Hot Tent with a Caldera Cone

[Atif Khan]

Has anyone tried heating their mid with a Caldera Cone in wood burning mode? I have a Solomid XL and was wondering whether, with one door open and the cone sitting in the vestibule area on the open side, sufficient heat would radiate into the tent.

[Duane Hall]

I have a lot of experience with Caldera Cones in wood burning mode.  I cannot speak to the heating question you raise, but I know there is always considerable risk of sparks with these cones when burning wood, especially when adding fresh fuel. I would not take the chance.

 

[DAN-Y]

Atif K, I have burned wood in a large Caldera Cone but not in the wood mode, just in the upright cone mode. I made a stainless steel basket to support twigs in the verticle position and would light the stack from the top. Lighting from the top is the most efficient way to burn twigs. The cone prevents sparks from going outward. The same procedure is used for burning twigs in my Kelly Kettles.

[DAN-Y]

 

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Have a titanium Caldera Cone (Sidewinder) and use it in the “gassifier” mode with the Inferno inverted cone insert and mesh bottom for wood burning to melt snow. The Inferno insert makes VERY hot, thus teh necessity for titanium.

Howsomever a “hot tent setup would need a “funnel” chimney and teh necessary tent wall insulator. I dunno If I’d want hoe sparks near my silnylon winter tent.

Plus feeding the damn Caldera Cone would be constant.You could not stop feeding it for more than 5 minutes. An ultra light tiny regular style hot tent stove would be far better. SEEK OUTSIDE wells them.

[Terran Terran]

“Inverted cone”. So that’s what the notch is for. I’ve been setting it up wrong for years. It worked well. I’ve used leaves and tiny twigs to boil water. For heat, I wonder how a candle inside the cone would do. Radiant heat at best though.

[Monty Montana]

In the winter I use a small UCO candle lantern inside my tent for added warmth…maybe 5-10 F warmer inside a 4-season tent.  The lantern + candle weigh 3.3 oz; an extra candle weighs 0.4 oz.  Sure cuts down on the condensation!

[Jerry Adams]

If your tent is sealed, would the candle cause bad air quality

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

One candle is about 25 watts.  My 2 cents

[Terran Terran]

I’ve used a candle before. I was never sure of the effectiveness. It was a moral boost when I was younger. In the end, I’d rather rely on my equipment to stay warm, trying not to rely on fuel.

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/are-candle-lanterns-safe-use-tents/#

[MJ H]

How much usable floor space does a Solomid XL in this case?  If you limit to the area with enough height for the cone plus some clearance, do you leave enough room a person on a sleeping bag to have their bag free of the wall?

[dirtbag]

Decided to boil 2 cups water with wood using my Ti-Tri 600 Sidewinder and figured I would try to answer your question.  Since I was playing in my yard already,  I pitched my solomid XL and got to work. It was a little breezy and of course it was blowing right at my mid.  Anyway,  9 minutes to boil the water and this is as close as I wanted it to be. There were absolutely No embers or sparks whatsoever,  but its still a risky spot to be.  It is about 31° F outside.  If I sat at the edge of my vestibule,  I was able to just barely touch my pot.  I did not feel any heat, well I dont think I did anyway.. nothing noticeable.  If you want to take the chill off inside your mid in winter, I recommend the Cohglans 36 hour emergency candle. I use it inside my tent during the winter and it definitely takes the chill out plus gives a nice ambiance inside. Also saves battery life on my headlamp because it lights up inside there nicely.  Just be careful and be smart ( i guess, lol? ) .  If you want a fire for warmth.. build one outside and sit next to it for warmth.  Nothing like a nice campfire on cold evenings in the fall or winter.

I’m glad i pitched the solomid because i dont really use it much and forgot it can be finicky to get that perfect pitch!! I was doing it in the dark, cold and breezy, my hands and fingers were getting numb and I had no jacket on. So I was trying to hurry up and it took me longer then I like and would have wanted to if it was serious situation.  My tarp and bivy are much easier to pitch,  as is my legit winter tents. Practice practice practice!! Here are a few pictures i snapped quickly.. hope it helps.

[dirtbag]

Here is the candle inside the mid. It definitely takes the nip out of the air inside there. I highly recommend this!  Note the matchbook next to it for size comparison.  

[Thom]

How much does the survival candle weigh ?

[dirtbag]

6 oz. and worth every ounce in below freezing winter conditions. When it is storming out and darkness comes early and you can’t possibly have a fire.. Its the finest 6 ounces you will carry!

[Terran Terran]

Beeswax? I think we just used the 10 hour voltive candles. Beeswax being hotter.

[Thom]

So with a three wick beeswax candle my tent would be a sauna ! Ha ha . I do have bees . Fun project.
thom

[Terran Terran]

Quora:

”

How do I get the most heat from a candle? — Related

Andrew Voigt
life long compulsive studies of howAuthor has 263 answers and 64.5K answer views1y
To get more heat from a candle you must supply it with more oxygen. This is normally done with a candle chimney made of glass but for more light. A copper pipe wrapped in a thermal insulation about twice the radius of the candle will absorb heat from the flame and conduct it up and down the length of the pipe causing the air inside the pipe to rise faster than otherwise supplying the flame with mildly warmed air.

more oxygen at higher temperature will produce less soot less light but more heat.

The longer the pipe and thicker walls of the pipe the better it will work but with diminishing returns and increasing upfront cost.”

[Eric Blumensaadt]

ACTCHUALLY…  I have two CANDOIL oil lamps (now out of production) the size of a candle lantern and one of them heats up a two man double wall winter tent decently. BUT ya gotta put it out at bed time. Too much danger of a fire and/or CO poisoning.

[Author]

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