Corded Air ConditionersĪnd of course, there’s the good old-fashioned corded units. It is worth noting that this style is inferior when it comes to cooling ability though, making it more ideal for small spaces in areas where you can’t depend on electricity. Just pop in a few batteries, and you’ll be good to go until they need to be replaced. Cordless Air Conditionersįor portable comfort, many newer models of air coolers don’t require an external power supply. Instead, you have to fill them with water (or ice, in some cases) and this moisture is used to remove heat and humidify the air. Evaporative CoolersĮvaporative air conditioners don’t use a compressor to remove heat from the air. There are typically two hoses attached to these units – one to expel the hot air created by the air conditioner itself, and the other to act as an intake that leads to the compressor, which then expels cool air. It’s what you can expect to find in a model like the Zero Breeze Mark 2 portable air conditioner. Instead, it removes heat from the air using a chemical refrigerant. The most common type of tent air conditioner, the compressor style doesn’t actually produce cold air. However, battery operated coolers are less powerful than their corded counterparts, so they may not provide the amount of relief that you’ll need. Technology has come a long way, so not all air conditioners need to be plugged into an outlet anymore. The types of tent air conditioners can be broken down into where they receive their power from. For RV life or a few days in the sweltering heat with your family, I’d suggest you make the sacrifice and go with something heavier. Heavier tent air conditioners are going to be more robust, creating a powerful cooling effect that is better suited for larger spaces. However, as you might expect, it’s not very big or powerful, making it a better option for smaller spaces. Something like the evaCHILL portable air cooler weighs a modest 1.7 pounds. That’s not to say that they’re all heavy, though. After all, many of these products weigh in excess of 20 pounds, which is hardly reasonable to bring with you on the trail. Since they aren’t necessary for survival, you probably won’t come across any trekkers who have one shoved in their backpacks. The best tent air conditioner is a luxury item that you’ll mostly find in the hands of car campers who want some portable AC. Here’s a rough guide that you can follow to make sure your air conditioner is powerful enough to cool your tent sufficiently:Īs an aside, most of the tent air conditioners that we’ve reviewed below fall somewhere between 2,000 and 8,000 BTU. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, and one BTU is how much energy it takes to heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit at sea level.Īt the same time, it’s an indication of how much power your tent air conditioner uses to remove heat within the span of an hour. More specifically, though, you’ll want to take a look at the tent air conditioner’s BTU, which is how “cooling power” is measured. Regardless of your needs, we’ve got you covered. Some are definitely beefier than others, like the Black+Decker air conditioner, while others are a bit more modest in their output. Which is why most of the tent air conditioners in the review below are far more powerful than your typical tent fan. When it’s hot outside, do you want your air conditioner to have a dinky fan that can barely be felt even when your face is right up against it? Or do you want a powerful stream of cold air that will keep the inside of your tent at a comfortable temperature? The best tent air conditioners come in all shapes and sizes, which means they all have different power outputs. On the other hand, some of the smaller options that we discuss land close to 25 dB, which is equivalent to the rustling of leaves or a whisper. Many of the larger tent air conditioners that we’ve reviewed are around 50 dB, which is similar to the noise created by a moderate rainfall. For reference, an average conversation comes in at about 60 dB, while the sound of breathing is roughly 10 dB. The loudness of sound is measured in decibels (dB). This noise isn’t always appreciated (whether it’s by you or your neighbors), which is why it’s important to consider how loud your air conditioner will be. Similar to a camping generator, a tent air conditioner will fill your serene landscape with the whirring of mechanical parts and air movement.
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