container will do the job.

Step 2: Mark out the holes for the fan and duct on the lid.

  • These measurements for the fan and the small duct should be exact or at least near to perfect for preventing the heat to enter the icebox.
  • You should be able to seal the holes after you fix them with the fan and the duct. Leave enough space to seal the hole.
  • The hole for the duct is easy to make but the hole for the fan should be able to hold it in the right place. The fan should not go fully inside the icebox.
  • Consider buying a fan with mesh covers in it, because they come with a frame around that can rest on the hole and stay in place.

Step 3: Drill and cut the holes

  • Now that you have marked these holes accurately, you need to cut them out.
  • You can either use a jigsaw or a drill to cut them out, or you can use a combination of both to make it easier.
  • The plastic lid can be a bit tricky to cut, but the right tools will get you through it.
  • First, drill a hole with the drill, and then the rest of it can be cut out with the jigsaw or a hand saw.
  • If you are using a styrofoam icebox, just a hot knife is enough to cut the holes out.
Requirements for building a DIY air conditioner

Step 4: Fit the fan and the plastic duct

  • If the holes are of the right size, both the fan and the plastic duct pipe will be fitted just fine.
  • If not you can use some kind of clay or duct tape to fix them right or seal the holes.
  • Sealing the holes is necessary, to prevent heat transfer.
  • Sealing with clay might make it a bit bulky.
  • Here is the amazon link for the duct pipe that can be useful to you.
  • The fan should be fitted with the face inside the cooler, this will bring air inside the cold surface and make it cool.

Step 5: Put the ice inside

  • The more ice you put the more cool air you get.
  • Using a whole block of ice is a practical thing to do.
  • Using cubes of ice will get the air in the touch with more ice and the ice will melt faster.
  • If you find carrying blocks of ice to the campsite is impractical, then you may also use frozen water bottles with water-filled instead of ice.

Step 6: Connect the fan

  • The last step is to connect the fan to the solar panel.
  • It is an obvious thing to mention about placing the solar panel exposed to the sun.
  • Make sure the chords of the wire are long enough to easily set up your air conditioner to the panel kept outside in sun.
  • If the weather has been cloudy, or the sun keeps hiding behind the clouds from time to time, then you can replace the solar panel with any kind of battery strong enough to run the fan.
  • A 12V battery is enough for a small fan.

How Does This Work?

This DIY air conditioner works on the mechanism of heat transfer. The fan brings in air and the air after coming in contact with ice, gets cool. This cool air then finds an escape through the duct pipe we attached beside the fan.
You just have to place the open end of the duct pipe towards you and you are good to go.

3. Mini Milk Carton Air Conditioner

Well, this sounds a bit weird, but it works like magic. It is portable and you can even carry it around when you go hiking or climbing. The steps to build are elementary, but the requirements may take you a trip to the nearest hardware store.

Requirements-

  • Computer fan
  • 12V AC adaptor
  • Empty milk carton
  • Cardboard cutter
  • Hot glue gun
  • Battery
  • Wire stripers

Steps:

  • Take an empty milk carton or any juice carton that has a round mouth like plastic bottlenecks.
  • Wash/ rinse the carton to get rid of the smell of the beverage.
  • Make sure the size of the computer fan that you use should be smaller than the carton.
  • Place the side of the carton up, that has the round opening.
  • Mark the hole for the computer fan to be fixed.
  • Keep the hole smaller so that it can stay put in the place.
  • Place the computer fan with the help of a hot glue gun in place.
  • Connect the computer fan with the battery and stick the battery on the base of the carton. (not the base in the correct position, but the original base)
  • You can disconnect the battery whenever not in use.
  • Put the crushed ice or the small ice cubes through the mouth of the carton.
  • And you are ready to go!
  • The working is same as the previous one. You can drain out the ice if left extra from the mouth. Isn’t it nice to have a personal air conditioner?

FAQs

Can you put an air conditioner in the tent?

Yes, you can store a portable air conditioner inside your tent, if you have space problems, then you can just keep it at the entrance and zip the rest of it.

Is it important to insulate the tent for AC?

Yes, it is important to insulate your tent if you plan to use AC in it. Insulation will help to keep the tent cold for a long time.

Is there a battery-operated air conditioner?

Portable and battery-powered AC units are designed to cool spaces from 50 to 250 sq. ft. This signifies that such units come with a rating between 500 and 1500 BTU. These units typically run on 12-volt batteries, on as little as 40W, and run for about 10 hours.

Do homemade AC works?

After multiple runs using 8 to 12 pounds of three different forms of ice-cubes, reusable ice packs, and a frozen gallon jug of water. The homemade air conditioner was able to lower the temperature of a small room by only 2° to 3° F, and within 30 minutes the room temperature began to rise again.

What is the alternative for ice in a DIY AC?

The main and best alternative is frozen plastic water bottles. Other than that dry ice and ice packs can also work, but not as effectively as ice.

Conclusion

I hope now you can consider taking some pain to build an easy AC for your tent when not compromise your sleep and comfort. Getting a sound sleep while you are on a camp is necessary.

Even if you are on a small camping trip with your family to a nearby campsite, and just want to enjoy a barbeque in the outdoors, wouldn’t it be nice to sit and chill in your air-conditioned tent?

If you have any new ideas on how to DIY AC for a camping tent, do let us know in the comment section. We would love to hear those.

Check out other useful guides on camping on our website.

Until then happy camping!

Filed Under: Camping Air conditioner, Guides

How To Insulate A Tent For AC: Stay Cool On The Inside

November 27, 2020 by Canberk Koksal Leave a Comment

For humans, the most ideal power would be the ability to control the weather. Just imagine how easy it would be and you can avoid so many disasters. Unfortunately, it is in the hands of God.

But one thing mankind had learned is to control the weather, or more accurately temperature, inside a room. This is done via AC, and since its invention, it has been one of the most popular electronic items and one that provides you with comfort.

If you are also someone, who can’t live without AC and want it inside your tent as well, you will have to make some adjustments to your tent first.

So, in this article, we will guide you through everything you have to know for How To Insulate A Tent For AC. Let’s jump right into it.

Table of Contents
  • How To DIY An Air Conditioner For Camping Tents?
    • 1. Carry Your House Window Air Conditioner With You
    • 2. Build Your Own Solar-Powered DIY Air Conditioner
    • 3. Mini Milk Carton Air Conditioner
  • FAQs
  • Conclusion

When Do You Need Insulation?

Whether you are camping on a campsite or somewhere off the grid, you will need insulation throughout the year. At the beginning of the year, in January and February, it is winter in most places, so you need to insulate your tent for winter camping. As we go around the year, in June and July, it comes to summer, and you again have to insulate your tent for operating AC. The clock ticks and in October and November, you again have to prepare yourself for winter.

So, throughout the year, you need means to insulate your tent and that is why, we can advise you that if you are a regular camper or even a camper who goes once a year, to buy the necessary insulating materials.

Accessories Needed For Insulation

Firstly, let us begin with what accessories you will need for a good insulation of your tent for AC to work properly. Let’s see what you will need.

How To Insulate A Tent For AC

1. Tent

You might be wondering that obviously, you know that you need a tent. But actually, you need to have a tent that can be ripped. The tent you will be buying will have to be cut in a certain area so that you can connect the AC to it.

Also, the material has to be thick enough to provide some sort of insulation as well. Nylon tents and polyester tents are the most common tents, but if you want our advice for the best tent out there for insulating for an AC, you should look at canvas tents.

For the best canvas tents out there, you should have a look at them on 10 Best Canvas Tents For Camping: Your All-Weather Partner.

Another way is that some tents have an AC port inbuilt in the tent, so you can look at that option too.

2. Reflective Tarp

As you can guess from the name, the tarp has the property of reflection. They can knock back the sunlight falling on it. You will need reflective tarps to cover your entire tent from the outside. If you don’t have a reflective tarp, your tent will get heated by the sunlight and you will need more power from your AC. The tarp also has to be waterproof and windproof.

Depending on the size of your tent, you can buy different sizes of tarps and even buy tarps at different prices. The costlier tarps will be of better quality while the cheaper ones will be a little less durable and heat resistant.

3. Insulating Sheet

Even if you cover the entire tent, you won’t still be warm and insulated if the base of your tent isn’t insulated. When you camp on the ground, the dampness of the ground makes it cold. The cold temperature seeps from the ground to the base of your tent. If you sleep on the ground, you will realize how cold it gets and how susceptible it is to let the air conditioning gas escape.

So, you need an insulating sheet to cover the base of your tent. The sheet has to be either glued or taped. When it comes to buying an insulating sheet, you should always buy a good quality one, because this is kind of your last line of defense against the cold and also the air conditioning gas can seep through the ground. 

4. Duct Tapes

This is easily portable, and small in size. It can be carried by anybody. But despite the small size, for insulation of a tent for AC, this is one of the most important components.

For, attaching the tarps and groundsheets to the tent, you will need duct tapes. You can also use glue but most campers use tapes. Also, for sealing minor leaks inside your tent, a duct tape can come in handy.

You can use both double-sided tapes or single-sided tapes for attachment, but for sealing leaks, you will need single-sided tapes only.

5. Emergency Blanket And Vapor Barrier Lining

From now on, the accessories aren’t necessary, like you have to carry them, but it is good to have them for a good trip.

The emergency blanket is a good option to keep the air conditioning gas inside the tent. You can attach it to the interior of your tent and enjoy the conditioned air.

The vapor lining can either be polythene or plastic. This goes on the outside of your tent, over the reflective tarp. It will keep the vapor from covering your reflective tarp.   

6. Pool Noodles

Finally, the last accessory on the list is pool noodles. As we know, a minor leak can be enough for the air conditioning gas to escape to the environment and ruin your stay inside the tent. So, you need to take care of all the leaks, and for that, you need pool noodles. You can also use duct tapes, but duct tapes are a temporary solution, and pool noodles do a better job in sealing gaps.

How To Set Up AC Inside Your Tent

Now that you know, what you have to bring to your camp, for having AC inside your tent, let us get to the steps you have to follow to fix your AC and insulate your tent properly.

How to setup ac inside tent

Step 1: Pitch The Tent And Set The AC

First and foremost, you have to pitch the tent over a dry place and a level ground. Try to pick a shady area for pitching. Make sure that the tent is clean so that glue and duct tapes can stick to the tent. Also, there has to be an electric port nearby for the AC to work. Next, is to set up the AC. Measure the size of the AC and cut the tent in the same size, in the direction in which you want to place the AC.

If your tent already has an AC port, the cutting doesn’t have to be done. Make sure that there are no gaps between the tent and AC otherwise all the das can go out through the holes.

Step 2: Insulate The Outside And Inside

After you have successfully set up the AC, you have to set up the reflective tarp. Cover the entire exterior with the tarp and attach it to the tent with duct tape or glue. Similarly, attach the insulating sheet to the ground of the tent as well.

If you have emergency blankets, you can attach it to the interior lining and finally use vapor lining to cover your entire tent, just the AC excluded.

Step 3: Check Your Tent

After you are done with the insulation, close the door of the tent, plug the Ac into a power source, and switch it on. Now, run your hand all over the tent and check if there is any leakage.

If you find any leakage, use the pool noodles or duct tape to cover them.

Step 4: Get To Your Tent And Enjoy

After you have sealed all possible leakages, turn the AC off, open the door and get inside the tent. After you close the door, you can start your AC again. Remember that you shouldn’t use a fan inside the tent or the AC won’t work.

Finally, enjoy a cool air-conditioned atmosphere inside your tent on a hot scorching day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you air condition a tent?

Yes, you can air condition a tent, but it won’t work if you don’t insulate the tent from the external heat of the sun. You have to use reflective tarps over your tent to keep the UV rays off the tent’s interior. Also, you have to have the interior insulated and then pass the air-conditioned gas into the tent.

How do I insulate my air conditioner for the winter?

For insulating your air conditioner for the winter season, you have to use a waterproof bag, maybe a polythene or nylon bag. Place a cloth as a cover over your AC, and then wrap the entire thing inside the plastic.

What is the best tent for hot weather?

For hot weather conditions, we can advise you to use canvas tents, because they are more breathable with AC. The natural material makes the ventilation very good and also the tent’s insulating material can repel the UV rays of the sun.
You can find the best canvas tents here.
There is another type of tent called air-conditioned tents. They can be quite expensive though.

What color tent is coolest in hot weather?

If you are looking to buy a tent for camping in hot weather, it is best that you buy a tent that is white, orange or blue, but it has to be light in color. Light color tents have a reflective quality whereas dark colored tents tend to absorb heat. So, you can choose any color as long as it is light.

How do I keep my tent cool?

There are several tricks that you can use to keep your tent cool. The easiest one is to use an air conditioner and insulate your tent according to it. But if you want something without electricity, you can use battery-powered fans, adjust your tent, wear light clothes, etc.
For more details on how to keep a tent cool without electricity, you can check How To Cool A Tent Without Electricity? 11 Untold Hacks.

Conclusion

On a hot burning day, it almost gets impossible to camp without an AC and so you can follow these steps to easily install an AC inside your tent.

Try to maintain a temperature of 76-degree F at all times to optimize the costs and experience. Also, you can wear light clothes inside the tent so that you don’t need to lower the temperature too much.

As campers, we can advise you to keep the temperature close to the normal temperature outside, because having too big of a gap in the temperature affects your health and also make it difficult for you once you step out of the tent.

Please share your wonderful camping stories with us through the comment section and tell us how you like to insulate your tent for AC.

Happy Camping Everyone!

Filed Under: Guides, Camping Air conditioner

How To Cool A Tent Without Electricity? 11 Untold Hacks

November 23, 2020 by Canberk Koksal Leave a Comment

Have you always found carrying a generator on a camping trip quite difficult and troublesome as well? But you probably had to take it anyway right, because it was so hot that there wasn’t a chance of you surviving without an air conditioner.

Well, we can let you know there are some means that you can apply by which even on a hot and humid day, your tent can be kept cool and you don’t need electricity at all for it.

Can’t believe what you just read?

You can believe it because we are here with an article on all the means that you need to know to keep your tent cool without the use of electricity. So, let’s quickly get to it then.

Table of Contents
  • How To DIY An Air Conditioner For Camping Tents?
    • 1. Carry Your House Window Air Conditioner With You
    • 2. Build Your Own Solar-Powered DIY Air Conditioner
    • 3. Mini Milk Carton Air Conditioner
  • FAQs
  • Conclusion

Why Is Cooling A Tent Necessary?

Cooling is very important when it comes to camping on bright sunny days in tropical campsites. It is simple actually; you can’t stay inside the tent if your tent isn’t cool. Sweating and a restless feeling can make your trip a nightmare.

Further, here in the States, especially in areas close to Arizona, the temperature can get high, close to 130-degree F, and is just too much heat. In general, if the temperature is above 95-degree F, it starts getting uncomfortable.

So, as you can see cooling your tent is the only thing you can do. What’s even worse is that accessing electricity in some of these parts gets difficult, so you need to find the means to keep your tent cool without electricity.

How To Cool A Tent Without Electricity: Untold Hacks For Cooling

For keeping your tent cool, there are some adjustments that you have to make to the tent itself first. These are some things that are a little different from general camping activities.

How To Cool A Tent Without Electricity

Tent Material And Shape

Before even leaving for the camping trip, your task begins. If you want to keep your tent cool, you have to make sure that your tent’s material is good enough to reflect the heat off it.

The mostly used tent materials are nylon and polyester, but they are very bad at keeping your tent cool. They are cost-effective and good for carrying through.

Canvas tents, however, will come at a bit more price and maybe a little bit more on the heavier side, but when it comes to keeping the interior cool, that’s where they shine. They can be a good option for summer camping.

You also have to check if there are more windows so that the cold breeze from outside can flow in and keep your tent breathable.

If you are wondering which canvas tent to buy, you can check out 10 Best Canvas Tents For Camping: Your All-Weather Partner.

Now when it comes to what is the best shape in which you can set up your tent in summer, a cabin tent is for you. The traditional dome tents can get very hot in summer because the heat can stay trapped there. For cabin tents, the airflow is better and the headspace is more, so it a good option for summer camp.

Find A Good Spot

After you reach your campsite, you have to start looking for a good place to camp. The site should be shady and the site should be in such a way that sunlight doesn’t fall directly on your tent. Try to look for large trees beneath which you can pitch your tent.

Also, you have to make sure that the tent is in the path of the breeze so that air circulation can be good inside your tent.

One thing that you must remember is that the sun over your head will move, so a shady area in the morning may not be so in the afternoon, so always look for a cover over your head.

The best place during summer to pitch your tent is beneath a large tree near lakes or rivers.

Dig A Pit

If you want your tent to stay cool, you can utilize the ground for that. After you choose your campsite, use a shovel or any other tool and dig a pit on the ground, the pit has to be as wide as the ten and it may or may not be too deep.

Then pitch your tent on the pit. The soil in the pit stays damp and cold than the surface and you can keep your tent warm this way.

Remove Rainfly

Most tents have a rainfly attached all over it to save you from rain. This rainfly often covers the meshed windows and ventilators of your tent.

Without windows and ventilators, your tent becomes hot and you suffer. So before pitching the tent, try to remove the rainfly.

Keep in mind that your privacy may be compromised in this case because removing the rainfly can make your tent almost transparent.

For this, you can remove the rainfly at home and replace it with a thin cloth that is opaque. And the rainfly can be used as a covering for the head if you tie it to nearby support.

Check The Time Of Set Up

When you are going to set up your tent is also a big factor in determining if your tent is going to stay cool for you to sleep in there.

Now, if you reach your campsite in the daytime in the middle of scorching heat and start setting up your tent, it will get heated up very quickly and is most likely to stay hot throughout the day and night.

So, it is best to set up your tent when the atmosphere is cooled down a bit, like after the sun has set and the temperature is going down.

Remove Your Tent For The Day

Do you know the best time to sleep when you are at a campsite on a hot summer? You should know that from our camping experiences, we can say that in summer, it is best to go to bed as soon as the sun sets and wake up right after sunrise.

The heat from the early morning sun tends to heat your tent very quickly and you won’t be able to sleep because of it.

Most of the tasks and activities of camping are done during the day time and you usually don’t spend much time inside the tent, so keeping it pitched will only make it collect heat. It is best to take the tent down early morning for the day and set it up again once the sun sets.

Additional Tent Cooling Methods Without Electricity

So, those were the things that you could tinker with the tent to get the best of your camping experience, but just having your tent cool isn’t enough because humidity can still find you even inside the tent, you will need some additional means for that

Tent Cooling Methods Without Electricity

1. Thermal Reflection:

If you want to have no heat getting trapped inside your tent despite setting up directly under the sunlight, you can use some accessories that can reflect the thermal energy.

Reflective tarps and sheets can be easily found in a nearby camping store and you can also buy them online.

You can use them to cover your roof by attaching them to tree branches or cover your whole tent, just leaving gaps for ventilation.

One thing you have to remember though is that you have to leave some gap between the roof of your tent and the reflective tarp for air circulation.

2. Cooling Fan And Portable Air Conditioner:

You must be wondering if there is no electricity, how can you use a fan. Well, we are talking about a battery-powered fan. They come in handy for camping purposes in summer. The best way to like through summer as we know it by using a fan, so it is nothing new to see it on this list.

But a fan cooling your tent depends largely on the way you use it. If you use it to cool yourself only, in a matter of time, it will start regulating the hot air inside the tent. So, the best way is to use it as an exhaust. You can have the fan facing outside through one of the windows and so it will take out the hot air.

All windows bringing in air from outside and the fan pushing out air from inside will create an air conditioning like environment inside your tent. You may feel hot in the beginning, but give it time and your tent will stay for a long time.

Instead of using a fan for air conditioning, you can also opt for an air conditioner powered by a battery directly. It is a bit costlier than using a fan, but the end result is way better than using a fan.

If you want a battery-operated air conditioner, you can check the Best Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping.

3. Ice And Cold Towels:

If you feel that a fan has started circulating the hot air inside, you can use ice to make the atmosphere cool again. You can just place some ice in front of the fan and it will push the cold air from the ice towards you.

Also, if you have towels with you, you can dip them in cold water and keep it over your body. You will instantly feel fresh and see that your night is getting comfortable.

It is advised that if you are going to camp without electricity, have some jugs of water frozen beforehand and carry them with you. If you place a jug of frozen water near your sleeping bag before lying down, you will see that it helps you fall asleep quicker. Once they have melted, you can replace them with cold water from a nearby stream, lake, or river.

4. No Sleeping Bags:

It is best to avoid using a sleeping bag on hot summer nights. It may get hot inside a sleeping bag, so instead, try sleeping over a sleeping bag and have a thin cotton sheet to cover you. Also, keep a blanket at hand’s distance so that if the night gets too chilly, you are prepared.

Without a sleeping bag to get inside, you have to take care of mosquitoes and bugs before you go to bed for sleeping.

In case you are looking for a sleeping bag for hot weather, you can look at the 9 Best Sleeping Bags For Hammock Camping: Take The Chill Off.

5. Hydration And Light Clothes:

During the days of summer, the scorching sun can take away all your energy and you can feel low. So, you need to stay hydrated at all times. Keep water with you at all times. It will also keep your body temperature regulated.

Also, during summer, you should always wear light and bright clothes. Thick and dark-colored clothes absorb heat and make you warm, so you have to avoid it at all costs. For sleeping at night, wear cotton clothes to keep your body temperature to a minimum.

Regardless of all these tricks, some nights are going to be so hot that you won’t be able to tolerate sleeping inside your tent. At that time, you can ditch your tent and sleep outside. Try having a backup hammock for this situation.

If you want to look for the best hammocks, you can click Best Camping Hammock with Mosquito Net.

And for a complete guide for hammock camping, you can check out Hammock Camping: A Complete Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I keep my tent cool without electricity?

You can keep your tent cool on a hot summer day without electricity by using some simple tricks like having your tent pitched in a pit, setting up after the sun sets, have alternative air conditioning by using a fan, use ice and cold water inside the tent and set your tent in the shade.

How do you get electricity in a tent?

To get electricity in a tent, you need to have a generator with you. It may be a gas generator or a pedal generator. In case you don’t have a generator, you can also use a car battery for that purpose.

Why is my tent so hot?

If you are camping in summer, your tent is bound to get hot. The sunlight is scorching during that season and when it falls on you, the heat seeps into your tent. Another reason may be humidity. If the temperature is humid, you will have more sweating. To prevent your tent from heating so much, you can use fans, ice and do several tweaks to the tent.

What is the best tent for hot weather?

As campers, we can say that the best tent for hot weather is a canvas tent. They are all-weather tents but especially in summer, they tend to keep the interior cooled down. They are a bit bulkier and costly than the general polyester and nylon tents, but when it comes to comfort, there is no comparison to a canvas tent.
If you want to kook for the best canvas tents, we have an article, dedicated to it here.

Do black tents get hotter?

Yes, not only black but any dark-colored tent gets hotter as the sun’s rays fall on them. Dark colors tend to absorb heat and so the interior stays warm. For camping in the winter season, you should always use dark colored tents whereas for the summer season, try to carry a light-colored tent. Keep in mind that the color black attracts mosquitoes and other bugs, so for camping with black colored tents, always be prepared.

Final Word

So, we think that you are ready to go camping in the hot summer days. As you can see you just need to play with the tent a bit and have some accessories prepared for the situation and you can avoid the burden of carrying a generator or spend your precious time setting it up.

Of all the means we have mentioned, we as campers tend to use battery-powered fans for air conditioning the tent. But you can use all these tricks first and then figure out which ones are the best suited for you.

We would love to hear your camping stories and how you cooled your tent on a hot day through the comment section below.

Happy Camping!

Filed Under: Guides, Camping Air conditioner, Camping Tents

Best Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping

July 5, 2020 by Canberk Koksal Leave a Comment

In today’s world, nothing is as common as stress. We are leading a life where every step that we take is stress-laden. And when we go out on a camping trip to destress ourselves, the hot climate and the heatwaves add to our stress.

So, to help you out with this, we have created a list of the best battery operated portable AC that you can carry with you to the camping site and escape the heat to enjoy the camping activities to their fullest.

If you are going to an electricity-powered camping site, then it’s great. If not, you can keep with yourselves a small generator. For those who don’t want to carry a generator, we have a few that are battery operated.

Table of Content
 [show]
  • Quick Overview of Best Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping
  • 7 Best Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping
  • Buyer’s Guide – Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping
  • Top 7 Best Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping – In-Depth Review
    • 1. Easy Breeze Mark 2.0
    • 2. IcyBreeze v2 Portable Air Conditioner
    • 3. Evapolar EvaLIGHT Plus EV-1500
    • 4. Portable Air Conditioner Fan Personal Space Air Cooler
    • 5. Portable Space Air Conditioner Small Personal Desk Fan
    • 6. HAUEA Personal Air Cooler Mini Evaporative Cooler
    • 7. Evapolar evaCHILL Personal Evaporative Air Cooler
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • Quick Comparison Of Best Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping
  • Final Verdict

In A Hurry?? – Quick Overview of Best Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping

Best Overall

Easy Breeze Mark 2.0

Zero Breeze Review
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Great Value

IcyBreeze v2 Portable Air Conditioner

IcyBreeze v2 Portable Air Conditioner & Cooler with Rechargeable Battery Review
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Most Popular

Evapolar EvaLIGHT Plus EV-1500

Evapolar EvaLIGHT Plus EV-1500 Personal Evaporative Air Cooler and HumidifierPortable Air Conditioner Review
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7 Best Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping

  1. Easy Breeze Mark 2.0
  2. IcyBreeze v2 Portable Air Conditioner
  3. Evapolar EvaLIGHT Plus EV-1500
  4. Portable Air Conditioner Fan Personal Space Air Cooler
  5. Portable Space Air Conditioner Small Personal Desk Fan
  6. HAUEA Personal Air Cooler Mini Evaporative Cooler
  7. Evapolar evaCHILL Personal Evaporative Air Cooler

Quick Comparison Of Best Portable Battery Operated Air Conditioner For Camping

ProductDimensionWeightPrice
1. Easy Breeze Mark 2.020 x 10 x 11 inches16.5 poundsCheck Price
2. IcyBreeze v2 Portable Air Conditioner23.5 x 16.25 x 18.5 inches19 poundsCheck Price
3. Evapolar EvaLIGHT Plus EV-15008 x 8 x 10 inches3.08 poundsCheck Price
4. Portable Air Conditioner Fan Personal Space Air Cooler9.3 x 6.9 x 4.9 inches1.6 poundsCheck Price
5. Portable Space Air Conditioner Small Personal Desk Fan8.1 x 8.1 x 6.2 inches1.95 poundsCheck Price
6. HAUEA Personal Air Cooler Mini Evaporative Cooler11.3 x 5.9 x 5.7 inches1.85 poundsCheck Price
7. Evapolar evaCHILL Personal Evaporative Air Cooler6.69 x 6.69 x 6.69 inch1.65 poundsCheck Price
Best Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping

Buyer’s Guide – Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping

Buyer's Guide Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping

BTU / Size of the room

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, which is the industry standard unit of measurement for heat quantity

It might be a bit technical; however, to buy the best AC for your use, it is better to understand the basics of BTU.

High BTU – Using high BTU means that it will cool down the area quickly and then turn off to maintain the temperature. And when the temperature rises again, it will switch on. This switching on and off to maintain the temperature of the space will hamper your AC’s life.

Low BTU– This means that your AC will take the extra load to cool the area, and it might not be able to do it, which will, in turn, shorten its lifespan.

So, you see why it is essential to pay attention to square footage recommendations when purchasing an air conditioner.
You can use a BTU calculator to find out which would suit your needs most.

Noise Level

Portable air conditioners make noise as they use motorized fans and compressor systems to provide cooling and air circulation.

Air conditioners with noise control features like fan speed, sleep mode, etc. can be used by those who want a quiet background.

But if you think you can handle some background noise, you can skip this point.

Electrical Outlet Requirements

You need to check what kind of electrical outlet the AC requires, like if it is battery operated if they need a particular outlet or if they work with a simple power unit without any special wiring.

Drainage

Cooling a room means that AC will produce some condensate.

So you need to check what kind of drainage does the AC you are thinking of purchasing has?

If it will evaporate the condensate, if you will require a bucket and need to clear it out manually or if it has a drain hose and you do not need to do manual work after you fix the tube to exhaust the condensate outside or a drain.

Portability

You also need to check if it has wheels and handles and the size and weight of the AC.

If you are going camping and need an AC with you, it should be easily portable.

Top 7 Best Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping – In-Depth Review

Best Portable Battery Operated Air conditioner for Camping

1. Easy Breeze Mark 2.0

Zero Breeze Review
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Best Overall Portable Battery Operated Air Conditioner for Camping

Energy Efficiency

90%

Portability

92%

Feature

95%

Noise

94%

Key Features

  • 2300 BTU
  • 24V compressor
  • 2 USB- A ports
  • 1 USB-C port
  • Dual hose system
  • Battery-powered
  • Remote control
  • Sleep mode
  • Digital thermometer
  • Can turn off the compressor and use the fan instead
  • Two vents- 1 to let the air in, the 2nd to let the hot air out

Technical Specifications

Wind Speed Level4
Sound Level52 dB(A)
 Cooling Capacity650 W
Unit Size20″L x 10″W x 11″H
Weight16.5 lb

Our Opinion

This one has better features than the previous Easy breeze Air conditioner.

All I would say about this product is that if you can handle a little noise and don’t mind lifting some weight, then this product is a good investment for all the campers who don’t care much for the heat outside.

It lets you charge your phone and other accessories in case of emergency. This easy to use air conditioner runs for a long time in sleep mode or on slow fan speed.

You can comfortably sleep through the night with a relatively cooler temperature.

If you like to sleep in the dark or if you have planned a romantic evening while camping this air conditioner also comes with LED lights which completely changes the ambience.

With all these added benefits, it can be certainly considered one of the best portable battery operated air conditioner for camping. 

What We Like

  • Easy to use
  • Clip-on battery
  • At full speed, it can run up to 3.5 hours on battery
  • Power bank
  • LED light

What We Don’t Like

  • A little heavy
  • Noisy
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2. IcyBreeze v2 Portable Air Conditioner

IcyBreeze v2 Portable Air Conditioner & Cooler with Rechargeable Battery Review
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Great Value Portable Battery Operated Air Conditioner for Camping

Energy Efficiency

85%

Portability

94%

Feature

88%

Noise

95%

Key Features

  • A generous 38 quarts of more relaxed space for drinks & ice
  • Three-speed, high-powered fan keeps you cool
  • Quick detachable battery
  • Directional Flexi-hose blows the breeze exactly where you want it
  • Ergonomic handle and multiple lift points make transportation easy
  • Large wheels for easy portability
  • Wide drain hose for emptying contents after use

Technical Specifications

Interior Dimensions18.5 x 11.25 x 11 inches
Exterior Dimensions23.5 x 16.25 x 18.5 inches
Weight19 pounds
Batteries 1 Lithium (included)

Our Opinion

As a cooler, it worked well, but as an air conditioner, it was better.

If you use large ice blocks instead of the regular ones, it will melt slower and keep it cool for a longer time. You need to keep in mind though; you need to add water along with the ice to run the AC.

A hot day calls for cold beverages, and this 2 in 1 air cooler lets you have cold drinks and air.

The sturdy air cooler has a detachable battery which can only be recharged using a power supply unit.

So if you are out camping, and the battery runs out, then you might just have to face the heat, well that is unless you have a power supply or a car/RV near you.

What We Like

  • Works as a Cooler
  • Uses cold water or ice for blowing cold air
  • On high speed, the battery runs out a little fast (in about less than 3 hours) as compared to when you use it at a low setting
  • Sturdy, robust to break
  • Easy to transport

What We Don’t Like

  • Runs only on battery
  • The battery can only be charged using a power supply unit
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3. Evapolar EvaLIGHT Plus EV-1500

Evapolar EvaLIGHT Plus EV-1500 Personal Evaporative Air Cooler and HumidifierPortable Air Conditioner Review
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Most Popular Portable Battery Operated Air Conditioner for Camping

Energy Efficiency

85%

Portability

93%

Feature

93%

Noise

89%

Key Features

  • 3 in 1- humidifies, purifies, chills the air
  • Easy to use
  • Removable tank
  • Freon free
  • LED lights
  • Quiet

Technical Specifications

Dimensions8 x 8 x 10 inches
Weight3.08 pounds
Warranty1 year
Batteries RequiredNo

Our Opinion

This mini air conditioner is a personal use unit, so please don’t expect it to cool a room. So if that’s what you want, this product might not be for you.

But if you want a mini portable battery operated air conditioner that you can always carry while going out to set up a camp in a hot area that is also very cute looking with you, you can get this one for yourself.

You can keep it anywhere: on the nightstand, next to your computer, while exercising or writing a review.

It also helps regulate the air, so if it’s hot and you are feeling a bit claustrophobic, it’s an excellent product to keep with you.

What We Like

  • It is small, light, and portable
  • Uses water to mist the air and regulates the air
  • LED lights

What We Don’t Like

  • Only cools down a small area
  • The product is small, so you would need to add water quite regularly
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4. Portable Air Conditioner Fan Personal Space Air Cooler

Portable Air Conditioner Fan, Personal Space Air Cooler Quiet Desk Fan Mini Evaporative Cooler Review
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Most Portable Battery Operated Air Conditioner for Camping

Energy Efficiency

87%

Portability

92%

Feature

80%

Noise

92%

Key Features

  • Two fan speeds
  • Battery or USB
  • Portable tank
  • Handlebar
  • Uses water and ice

Technical Specifications

Dimensions9.3 x 6.9 x 4.9 inches
Weight1.6 pounds

Our Opinion

Again, this is a mini personal cooler/air conditioner, so it will not cool down your room, but you can use it to circulate the air in your room and cool down yourself when the whole area is super hot.

But remember, it works in a dry climate. It regulates the air and is excellent for a room that does not have proper ventilation, so you don’t feel anxious.

Though, you also have to be very careful while you handle it; otherwise, you will have a wet sleeping bag (if you keep the unit right next to it) waiting for you in your tent after your much-needed nap after a long trek.

What We Like

  • It is small and easy to carry
  • Works as a personal cooler
  • Regulates the air
  • It has a timer to remind you to add water to it

What We Don’t Like

  • It does not work during a humid climate
  • You cannot tilt it as it will leak, so you will have to keep it on a flat surface
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5. Portable Space Air Conditioner Small Personal Desk Fan

Portable Space Air Conditioner,Small Personal Desk Fan,Quiet Air Cooler Misting Fan Review
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Budget Pick Portable Battery Operated Air Conditioner for Camping

Energy Efficiency

92%

Portability

85%

Feature

78%

Noise

90%

Key Features

  • Manufacturer: MIGO
  • 380 ml water tank
  • Humidifier
  • Freon free
  • Portable
  • Attached handle
  • Three wind speeds

Technical Specifications

Dimensions8.1 x 8.1 x 6.2 inches
Weight1.95 pound

Our Opinion

This mini portable air conditioner is an environment-friendly unit. It uses water to spray mist and bring down the temperature.

If you are in a humid area, you can also use this as a simple fan.

Even though they might leak if they are tilted, but if you are someone like me who feels suffocated in a heated room, then these air coolers do come handy.

So it doesn’t matter if you are going to a humid place for camping or a dry place, this comes out a winner in both the scenarios. 

What We Like

  • It is a mini size portable air conditioner
  • Saves a lot of energy
  • Environment-friendly
  • Can be used to regulate air
  • It can be used as a regular fan

What We Don’t Like

  • It will leak if tilted
  • Have to add water frequently
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6. HAUEA Personal Air Cooler Mini Evaporative Cooler

HAUEA Personal Air Cooler Mini Evaporative Cooler Review
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Most Economic Portable Battery Operated Air Conditioner for Camping

Energy Efficiency

79%

Portability

85%

Feature

90%

Noise

87%

Key Features

  • Energy Consumption -18 Watt
  • It issues water shortage warning when it is low on water
  • Two timers (2/4 h)
  • Three wind speed
  • Portable
  • Removable tank
  • Attached handle
  • LED lights

Technical Specifications

Dimensions11.3 x 5.9 x 5.7 inches
Weight1.85 pounds

Our Opinion

This personal cooler not only humidifies a minimal area but also works as an air purifier.

The water tank is a little small, but it issues a warning when the water level is low.

Since you have to add cold water or ice, it will leave condensate below it, so you need to put the unit on some protective layer to soak up the water.

This particular cooler is still an excellent choice for someone who wants a cute little cooler adorning a room, desk, or a tent if you are out camping.

If you have already tried it, you know what I am talking about. If you haven’t, please go check it out.

What We Like

  • It issues a water shortage warning
  • LED lights
  • Easy to carry
  • Works as an air purifier

What We Don’t Like

  • The water tank is a little small
  • Leaves condensate
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7. Evapolar evaCHILL Personal Evaporative Air Cooler

Evapolar evaCHILL Personal Evaporative Air Cooler Review
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Most Lightweight Portable Battery Operated Air Conditioner for Camping

Energy Efficiency

85%

Portability

85%

Feature

87%

Noise

80%

Key Features

  • Four wind speed
  • Removable tank
  • Attached handle
  • Portable
  • Night light
  • Energy efficient

Technical Specifications

Dimensions6.69 x 6.69 x 6.69 inch
Weight1.65 pounds

Our Opinion

As this cooler can be recharged with a USB cable, it’s easy to maintain when going out for a little quiet and spending time with nature.

Since it uses water and ice to cool the air, it is environment friendly.

If you keep this on low fan setting, it is hushed, and it will be like it’s not even there if not for the fact that it was blowing cold air on you.

It is compact, and the handles can be pushed back in to give it a sleeker look.

It is a little pricey but can be easily kept in a bag if you are going backpacking. 

What We Like

  • USB C power cable
  • Easy to use
  • Active cooling for 1-2 people
  • Nice lights
  • Compact
  • Quiet on low speed
  • Collapsible handle

What We Don’t Like

  • A bit pricey
  • After a few months of use, it started smelling bad
  • Have to add water frequently
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do Portable Air Conditioners Work?

Portable air conditioners are often used in spaces where central air is an impossibility. Like central air, these air conditioners use electricity to function.
While they do a great job of removing heat and humidity from small spaces, they usually only operate efficiently in one room.
It means that you’ll have to choose your cosy sanctuary before setting up your AC, knowing that the other places will remain warm. Check the BTU of the AC, if it is double (more efficient) or single hose, capacity, drainage.

Do portable air conditioners need to be drained?

In most cases, your portable air conditioner will not need to be drained.
But be sure to look at the product specification and see what kind of drainage system the AC uses.

What happens if you don’t vent a portable air conditioner?

If you don’t vent the air conditioner properly, the humidity will remain locked inside and will make you feel warmer.

Are portable AC units safe?

The answer is yes.

Are Portable Air Conditioners More Energy Efficient?

Generally, portable air conditioners use more energy to cool the same amount of space as a window unit.
It may be the case because of the way they dispose of heat and moisture. 

Can You Leave Your Portable Air Conditioner On All Day?

Well-built portable air conditioners can be left on all day and all night. But it’s necessary to consider a few things before leaving it be:
It’s not energy or cost-efficient for most portable air conditioners to stay on nonstop. 
Condensation: How quickly does your AC condensate? If it’s a lot, then it might not be safe to keep them running all day and unattended.
It’s better not to leave a portable AC on if you are not going to be present there.

Final Verdict

The next time you are planning to go on an adventure but are hesitating because of the hot weather outside, make sure you invest in a quality mini portable air conditioner.

The Easy Breeze Mark 2.0 and IcyBreeze v2 Portable Air Conditioner & Cooler were our favourites among the others.

With a robust body and rechargeable battery, these worked best during our camping trips in a hot climate.

The clip-on and detachable battery makes it easy to carry the unit without having to worry about them taking extra space as 2 separate units. 

Where Easy Breeze provides you with the feature of a power bank and lets you charge your phone or other accessories in time of need.

It also has LED lights which work as a camping lantern during the night or create a romantic ambience while controlling the heat.

It might be a little heavy, but it worked best during the hottest summer and was our most preferred choice. It is worth investing and a great add on to your camping gear. 

However, if you prefer other features, IcyBreeze has extra space to keep a few beverages cold for a hot summer day.

It also has ergonomic handles and large wheels which lets you lug it around on different terrains with ease.

So if you choose the IcyBreeze for your camping trip, you will not regret purchasing it.

With the above list that all the carefully picked out and personally tested air conditioners for your camping needs, we hope you find the one that is meant for you.

With the mini air cooler in your backpack or car, you are all set to go out on your distressing adventure, but don’t forget to tell us how your experience was. 

If you think we could add a little more magic to the list, please let us know through your valuable comments in the below section.

And if you want us to create a list of something that you are thinking of purchasing, you can let us know, and we will help you out. 

Filed Under: Reviews, Camping Air conditioner

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