How To Heat Water While Camping – 7 Methods

Campfire can easily heat water while camping. Worthy alternatives include using electric or solar-powered heaters. Camping stoves remain one of the most popular methods of heating water while camping.

Water is crucial in camp. It keeps you hydrated and warm. Water is used for cooking dehydrated camping food or for drinks such as tea and coffee. Campers also need to drink plenty of water while camping to avoid dehydration, particularly when out in nature in the high summer heat.

There are multiple methods to heat water while camping. All of these have different pros and cons. Most importantly, many water heating techniques might even be subject to local regulation. Some campsites don’t allow making a campfire which means campers need to be creative to find alternatives. Here are the main methods to heat water while camping.

How To Heat Water While Camping

1. Camping stoves

Camping stoves are compact and affordable. They have proven efficiency in heating up water and food. You can get one small camping stove to use for a few days while camping. Based on various types of fuels such as gas, these heating solutions are ideal for individuals, couples, and even small families.

2. Natural fuel camping kettle

Camping kettles that use wood as fuel are the most eco-friendly solution for camping. With increasing popularity, these kettles come with a dedicated fire-making chamber at the bottom. You add dry fallen branches, leaves, and small pieces of wood to boil water in the kettle.

Typically larger than an electric kettle, these kettles are the most durable product for heating water while camping. Made from stainless steel, they are made with almost no parts that can break. This recommends them for frequent campers as well as to those camping in areas with plenty of dry wood and branches on the ground such as woodlands.

Natural fuel camping kettles are also ideal for all campers who don’t like the idea of relying on gas or propane as a fuel source for a portable stove. You can use as many dry pieces of wood as you can find to keep your kettle warm. Furthermore, kettles that use natural fuel you can find on the ground can also provide some warmth around them on chilly summer nights.

3. Electric kettles

Electric kettles are ideal for those who camp with their cars. They connect to the vehicle for power and they provide almost instant heat, highly recommended for those who don’t like to make a fire or gather wood.

Electric kettles are among some of the most recommended products for water temperature control as well. Most electric kettles stop heating the water once it reaches boiling point. This further recommends electric kettles for camping to those with limited water supply. Water cannot evaporate quickly if the kettle stops heating it past the boiling point. The water evaporation can be an issue with other water heating techniques such as boiling water on a campfire.

4. Solar kettle

A growing trend among campers involves using a solar kettle. This solution only relies on green energy and it typically involves no power or fuel. Solar kettles are quite large, however. They aren’t the easiest to transport.

The biggest drawback of solar kettles is they rely on sunny days to heat water. Even on the hottest day, they can struggle to heat water up quickly. However, campers out in nature for a few days might consider a solar kettle as a more permanent solution that provides constant hot drinking water during the sunny summer days.

5. Electric pot

Electric pots work similarly to electric kettles. They need electricity (ideally from a campsite or from your car) to heat up food and water. This makes electric pots ideal for quick water heat up.

Electric pots are also ideal for boiling tea or heating up a soup, more than a kettle. Electric pots can also benefit campers as they come in smaller sizes as well as in larger sizes. Electric kettles tend to be larger.

6. Water bucket heaters

Wand-shaped water bucket heaters are among the most interesting and underused water heaters for camping. They are ideal for heating up a lot of water fast.

Water bucket heaters are ideal for those who use camp showers. You can rely on water bucket heaters for boiling drinking water as well. This is the case of large group camping where more water is needed for families or friends.

Water bucket heaters can be used with camp showers to quickly freshen up without the discomfort of using cold water. A bucket of warm water can be enough for a quick camp shower.

7. Boiling water on a fire

Boiling water on fire is mostly associated with camping. This is the most natural method of heating water while camping. Apart from having the appeal of a campfire, this method also provides extra warmth on the cold evenings.

Making a fire at camp is not easy, however. Some campsites don’t even allow making a fire. Campsites were making fire is allowed are perfect for heating water. You can consider heating water with the following fuel.

Wood

Dry wood has the benefit of making a large fire. Wood also keeps the fire going for a long time. A campfire that uses wood as fuel is ideal for keeping water warm for a long period.

Wood is often used to keep the fire going through the night. This often allows campers to enjoy a warm drink in the morning as wood can keep a pot of water warm for multiple hours.

The drawback of making a campfire to heat up water is that it takes time. It’s a process that involves gathering wood, using leaves to start the fire, and dealing with plenty of smoke. However, once started, this type of fire burns longer than fire based on other types of fuel.

Charcoal

Using charcoal to heat up the water in camp is similar to wood-fueled campfires. Charcoal burns quickly at high heat which is perfect for enjoying a hot drink. However, charcoal can sometimes burn at a faster rate compared to wood which means it doesn’t have the capacity to keep water warm until morning. Charcoal also needs to be purchased in advance and it can’t be picked off the ground as many types of wood are used to make fire.

Final words

Hot water is a must while camping, such as for cooking and hot drinks. If you need a lot of hot water fast, such as for a quick shower, you can use a bucket water heater.

You can heat water using multiple techniques and products. One of the simplest methods to keep water warm is to let a water jug out in the sun where it will remain warm or even hot as long as the sun is shining. Speaking of the sun, there are solar kettles that can make hot water using the power of sunlight. It can be convenient when you don’t want to start a fire or grill.

Those who want to heat water with other methods or in the evening need to resort to a source of fuel. This can be wood or charcoal in the case of campfires. But it can also be an electric kettle or an electric pot.

Some of these solutions can even work together. Since fire takes a long time to make it might only be feasible in the evening. An electric kettle can work during the day. On the other hand, campers can also keep water warm once it heats up using insulated water bottles. These can keep water warm for up to 24 hours. Some of them can keep water warm even longer.

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