Central heating for camping ?

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Silverclaws

Forager
Jul 23, 2009
249
1
Plymouth, Devon
Anyone tried it, the practice of heating stones in the fire, digging a hole under where you sleep then bunging in the hot rock and cover it over.

I did it once whilst bivvying in late autumn, the next morning where I had been sleeping was bone dry and dusty as I had had a very comfortable night, the heat lasted through till early morning and even awake, the ground felt warmish.

But Know your rocks, rocks obtained from streams are not a good idea as the potential for them to break with impressive force when baked in a fire but rocks placed around the edge of the fire are usually a good candidate for heating rocks.
 

tartanferret

Full Member
Aug 25, 2011
1,865
0
barnsley
I've often thought about trying it but never got round to it, I've heated water with rocks to scalding point, Many many years ago.

I imagine it would be lovely in pine debris but I've never found decent rocks in those environments to use apart from sandstone which can shatter, not like river rocks mind,

Thanks for jogging my memory ! This winters project ! just a bivvy suit and a debris shelter / hot rock mattress:cool:
 

spandit

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 6, 2011
5,594
308
East Sussex, UK
There's another method which involves raking out the fire & sleeping where it used to be although you'd have to be pretty careful not to burn your sleeping stuff!
 

vizsla

Native
Jun 6, 2010
1,517
0
Derbyshire
I did it once a few years ago just to try it and learn the methods but never bothered since. Its a great idea if your in a situation were its cold and you have no ground matt or bedding. It did work very well mind. Just make sure the ground isnt warm to touch it should just feel dry and uncold!. Id recomend anyone who tries this dosnt sleep on it the first time oh and use a wool blanket not flamable sleeping bag
 

Laurentius

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 13, 2009
2,422
614
Knowhere
Sounds like it might work. Me I prefer to heat up a Kelly Kettle and then bring it into the tent.
 

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