RRH,

The canvas wall tent “breathes” naturally so under normal circumstances, no problem. We have a window in one end and door in the other so one can always cross ventilate if it’s too warm. However, relative to ventilating propane heat we use a flue system --- 4” diameter pipe right out the top of the tent via a stove “jack”.

“Ventilating” wood burning stoves have a 5” flue right out the top of the tent via a stove “jack”. If you are going to use coal, then make sure you have a “coal grate” (looks like the “guts” of an old fastion ice cube tray only bigger). This keeps the burning coal nugget from burning against the side/bottom of your soft steel stove body which can actually result in a “burn through”.

We use both a canvas wall tent portion and a visquene/tarp portion and the only time we have had trouble with sweating is when we had a bare dirt floor --- put down a tarp and “tack” it down with landscaping wire staples and we found the “sweating” problem went away.

If it sweats anyway (usually first thing in the morning), then just have a few plastic sheets to cover what you want to keep dry and just run around slapping the tarp, get the “rainstorm” over with, fire up the heat and it all goes away. However if you don’t have exterior ventilation by way of a flue, then your problem is going to be persistent and dangerous.

FYI, we use a PAIR of carbon monoxide detectors in each living area along with a pair of smoke alarms in each living area. Also, for folks that don’t want to use a flue system, I’ve seen them use (and I’ve done it once in a spike camp) the Buddy Heater by Mr. Heater --- problem is that the low oxygen sensor at altitude is highly unreliable and it shuts down constantly.

Elk Camp Tent (Far) - Propane "farm" stove on left, wood/coal burning cylinder stove on right:


Elk Camp Tent (Close Up):


Elk Camp Kitchen (in visquene portion of the tent) [disarray due to butchering going on):


EKM