CANVAS TENT STOVES

It is a wood stove that is specifically designed to be used in canvas tent structures, including wall tents, bell tents, canvas wall tents, spike tents, and hot tents. A wall tent stove can be used for heating, drying, and cooking.

Most hot tent stoves are made from steel or titanium. Steel is most common, as titanium is very expensive. Cast iron is not used due to its weight.

Tent stoves must be portable. The weight is normally 40-100 lbs, depending on size.

Please note that these stoves cannot be used in a house or RV, as they are not UL-approved. UL-approved stoves meet stringent safety, quality, and performance standards for home use.

Yes. However, proper safety precautions are always necessary. 

• Canvas tent stoves should only be used in tents that are CPAI 84 rated, which means they’re fire-resistant.
• Always have a non-flammable stove mat under your stove. The mat should extend past the front of the stove approximately 12 inches and 6 inches to the back of the stove.
• A non-flammable heat shield should also be attached to the sidewall if the stove is within 3 feet of the sidewall. The heat shield is necessary to protect the sidewall from excessive heat. Also, if strong winds occur, the heat shield protects the sidewall if the strong winds cause the canvas to billow toward the hot canvas tent stove.
• A spark arrestor should be installed to prevent sparks from landing on the tent’s roof. The spark arrestor also helps to prevent any sparks from landing on dry grass near the tent and starting a grass fire.
• Do not put too much wood in the firebox to make the wall tent stove burn red-hot. Always adjust the air intake to control the rate of burn to prevent the stove from becoming too hot.
• Keep heavy-duty leather gloves near hot tent stoves in case of an emergency. 
• Keep a fire extinguisher readily available.
• After each camping trip, clean the creosote buildup from inside the stove pipe.

• Position the stove a minimum of 2 feet from a sidewall. Secure a heat shield to the tent’s sidewall.
• Set up the stove in a flat, even area on top of a fireproof stove mat. If the area is not flat, make adjustments to the legs, if possible. Our Wilderness and Idaho canvas tent stoves have adjustable screws in the legs to allow for easy adjustments on uneven surfaces. 
• Assemble the stove pipe sections. Make sure the pipe sections are tightly secured together.
• The spark arrestor goes on the top section of the pipe.
• I insert the stove pipe from the outside of the tent through the tent stove jack opening and insert the bottom section into the stove top pipe opening. I come through the outside with the pipe, as most stove pipes are nesting, which means the stove pipe at the stove is 5” and the top stove pipe is 6”. The stove jack opening is normally 5 ½ inches, making it impossible to force the 6-inch canvas tent stove pipe through the 5 ½-inch stove jack hole. 
• Insert the damper into the bottom section of the stove pipe.
• Start a small fire, observing for leaks in the stove pipe and proper airflow/draw. Make sure the wall tent stove is working properly, and double-check that the heat from your hot tent stove is a safe distance from flammable objects.

Tent companies normally have canvas tent stoves rated in 3 different sizes: 

• Small models (2 cubic feet) are rated for 8’ x 10’ and 10’ x 12’ tents. 
• Medium models (3 cubic feet) are for 12’ x 14’ and 14’ x 16’ tents.
• Large models (4 cubic feet) are for 16’ x 20’ and 16’ x 24’ tents.

Tent size and stove size models are for general use.

To buy the correct stove for your use, you must consider:

• Wood Quality & Availability: Softwoods generally burn about 1/ 3 faster than hardwoods.
• Burn Time: How long do you want the stove to burn without putting more wood in it? Small models have a 2-3 hour burn time, medium models have a 4-5 hour burn time, and large models have a 6-8 hour burn time.
• Portability: Can the canvas tent stove be realistically transported by one person, or does it require two?
• Weather: During which season will you be camping? What is the possibility of extreme cold weather? Will your wall tent stove need to provide sufficient heat to dry wet clothes overnight?