Wishlist

HOT TO TROT

1 GASMATE PORTABLE CAMPING HEATER

Best for: portable power This little 5kg heater delivers a robust 13.5MJ/h, or around 12,800BTU. That’s higher than its competitors and more than capable of keeping you toasty whether you’re in a (semiventilated) shed at home or living it up at a campsite. Safety features include an oxygen depletion sensor and anti-tilt shut-off, and it can be economically run from a portable disposable Propane Canister, or directly from a larger refillable POL Propane Cylinder. Easy to light, it takes a short while to crank up, then sizzles in three separate settings like a Saharan sidewalk in summer.

From: Gasmate Web: awardrv.com.au Price: $179.95

2 COMPANION RADIANT GAS HEATER

Best for: lightweight A fuel efficient, back-to-basics unit that pumps out the warmth like a tiny volcanic eruption. This 5,500BTU heater screws directly into the top of a gas bottle and is so cost effective that you can place several of them around the campsite to create a centrally warmed zone. While they won’t be particularly effective if you’re trying to cover a large area during, say, a Tasmanian winter, the simple combination of mesh burner, concave reflector and chrome safety grille means there’s not much that can go wrong. Oh, and it weighs just 760g.

From: Companion Web: companionoutdoor.com Price: $79.99

3 CAMEC 12V MINI FAN HEATER

Best for: small spaces This mini heater is built to warm up small tents or a space in a caravan, but plugging it into your accessories port will also help defrost the windscreen on deep winter mornings (it’ll take about five minutes). Using gas heaters inside is a no-no, so while a lil’ electric model may create less bang, its combination of adjustable swivel stand, automatic temperature control, and 1.5-metre circuit-protected cord are a godsend (and you can run it off a solar-charged battery for the ultimate in sustainable heat).

From: Camec Web: outbackequipment.com.au Price: $69.00

4 COMPANION PORTABLE LP GAS CAMP HEATER

Best for: style With 10,800BTU of output, standard safety features such as oxygen depletion sensor and anti-tilt shut-off, this 4.2kg LPG/ propane heater is constructed from sturdy—and attractively designed—steel. Its stainless steel feet bring a touch of the retro, and are doubtlessly rugged and durable, but this burner perhaps isn’t as sturdy on grass as some other options. With three heat settings and a ripper Piezo ignition, it’s nonetheless a solid bit of kit that you’ll have forever. It’s hot and stylish—almost exactly like you in your camp Crocs and trackies.

From: Companion Web: bcf.com.au Price: $239.99