Nothing beats the excitement of summer camping. However, you need some extra help to make sure you don’t get drenched in sweat during those hot afternoons. In this article, we’ll dig deep into the topic of air conditioner for camping tent. While some of you may be confused, small portable air conditioners for camping are actually a common thing. They’ve been around since 2016 and have gone through rapid development. Compared to regular air conditioners, these coolers are much smaller and don’t come with cords.
So, it’s no wonder there are so many alternatives to a tent air conditioner for camping out there. Our job here is to bring you some of the most recommended products around. We’ll talk about their pros and cons and how much they cost. And without further ado, let’s get started!
Table of contents
- Rollicool
- Aivant
- U/D Portable AC
- Black Decker BPACT08WT
- Addsmile Air Cooler
- Sisenny
- Zero Breeze Mark 2
- SereneLife SLPAC8
- Hessaire MC61M
- MightyKool
- Frigidaire White
- Tripp Lite
- Honeywell
- How to Choose The Best Air Conditioner for Camping Tent
- Can You Use an Air Conditioner in a Tent?
- How Can I Cool My Tent Without Electricity?
- How Do You Make a Tent Cold?
Rollicool
13
Rollicool is an excellent choice for outdoor tents. This portable air conditioning unit comes with an LED control panel on the top. Meanwhile, the louvers that direct the air reach far up for an even distribution of the cold wave. In case you want the fan to blow cold air back and forth, instead of straight to one spot, there’s an oscillating mode available.
Another cool thing (no pun intended) about Rollicool is that it can be paired with your smartphone. You can easily adjust the temperature, fan speed, and sleep time right from your tiny screen. As for operations, this air conditioner for camping tent is pretty quiet. We guarantee you won’t get any complaints from other campers when you get this unit up and running.
- What We Love:
- Can be paired with smartphones, allowing you to manage everything right from your tiny little device
- Pros:
- Compact design
- Perfect for outdoor tents
- Compatible with Alexa
- Batteries included
- Cons:
- A bit hard to setup
Aivant
12
If you’re looking for small portable air conditioners for camping, the Aivant Portable Evaporative Air Conditioner will be the perfect candidate. Instead of cooling the entire room, this unit will only lower the temperature in one spot where the wind passes. While most of you might think this is a massive deal-breaker, we think otherwise. First of all, the wind is pretty strong, especially when you set the fan to the maximum. Second, the air conditioner has about 1.6 feet of coverage, which should be more than enough for a small tent.
Overall, we’re quite satisfied with this portable AC unit. It’s in no way comparable to a full-sized air conditioner, but it works pretty well for its size. One reminder though. When turned on, you’ll get a little splash of water from the air outlet. Make sure not to put any electronic equipment in the vicinity.
Want to save some extra bucks on your new temporary shelter? Don’t forget to check out our 13 best tents under 100!
- What We Love:
- A tiny AC unit that works exactly as expected. There are no over-promises.
- Pros:
- Three different levels for wind speeds
- Auto Oscillation
- 700ml water tank
- Simple to use
- Cons:
- It’s not completely silent
U/D Portable AC
11
The U/D Portable AC is simply a fantastic tent air conditioner for camping. All you have to do is add some water, drop some ice cubes, and voila! You have a mini air conditioner in your temporary shelter! Amazingly, this thing can be powered by almost anything. We plugged it into our regular mobile power bank and it worked just fine.
Apart from that, the U/D Portable AC comes with an LED light. It’s configurable, so you can set it to any color you want to suit your mood or create a certain atmosphere. For example, blue or pink would be great when you want to get a deep sleep. To conclude, the U/D Portable AC is an impressive product. If you only have less than 10 bucks to spend, this one is a must.
- What We Love:
- Can be powered by almost anything, even a smartphone power bank
- Pros:
- Adjustable wind speeds
- Double-ice tray cooling mode
- Fully enclosed water tank cooler
- LED lights
- Cons:
- Not suitable for hotter days
Black Decker BPACT08WT
10
Black Decker BPACT08WT will make perfect air conditioning for camping tent. It’s super simple to install. Even without reading the manual, you should be able to get it done in under five minutes. The unit blew a cool breeze, exactly as advertised. It looks great and arrived at our office without any scuffs or blemishes. The box came nicely and protected the product well.
Overall, we’re really glad to have given the Black Decker BPACT08WT its chance. This portable AC unit works fine and we have absolutely no complaints whatsoever. There’s a review on Amazon that says the dehumidifier isn’t working properly, but that’s nothing more than an installation issue. If you’re looking for a reliable portable air conditioner for your next outdoor adventure, this is it!
- What We Love:
- Super simple to install. Blowing cool breeze, exactly as advertised.
- Pros:
- Quiet
- Quick to install
- Easy to use
- 3-in-1 functionality
- Cons:
- There’s a report saying the dehumidifier isn’t working
Addsmile Air Cooler
9
The Addsmile Evaporative Cooler is an upgraded version of the previous release and we can indeed see some improvements here and there. Compared to the older model, this portable air conditioning unit for camping is now equipped with a bigger fan. For easier operation, there’s a physical on/off button. And for extra convenience, there’s now an auto-off mode.
One of the biggest complaints with the old Addsmile Evaporative Cooler was that it made an annoying ‘beep’ sound when you fiddled around with the control panel. So we’re really relieved to know that it’s really gone now. Apart from that, the battery can last all night when it’s fully charged. This portable AC unit will be perfect when you want to have a quiet camping night without being interrupted by hot air.
- What We Love:
- The battery can last all night when it is fully charged. There is an auto-off mode for added convenience.
- Pros:
- Energy saving
- Built-in 5,000mAh battery
- 800ml water reservoir
- No ‘beep’ sound
- Cons:
- It squirts some water
Sisenny
8
When it comes to air conditioner for camping tent, it’s hard not to think about the Sisenny Portable Air Conditioner. This portable air conditioner offers three different fan speed settings to cool the air around you. Need more? Add some ice or water in the dedicated tank and get that instant chill inside your tent.
The Sisenny Portable Air Conditioner runs on a 20,000mAh battery pack. It can work between 4-6 hours when fully charged. Apart from that, this portable cooler operates silently. Get a comfortable night’s sleep as the air conditioner works on low-level noise. We personally love the design. It’s compact and easy to carry around. If you’re planning to go on a camping trip, this cooler is a must-have.
- What We Love:
- Comes with three different fan speed settings to cool the air around you
- Pros:
- Three wind speeds
- 2 in 1 LED lights
- Energy saving
- Quiet operation
- Cons:
- No information regarding warranty
Zero Breeze Mark 2
7
While outdoor adventures are fun, sometimes it can be quite difficult to sleep through the wet and muggy nights of the summer. That’s why you need a reliable air conditioner for camping tents, just like the Zero Breeze Mark 2. It’s only 2,300 BTU, so you shouldn’t expect this mini air conditioner to cool the entire shelter. However, the unit will do a great job of refreshing your face and body.
Sometimes it can get colder around midnight, so we’re glad to know that the Zero Breeze Mark 2 has a sleep mode. It’s recommended to activate this mode, as it’ll also give you an extra 1-2 hours of usage time. Another reason to go with this mini air conditioner is its portability. It’s compact and doesn’t require a lot of storage space. Highly recommended for a tent or a van.
And while you’re here, don’t forget to check out our 13 best tents for tall people. They provide plenty of headroom, so you can sit and rest more comfortably.
- What We Love:
- A portable air conditioner with 2,300 BTU and convenient sleep mode
- Pros:
- Mobile-friendly design
- Suitable weight
- 24v operating voltage
- Strong compressor
- Cons:
- It’s a bit expensive
SereneLife SLPAC8
6
SereneLife SLPAC8 isn’t your regular air conditioning for camping tent. This unit comes with a beautiful, sleek design. The air conditioner ran great. It keeps the temperature low. There’s a remote included, so in case you wake up in the middle of the night and want to turn off the air conditioner, you don’t have to get up to do so.
Overall, the SereneLife SLPAC8 does a great job. It’s compact, easy to carry around, and simple to set up. If there’s one thing you have to complain about, it’s the noise. Yes, this machine can get pretty loud. But on the brighter side, it’s consistent. If you’re someone who needs some sort of noise during sleep, this would be a blessing in disguise!
- What We Love:
- A cooler unit that comes with a beautiful, sleek design. There’s a remote included for your convenience.
- Pros:
- Handy and portable
- Three operating modes
- Built-in dehumidifier
- Remote control
- Cons:
- It can get pretty loud
Hessaire MC61M
5
We’re really impressed with the Hessaire MC61M. First of all, this air conditioning for camping tent ran so quietly. It only takes about 10 minutes to set the wheels. If you happen to be on a flat surface, you should be able to easily push this thing around. It’s great when you need a few gusts of cold air at different spots.
At 28x17x16 inches, the Hessaire is a portable air conditioning unit for camping. But don’t let that fool you, because this product is pretty powerful. It has three different fan speed settings with 5,300 cubic feet per minute coverage. Operating is simple. There’s a rotary button to set the air conditioner to off, Hi, Med, or Low mode. You can also control the motor oscillation individually.
- What We Love:
- A compact yet powerful portable AC unit. Comes with three different fan speeds and rotary control knob.
- Pros:
- Powerful
- Compact
- Easy to operate
- Supercharged
- Cons:
- The build quality could be better
MightyKool
4
We really had an amazing experience with the MightyKool. This portable device works like a charm! The installation process is relatively easy. All you need to do is follow the instructions and you should be able to get it all done in minutes. What we like most is that this refrigeration unit doesn’t use any suspicious coolant. Meanwhile, neither the fan nor the pump is the quietest around, but that’s not something that really bothered us.
If you’re looking for a portable air conditioner for camping, the MightyKool will really be ideal. This tiny device is all about efficiency. It only needs water to reduce the temperature down. No ice, no cold water, just plain water. As for the price, we do admit that this unit is a bit more pricey than other similar products. However, you’ll get a solid portable air conditioner that can work well without proprietary batteries.
- What We Love:
- Don’t use any harmful coolant. It only requires plain water to work.
- Pros:
- Only use water
- Great for tents and boats
- Compact
- Easy to setup
- Cons:
- It’s a bit pricey
Frigidaire White
3
When we decided to test the Frigidaire White, we’re actually a little nervous. Compared to other portable air conditioning units, this one is pretty cheap. But once we finished the installation process, we’re totally impressed. It only took less than 30 minutes for this unit to cool down the entire tent (we used a shelter-two people by the way). The fan and pump are pretty quiet. Apart from that, there’s a manual and registration document included, in case you run into some problems.
Overall, the Frigidaire White is a great cooling unit. You can control everything via a single knob, which is great for old-schoolers like us. If you’re in the market looking for a tent air conditioner for camping, this one is definitely worth considering.
Before you move on to the next one on our list, check out our 13 best ultralight tent stakes. They’re great when you are going on a solo backpacking trip and want to keep things as light as possible.
- What We Love:
- It only takes less than 30 minutes to make the whole tent cooler
- Pros:
- 5,000 BTU cooling capacity
- Quick Cool & Quick Warm
- Easy to clean
- Effortless restart
- Cons:
- Some people reported about broken boxes
Tripp Lite
2
Tripp Lite is made for those who have the luxury of camping on a site with direct access to an electrical outlet. It’s a dedicated high-power air cooler with models ranging from 12,000 to 24,000 BTU. If you want to have camping nights without being bothered by a muggy atmosphere, this is your answer.
Despite its portable size, the Tripp Lite is actually a powerful unit. It has impressive cooling, thanks to the technology commonly used to cool server racks. Nevertheless, it’s not recommended for solo backpacking trips. That’s because assembling this air conditioner can be a hassle, especially if you do it on your own. So, unless you’re camping in a massive shelter (for 7-10 people), you’re better off looking at other small portable air conditioners for camping.
- What We Love:
- A dedicated high-power portable air conditioning unit for camping. It’s perfect for large capacity tents
- Pros:
- 12,000 BTU of cooling power
- Self-contained design
- Compact
- Remote control
- Cons:
- It’s quite difficult to assemble
Honeywell
1
Honeywell is a brand that has years of experience producing reliable portable air conditioners. The Honeywell HL12CESWK is a solid testament to that reputation. It’s a medium-sized refrigeration unit with an incredible 10,000 BTU. That should provide more than enough chill for a four-person or eight-person tent.
Say goodbye to condensation drying as Honeywell has an automatic mechanism for that. The air conditioner also comes with a power-saving mode, so you can have cool nights without a significant increase in electricity bills. Apart from that, most customers love the fact that this portable cooler is very quiet. For those who need a noise-free atmosphere to sleep in, this means a lot. As far as an air conditioner for camping tents goes, this unit is easy to assemble and carry during camping trips.
- What We Love:
- A medium-sized portable air conditioning unit for camping with an impressive 10,000 BTU
- Pros:
- Stylish
- Beautiful
- Dual filters
- Auto evaporation
- Cons:
- It can get quite noisy at higher speeds
How to Choose The Best Air Conditioner for Camping Tent
If you’re planning to go on a camping trip and want to get new air conditioning for camping tent, you may want to make some serious considerations before making any decision. That’s because there are so many alternatives to portable air conditioning unit for camping tent out there. Some are reliable, while the rest are pure garbage.
To help you separate the good from the bad, we’ve got some key requirements for you to think about. Here are our three important tips in choosing a tent air conditioner for camping.
Portability
An air conditioner for camping tent needs to be as portable as possible. It must be able to work on its own. No power cords, no electric outlets, nothing. And since you’ll be carrying it around, the AC needs to be light. Especially if you plan to go to a camping ground.
Power
Small portable air conditioners for camping are expected to significantly lower the temperature inside your temporary shelter. For that, you need to get an AC unit with 5,000 to 7,000 BTU. Anything below that is considered weak and won’t do much during the hot summer months.
And while you’re here, don’t forget to check out our 13 best tents for 4 persons. They’re great when you want to go on a camping trip with a group of friends.
Noise
Lastly, your tent air conditioner for camping needs to be as quiet as possible. Remember that you’ll be using the cooler in nature. Anything above 60 decibels will be considered too noisy and may attract wild animals to your temporary shelter.
Can You Use an Air Conditioner in a Tent?
Well, why not? However, you need to make sure that the unit has at least 5,000 BTU. Next, see if it’s able to work constantly and is portable enough to fit into your temporary shelter.
How Can I Cool My Tent Without Electricity?
Well, you can get one of these cordless air conditioners. They’re powered by portable, rechargeable batteries. But remember, this kind of air conditioner will not be as powerful as a full-sized unit.
Camping on a rainy day? Why not? Check out our 13 best tents for heavy rain and find some of the most recommended temporary shelters to deal with harsh weather.
How Do You Make a Tent Cold?
Well, apart from using a portable air conditioner, here are some simple tricks that you can try. First of all, make sure you choose the right tent and set it up in a shady spot. Next, open all the vents. If necessary, use thermal reflection and dig a tent pit.
