How to light and cool a tent without electricity

You can light and cool a tent for the night with two or three USB-rechargeable devices charged before you leave home. A lantern fan hangs from the tent ceiling and covers both jobs in a small tent. For a bigger tent, add a string light along the walls and a separate hanging fan over the sleeping area. Charge everything the night before, and pick a fan that doubles as a power bank so your phone is covered too.

What do you need for one night in a tent?

For a two-person tent, one lantern fan is enough. It hangs from the loop most tents have at the center of the ceiling, lights the whole space and moves air over you while you sleep.

For a four-person tent or larger, use one hanging fan over the sleeping area and one string light along the inside seam of the tent. The string light gives even light without a hot spot in the middle, so you can read or dig through a bag without waking anyone.

The Portable Camping Lantern Fan ($45.53) is the one-device option. It combines an LED light, a fan with several speeds and a USB port that charges a phone, and it comes with a remote and a hanging hook. Charge it over USB before you leave.

Which fan for a bigger tent?

The Portable Camping Ceiling LED Fan ($60.99) is built for the ceiling. It has 3 fan speeds, 3 brightness levels, a battery-level display and a timer, so you can set it to run for a few hours and shut off on its own. The listing rates it under 30 dB at normal operation, which is quieter than most people’s breathing. The blades detach for packing.

It comes in two battery sizes, 5200 mAh and 10400 mAh. Take the larger one if you camp more than one night or plan to charge a phone from it. The USB output is 5V/2A, the same as a standard wall charger.

Where do you hang the light so it does not glare?

Hang the lantern fan or ceiling fan from the ceiling loop, not from a side pole. Overhead, the light spreads across the floor and the fan pushes air down. On a side pole, half the tent stays dark and the fan blows across one person only.

For string lights, run them along the top seam where the walls meet the ceiling. Most tents have small loops or hooks there. The Rechargeable Camping String Light ($52.99) has 7 lighting modes, from a bright setting for finding things to a low one for winding down, and it comes with a remote, a carry handle, a hook and a storage bag. It also works as a handheld flashlight and as a power bank.

Keep the light source above eye level when you are lying down. That is the difference between a lit tent and a flashlight in your face.

Do these fans work in a hot climate?

A tent fan does not lower the temperature. It moves air, which makes the still, humid air inside a tent feel cooler on skin. In dry heat above 90°F the effect is smaller, and the better move is to open both tent doors at dusk and let the fan push the cooler outside air through.

Point the fan toward the sleeping bags, not at the tent wall. Air bouncing off nylon does nothing.

Frequently asked questions

Can I charge a lantern fan from a car?

Yes. All three products charge over USB, so any car adapter with a USB port works. Charge on the drive in and you arrive with full batteries.

Can I charge my phone from the fan?

Yes. The lantern fan, the ceiling fan and the string light all have a USB output for charging a phone. The ceiling fan’s output is 5V/2A. Charging a phone shortens the fan’s run time, so do it in the evening, not overnight.

Is a lantern fan bright enough to cook by?

For camp cooking at the tent door, yes. For a picnic table a few feet away, hang it from a branch or tarp pole above the table.

What else is in the outdoor collection?

Camping stoves, hammocks, a portable shower and survival kits. See the full Sports & Outdoor Activities category.