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Hi

We currently always use EHU when camping and have an electric cool box, induction hob for cooking, mains light and fan heater to take the chill off the tent in the evening, as I really feel the cold.

Now that its just me, hubby and dog camping I would really like to free ourselves from the EHU on some of our shorter trips. We have a normal coolbox and also a couple of suitcase stoves for cooking. 

However does anyone have any suggestions for a good camping light and also a way to take the chill off the tent in the evenings without a fan heater. Are gas heaters safe to use in tents? I am a bit paranoid about gas ever since we had a gas leak in a boiler at home and heard horror stories about campers dying from Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated

Thanks

Hi,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ZODI-Hot-Vent-Tent-Heater-Zodi-outback-gear-/130684096398?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e6d610f8e

You will need to move quickly as this is due to end soon but this will solve your heating issue and it is 100% safe. We have the smaller version and they are fantastic.

We have camped for years without EHU, from our kids being 3 and 5 years old.  I love the freedom of being able to be in a remote corner of the site and we have camped on many sites that dont have hook ups - although these are more unusual nowadays.

We have a parabolic heater that screws into the top of the gas bottle.  You will never get the same amount of heat as a fan heater but it takes the chill off.  I suppose there must have been times when we have been cold but I cant remember it being a problem.  We always take lots of warm clothes even in summer!

For lighting you cant beat the Campinggaz lanterns that have the gas cannister that pushes into the bottom.  Cooking is done on a double burner stove and we also have a suitcase stove if we just want to boil the kettle.  As with everything you need to be careful but people have always camped like this and so long as you have ventilation in your tent and are sensible you will be fine.

We got an EHU set up last year and it is nice to have but it still feels a bit strange to be taking an electric kettle and a fan heater with us.

Oh and as for the cool box we have always just had a standard cool box and ice packs.  In fact a couple of years ago we did 10 days in Cornwall like this and it was quite warm weather for once.  We just took 4 ice packs and swapped them in the freezer on site every day.

Because of recent events, gas camping heaters seem to be critisised quite a lot,( although i  agree, it seems to have been barbecues indoors for recent terrible tragedy)  but we have a camping heater, its used carefully in a ventilated area, and its fine. Our tent is a long tunnel tent. We use heater to take chill from living area when we come in the tent late evening. Its switched off and canister is removed before bed. and never left unattended when on.  We also have 2 large rechargeable lanterns which give us plenty of light. If my grandchildren are with us they each have small light next to their bed.  Take plenty of warm bedding with no EHU. We are always warm.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

The little battery operated lantern looks like really good value I'm going to order one of those to see how we get on with it. I also like the look of the bright spark heater.

I don't think we will want to start carrying around a large gas canister so will need to stick to the smaller gas cartridge appliances.

The IceyTec looks great - bit out of my budget at the moment though