Planning ahead makes life safer and easier, and when it comes to portable heaters, its prudent to consider both what might be useful in catastrophes, and what might just be beneficial to have around the home or office when the weather outside gets chilly. Whether you’re looking to keep an indoor space warm, planning a hunting trip, or preparing for an emergency situation, investing in a portable heater is a responsible move that will make things simpler for you down the road. Portable heating units can run the gambit of styles, types of fuel or power required, and range of uses, but we’ve done the investigating for you. Here’s a list of the best buddy heaters on the market.
How We Selected The Products
To choose the best buddy heaters available, we took a look at the different heaters available in all different styles, from sizable to small. We considered and compared all types of heaters, including propane, electric, and kerosene. From there, we narrowed down our product picks by taking a close look at the maximum output, heat settings and controls, safety features, and ability to heat small to medium spaces effectively. We also considered users’ real-life use experiences, looking at reviews to determine how each heater performed indoors or outdoors.
“Our product selections, rankings, and awards for this story are based on research. While we haven’t conducted real-world testing yet on all of these products yet, we’ve looked at consumer testimonials and data, tutorials, and general discussions on social media and in forums. We also consider price and specification in the context of the segment. And, of course, we rely on our institutional knowledge of the automotive landscape to weed out weak products.”
Buying Guide/What to Look For
Every heater has its own output, coverage, and unique features and settings. To find the buddy heater that’ll work best for you and where you plan to apply heat, you’ll want to make sure to look for the following features.
Heat Output
If you want to know how well a buddy heater is going to be at warming up your desired space, check the heat output. Sure, you can take a look at the size of the heater, but the output (either in watts or in BTUs) will give you a better idea of the heater’s power and potential. The higher the wattage or BTU count, the more heat you’ll get.
Most heaters do offer multiple settings with different output amounts; for example, a heater might deliver 4,000 BTUs on “low” and 9,000 BTUs on “high.” The more setting choices you have, the better you’ll be able to customize and control the temperature in your space. While higher heat output is usually better, it’s a good idea to be able to adjust for different temperatures and needs.
Fuel or Power Source
Everyone has their preferred kind of heater, and each specific type offers its own benefits. Propane heaters, for example, are convenient and great for situations like camping, where you have propane handy and want to heat indoors or outdoors. Electric or ceramic electric heaters are ideal for indoor use, but they can only be used with electrical outlets and a consistent power supply.
Make sure to take a look at the power or fuel source before you settle on any particular buddy heater. That way, you’ll know the pros and cons, as well as what you’ll need to use it properly.
Indoor/Outdoor Use
Not all buddy heaters can be used indoors and outdoors. Depending on what kind of heater they are, most can either be used indoors or outdoors. But some can do double duty; first, think about where you plan to use your buddy heater most often while you’re shopping. An electric model is a great fit if you’re using it in enclosed spaces, like your garage or a room at home. However, if you plan to use your heater outdoors or inside a tent, you may need a propane or kerosene model.
FAQs
Q: Are buddy heaters safe to use indoors?
A: It depends on the specs of each individual heater, but as long as you choose a buddy heater that’s labeled “indoor-safe,” then you’ll be perfectly fine to use it inside.
Q: How long will a buddy heater run on a 1-lb propane tank?
A: This also varies from heater to heater, as well as the heat setting you’re operating on. You’ll get anywhere from two to four hours of runtime on the highest heat. However, in lower settings, you may get six or more hours. It simply depends on how much fuel your heater is using while it’s running.
Q: Is it safe to use a buddy heater in a tent?
A: Check the owner’s manual or product description of the exact heater you’d like to use to determine if it’s safe for use inside a tent. Many heaters are safe to use in a tent, but you may need to open tent windows for ventilation depending on their fuel source. You may also need to choose an outdoor-capable heater for this use case.