When camping in the winter, staying warm all night can be a challenge. You can bring a good sleeping bag and extra blankets, but with the fire several feet away outside your tent, it can still get really cold in your tent if the temperature is low enough. But there’s a smart, efficient way to beat the cold: an underground tent heater.
This clever bushcraft method uses a trench fire beneath your tent floor, designed to radiate heat upward through the ground all night long. It creates a deep bed of coals that stays hot for hours with no need to wake up and reload firewood. It’s simple, efficient, and works incredibly well for hot tent camping or survival scenarios.
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I found this heating trick on the YouTube channel Polecat, where it was tested in freezing New Mexico conditions. You can watch the video and read the step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Choose Your Location
Find a flat, sheltered area where you can safely dig. Make sure there are no major roots, rocks, or underground hazards in the area where you plan to set up camp and dig your trench.
Step 2: Dig the Trench
Dig a trench directly under the center of where your tent will be placed. The size of the trench depends on how much heat you want, but it should be deep and long enough to accommodate a good bed of coals.
About 12–18 inches deep and wide enough to allow for airflow and firewood. Place a long piece of sheet metal on top to cover it up and prevent people from stepping on it.
At the end of the trench is your fire pit. Cover this with a piece of sheet metal as well, then cover that with some dirt. However, leave the end open so you can start the fire and add fuel as needed.
Step 3: Install Chimney and Airflow
Place a piece of chimney pipe or ducting at one end of the trench to help draw air through the system. This works as a natural draft to pull oxygen in and push smoke out.
Make sure there’s a clear air inlet at one end and the chimney at the other to maintain consistent airflow.
Step 4: Set Up Your Tent
Set your tent up directly over the trench. Once it’s ready, cut out a square in the tent flooring to uncover the fire pit at the end of the trench.
You can also place a mattress on top of the trench so your bed stays nice and warm all night.
Step 5: Lay the Fire Base
Build a fire directly inside the trench, placing large pieces of wood for a longer-lasting burn. Let the fire burn down to create a solid bed of coals. This is where the real heat comes from. The ground will start absorbing and radiating that heat upward.
Final Thoughts
This underground tent heater allows you to stay warm through the night without relying on bulky stoves or constantly feeding a fire. It’s especially useful for winter camping, survival scenarios, or off-grid living.
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