Starter hot tent options

[Log9mm]

Starter isn't really the right word, I guess I'm asking for an inexpensive option to demo the experience. I do my fair share of winter camping with a small amount of hiking thrown in. I have always been intrigued by the idea of it being very cold out and being in tent with a t shirt on. Especially considering most of my winter camping is huddling by the fire once the sun starts to set and then getting inside my sleep gear as fast as possible at bed time.

As I'm just a backpacker who doesn't NEED a stove set up I consider it a pretty big financial and weight commitment to make having never tried it. Especially when at most I'm going to use it 2-3 times a year on 1-2 night trips. Is there anything that would provide a reasonable substitute to try? I've read people put little buddy heaters or similar in their tents and I've heard other people say never do that, so I wanted to ask you guys with the most experience?

This is for use in an LBO base+vestibule with NO stove jack FWIW.

Thanks!

[AK Troutbum]

The main or biggest issue you're going to run into with using a propane heater like a buddy heater is condensation. This can be not as big of an issue with a double walled tent but in a single walled tent it can become quite the PITA. With a wood burning type stove you get a dry heat which has the opposite affect of a propane heater.

[Log9mm]

[kevin_t]

Some have made mailbox stoves. I'm not sure how well they function. A DIY cylinder is not that hard to do, another option is something like a KniCo stove. Yes I think it will be 8 lbs minimum, but it gives you an opportunity to try one.

I've also seen people use a paint can / ammo can/ or cylinder from like Ikea or something like that.

Likewise our Sibling stoves we discontinued were not hard once you got all the geometry figured out and they would heat a small shelter fine

[Log9mm]