7 Best Tent Air Conditioner

When it comes to air conditioners, they are extremely important during summer to dehumidify the air, ventilate the space and cool down the room or the tent. Their main function is to keep the temperature in the tent pleasant so you can comfortably sleep or spend time inside the tent.

Sometimes, in summer, it isn’t enough to ventilate the tent, but you need an air conditioner to cool the tent down, especially if the temperatures are extremely high and there is no natural wind.

It is definitely better to sleep in a cool and dry room, rather than sleeping in a room with a ton of built-up hot air. Some people don’t mind if the air conditioner is a bit loud, if it gets the job done, while with others noise is at the top of their list. After reading the reviews below, it will be more clear to you what it is that you’re looking for.

Some air conditioners also dehumidify the air, while others serve as a fan, too. Others have 3 functions at the same time. Remember to clean the filters regularly so you can enjoy its maximum power. 

The air conditioners are useful for extreme summer weather, when you can’t stand the heat. Just imagine having to sleep in a humid, hot tent with more than 2 people.

The filters can be vacuum cleaned with dustbuster, or hand washed by using warm water and soap. It goes without saying that you have to let them dry off properly before plugging the air conditioner into the electrical outlet.   

Heat strokes and sleepless nights can become your worst nightmare while camping. That’s why it is beneficial to take a look at our list below and see for yourself, which air conditioner suits your needs.

Weight

An air conditioner is an essential part of your camping trip. There are lightweight conditioners that you can easily transport from room to room, or right from your car or bag into the tent.

Try sticking to lighter air conditioners, because they can easily be moved around which is important if you plan on changing your location often. 

They usually weigh from 10 to 70 lbs, but the weight itself doesn’t tell you much about the unit and how well it works. 

Since you will be setting it up in a tent, you should be looking for something more compact and practical for carrying around.

A common weight for air conditioners is 30 lbs to 70 lbs. The size of your tent also plays a major role. If you plan on camping in a bigger tent, you’ll probably need a bigger air conditioner which can cover the entire tent’s space.

Power

There are high, medium and low speeds and the power is directly related to these speeds. If the air conditioner runs on high, it will be faster so it is normal that it will require more power.

However, there are exceptions. Sometimes, the fan runs on low, and still uses a lot of electricity. 

Normally, the power of a tent air conditioner is different in a tent and at home, because if the tent is not insulated the air conditioner is going to work harder to achieve the same effect.

Pay attention not to let the power cord overheat next to the tent. All air conditioners tend to differ when it comes to power, but they should be capable of cooling down spaces from 150 square feet to 400 square feet.

It is a big plus if the air conditioner comes with a high-capacity battery and a charger. 

You will need an AC unit that has a 5000 BTU rating to keep the tent cool, or approximately 150 square feet.

Also, don’t forget to use an outdoor power cord that is at least 15amp rated is a minimum, but be careful not to overheat it, since it is in close vicinity of the tent.

Remember to keep the tent insulated, if you want to maximally employ your AC unit’s power. Some purchase a tarp that goes below the tent, or a blanket that can replace the ground floor, while others use the emergency blanket.

Ease of Use

Most of them come with a window mounting kit, which makes the installation process a bit easier. 

Nowadays, with the technology advancements, there are programmable timers and adjustable thermostats, remote controls or LED digital panels you can control to set the temperature as you please. 

Typically, air conditioners are pretty simple to install with the help of an instruction manual. You don’t need to be an expert to install an air conditioner, especially if it’s a portable one.

For a house, sometimes it’s more convenient to get a wall-mounted one, but for a tent, this is sometimes impossible.

Evaporative coolers don’t need an insulated tent in order to successfully cool it down. They use open ports to make sure the cool air is circulating in the tent.

Basically, with most moveable air conditioners, you just need to move the tent directly into your direction or a specific spot you want to cool down. 

Sound Level

The best tent air conditioner is the one that works flawlessly, and doesn’t wake you up in the middle of the night. It is important because during the night, all the heat builds up in the tent, and it’s hard to get rid of it.

When you turn on your AC during the night, in order to get a good night’s sleep, it should not be overly loud. The average sound level is around 60 dBA of noise, which is acceptable.

The problems arise when the tent’s noise is a lot higher than an average conversation, so it can be very annoying even though it might be on the other side of the room. 

The decibel levels range widely. Portable units get as loud as 55 or 60 dBA, whereas some quiet air conditioners can make just 25 dBA of noise, which is as loud as a regular whisper. 

Sometimes, the quieter air conditioners are not so compact, so you’ll probably have to sacrifice one feature in order to get another which works for you.

Do yourself a favor, and check the noise levels before deciding on a tent. You definitely don’t want to spend your money on portable, compact but noisy appliances.